If you are comparing the AirSense 11 AutoSet by ResMed with the SleepStyle by Fisher & Paykel, you may be primarily wondering if the AirSense 11 is worth the extra $400 price tag. Or, you’re contemplating an upgrade.
Whatever your case may be, you should know about some important differences between the machines besides the price. The units are also similar in many important ways. Let’s take a closer look.
As the first order of business, here is a bird’s eye view comparison of these units. Check out the chart below.
Resmed AirSense 11 vs Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Comparison Chart
| Resmed AirSense 11 AutoSet | Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle (SPSAAU, SPSABU) | |
| Release date | August 2021 | May 2017 |
| Dimensions (W, D, H) | 10.2 x 5.45 x 3.7 inches | 6.9 x 7.2 x 5.6 inches |
| Footprint | 55.6 sq inches | 49.7 sq inches |
| Weight (with humidifier) | 2.5 lbs | 3.7 lbs |
| Power | 65W power supply, 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz | AC power 100-240V, 50-60Hz (Auto Sensing) |
| Humidifier Capacity | 380 ml | 380 ml |
| Quietness (Noise) | 27 dBA (± 2 dBA) | 28 dBA (± 1.5 dBA) |
| Navigation | Full touch screen | Menu screen and 5 buttons |
| AutoSet For Her | Integrated | Not available |
| Built-in Humidifier | Yes | Yes |
| Heated Humidifier | Yes | Yes |
| Heated Tubing | Optional | Standard |
| Ramping | Up to 45 minutes or AutoRamp | Fixed 20 Minute Duration with SensAwake |
| EPR Adjustments | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Event Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Therapy Assistant | Yes | No |
| Over-the-air Prescription Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Over-the-air Software Upgrades | Yes | No |
AirSense 11 VS SleepStyle – Modes of Operation
Both the AirSense 11 and the SleepStyle are AutoPAP machines, which means that they are capable of adjusting the air pressure automatically while you sleep to accommodate all manner of sleep events.
Both units are also CPAP mode capable, which means they can operate at a constant, manually set air pressure.
Note that most sleep specialists nowadays prefer to prescribe an AutoPAP machine instead of going through a titration sleep study to figure out if a manual CPAP machine will suffice in your case.
This is a justified practice because, frankly, an Auto CPAP is a more modern and better mode of operation that enables higher quality of sleep in the vast majority of sleep apnea cases.
If you want to learn more about different types of CPAP machines, please refer to this article we’ve put together for you. Let’s move on…
AirSense 11 VS SleepStyle – Physical Features
High Capacity Integrated Humidifier
Both the AirSense 11 and the SleepStyle have integrated heated humidifiers, which is by now an expected feature in an AutoPAP machine of quality.
When ResMed launched the AirSense 11’s predecessor AirSense 10 in 2014, it introduced a larger humidifier that enabled longer hours of continuous humidification.
Users of that innovative unit claimed to be getting two nights of use with a single fill of the water chamber. And now the AirSense 11 as well as the SleepStyle share the same high humidifier capacity of 380 ml.
That said, the humidifier on the AirSense 11 is shaped in such a way that it doesn’t quite allow the user to fill it up to full capacity without some spilling. Conversely, the water chamber in the SleepStyle is situated right on top of the machine and does not present this issue.
As a result, you’ll likely need to fill up the water chamber on the AirSense 11 every night rather than every other night. But this is really a non-issue since it will help you maintain the water chamber in a cleaner state.
Heated humidification is another feature that further smoothes out your breathing experience while using CPAP because warmer air is more likely to prevent dry mouth or throat. It is also good to have climate control because you may prefer cooler air in a warmer climate and vice versa.
The humidifiers on both the AirSense 11 and the SleepStyle are heated and have adjustable climate control. This means that you can set both the humidity level and the air temperature to be automatically maintained by either machine.
Another feature that improves humidification even further is heated tubing which increases the amount of moisture in the air that passes through the tube and reduces or prevents rainout (condensation) in your tubing.
Heated tubing is available at an additional $40-$46 for the AirSense 11, while it comes standard on the SleepStyle machine.
Design & Visual Aesthetics
The AirSense 11 and the SleepStyle are four years apart in their dates of release and, frankly, you can tell. The ResMed machine is just sleeker, more modern, and more eye-pleasing.
When it comes to the shape and detailing, the AirSense 11 has an elongated design with textured finishes and a rubberized bottom while the SleepStyle is more square and plain.
