- •Built for rough settings: the FRx carries an IP55 rating and a rugged case, a common pick for sports, worksites, and first responders.
- •Pediatric use via the Infant/Child key: insert the key and the same pads deliver a lower pediatric dose, no separate pad set.
- •FDA-approved via PMA (P180028). See all Philips models or refurbished and recertified options.
Verdict: The Philips HeartStart FRx (listed around $2,099 at authorized US distributors, 2026 list, confirm current) is the rugged, pediatric-ready member of the HeartStart family, FDA-approved under PMA P180028[1]. Buy the FRx if you need one AED that survives harsh conditions and treats both adults and children on the same set of pads. Choose the Philips OnSite instead if you want the lowest-priced indoor unit sold without a prescription.
Decision shortcut
Buy the FRx for schools, sports fields, worksites, first responders, or any place where the device gets moved, dropped, or rained on and may treat a child.
Buy the Philips OnSite for a fixed indoor location on a tight budget where a prescription step is unwelcome.
Step up to the ZOLL AED Plus if trained responders need real-time CPR depth feedback the FRx does not provide.
Who should buy the FRx, and who should not
The FRx is built for one job: a single AED that holds up outside a clean office and works on a child without a second set of pads. That makes it the natural pick for K-12 schools, athletic programs, construction and manufacturing sites, fleets and first responders, and houses of worship with mixed-age congregations. If your device will live on a wall in a climate-controlled lobby and only ever treat adults, you are paying for ruggedness you will not use.
It also fits program managers standardizing across sites that serve both adults and children, because one pad part number covers every patient. Our AEDs for schools guide and AEDs for gyms guide both land on the FRx for exactly this reason.
Skip the FRx if any of these apply
You want the cheapest possible unit for a fixed indoor spot. The OnSite costs less and is sold over the counter in the US.
Your responders drill on CPR quality. The FRx coaches rate but does not measure compression depth. That tier starts with the ZOLL AED Plus.
You manage a large fleet and want cellular readiness reporting. The FRx has no built-in connectivity; a LIFEPAK CR2 or a managed program fits better.
The two FRx advantages that actually matter
One pad set for adults and children. The FRx ships with pre-connected SMART Pads II that treat both adults and children[2]. To switch to a pediatric rescue you insert the optional Infant/Child Key, which drops the delivered energy to 50 joules; the adult setting is 150 joules[2]. That matters operationally: the OnSite needs a separate pediatric pads cartridge you have to buy, stock, and track on its own expiration clock. The FRx removes that second consumable entirely.
Built to survive the real world. Philips rates the FRx IPX5 for water jets under IEC 60529 and designs it for harsh settings, rated to withstand crushing force and a 1.2 meter drop[2]. Against the OnSite’s indoor-grade IP21, that difference is the whole point for a sports field, a marina, a plant floor, or a patrol vehicle. Our AED IP ratings guide explains what those numbers mean in practice.
What the FRx costs to own over five years
Sticker price is not the whole number. A realistic five-year budget is the device plus the consumables that expire inside that window, because Philips rates the SMART Pads II at roughly a two-year shelf life and the battery at about four years of standby[2].
Five-year cost of ownership (calculation, not a quote)
$2,099 device (2026 list, confirm current) + two SMART Pads II replacements at about $99 each + one battery at about $210 = roughly $2,350 through year five.
Assumptions: typical 2026 consumable prices, no rescue deployment (any use means an immediate pad replacement), and no cabinet, signage, or training. Confirm current pricing before you budget, and run your unit count in our AED cost calculator.
How the FRx works in a rescue
Pull the green handle to power on and the FRx starts talking immediately, pairing clear voice prompts with Philips Life Guidance to walk a first-time responder through the rescue. Peel and place the two pre-connected SMART Pads II on bare skin; there is no cartridge to load or cable to seat under stress.
The device analyzes the rhythm through its SMART Analysis system and only enables a shock when it detects a shockable rhythm, so it cannot shock a normal heartbeat by accident. When a shock is advised it charges and prompts the responder to press the flashing orange button. Between shocks it coaches CPR pacing, though it does not measure compression depth. The American Heart Association reports that immediate bystander CPR can double or triple survival from cardiac arrest[3], which is why even rate-only coaching earns its place for untrained rescuers.
At 3.5 pounds with battery and pads, the FRx is among the lightest full-size AEDs, so it grabs and carries easily to a downed patient across a field or a factory[2].
