In-depth Comparison (2024): Purple Harmony Pillow vs. MyPillow Premium Series Pillow
I tested 14 different pillows over the course of six months. I slept on each pillow for at least five nights each. I rated each pillow based on how comfortable it was to sleep on over an extended period of time, whether or not the construction seemed high quality to me, and my take on suitability for different body types and sleep positions. Here is an in-depth comparison of the Purple Harmony Pillow and MyPillow Premium Series Pillow.
At a Glance
| Brand Name | Purple | MyPillow |
|---|---|---|
| Pillow Name | Harmony Pillow | Premium Series Pillow |
| Overall Rank | #6 out of 14 | #12 out of 14 |
| Fill Type | Solid Latex Foam | Shredded Foam |
| Firmness / Softness | Soft | Firm |
| Starting Loft | 6.5 inches | 7.5 inches |
| Sleep Positions | Back | Back |
| Body Types | Petite, Average, Big-and-tall | Petite, Average, Big-and-tall |
| Filling Comfort | ||
| Construction Quality | ||
| Score Out of 10 | 7.8 | 6.5 |
Detailed Reviews
Purple Harmony Pillow
Solid Latex Foam
- Squishy and fun to squeeze
- Soft interior
- Grid prevents sweat build-up
- Great for back-sleepers
- Not adjustable
- Bouncy when I lay my head on it
- Jiggles when I shift my weight, which I find distracting as I fall asleep
- Premium price
The Purple Harmony Pillow has a very unique feel since it is made of latex foam on the inside and a rubber-like grid built into its cover. The material is fun to squeeze because it is bouncy and squishy, but what makes a good stress ball doesn't necessarily make a good pillow. For back sleepers particularly worried about sweating, the Purple Harmony Pillow is worth trying, but I wouldn't recommend the pillow due to the bounciness.
When I lie down on the pillow, I am distinctly reminded of a water balloon. It is soft enough to squish down and compress, but the elasticity of the latex foam means that my head bounces back. I'll also feel a small trembling vibration make its way through the pillow, not unlike the feeling of water swashing back and forth. Every time I shift my weight on the pillow, the pillow will jiggle. Because I shift my weight occasionally as I fall asleep, the wobbling of the pillow will snap me back awake. I've had several instances where I was close to falling asleep only to be brought back to attention from the wobble. Nevertheless, I do eventually fall asleep, so the pillow doesn't completely prevent me from sleeping.
The signature Purple Grid can be found in the cover of the pillow. The substance of the grid feels like a gel-grip pen. It is fun to squeeze, but when I lay my head on it, I mostly just feel the latex foam underneath. The latex foam is what gives the bounce. The grid serves mainly to provide aeration since solid foam pillows tend to trap heat and sweat against the sleeper. In my experience, I find the grid to be pretty effective in preventing sweat build-up, but if heat and sweat is a concern, down and down alternative pillows tend to be better for breathability than solid foam pillows in general.
The Purple Harmony Pillow comes in three different loft levels, but the options are separated by one inch each, according to the Purple website at my time of purchase. Though I appreciate the different options, a one inch difference is the difference between a size 6 and a size 9 shoe (for both men and women), and I'd prefer a fully adjustable pillow that can accommodate sizes in between. Because the Purple Harmony Pillow is not adjustable, I wouldn't recommend it for side-sleepers.
Overall, I consider the Purple Harmony Pillow a novelty experience akin to a water bed. It's fun to try once, but I don't want to sleep on it regularly. I would not consider it worth purchasing again at the price point that I paid.
MyPillow Premium Series Pillow
Shredded Foam
- Four different fill levels available
- Foam is certified by CertiPUR-US
- Doesn't go flat
- Not fully adjustable
- Filling feels lumpy when I sleep
- Bouncy when I lay my head down
The MyPillow Premium Series Pillow dominates hours of late-night commercials, but the pillow disappoints in person. MyPillow uses large chunks of shredded foam with an elastic nature. As a result, the pillow is lumpy and bouncy. I would not recommend the MyPillow due to these comfort issues and the lack of adjustability.
The MyPillow doesn't come with a separate removable cover, and the pillow encasing cannot be unzipped, which means the pillow loft can't be adjusted. Instead, it comes in four different loft levels coded as colors, in increasing order of filling level: White, Yellow, Green, and Blue. I ordered the Green fill level after using the selection tool on the MyPillow site.
I measure the loft at about 7.5 inches, and the fill is pretty firm. The pillow barely compresses when I lay my head down passively. The loft is slightly too high for my comfort level when I sleep on my side, though I don't mind when I sleep on my back. The Green level pillow is too thick and firm for stomach-sleepers, but the White or Yellow fill level might work for that purpose. Because the pillow can't be adjusted, sleepers have to hope that one of the four fill levels happens to fit perfectly for them and hope that they choose the correct one on the first try.
My main issue with the pillow, though, is the nature of the shredded foam filling. The Saybrook and Coop pillows use softer foam and mix the foam with polyester fibers, so those pillows don't feel lumpy to me. On the other hand, MyPillow uses large chunks of firm foam without any polyester fiber, so the pillow is noticeably lumpy. The pieces of foam also have an elastic bounce. The MyPillow reminds me of a bag of packing peanuts in the firmness, the lumpiness, and the slight elasticity. When I shift my weight on the pillow, I can feel the elasticity of the foam. The jiggling of the elastic foam can be distracting as I try to fall asleep.
Based on the MyPillow website, it looks like there are two main differences between the MyPillow Classic Series and MyPillow Premium Series. First, the MyPillow Premium has a shorter width, coming in at 16.5 inches wide compared to the 18.5 inches of the MyPillow Classic. I would not expect this difference to affect my sleeping experience on the MyPillow. Second, the MyPillow Premium comes in four loft levels (White, Yellow, Green, and Blue), while the MyPillow Classic only comes in two (Medium and Firm). This is also not a difference that would affect my review since my main complaint is the lumpiness and bounciness.
Picking the right pillow can be important. I did all the research here to make the process easier. I hope that this blog helps you as you make your decision.