Philips Respironics is a worldwide leader in the areas of diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring, medical records, consumer health, and home health care. Three core beliefs guide all Philips divisions: provide quality customer-focused products and services, comply with the highest industry standards and use environmentally and socially responsible programs.
Philips Respironics respiratory-related medical equipment including two models of portable oxygen concentrators. These models contain anywhere from five to 6 pulse flow settings and range in price from $2,495 to $3,295.
Philips evolved into one of the most innovative health technology companies in the world since its beginnings in 1891. Philips develops portable oxygen concentrators under the Respironics label, and many other health and medical products to improve and manage health, and prevent, diagnose and treat disease. We chose Philips Respironics in our Best Portable Oxygen Concentrators guide for having the most versatile settings on its portable oxygen concentrators.
Philips Respironics is a global leader in the respiratory care and sleep markets. It creates innovative solutions in collaboration with consumers and health care professionals in the areas of oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation, respiratory drug delivery, oxygen saturation meters, airway clearance devices and sleep apnea management. This review focuses on Philips Respironics portable oxygen concentrators, commonly called POCs.
Pros
Lightweight designs
External battery is simple to remove, recharge and replace
Multiple warranty options
Approved by the FAA for air travel
Cons
No oxygen if batteries discharge during a power outage
The website does not explain how to buy POCs
Oxygen Systems vs. Oxygen Concentrators
Portable oxygen concentrators and oxygen systems provide oxygen therapy to ease breathing for people with health conditions, and Philips offers both options. Oxygen systems come with replaceable tanks to deliver a continuous flow of oxygen to the patient. Oxygen concentrators compress and filter the surrounding air to produce medical grade oxygen through either continuous flow or pulse-dose delivery. A concentrator produces an unlimited supply of oxygen as long as it has power, and a lightweight, portable oxygen concentrator is much more comfortable to move around with compared to a heavy tank.
Philips Respironics offers the EverFlo for standard daytime oxygen therapy and the SimplyFlo for use while sleeping, both stationary oxygen concentrators for use in the home. However, Philips SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrators offer the most convenience for consumers with an active lifestyle.
Philips Respironics Portable Oxygen Concentrators
The primary difference between Philips SimplyGo and SimplyGo Mini portable oxygen concentrators is the Mini is exceptionally lightweight and useful for traveling locally or beyond. The SimplyGo is easy to carry in the case or on the fold-up cart included with the model. The SimplyGo Mini is easily carried with a shoulder strap in an attractive case.
Both Philips SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator models have eight alarms:
Low oxygen purity
No breath
High breath rate
No flow
Low battery
Depleted battery
Wrong battery
System technical fault
Philips SimplyGo Portable Oxygen Concentrator
The SimplyGo is Philips’ standard portable oxygen concentrator. It weighs just 10 pounds with more than twice the oxygen output of any other portable oxygen concentrator. Philips SimplyGo has settings for both continuous flow and pulse-dose oxygen delivery.
SimplyGo, Source: Philips
SimplyGo’s continuous flow delivery has four settings, and the pulse-dose delivery has 11 settings to precisely meet oxygen needs or prescriptions. The standard SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator package includes a user manual and these accessories:
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with up to 3.5 hours of battery life
AC and DC power cord
Carrying case
Fold-up cart
Accessory case
Two-year warranty
Philips SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator offers a variety of features, including a long-life compressor, intuitive and streamlined control panel, sturdy and impact-resistant design and several operating alarms. Consumers can choose from three extended warranty plans for the SimplyGo.
Philips SimplyGo Mini Portable Oxygen Concentrator
The SimplyGo Mini is a smaller version of the SimplyGo. The Mini weighs in at just five to six pounds depending on whether you use the standard or extended rechargeable battery. The standard battery lasts over four hours, and the extended battery runs up to nine hours. The SimplyGo Mini offers five pulse-dose oxygen settings, and you can carry it by hand, over the shoulder or in a specially designed backpack. The fully-portable oxygen concentrator package consists of:
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
AC and DC power cords
Carrying case
Accessory case
User manual
Three-year warranty with 12 months on the sieve
Philips Respironics Simplygo Mini features an easy-to-use control panel in an impact-resistant design with operating alarms. Extended warranties are available on this portable oxygen concentrator.
