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Serta Raised Air Mattress with NeverFlat Pump vs King Koil Luxury Air Mattress with Built-in Pump
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Serta Raised Air Mattress with NeverFlat Pump ranks higher (#2 vs #3 of 7) and scores better on holds air overnight, comfort & support. King Koil Luxury Air Mattress with Built-in Pump wins on pump & setup.
The biggest complaint about the Serta Raised Air Mattress with NeverFlat Pump is hard to fully deflate and pack away; for the King Koil Luxury Air Mattress with Built-in Pump it's mixed reports on holding air. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Serta Raised Air Mattress with NeverFlat Pump | King Koil Luxury Air Mattress with Built-in Pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in air mattresses | #2 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | Raised (built-in pump) | Raised (built-in pump) |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 19% | 12% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 3.9 |
| Holds air overnight | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Comfort & support | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Pump & setup | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Quiet (no squeaks) | 3.0 | — |
| Durability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $60 · $$ $60–150 · $$$ over $150. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Serta Raised Air Mattress with NeverFlat Pump
- Hard to fully deflate and pack away
Wirecutter's testers found air still trapped after deflating and had to hold the knob on Deflate for an extra 30 seconds or so; it's heavier than other built-in-pump models. A Good Housekeeping tester called folding it into the bag a bit of a two-person job.
Source: Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping - Some owners still report leaks
Amazon's summary says durability is mixed, with some saying it doesn't last, and several customers mention leakage.
- Strong smell at first, and noisy plastic for some
Wirecutter noted a harsh off-gassing smell on unboxing that faded to a slight odor by the second or third use. Some Good Housekeeping consumer testers found the bed noisy, especially when sharing it.
Source: Wirecutter, Good Housekeeping
King Koil Luxury Air Mattress with Built-in Pump
- Mixed reports on holding air
Amazon's summary says some owners find it holds air for days while others say it deflates and stops holding air, with leakage mentioned. CNN saw a small amount of deflation over 48 hours, which it put down to stretching.
- Bouncy, and smaller than a true queen
Many Wirecutter testers found it uncomfortably bouncy with little motion isolation; one said it felt like lying 'on a dome.' Wirecutter measured it at 55 by 75 inches, about 5 inches narrower than a standard queen.
Source: Wirecutter - Customer service and durability concerns
Good Housekeeping ran into customer-service issues, especially by email, and suggests calling instead. Amazon owners are mixed on durability, with some saying it broke after one use.
Who should pick which
Pick the Serta Raised Air Mattress with NeverFlat Pump if
Guests who must not wake up on the floor
Comfort closest to a real bed
Choosing a firmness (three presets)
Skip it if: You can't keep it plugged in all night; You want a light, easy-to-pack bed; You're bothered by plastic smells
Pick the King Koil Luxury Air Mattress with Built-in Pump if
Fastest setup and pack-up
Easy getting in and out (20 in)
A built-in pillow area
Skip it if: You dislike a bouncy feel; You need a true full-width queen; Your partner moves a lot
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