This post was edited and republished on 02/15/17 to update the list and the information.
Portable oxygen concentrators with continuous flow, as the name implies, deliver uninterrupted oxygen flow based on the setting that is applied on the device.
When choosing a unit, consider its weight, ease of use, battery life, oxygen flow rate measured in liters per minute (LPM), and other additional features before making your decision.
Despite the fact that continuous flow concentrators are larger than their pulse flow counterparts, you have no reason to be intimidated by the size of continuous flow units.
Below is a review of the top continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators currently on the market. These units are listed in no particular order.
The SeQual eQuinox is one of the most advanced continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator on the market. As one of the smallest units in its class, the eQuinox is one of our more popular continuous flow units. Here is a quick run down on the eQuinox!
Despite being released a couple years ago, the SeQual eQuinox is still one of the most advanced units on the market. Here's a brief look at the different features the eQuinox has to offer:
One of the coolest features on the eQuinox is the fact that it can actually talk to you to notify you of any changes you make or problems that may arise. It can talk to you in 8 different languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and more!
Here is a list of the different alarms and notifications the eQuinox will tell you about:
And don't worry, you can easily mute the alarms if this feature isn't for you!
Convenience is huge when you're considering a portable oxygen concentrator. You want something that is simple to operate in every way possible. The front loading battery on the eQuinox lets you change batteries on the go without any hassle.
You won't have to take your unit off the cart to change batteries. You won't have to deal with any pull tabs. And you don't have to guess which way the battery is supposed to go.
It's really as easy as the push of a button:
The most important feature on any portable oxygen concentrator is the oxygen output. If the unit doesn't meet your oxygen requirements, it's not going to work for you...
Well, the SeQual eQuinox has the highest oxygen output on the market. It offers pulse flow settings 1-9 and continuous flow settings 0.5-3.0 LPM.
It will be able to accommodate almost any oxygen patient, 24/7/365 and it's CPAP/BiPAP compatible.
The SeQual eQuinox has two different battery options available; the 12-cell and the 24-cell.
When it's installed, the 12-cell battery keeps the eQuinox at a true 14 pounds. However, it only gets half of the battery life of the 24-cell. The 12-cell battery will get up to 2.78 hours of battery life on a pulse flow setting of 2.
The 24-cell battery adds more weight to the concentrator, making it weigh 15.8 pounds. However, you get much better battery life with the 24-cell battery. The 24-cell battery will get up to 5.94 hours of battery life on a pulse flow setting of 2.
Here is a chart showing the full expected battery life for the SeQual eQuinox:
| Flow Rate | 12-Cell Battery (Pulse/Continuous) | 24-Cell Battery (Pulse/Continuous) |
| 1 | Up to 2.82 Hours/Up to 2.16 Hours | Up to 6.03 Hours/Up to 4.84 Hours |
| 2 | Up to 2.78 Hours/Up to 1.21 Hours | Up to 5.94 Hours/Up to 2.75 Hours |
| 3 | Up to 2.38 Hours/Up to 0.80 Hours | Up to 5.39 Hours/Up to 1.84 Hours |
| 4 (Pulse Flow Only) | Up to 2.31 Hours | Up to 4.94 Hours |
| 5 (Pulse Flow Only) | Up to 2.22 Hours | Up to 4.75 Hours |
| 6 (Pulse Flow Only) | Up to 1.70 Hours | Up to 3.85 Hours |
| 7 (Pulse Flow Only) | Up to 1.56 Hours | Up to 3.33 Hours |
| 8 (Pulse Flow Only) | Up to 1.28 Hours | Up to 2.72 Hours |
| 9 (Pulse Flow Only) | Up to 1.0 Hours | Up to 2.15 Hours |
|
Weight |
14 Pounds |
|
Dimensions |
13.6” H x 10.6” W x 7.4” D |
|
Flow Rate |
Continuous Flow Settings 0.5-3.0 LPM Pulse Flow Settings 1-9 |
|
Battery Life |
Continuous Flow Up To 2.75 Hours Pulse Flow Up To 5.94 Hours |
|
Power |
85-264 VAC, 47/63 Hz; 12V Nominal |
|
FAA Approved |
Yes |
|
Warranty |
3 Years |
The SeQual eQuinox is one of the premeire portable oxygen concentrators on the market. It made this list for a number of different reasons:
The SeQual Eclipse 5 is one of the most popular units on the market and for a good reason! This is the 4th generation of the Eclipse line so it's a name patients know and trust. But it's not just the name that makes the Eclipse 5 a quality product! Here is a quick run down on the SeQual Eclipse 5.
