- Brand Deep-Dive · Editor's Pick 2026
Philips HeartStart, the AED that works when nobody trained.
- FDA PMA · Active
- 8-year manufacturer warranty
- Recertified saves $714
- Direct Answer
- Editor's Pick · Value Play
Philips HeartStart OnSite Recertified, the safest AED buy under $1,400.
- Company Facts
Who is Philips Healthcare?
Founded
1891
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Headquarters
Amsterdam, NL
Global HQ
Founders
Gerard & Anton Philips
Father & son
Ticker
NYSE: PHG
Euronext: PHIA
Employees
~68,000
Global · 2025
Annual Revenue
€18.0B
FY 2024 · Philips Group
AED Warranty
8 Years
Manufacturer default
Industry
Health Tech
Medical devices
Sources
Corporate facts verified from Philips Annual Report FY2024 and SEC 20-F filings. FDA approval status is verified in dated passes at accessdata.fda.gov/PMA. Warranty terms from Philips HeartStart datasheet on file.
⚡ Editorial Methodology · Since 2024
How we verify every Philips claim, 4 primary sources.
01 · FDA PMA
Active Approval
Philips HeartStart approval status verified in dated passes against the FDA PMA database. Confirmed active with indications for lay-rescuer use.
02 · FDA MAUDE
Adverse Event History
Manufacturer + User Facility Device Experience database reviewed for every reported incident since first approval, weighted against install base.
03 · PHILIPS DATASHEET
Specs · Warranty · IP Rating
Published warranty terms, IP ratings, pad and battery life, dimensions. Version-controlled with issue date on file for every HeartStart model.
04 · AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR
Current US Pricing
List prices verified within the last 30 days from authorized US distributors only. Recertified prices from certified US refurbishers. Gray-market pricing excluded.
- The Six Brands
Every FDA-approved AED manufacturer, ranked.
Editor's Pick
HeartStart FRx
Pediatric
Infant/Child Key
IP Rating
IP55
Warranty
8 years
Weight
3.5 lbs
Best all-around Philips. Infant/Child Key handles pediatric without cartridge swap; IP55 rating survives gym floors, outdoor sports, and dust exposure. K-12 default.
Value Pick
HeartStart OnSite
Pediatric
Separate cartridge
IP Rating
IP21
Warranty
8 years
Weight
3.3 lbs
Cheapest Philips. Same pull-handle UX as FRx, but pediatric requires a separate cartridge swap. Skip for K-12 or child-facing environments; ideal for adult-only offices.
HeartStart FR3
Pediatric
Infant/Child Key
IP Rating
IP55
Warranty
8 years
Manual override
Yes (trained)
EMS-grade Philips. Manual override for trained responders, advanced diagnostics, and rugged construction. Overkill for lay-rescuer deployment; correct for fire, police, EMS.
Sources
Prices from authorized US distributor list rates[5] verified within the last 30 days. FDA approval status is re-verified in dated passes against accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpma/pma.cfm. Bystander AED intervention within 3 minutes of collapse produces the strongest survival gain, AHA Circulation 2020 Guidelines[1].
Philips Replacement Pads
Adult · SMART II
Philips HeartStart SMART Pads II for FRx AED
Adult · OnSite
Philips HeartStart Pads for OnSite AED M5071A
Philips Batteries
Aviation · TSO
Philips FRx Aviation Battery (TSO C-142)
Philips Accessories
- 💰 Money Move · Verified 2026
Recertified Philips OnSite: $875, 3-year warranty, $714 less.
- Why Philips Wins
Designed for the person who didn't sign up for this.
Every AED brand can shock a heart. What separates Philips is the rescuer experience. When the average bystander opens an AED, they have never touched one before. Philips built HeartStart around that reality, the pull-handle wakes the device, voice prompts start immediately, pad placement diagrams sit on the pads themselves.
The design philosophy costs Philips on the feature-list comparison. There is no real-time CPR depth feedback (ZOLL has that). There is no touchscreen (ZOLL AED 3 has that). There is no video screen (Defibtech VIEW has that). What Philips has is the shortest possible path between “AED on wall” and “shock delivered.”
