- 2026 AEDBB Awards · Overall category
The overall award went to the Philips FRx. Here is the working.
One model had to answer the widest question: if a buyer could know nothing else, which device fails them least across schools, worksites, gyms, and mixed-age sites? The FRx won on the published criteria, and this page shows the evidence, the weighting, and the trade-off we printed next to the trophy. The full decision, with every alternative compared, lives in the complete best-AED guide.
- Checked · July 23, 2026
- The criteria
- Editorially reviewed
- Direct answer
The Philips HeartStart FRx won the 2026 overall category: the only reviewed model combining IP55 field durability with single-pad-set pediatric coverage via the Infant/Child Key, at $2,099 list (checked 7/23). Its stated trade-offs: a 2-year pad cycle and no CPR-depth measurement. Deciding for your own building? Start at the complete guide.
- The criteria, applied
What did the FRx actually win on?
The five published criteria at balanced weighting, each with its evidence and its date. No sub-scores invented; where a rival beat the FRx on a criterion, it says so.
| Criterion | How the FRx performed | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Rescuer simplicity | Voice-guided, pre-connected pads, built for untrained responders | Philips IFU; same guidance family as the OnSite |
| 5-year total cost | Mid-pack: ~$2,380 est. with cabinet; the value winners beat it | Sourced calculation, 2026 list + street consumables, checked 7/23 |
| Consumable architecture | Category-defining: one pad set + Infant/Child Key covers infants to adults, no second SKU to expire | Philips IFU, key M3841A |
| Durability | IP55 with drop and crush specs; HeartSine carries a higher IP56 ingress number, the FRx wins the full package | Philips IFU; IEC 60529 definitions |
| Readiness signaling | Self-tests with status indicator; no WiFi reporting | Philips IFU; connected buyers see the CR2 |
Weighting note: balanced across the five criteria for this category. Reweight for your reality instead: budget-first buyers land on the 350P, feedback-first on the AED Plus, fleet-first on the CR2. That reweighting is exactly what the complete guide walks through.
- The award's fine print
A winner without a trade-off is an ad.
So here is the FRx’s, in the open: no CPR depth or rate measurement, and a 2-year pad cycle that budget rivals beat. If compression coaching is your priority, the award is irrelevant to you and the ZOLL AED Plus is your page.
- What this award is NOT
Not a hands-on test result, not a medical endorsement, not a certification, and not for sale. It is a documented editorial judgment under published criteria, with dated public evidence and the working shown.
- Where to decide
The award is context. These pages are decisions.
The decision owner
Every reviewed model compared under the same criteria, including the value and feedback picks that beat the FRx on single criteria.
The winner, examined
Specs, 5-year math, who should buy it and who should not, with dealer routes for new and recertified units.
The full 2026 program
Value, home, schools, CPR feedback, connected fleet and more, each with criteria and trade-offs shown.
Building-specific answer instead? The 60-second quiz applies these criteria to your site, and the industry guides carry per-environment verdicts.
References · primary sources
- ManufacturerPhilips. HeartStart FRx product documentation: IP55, Infant/Child Key M3841A, SMART Pads. philips.com emergency care
- RegulatoryUS FDA. Premarket Approval (PMA) database. accessdata.fda.gov PMA
- StandardIEC. IEC 60529: Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code). webstore.iec.ch
- MarketAuthorized US distributor list pricing, checked 2026-07-23, per the dated-price convention in our editorial standards.
Checked · July 23, 2026 Review Methodology Editorial Standards 2026 Awards All 22 Industries AED Resource Library