As one of the most popular concentrators on the market the Eclipse 5 is user-friendly, reliable, and it can accommodate most oxygen patients! Here is a brief look at some of the features the Eclipse 5 has to offer:
The SeQual Eclipse line is notorious for its high oxygen output. In fact, all of SeQual's current continuous flow units offer the highet oxygen output on the market.
The SeQual Eclipse 5 offers pulse flow settings 1-9 and continuous flow settings 0.5-3.0 LPM. Just like the eQuinox.
The Eclipse 5 was designed to be able to run 24/7/365. It offers continuous flow to accommodate your needs at night and it's compatible with CPAP and BiPAP machines.
Not to mention it has an impressive compressor that lasts, on average, 20,000 hours.
Battery life is probably one of the most important features of a portable concentrator. Without battery life, you can't be mobile... The Eclipse 5 gets pretty good battery life so you will have plenty of time to run errands, grab dinner with your family, or head to the beach for a while!
Here is a chart showing the expected battery life for the SeQual Eclipse 5:
| Flow Rate | Pulse Flow Battery Life | Continuous Flow Battery Life |
| 1 | Up to 5.4 Hours | Up to 3.7 Hours |
| 2 | Up to 5.1 Hours | Up to 2.0 Hours |
| 3 | Up to 4.9 Hours | Up to 1.3 Hours |
| 4 | Up to 4.0 Hours | N/A |
| 5 | Up to 3.7 Hours | N/A |
| 6 | Up to 3.5 Hours | N/A |
| 7 | Up to 2.5 Hours | N/A |
| 8 | Up to 2.0 Hours | N/A |
| 9 | Up to 1.7 Hours | N/A |
One of the major improvements SeQual implemented with the Eclipse 5 is the capability to charge on the DC power supply. The Eclipse 3 had some major charging issues and would blow out fuses in most vehicles.
Well the Eclipse 5 has the ability to recharge batteries in the car on pulse flow settings 1-6 and continuous flow settings 0.5-2.0 LPM.
Even if you use a higher flow rate than 6 pulse or 2.0 LPM, the Eclipse 5 will run off of your vehicle's power when plugged into the DC power supply so you can save your battery life for when it really matters!
Operating the SeQual Eclipse 5 is as simple as it gets. You can control the unit using the 4-button control panel on top of the machine. Each button serves one purpose so there is no confusion. You have the:
The control panel is equipped with an LCD screen to display your oxygen setting and your remaining battery life. It's also equipped with LED indicator lights that will illuminate if there is an issue with your concentrator.
|
Weight |
18.4 Pounds |
|
Dimensions |
19.3” H x 12.3” W x 7.1” D |
|
Flow Rate |
Continuous Flow Settings 0.5-3.0 LPM Pulse Flow Settings 1-9 |
|
Battery Life |
Continuous Flow Up To 2.0 Hours Pulse Flow Up To 5.1 Hours |
|
Power |
100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz; 12V Nominal |
|
FAA Approved |
Yes |
|
Warranty |
3 Years |
The SeQual Eclipse 5 is a well-rounded concentrator that can accommodate the majority of oxygen patients. Here's why it made the list:
The Respironics SimplyGo is the lightest of all portable oxygen concentrator with continuous flow available, weighing in at only 10 pounds. It's small size makes it one of the more popular units on the market, but the reliability of the SimplyGo makes it one of the best continuous flow portables. Here is a brief overview of the SimplyGo.