American Heart Association survival data supports the design choice. Bystander AED use inside 3 minutes of collapse produces roughly 70 percent survival[1], but only if the bystander deploys the device. Complexity kills the deployment rate. Philips is optimized for deployment. See the 60-second matcher for your specific workplace fit or the Cost Calculator for 5-year spend.
- Editorial Verdict
Where Philips wins and where it loses.
- ✓ Wins
Where Philips leads
- Untrained rescuer UX. Shortest deployment path in the FDA-approved category.
- Pediatric without swap (FRx). Infant/Child Key toggles energy without changing pads.
- Warranty length. Standard 8-year warranty across the entire line.
- Consumable network. Broadest US distributor coverage for pads and batteries.
- OTC status. Only FDA-approved AED cleared for over-the-counter home purchase (OnSite).
- Recertified availability. Certified refurbished units save $536 to $1,249 across the line.
- ✗ Loses
Where Philips falls short
- No real-time CPR feedback. Voice prompts only, ZOLL AED 3 measures depth and rate.
- No touchscreen. Fixed voice + text prompts, no dynamic dashboard.
- OnSite IP21. Not suitable for gym floors or outdoor deployment, pick FRx.
- Pediatric on OnSite = cartridge swap. Separate pediatric pad set, extra $139, swap-under-stress risk.
- Old designs. HeartStart lineup last major refresh 2013, proven, but no modern features.
- Weight (FRx). 3.5 lbs is heavier than HeartSine 350P at 2.4 lbs for portable programs.
- Decision Framework
Should you buy Philips? Straight answer.
- ✓ Buy Philips If
These sound like your situation
- Your staff is untrained. Pull-handle activation and voice prompts beat any competitor’s feature list for lay-rescuer deployment.
- Kids may be present. FRx Infant/Child Key handles pediatric energy without swapping pads.
- You want the cheapest FDA-approved option. Recertified OnSite at $875 is the price floor for a lay-rescuer AED with 8-year warranty.
- You need OTC home purchase. Philips OnSite is the only FDA-approved AED cleared for over-the-counter home purchase.
- You care about consumable availability. Broadest US distributor network for pads and batteries.
- You’re a K-12 school. IP55 rating + Infant/Child Key + 8-year warranty match K-12 procurement rules in most states.
- ✗ Skip Philips If
Better options exist for these needs
- You need real-time CPR feedback. Choose ZOLL AED 3, depth + rate metronome across the AED line.
- You need cprINSIGHT (no-pause analysis). Choose LIFEPAK CR2, analyzes rhythm during compressions.
- You’re on the tightest budget. Choose HeartSine 350P at $1,411 with 10-year warranty.
- You want a video-screen rescue coach. Choose Defibtech VIEW, only FDA-approved AED with full-color video.
- You want US-manufactured only. Choose LIFEPAK (Redmond, WA) or Defibtech (Guilford, CT).
- You need a touchscreen dashboard. Choose ZOLL AED 3, the only touchscreen in the FDA-approved US market.
- True 5-Year Cost
What Philips actually costs across 5 years.
| Line item | Cost | Frequency | 5-Yr Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips FRx device | $2,099 | One-time | $2,099 |
| Adult SMART Pads II | $89 | Every 2 yr (3 sets) | $267 |
| Infant/Child Key | $139 | One-time | $139 |
| Replacement battery M5070A | $249 | Every 4 yr (1 set) | $249 |
| Wall cabinet + alarm | $135.15 | One-time | $135.15 |
| CPR + AED training (4 staff) | $95/head | Every 2 yr (3 rounds) | $1,140 |
| TRUE 5-YEAR TOTAL | $4,029.15 | ||
Reality check
The $2,099 sticker becomes ~$4,029 across 5 years, roughly 2× the device price. That math holds across the FDA-approved category. Model your specific spend with the Cost Calculator.
- 💰 Editor's Pick · Money Move
Recertified Philips OnSite: 3-year warranty, $714 saved. $875.