Feature
SimplyGo
SimplyGo Mini
Style
Portable
Portable and Wearable
Size in Inches
11.5 x 10 x 6
Standard battery: 9.4 x 8.3 x 3.6Extended battery: 10.2 x 8.3 x 2.6
Battery Type
Standard rechargeable lithium-ion
Standard and extended rechargeable lithium-ion
Weight with Battery
10 pounds
Standard battery: 5 poundsExtended battery: 6 pounds
Battery Life
3.5 hours
Standard battery: 4.5 hoursExtended battery: 9 hours
A review of online home health care equipment dealers reveals prices between $2,495 and $2,995 for the SimplyGo POC and $2,395 to $2,495 for the SimplyGo Mini POC.
We found one- to five-year extended warranties on the Philips Respironics website but could not locate a reliable source for prices. Philips says the SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator can be repaired in a local shop instead of being sent out for warranty work.
Medicare may pick up part of the cost of buying or renting a portable oxygen concentrator. Our article, How to Pay for a Portable Oxygen Concentrator explains in-depth how to qualify for Medicare coverage and other ways to go about affording a portable oxygen concentrator.
Where to Buy Philips Respironics Portable Oxygen Concentrators
You will find both the Respironics SimplyGo and SimplyGo Mini portable oxygen concentrators available for sale online and at several home medical equipment retail stores. You first need to be evaluated by your doctor to determine your oxygen therapy needs; then the doctor writes a prescription used to purchase the appropriate portable oxygen concentrator.
Philips Respironics Portable Oxygen Concentrator Customer Support
Consumers can get questions answered by calling Philips Respironics at the number on the website or submitting an online contact form. The site also provides user manual downloads, how-to videos and other documentation for the SimplyGo and SimplyGo Mini portable oxygen concentrators.
SimplyGo and SimplyGo Mini, Source: Philips
Philips Respironics Complaints
Philips Respironics portable oxygen concentrators glean high scores across online reviews. Based on 5-star ratings SleepDirect awards Respironics portable oxygen concentrators a 5, CPAPShop a 4.8 and 4.5 from American Medical Sales and Rentals Oxygen Store customers. Consumer reviews for Philips Respironics average 3.5 stars on ConsumerAffairs, but with only one review specifically for the SimplyGo line.
ConsumerAffairs lists Philips Respironics portable oxygen concentrators among the best in the industry as of late 2018 and SimplyGo and SimplyGo Mini portable oxygen concentrators are routinely included in reviews highlighting the best portable oxygen concentrators.
Philips Respironics Q&A
Can I buy a Philips SimplyGo or SimplyGo Mini portable oxygen concentrator on Amazon?
Oxygen therapy is a medical treatment requiring a physician’s prescription, so you can’t safely order any portable oxygen concentrator from Amazon. However, you can buy accessories and supplies for Philips Respironics portable oxygen concentrators.
How do I know if I need to use continuous flow or pulse-dose oxygen delivery with my SimplyGo portable oxygen concentrator?
Your level of dependence on oxygen therapy determines whether your doctor prescribes continuous flow or pulse-dose delivery. Continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators are geared toward less active people or for when consumers are sitting or sleeping. Pulse-dose is ideal for more physically active people.
Are there any precautions with using a Philips Respironics portable oxygen concentrator?
Anyone on oxygen therapy should take care to avoid open flames or cigarettes while using a portable oxygen concentrator since the oxygen is highly flammable. The other precaution is always avoid using a portable oxygen concentrator in small, unventilated rooms.
Does private insurance pay for the purchase or rental of a Philips Respironics portable oxygen concentrator?
As prescribed durable medical equipment, private insurance typically covers portable oxygen concentrators. In some cases, private insurance only covers the insured’s basic oxygen needs with less expensive equipment, such as a standard oxygen tank system. Check with your insurance carrier for more information.
Can I take the SimplyGo or the SimplyGo Mini portable oxygen concentrator on an airplane?