As for the size and footprint, however, you will only need to find 7 inches of width on your bedside table as opposed to 10 inches to fit the SleepStyle. And the F&P machine’s overall footprint is 6 inches smaller.
If you happen to travel with your CPAP, you’ll find that both machines are quite portable. However, the AirSense 11 is 1.2 lbs lighter than the SleepStyle.
Touch Screen vs Digital Screen Plus Buttons
An important difference between the two machines is the user interface. The AirSense 11 has full touchscreen control. It may not be quite as smooth and sophisticated as a screen on a smartphone or tablet, but it represents tremendous progress.
The SleepStyle has a previous generation style digital screen which you navigate by using a set of buttons on the body of the machine.
The innovative touch screen may be a benefit or a detriment to you, depending on how friendly you tend to be with new technology. If you are a late adopter or just plain don’t like technical challenges, you may find the more old-fashioned interface on the SleepStyle more user-friendly.
Most, however, will love the new touch screen on the AirSense 11. It is really easier and more enjoyable to use.
AirSense 11 VS SleepStyle – OTA Updates
Over-the-Air updates may or may not be important to you. And each of the machines has features that you may or may not prefer.
Prescription Updates
Both the AirSense 11 and the SleepStyle offer Over The Air (OTA) prescription updates. This means that your sleep specialist can tweak the settings on the machine in response to your evolving therapy needs – remotely. This is an important feature that makes it easy for you to always maintain the right settings for your CPAP therapy.
Software Updates
Unlike the SleepStyle, however, the AirSense 11 can also receive automatic software updates. This means that ResMed can remotely upgrade your unit without you confirming that you want the update.
As we discussed earlier, if you tend to be somewhat on the technophobe side, then the automatic software updates may present you with surprises when you look at your AirSense touchscreen and access your settings and data.
You may find the things you’re used to in other places – meaning you may need to poke around before you find what you need, after each such update. On the other hand, if you don’t mind a little poking around, your AirSense 11 will always be up-to-date with the most current software.
Conversely, the SleepStyle will not update the software automatically. This is probably due to the simpler interface this machine uses as opposed to the more sophisticated software that runs the AirSense 11.
AirSense 11 VS SleepStyle – Internal Features
Bluetooth and Data Transfer
Both machines have Bluetooth connectivity, and each has its own sleep data monitoring app.
The app for the AirSense 11 is called MyAir, is available on both Apple and Android devices, and has an average rating of 4.5 stars.
The SleepStyle app is called just that – SleepStyle. It’s also available for both Apple and Android, but its average rating is 1.75.
So, take your pick.
AutoSet For Her
The AirSense 11 sports an algorithm that is geared specifically toward female CPAP users. It is an equivalent of a For Her machine, such as the AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her. The For Her algorithm is integrated and can be turned on or off in the AirSense 11, which is a great benefit for female CPAP users.
The SleepStyle machine does not have a For Her algorithm. But if you are a male CPAP user, that would not make a difference for your CPAP therapy.
Comfort Features
Both the AirSense 11 and the SleepStyle have the Ramping feature which enables the unit to start you off at a lower pressure and to only begin ramping it up after you’ve fallen asleep – to make your CPAP therapy smoother and more comfortable.
The SleepStyle only allows manual ramping with a fixed 20-minute ramp time, which means that you must fall asleep within 20 minutes for this feature to do what’s intended.
On the other hand, the AirSense 11 allows you to set the ramping time for up to 45 minutes, which gives you a lot more room to fall asleep before the prescribed pressure begins to set in.
In addition, you can simply set the AirSense to AutoRamp, and the machine will monitor your breathing pattern until it detects that you’ve fallen asleep and only then will increase the air pressure to the prescribed level.
Both machines offer EPR Adjustments and built-in event detection.
Integrated User Guidance
The AirSense 11 has a totally optional yet a nice-to-have feature of the Personal Therapy Assistant. It is available through the myAir app and walks the user through the initial device and equipment setup by means of a video library, FAQs, etc.
If this is your first CPAP device, then the Personal Therapy Assistant will be very helpful, and you’ll love it. The Care Check-in will survey you during the first month of therapy and give you tips and coaching to ensure that your CPAP journey is as smooth as possible.
No such feature or equivalent is available on the SleepStyle.
The Verdict
As you can tell, the AirSense 11 AutoSet is a more modern and advanced AutoPAP machine as compared to the SleepStyle.
Besides, as of this writing, it looks like Fisher & Paykel is planning to be phasing out the SleepStyle in the United States.
So, take your pick, and wherever you are, sleep tight!