How the FRx compares with the other Philips and budget picks
Most FRx shoppers cross-shop the Philips OnSite and, one tier up, the ZOLL AED Plus. All three are FDA-approved through the PMA process, so the real differences are ruggedness, pediatric handling, prescription status, and CPR feedback, not regulatory standing.
| Device | 2026 list price | Pediatric | Ruggedness | CPR feedback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips FRx | ~$2,099 (confirm current) | Infant/Child Key, same pads | IPX5, crush and drop rated | Voice, rate pacing |
| Philips OnSite | ~$1,589 (confirm current) | Separate pediatric cartridge | Indoor grade (IP21) | Voice coaching |
| ZOLL AED Plus | ~$2,082 (confirm current) | Pediatric via pad settings | IP55 | Real-time depth and rate |
The read is simple. The OnSite wins on price and over-the-counter availability for an indoor, adult-first location. The ZOLL AED Plus wins if trained staff will actually use depth feedback. The FRx wins the middle that most real buyers occupy: mixed-age, moved-around, weather-exposed, and cost-sensitive but not bottom-dollar. For a broader field, see our Philips AED lineup and best AED guide.
Philips HeartStart FRx specifications
| FDA status | Approved via PMA P180028 |
| Weight | 3.5 lb (1.5 kg) with battery and pads |
| Ingress rating | IPX5 water jets per IEC 60529; harsh-setting design |
| Shock energy | 150 J adult; 50 J pediatric with Infant/Child Key |
| Pads | Pre-connected SMART Pads II, adult and child, ~2-year shelf life |
| Battery | Long-life lithium, ~4-year standby |
| Durability | Rated to withstand crushing force and a 1.2 m drop |
Specifications per Philips product documentation[2]. Confirm the current spec sheet and labeling for your configuration before purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Philips HeartStart FRx FDA approved?
Yes. The FRx holds FDA premarket approval under PMA P180028[1], the agency’s most rigorous device pathway. You can verify the record directly in the FDA PMA database linked in the references, and you can compare it against the rest of the Philips lineup.
Does the FRx need separate pediatric pads?
No, and that is its signature advantage. The same SMART Pads II treat adults and children; you add the optional Infant/Child Key to shift to pediatric energy. The Philips OnSite, by contrast, requires a separate pediatric pads cartridge on its own expiration schedule.
FRx vs OnSite: which should I buy?
Buy the FRx if the device will be moved, exposed to weather, or used on children, since it is rugged and switches to pediatric on one pad set. Buy the OnSite for a fixed indoor spot on a tighter budget where its over-the-counter status is a plus. Our Find Your Perfect AED quiz maps your site to one in about a minute.
How rugged is the FRx really?
Philips rates it IPX5 for water jets under IEC 60529 and designs it to withstand crushing force and a 1.2 meter drop[2]. For what those ratings mean day to day, see our AED IP ratings guide.
What does an FRx cost to own?
Plan on roughly $2,350 across five years: about $2,099 for the device plus two pad replacements and one battery at typical 2026 prices. Run your own unit count in the AED cost calculator, and confirm current consumable pricing with your seller.
Is a refurbished FRx a safe way to save?
It can be, if the reseller documents a full recertification, fresh SMART Pads II, a current battery, and a written warranty. The model’s PMA approval does not change with age, but an individual used unit is only as safe as its inspection and consumables. Our refurbished AED guide covers how to vet a seller.
Do I need a prescription to buy the FRx?
Yes. Unlike the over-the-counter OnSite, the FRx is a prescription device in the US; reputable dealers include the physician authorization with the sale. Confirm that is in writing before ordering.
The bottom line
The Philips HeartStart FRx earns its place as the rugged, child-ready Philips: one lightweight unit that survives the field and treats both adults and children on a single pad set, without the separate pediatric cartridge its cheaper sibling demands. It will not coach compression depth and it carries a prescription step, but for schools, sports, and worksites that is the right set of trade-offs.
Next steps: check current pricing and package options on our Philips HeartStart FRx product page, run your numbers in the AED cost calculator, or answer a few questions in the Find Your Perfect AED quiz to confirm the FRx fits your site.
References
1. US Food and Drug Administration, Premarket Approval (PMA) database, record P180028, Philips HeartStart FRx. accessdata.fda.gov
2. Philips, HeartStart FRx Automated External Defibrillator, official product and specification page. usa.philips.com
3. American Heart Association, CPR facts and resources on bystander CPR and survival. heart.org
Get the Philips HeartStart FRx at the right price
You have read the full breakdown. If the Philips HeartStart FRx fits your setting, see current 2026 pricing, stock, and the exact pads and battery it needs on one page.