The Respironics SimplyGo performs just as good as it looks. Aside from being one of the most reliable units on the market, the SimplyGo is user-friendly and it's backed by one of the biggest names in the industry. Here are some of the best features the SimplyGo has to offer:
Standing 10" H x 6" D x 11.5" W and weighing in at a mere 10 pounds, the SimplyGo is, by far, the smallest continuous flow unit on the market. It's small size promotes an active lifestyle and makes it easy to transport and store while traveling.
At 10 pounds, the SimplyGo can be transported using the wheeled travel cart or it can be carried over your shoulder! We recommend using the travel cart to conserve energy, but that is ultimately up to you.
Despite its small size, the SimplyGo provides both continuous flow and pulse flow delivery modes. It offers pulse flow settings 1-6 and continuous flow settings 0.5-2.0 LPM.
The Respironics SimplyGo is the one of the only continuous flow portable oxygen concentrator on the market to operate using one or two batteries. The other unit is the Oxlife Independence, and we will cover that unit next.
When the SimplyGo was first released, it only used one battery. To improve the battery life of the unit, Respironics released the external battery module which allows you to use two batteries to power the SimplyGo. And the battery module is extremely light so it doesn't add too much weight to your concentrator.
Here is a chart showing the expected battery life of the Respironics SimplyGo with one battery:
| Flow Rate | Continuous Flow Battery Life | Pulse Flow Battery Life |
| 0.5 | Up to 2.9 Hours | N/A |
| 1 | Up to 1.6 Hours | Up to 3.4 Hours |
| 2 | Up to 0.9 Hours | Up to 3.0 Hours |
| 3 | N/A | Up to 2.2 Hours |
| 4 | N/A | Up to 1.7 Hours |
| 5 & 6 | N/A | Up to 1.3 Hours |
If you would like to know the expected battery life of the SimplyGo while using two batteries, simply double the single battery time. For example, if you're on a setting of 2 LPM, with 2 batteries the SimplyGo will get up to 1.8 hours.
The SimplyGo is ideal for patients who travel. It offers pulse flow and continuous flow, it's small and compact for easy storage, and it's built to run 24/7! With the SimplyGo you have a portable and a stationary oxygen concentrator in one unit.
It's equipped with sleep mode technology and it's compatible with CPAP and BiPAP machines so you know you will be able to use this machine for nighttime oxygen delivery. This means you won't have to set up a rental unit when you get to your destination, jut bring the SimplyGo and you are covered!
The sleep mode technology works on pulse flow and increases the machine's sensitivity to detect your breath. So you can turn that on if you think you might doze off or if you are having a bout of breathlessness.
To give you added peace of mind, if the SimplyGo does not detect your breath on pulse flow mode, it will automatically switch over to continuous flow to ensure you get the oxygen you require.
|
Weight |
10 Pounds |
|
Dimensions |
10” H x 11.5” W x 6” D |
|
Flow Rate |
Continuous Flow 0.5-2.0 LPM Pulse Flow Settings 1-5 |
|
Battery Life |
Continuous Flow Up To 0.9 Hours Pulse Flow Up To 3.0 Hours |
|
Power |
100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz; 19 VDC |
|
FAA Approved |
Yes |
|
Warranty |
3 Years |
The SimplyGo might not have the highest oxygen output or the longest lasting battery life, however it's still a fantastic unit! Here's why it made this list:
The GCE Zen-O portable oxygen concentrator is a fairly new unit. We actually just started carrying it not too long ago and it's quickly becoming one of our top selling continuous flow portable oxygen concentrators. It's small, lightweight, and durable making it a great choice for anyone who requires continuous flow oxygen delivery. Here is a quick overview of the GCE Zen-O!