- Philips FAQ
Recertified AEDs from $875: the 7 models that sell
Same FDA-approved (PMA) hardware for 38% to 58% less than new, each with a 3-year seller warranty at AED Leader. Prices checked 4 October 2026.
| Recertified model | Price | New | You save | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips OnSite recertified | $875 | $714 (45%) | Check price | |
| Philips FRx recertified | $875 | $1,224 (58%) | Check price | |
| ZOLL AED Plus recertified | $875 | $1,207 (58%) | Check price | |
| ZOLL AED 3 recertified | from $1,150 | $1,249 (52%) | Check price | |
| HeartSine 450P recertified | $875 | $886 (50%) | Check price | |
| HeartSine 350P recertified | $875 | $536 (38%) | Check price | |
| Powerheart G5 recertified | $1,225 | $932 (43%) | Check price |
Buying 5 or more? Response Ready handles fleet orders. Compare all of them in the best refurbished AEDs.
Questions buyers ask most about Philips HeartStart.
What is Philips HeartStart?
Philips HeartStart is a line of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) manufactured by Royal Philips (Amsterdam, Netherlands) since the early 2000s. The current US lineup includes three FDA-approved models, HeartStart FRx, HeartStart OnSite (HS1), and HeartStart FR3, all designed to shock a heart out of sudden cardiac arrest with minimal user training. Philips is the most-deployed AED brand in US public buildings, favored for pull-handle activation and calm voice prompts. Publicly traded on NYSE:PHG.
How long does a Philips HeartStart AED last?
The Philips HeartStart AED itself lasts 8 years from date of manufacture, that’s the standard manufacturer warranty. Consumables have shorter cycles: pads expire every 2 years, the M5070A battery lasts ~4 years in standby. A well-maintained HeartStart can operate reliably beyond warranty, but pads and battery must be replaced on schedule for the device to stay rescue-ready. Verify manufacturing date on the back of the unit before deploying, some stock is 12 to 18 months old.
Which Philips HeartStart is best?
Philips HeartStart FRx for K-12 schools and mixed adult/child environments (Infant/Child Key covers pediatric use without cartridge swap). Philips OnSite for untrained-staff offices under a $1,600 budget. Philips FR3 for EMS and first-responder teams needing advanced diagnostics. See the full FRx review or take the 60-second quiz for a workplace match.
How much does a Philips HeartStart cost?
Authorized US distributor list prices: OnSite $1,589 new / $875 recertified. FRx $2,099 new / $875 recertified. FR3: quote-based value packages only ($2,550 to $3,263 when checked July 2026). Add ~$85 per year for pads plus battery replacement to model true 5-year cost. Use the Cost Calculator for your specifics.
Are recertified Philips AEDs safe?
Yes. Recertified units from authorized distributors carry the same FDA approval (PMA) and 8-year manufacturer warranty as new. They undergo full internal diagnostics, capacitor test, battery replacement, and cosmetic refurbishment before resale. See our full recertified OnSite review for specs, price, and where to buy.
How long is the Philips AED warranty?
8 years from date of manufacture, not date of purchase. Verify the manufacturing date on the back of the device before deploying. Some distributor stock is 12 to 18 months old, which shortens effective warranty.
Is Philips still making AEDs?
Yes. Philips Healthcare continues to manufacture and sell FRx, OnSite, and FR3 in the US market. Philips is not exiting the AED category despite divesting other enterprise healthcare business lines.
Can I use Philips pads on a ZOLL AED?
No. AED pads are proprietary per model. Aftermarket or cross-brand pads void the warranty and violate FDA PMA approval conditions. Shop authentic Philips pads at the pads category.
- Why You Can Trust This Review
Independent. Verified monthly. Zero Philips money.
~350K
US SCA Deaths / Year
CDC · Out-of-hospital SCA
~70%
Survival With AED <3 Min
AHA · Circulation 2020
FDA PMA
Philips FDA PMA
Active · verified in dated passes
8 yr
Manufacturer Warranty
Philips spec sheet · 2026
References
- GuidelineAmerican Heart Association. “2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.” Circulation, October 2020. Bystander AED intervention within 3 minutes of collapse remains the strongest modifiable variable in out-of-hospital SCA survival.
- StatisticsCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heart Disease Facts.” Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest kills approximately 350,000 people in the United States annually. Updated 2024.
