This post was updated: 1/13/2023
Well, 2022 has wrapped up and I think we can all agree that it's be one crazy year, even in the oxygen industry... We've seen some groundbreaking technology get released, we've seen a couple of brand new concentrators get released, and that's just the tip of the iceberg when we look forward to 2023.
With the new units being released and the new technology being released, we want to take a look back on 2022 and look forward to 2023 with a review of the best portable oxygen concentrators on the market.
In this post we will cover the best overall pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator, the best overall continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator and then some "best in-class" units as well.
Here are the best portable oxygen concentrators for 2022-2023:
Best Overall Pulse Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator: ARYA Airtivo Max Portable Oxygen
The ARYA Airtivo Max portable oxygen concentrator was released at the end of 2022, and it has quickly become the top favorite in the portable oxygen community since it hit the market.
And we are one of the only distributors to offer the #1 pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator of 2023, the ARYA Airtivo Max!
Plus, when it comes to quality, reliable and effective portable oxygen concentrators, ARYA is at the top of the list.
So if you are looking for a portable oxygen concentrator that is well built and extremely reliable, the ARYA Airtivo Max portable oxygen concentrator should be considered!
What Makes the ARYA Airtivo Max the Best Pulse Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator?
The ARYA Airtivo Max oxygen concentrator is almost in a class all of its own when comparing it to other units.
It's small, light weight and easily one of the most comfortable portable oxygen concentrators to offer a pulse flow of 1-6, it provides you with exceptional battery life with the option to purchase additional batteries for longer portable operation, and it's easily one of the most reliable portable oxygen concentrators on the market.
By combining a compact design while keeping it lightweight, you can get back to living your life without being weighed down.
Oxygen Output
The single most important factor to consider when purchasing or renting a portable oxygen concentrator is the oxygen output of the machine and if it will meet your medical grade oxygen requirements.
The ARYA Airtivo Max offers you pulse flow settings of 1-6 and it's equipped with high absorption sieve beds that will provide you with a device with high efficiency, low noise for a disruption free operation, and exceptional heat dissipation due to its high absorption sieve bed.
So whether you are relaxing and reading a book, or enjoying some exercise, the ARYA Airtivo Max portable oxygen concentrator has the power to satisfy your medical oxygen needs if you are prescribed a pulse flow of 1-6.
Size and Weight
If you are wanting a high pulse dose of 6 in a lightweight and compact unit, the ARYA Airtivo Max is one of the smallest and lightest units on the market today.
With the battery installed your ARYA Airtivo Max weighs in at a mere 4.37 pounds and stands just 8.7" L x 3.3" W x 6.3" H.
When you're battling a respiratory disease like COPD or cystic fibrosis, the size and weight of your oxygen concentrator can make a tremendous difference for your daily lifestyle.
Larger, heavier concentrators can be difficult to transport and may require a lot of your energy or even a cart, but that's simply not the case with the ARYA Airtivo Max portable oxygen concentrator.
Weighing 4.37 pounds, the ARYA Airtivo Max requires very little energy from you to carry and it won't wear you out as easily as something like a 10 pound concentrator.
The ARYA Airtivo Max comes with a carrying case that allows you to easily go from place to place, it also features a convenient padded shoulder strap for ultimate comfort on the go!
Battery Life
Battery life tends to also be one of the most important deciding factors for our customers and the ARYA Airtivo Max gets some of the best battery life on the market.
Specifically you can custom tailor your battery life to your personal needs, with the option to purchase extra backup batteries.
The Airtivo Max battery gets up to 4.8 hours of use on a single charge on a setting of 2 and keeps your ARYA Airtivo Max at a true 4.37 pounds.
With the option to purchase additional backup batteries and up to 4.8 hours of use on a single charge, the ARYA Airtivo Max is perfect for anything from everyday tasks to traveling across the country.
Honorable Mention
There were a couple other concentrators that came close to being named the best pulse flow portable oxygen concentrator, but the ARYA Airtivo Max supplemental oxygen concentrator is the total package. Here are the two other concentrators that the ARYA Airtivo Max beat out for the title of "Best Pulse Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator"
2nd Place- Lifestyle Rhythm P2 Portable Oxygen Concentrator
3rd Place- GCE Zen-O Lite
Best Overall Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator: GCE Zen-O
When it comes to continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators, they all have similar features and the unit specs are comparable across the board. So picking the top unit in this category wasn't easy, but the GCE Zen-O barely edged out its competitors.
What Makes the GCE Zen-O the Best Continuous Flow Portable oxygen Concentrator?
The GCE Zen-O has quietly risen to the top of our list as the best continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator this year. Mostly because of the GCE Zen-O being a true Personal Ambulatory Oxygen System. Specifically, it has a high oxygen output in both pulse and continuous flow settings, it comes with an adjustable travel cart with a telescoping handle, offers CPAP & BiPAP functionality, and it's extremely durable concentrator that will meet your oxygen demands.