Weighing in at 10 pounds, the Zen-O is one of the smallest and lightest continuous flow portables on the market. Don't let its small size fool you though, the Zen-O is packed full with user-friendly features. Despite being fairly new to the market, the Zen-O is backed by a great company and it's extremely reliable!
One of the best features the Zen-O has to offer is that it has the ability to run using one or two batteries at a time. This features gives you the option to customize your Zen-O to match your needs.
Using 1 battery, your Zen-O will weigh just 10 pounds and it will provide you with enough battery life to run quick errands, exercise, and do things around your home. If you're using pulse flow, 1 battery will last even longer allowing you to go get lunch with friends, see a movie, or take your grandkids to the park.
With 2 batteries installed in your Zen-O, your concentrator will weigh around 12 pounds. However, you will get double the battery life! So it's a pretty even trade-off. The two battery setup is ideal for traveling, date night, going to sports events, and other things that require more time.
Here is a chart showing you the full expected battery life for 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 |
The Zen-O is perfect for any situation... Its small and lightweight design makes it possible to carry your Zen-O when needed and it comes with a wheeled travel cart to use whenver you see fit.
The custom carrying case is durable and lightweight. It comes equipped with padded shoulder and handle straps for comfortable carrying and it helps secure your Zen-O to your travel cart. You will also be able to access all your control panel and your batteries without having to remove your Zen-O from the case. Not to mention, the case also acts as an added layer of protection for your concentrator.
The wheeled travel cart is a necessity with the Zen-O. Although it's one of the smallest and lightest continuous flow portables on the market, 10 pounds is a lot of weight to be carrying around all day. The wheeled travel cart will let you effortlessly pull your Zen-O behind you. This will help save your energy, prevent breathlessness, and make transporting your concentrator as easy as possible.
The GCE Zen-O is extremely user-friendly. Aside from being small and lightweight, it has a simple and straightforward control panel, it offers pulse flow and continuous flow, and it is capable of running 24/7/365.
The control panel is equipped with large push buttons and an easy-to-read screen! Each push button is labeled with its specific function so you will be able to operate your Zen-O with ease. There are a total of 6 different push buttons:
The easy-to-read screen will display vital information like your oxygen flow rate, remaining battery life, and it will let you know if something is wrong with your concentrator.
As mentioned above, the GCE Zen-O has the ability to run on pulse flow or continuous flow settings! This makes the Zen-O perfect for 24/7 use. You essentially have a portable and a stationary concentrator in one machine!
The continuous flow option lets you use the Zen-O for nighttime oxygen. It's compatible with CPAP and BiPAP machines and as long as the Zen-O is connected to the AC power supply you will have an unlimited amount of oxygen!
Whether you're traveling, experience a power outage, or simply don't want to rent a stationary concentrator anymore the Zen-O will have you covered.
For daytime use, the Zen-O offers pulse flow settings 1-6. On pulse flow, the Zen-O will get better battery life giving you more time to do the things you enjoy. And having a range from 1-6 lets you turn the machine up if you are having a hard time breathing, as long as it's approved by your doctor to alter your flow rate.
|
Weight |
10 Pounds |
|
Dimensions |
12.3” H x 8.3” W x 6.6” D |
|
Flow Rate |
Continuous Flow 0.5-2.0 LPM Pulse Flow Settings 1-6 |
|
Battery Life |
Continuous Flow Up To 1.5 Hours Pulse Flow Up To 8.0 Hours |
|
Power |
100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz; 24 VDC |
|
FAA Approved |
Yes |
|
Warranty |
3 Years |
The Zen-O was an easy choice to add to this list. Its small size and robust features made it easy to add this machine to the list. Here's why the Zen-O made this list:
These are the top continuous flow portables on the market right now. However, this list is in no particular order.
If you want to view our top pulse flow portable oxygen concenrators click here!
You can view the top portable oxygen concentrators of 2016 here! We will continue to update this list as more units get released.
If you're looking to compare any of these portable oxygen concentrators in-depth, download our free portable oxygen concentrator comparison cheat sheet!