Best Portable Oxygen Concentrators for COPD

Comparing the Features, Portability, and Ease of Use

By Deborah Leader, RN | Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD
Updated January 04, 2018

Portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) are an essential part of supplemental oxygen therapy for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who want to maintain an independent lifestyle. While recent advances in technology have allowed for greater portability, the POCs in the market today can still differ enormously in their price, size, weight, ease of use, and noise levels.

Moreover, people with COPD need to assess whether they can manage with a pulse-flow unit, which works in conjunction with your respiration rate ​or require a continuous-flow unit, which delivers oxygen at a constant rate.

In the end, choosing the right POC depends as much on your lifestyle as it does your medical needs. Here are six recommended POCs you may want to consider:

1

Airsep Focus

Focus Airsep
Courtesy of Caire Medical

Weighing in at only 1.75 pounds, the Airsep Focus is among the lightest and most wearable POCs on the market today. The product is approved for use on airplanes by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and can be easily be strapped to a belt or worn with the handy shoulder strap. Features of the Airsep Focus include:

  • Two pulse-dose settings
  • Oxygen concentration of 90% (+/-3%)
  • Universal power supply
  • Rechargeable lithium battery
  • Battery life of up to three hours
  • Recharge time of four hours
  • Alarms indicators for start-up, pulse flow, ​Cannula disconnect, breath rate, low battery, battery charge state, and general malfunction
2

Inogen One G3

Inogen One G3
Courtesy of Inogen

The G3 is the latest addition to the Inogen line of oxygen concentrators. At just 4.8 pounds and 7.25 inches in height, this portable unit is the ultra-light solution to people who require mobility and an increased battery life. The features of the G3 include:

  • One to four pulse-dose settings
  • Single-battery charge of up to 4.5 hours and a double-battery charge as long as nine hours
  • Can operate on an A/C or D/C outlet
  • Automatically senses and adjusts to breathing levels
  • Low noise output
  • Standard three-year warranty
  • FAA approved
  • Audible alarms for low oxygen purity, no breath activity, high breath rate, no flow, low battery, and depleted battery
3

LifeChoice Activox

LifeChoice Activox-2T
Courtesy of Inova Labs

The LifeChoice Activoxfrom Inova Labs comes in two different models: the Activox Sport with a battery life up to 5.5 hours and the Activox Pro with a battery life of up to 12. Both are extremely light and quiet, weighing in at just under five pounds. Among the Activox features:

  • Oxygen concentration of 90% (+/- 3%)
  • Includes an AC/DC adapter
  • Optional three-hour external battery
  • FAA approved
  • One to three LPM pulse-dose delivery
  • Auto-mode, active-mode and sleep-mode settings
  • Up to a three-year warranty
  • Alarms for no breath activity, low oxygen output, and device malfunction
4

Philips SimplyGo

Respironics SimplyGo
Courtesy of Philips U.S.

In the past, one of the most limiting aspects of POCs was that they were only available in a pulse-dose setting. No longer. Weighing in only 10 pounds, the SimplyGo by Phillips is the lightest POC to offer continuous-flow and pulse-dose delivery. Other features include:

  • Continuous flow up to two LPM
  • One to six LPM pulse-dose and sleep mode settings
  • FAA approved
  • Operates on either on A/C or D/C power supply
  • Battery life of just under an hour for continuous flow and up to three hours for a pulse-dose setting
  • Alarms for low oxygen purity, no breath activity, high breath rate, no flow, low battery, depleted battery, wrong battery, and system technical fault
5

Respironics EverGo

respironics evergo
Respironics Evergo. Courtesy of Philips U.S.

One of the best features of the Respironics EverGo by Philips is that, unlike most POCs, it offers up to a pulse-dose setting of six. This provides people in need of high-flow oxygen with greater freedom than ever before. The unit weighs just nine pounds with battery and is approved for use by the FAA. Additional features include:

  • Eight-hour battery life
  • Up to six LPM pulse-dose setting
  • Operates on A/C and D/C power
  • Low noise levels
  • Up to a three-year warranty
6

DeVilbiss iGo

devilbiss IGo
Courtesy of DeVilbiss Healthcare

The DeVilbiss iGo is able to operate from either an AC/DC power source or a fully rechargeable battery. Weighing in at 19 pounds with battery, it is a bit heavier than the other units but provides both continuous and pulse-dose oxygen delivery. Among its other features:

  • One to three LPM continuous-flow and one to six LPM pulse-dose settings
  • Delivers 91% (+/- 3%) oxygen in all settings
  • FAA approved
  • Battery life up to 5.4 hours at the one LPM pulse-dose setting
  • Audible alerts for power failure, low battery, low oxygen, high flow, low flow, no breath activity, high temperature, and unit malfunction
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