CPAP & BiPAP Compatible
Are you one of the many oxygen users who also leverages a CPAP or BiPAP machine?
Well with the GCE Zen-O your nightly routine will be simplified, thanks to GCE making it extremely easy for you to use your CPAP or BiPAP machine in congruence with your oxygen therapy.
Oxygen Output
The GCE Zen-O oxygen concentrator offers both continuous flow oxygen delivery and pulse flow oxygen delivery meaning it can accommodate the majority of oxygen patients 24/7/365.
It offers continuous flow settings 0.5-2.0 LPM and pulse flow settings 1-6 making it perfect for everyday use, traveling, and anything in between! As stated above, you can use this machine 24/7/365 as long as you can plug it into the AC or DC power supply or as long as you have charged batteries.
When the GCE Zen-O is plugged into the AC or DC power supply it can provide you with an endless supply of oxygen, making it the perfect unit to use for your nighttime oxygen.
Size and Weight
When it comes to continuous flow units, the majority of them weigh over 15 pounds. This is because a larger compressor and motor are needed to produce a continuous flow of oxygen.
With that being said, the GCE Zen-O is one of the smallest and lightest continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators!
Standing just 8.3" W x 6.6" D x 12.3" H, the GCE Zen-O can fit underneath the seat on an airplane to make traveling as easy as possible. The included adjustable travel cart makes it so you never have to deal with the hassle of carrying your oxygen concentrator. And the foldable handle makes storing your GCE Zen-O on the cart a breeze.
The SeQual Eclipse can be operated on the go with a rechargeable battery, and with the battery installed, the GCE Zen-O weighs in at only 10 pounds.
Battery Life
With continuous flow portables you have two different battery ratings; one for pulse flow settings and one for continuous flow settings. When using the machine on continuous flow, the compressor and motor are constantly running, which uses more battery life.
The GCE Zen-O is one of the top continuous flow portables in terms of battery life. Here is a chart with the expected battery life of the GCE Zen-O:
| Flow Rate | Expected Battery Life w/ 1 Battery | Expected Battery Life w/ 2 Batteries |
| Pulse 1 | Up to 4.0 Hours | Up to 8.0 Hours |
| Pulse 2 | Up to 4.0 Hours | Up to 8.0 Hours |
| Pulse 3 | Up to 3.0 Hours | Up to 6.0 Hours |
| Pulse 4 | Up to 2.25 Hours | Up to 4.5 Hours |
| Pulse 5 | Up to 2.0 Hours | Up to 4.0 Hours |
| Pulse 6 | Up to 1.75 Hours | Up to 3.5 Hours |
| Cont. 0.5 LPM | Up to 3.0 Hours | Up to 6.0 Hours |
| Cont. 1.0 LPM | Up to 1.75 Hours | Up to 3.5 Hours |
| Cont. 1.5 LPM | Up to 1.25 Hours | Up to 2.5 Hours |
| Cont 2.0 LPM | Up to 0.75 Hours | Up to 1.5 Hours |
Honorable Mention
Although there aren't as many continuous flow portables as there are pulse flow units, this was still a hard decision to make. Here are the two other machines that were in contention for the "Best Overall Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator":
2nd Place - Respironics SimplyGo
3rd Place - SeQual Eclipse 5
Best of the Rest!
Those are just two of the many portable oxygen concentrators that are available. And this post isn't meant to knock the other concentrators on the market. With that being said, here is a short list of portable oxygen concentrators that deserve consideration when you are in your decision making process:
- Best Overall Pulse Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator:
ARYA Airtivo Max Portable Oxygen Concentrator
- Best Overall Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrator:
GCE Zen-O
- Smallest Pulse Flow Concentrator:
ARYA Airtivo
- Smallest Continuous Flow Concentrator:
GCE Zen-O
- Pulse Flow Concentrator w/ Longest Battery Life:
ARYA Portable Oxygen Concentrator
- Continuous Flow Concentrator w/ Longest Battery Life:
SeQual Eclipse 5
- Pulse Flow Concentrator w/ Highest Oxygen Output:
ARYA Airtivo Max POC
- Continuous Flow Concentrator w/ Highest Oxygen Output:
SeQual Eclipse 5
Conclusion
Even though this post highlights the best portable oxygen concentrators of 2022-2023, you should be extremely objective when deciding which unit will work best for you. Your primary use of the concentrator should play a major role in your decision making process. Whether you plan to use your concentrator every day, for traveling only, or for special occasions you need to find the one that will best suit your needs.
We also have a couple different blog posts you can check out to help make it easier to find the best unit for you:
Top 4 Pulse Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrators
Top 4 Continuous Flow Portable Oxygen Concentrators
You can download our FREE portable oxygen concentrator comparison cheat sheet and easily compare every concentrator side-by-side. Or you can always give us a call and speak with a respiratory specialist to get all of your questions answered!