Yes, you can travel by air with a portable oxygen concentrator from Philips Respironics, or via any other transportation means. The Department of Transportation ruled in 2009 that airline passengers who use oxygen therapy are permitted to use an FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrator on any flight. Both Respironics SimplyGo and the SimplyGo Mini are FAA-approved devices.
Conclusion
According to the American Lung Association, oxygen therapy significantly improves the quality of life for those with acute and chronic breathing conditions. These benefits include reduced shortness of breath, less fatigue, higher energy levels, and improved sleep. The ease and convenience of Philips Respironics portable oxygen concentrators make SimplyGo models a popular option for consumers, especially those with an active lifestyle. Both portable oxygen concentrators combine high-quality components and rugged durability with lightweight construction for short-term or long-term use.
Don't waste your money on these machines. I purchased a Philips Respironics simply go for my mom since she needed a portable machine for docs app and such. 5 days into use it stopped working. Had to send it in which means she was back on bottle oxygen.
Took 5 weeks got it back (supposed to been repaired). After 20min stopped working again. Called said poss battery which wasn't covered even though was only 6 weeks old so had to buy a new one. Didn't solve prob. Called. Said send back again. We did. After 3 weeks no info so called.
Said would be fixed soon. Finally got back and still didn't work. Just for the heck of it went to a authorized repair and they said would be $1200 for them to repair right as the internal filter was faulty.
So don't waste your money! After extensive research I've found sites with 100s of the same complaints with no resolution. Horrible customer service and horrible repairs that never happen. DO NOT BUY. Horrible company.
William G.
Pembine, WI
April 28 2021 9:56PM
I bought my machine February 3rd 2018. After having it for about 2 years I started getting a note telling me that I wasn't getting proper oxygen to change source.
When I called where I purchased it from they told me that I would have to get in touch with the manufacturer. There was nothing they could do. Fast forward to March 2021 it finally quit putting out completely and the same note came up.
I called the company Phillips Respironics. And talk to a gentleman there. He said for $99 they would send me a filter and directions on how to change the filter in my machine.
He could guarantee that that was what was wrong. And that it needs to be done about every 6 months in order for the machine to work properly. My husband took the machine apart on his own with his fancy little tool kit.
He used some air in a can and blew it out, and it seems to be working fine now no issues. I will from here on out as long as it continues working and try and keep it away from dust as much as possible and watch where I store it.
But I really have not used this machine hardly any in the 3 years that I've had it. Now again my warranty expired this past February (I didn't know I had one) and it quit working on me in March.
I kind of thought since it died right after my warranty (when I found out I had one) and no one had told me that I needed to have it serviced every 6 months.
That maybe I would get some sort of a discount or something on the first filter to see if that actually is the issue and would fix the machine. I got nothing. Hopefully his cleaning is fix enough for me to use it for a while.
It's not used that often but I will never buy anything like this again. This was $2,300 wasted in my opinion.
Pamela H.
Wixom, MI
October 24 2020 3:46PM
We just agreed with the technician at the repair center to throw away our Philips Respironics Simply Go concentrator after having it only 5 1/2 years. It would have been way too much to replace/repair the compressor. Yep, a compressor that went out after 5 1/2 years.
The compressor in my frig/freezer/ac unit goes for 15 years but a medical unit craters. The same company who insisted we have to replace the less than 3 year old power adapter with their $139 approved power pack to avoid ruining any warranty.
The same company who gave us the 2 day merry go round of phone calls to discover that we didn't exist since we didn't buy directly from them (nasty cow on the phone too).
We were trying to replace the sieve beds as I thought that was the problem and found out that the Simplygo requires balancing at the factory.
It was easy to replace the sieve beds in our Devilbiss and intend on buying/replacing the sieve cartridges in our Inogen. I’ll never buy Philips again.
Eugene K.
Houston, TX
March 18 2020 9:40PM
Compared to my older poc the Phillips is comparable except for battery life. Flow rate of 2 on a pulse setting I get between 30 mins and 50 mins per fully charged battery. My older poc avg 3 hrs on a pulse setting per battery. Big difference in times.