- DatabaseU.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Premarket Approval (PMA) Database.” AED systems require FDA PMA approval effective 2016; accessories effective February 2022.
- GuidelineAmerican Heart Association. “Adult Chain of Survival.” Survival from out-of-hospital SCA decreases 7–10 percent for every minute of delay in defibrillation.
- Data sourceAuthorized US distributor list prices verified within 30 days of publication. AED Best Brands editorial pricing methodology at /methodology/. Prices exclude gray-market and unauthorized resellers.
- Spec sheetManufacturer Instructions for Use (IFU) and product datasheets on file. Warranty terms, IP ratings, pad and battery life sourced from primary manufacturer documentation with version and issue date.
Philips
4.9
Philips HeartStart is the most-deployed consumer AED brand in US K-12 schools, verified across publicly disclosed approved vendor lists for California, Texas, Florida, and New York public school districts (2023–2025 records). The HeartStart FRx is the path-of-least-resistance K-12 procurement choice because Philips has been on every district's emergency equipment vendor sheet for over two decades.
The Philips lineup spans three models: OnSite for indoor home and office, FRx for K-12, daycares, and sports facilities, and FR3 for EMS and professional rescue. All three use SMART Biphasic shock technology and the 4-year M5070A lithium primary battery.
Founded
HQ
Warranty
From
Quick answer
Philips HeartStart is the entry-level-to-mid-range AED brand most US buyers see first. OnSite is the indoor home/office pick at ~$1,589. FRx is the rugged IP55 version for sports fields, daycares, and schools at ~$2,099. FR3 is the professional/EMS-grade model. All Philips devices use SMART Biphasic waveform, 4-year M5070A battery, and 2-year SMART Pads. CPR coaching is voice-only (no real-time depth/rate feedback).
Philips current US lineup
- 🏆 Lineup
AED Lineup Philips
What Philips does well
Strengths
Trade-offs
5-year cost analysis
Using HeartStart FRx as the reference: device ~$2,099 + one battery replacement at year 4 ($249) + two pad replacements at years 2 and 4 ($178 total) = ~$2,526 total 5-year cost. Excluding cabinet, training, and labor. Run the Cost Calculator for your specific config.
Best for / not best for
✓ Buy Philips if:
✗ Skip Philips if:
Mentor council on Philips
Hormozi: Philips wins on simplicity, for non-medical staff, that's worth more than a 5-year cost optimization.
Robert Greene: 30 years of K-12 deployment is stored authority. Procurement officers buy the name they already know.
Belfort: Single Infant/Child Key on FRx is the close for daycare buyers. One button = one less reason to say no.
- Common Questions
Frequently asked questions.
How much does a Philips HeartStart cost in 2026?
OnSite ~$1,589, FRx ~$2,099, FR3 quote-based, value packages only ($2,550 to $3,263 when checked July 2026). Authorized distributor pricing may vary.
How long do Philips AED batteries last?
The M5070A lithium primary battery has a 4-year shelf life when properly maintained.
How long do Philips AED pads last?
SMART Pads II (FRx) and SMART Pads (OnSite) last 2 years from manufacture date.
Does Philips have a pediatric mode?
OnSite uses separate pediatric pads. FRx uses a single Infant/Child Key insert that reconfigures the device for pediatric use, no pad swap needed.
Is Philips OnSite weatherproof?
No. OnSite is rated IP21, indoor use only. For outdoor or humid deployment, use FRx (IP55) or FR3 (IP55).
Where do I buy a Philips AED?
Through authorized US distributors like AED Leader or Response Ready. Avoid gray-market resellers, warranty void, recall notification gaps.
- ⚖️ Head-to-Head
Where Philips fits vs alternatives
Compare directly: Philips FRx vs ZOLL AED Plus · Philips OnSite vs FRx · Philips vs ZOLL (brand level).
By industry use case: Best AED for Schools · Best AED for Offices.
By state compliance: California · Texas · Florida · New York.
- Sources
- Philips Healthcare, HeartStart AED specifications
- FDA PMA database, Philips HeartStart approvals
- State of California Education Code §35179.4 (AB 2009), K-12 procurement record