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 (~$165) + two pad replacements at years 2 and 4 (~$120 total) = ~$2,384 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
- 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 $500+
- 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 monthly 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 monthly 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 monthly 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 Accessories
- 💰 Money Move · Verified 2026
Recertified Philips OnSite = same warranty, $180 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 $180 to $500 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 $180, 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 $1,349 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 a tight sub-$1,000 budget. Choose HeartSine 350P at $995 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 | $1,944 | One-time | $1,944 |
| Adult SMART pads | $99 | Every 2 yr (3 sets) | $297 |
| Infant/Child Key | $180 | One-time | $180 |
| Replacement battery | $189 | Every 4 yr (1 set) | $189 |
| Wall cabinet + alarm | $249 | One-time | $249 |
| CPR + AED training (4 staff) | $95/head | Every 2 yr (3 rounds) | $1,140 |
| TRUE 5-YEAR TOTAL | $3,999 | ||
Reality check
The $1,944 sticker becomes ~$4,000 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 = same warranty, $180 saved. $1,349.
- FAQ
Questions we hear most from buyers.
Which AED brand is best?
No single brand wins every use case. Philips leads for untrained-staff simplicity, ZOLL leads for trained-team CPR feedback, LIFEPAK CR2 leads for EMS-grade performance in pediatric-heavy environments. Match the brand to the environment — use the 60-second quiz for a specific match.
Are all these brands FDA-approved?
Yes. Every brand listed has active FDA FDA PMA approval for the US market. We re-verify approval status monthly against the FDA PMA database. Non-cleared and gray-market units are excluded. See our full verification methodology.
Can I save money on an FDA-approved AED?
Yes. Recertified units from authorized distributors save $500–$700 versus new and carry the same manufacturer warranty and FDA FDA PMA approval. The recertified Philips HeartStart OnSite is the network’s most-purchased AED at $1,349 (vs $1,529 new).
Which brands are made in the USA?
Physio-Control / LIFEPAK is US-manufactured (Redmond, WA). Defibtech is US-manufactured (Guilford, CT). Philips, ZOLL, and HeartSine devices are assembled internationally with US-based service and support networks.
How long is the typical AED warranty?
Standard is 8 years across most FDA-approved brands. HeartSine 350P offers a 10-year warranty. Powerheart G5 offers a lifetime rescue guarantee if maintained per manufacturer schedule. Model your true 5-year spend with the Cost Calculator.
- Why You Can Trust This Comparison
Independent. Verified monthly. Zero manufacturer money.
~350K
US SCA Deaths / Year
CDC · Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest
~70%
Survival With AED <3 Min
AHA · Circulation 2020 Guidelines
7–10%
Survival Drop / Minute of Delay
AHA · Chain of Survival
6
FDA-Approved US Manufacturers
FDA PMA database · verified monthly
- Independent editorial
- FDA-cleared only
- Monthly recall checks
- Cited to primary sources
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.