Oxlife Independence vs. Oxlife Freedom

Updated: Sep 13, 2022
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Key Takeaways

  • The Oxlife Independence portable oxygen concentrator offers a best-in-class battery and both IF and CF functions, making it ideal for people who may be away from power for extended periods.
  • The weight of the Oxlife Independence model at 18 pounds (inclusive of one battery) makes it quite heavy when compared to other portable oxygen concentrators, even though this one is on wheels.
  • Overall, the DNA technology, price point, battery life, and IF/CF functions make this portable oxygen concentrator an average choice.

While receiving a supplemental oxygen prescription from your doctor once meant being tied to a heavy machine, the use of portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) can make life easier for those with illnesses and health conditions that include chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, sleep apnea, cystic fibrosis, heart disease and heart failure, lung cancer, and asthma. POCs like those from O2 Concepts, which includes the Oxlife Independence and the Oxlife Freedom, can help those who need supplemental oxygen maintain an active lifestyle.

According to Annals of the American Thoracic Society, oxygen therapy is used by nearly 1.5 million adults in the United States. If you have been prescribed oxygen therapy because of a condition that causes low blood oxygen, the size and weight of POCs make it so you can go on an outing, golfing, or even travel on an airplane.

“Portable Oxygen Concentrators give people who need long-term oxygen a safe way to receive it. Having a cannula allows them to go to the bathroom or the kitchen to get something to eat [and] allows the person to be mobile. This allows people to be independent.”

Anne Llewellyn, a registered nurse with over 40 years of experience in critical care, risk management, case management, and patient advocacy

There is a wide range of portable oxygen concentrators available that vary in features, price, pros, and cons. This review will compare the Oxlife Independence and the Oxlife Freedom.

The O2 Concepts brand provides two products with decent battery life as well as DNA technology. This links POC devices to a secure network to ensure that providers and caregivers can use data to manage oxygen patients. DNA technology monitors usage and also passively monitors equipment to ensure it’s working properly, supports patients remotely, locates equipment, monitors settings usage, and enables scheduled stops on the device for routine equipment maintenance.

The Oxlife Independence portable oxygen concentrator by O2 Concepts is an all-in-one portable oxygen concentrator with a variety of features and benefits that ranges in price from $1,999 to $3,000 and offers both pulse flow and continuous flow oxygen options.

Some of the primary highlights of the Oxlife Independence include an above-average battery life of 5.75 hours on a single battery and a quick battery recharge time. The Oxlife Independence also offers a portable black design with large, easy-to-use buttons on the top and wheels that make it easy to transport wherever you go. It also comes with a handle that folds up and down making it simple to store.

However, this is a heavy POC compared to other models—weighing in at 18 pounds with a single battery, which can be typical of continuous flow devices. Overall, a compilation of reviews from various POC retailers sites on Google gives the Independence a 3.9 out of 5, with some consumers complaining that it‘s noisy. Despite the manufacturer’s claim that it has a long battery life, various settings significantly reduce how many hours the battery lasts, which was a common complaint as well. Overall, people were happy with their purchase or rental of the Independence and felt it did the job.

Warranty: The warranty on the Independence is five years, with a two-year warranty on the sieve beds and a one-year warranty on battery and accessories.

Model Details

MSRP
$2,795
Weight
18 pounds with a single battery
Dimensions
10.9 by 8.0 by 20.2 inches
Battery life (single battery)
5.75 hours at 2,000 milliliters per minute or 2 liters per minute (pulse)
Battery recharge time
1.5 hours
IF/CF
IF/CF
IF range
1-6
CF range
0.5–3.0
Max O2 Output
3,000 milliliters per minute or 3 liters per minute
Noise level on default setting 2
40 decibels
FAA Approved

Accessories Included:

  • Two batteries
  • AC and DC adapters, one for home use and one for vehicle use
  • An integrated cart with 6-inch wheels for easy mobile use
  • An accessory bag for easy storage of included accessories
  • Cannula

The Oxlife Freedom by O2 Concepts portable oxygen concentrator is a lightweight product that offers oxygen in a pulse flow. Offering a decent battery life, it also has an average price and a quick battery recharge time. This device from O2 Concepts offers pulse dose oxygen in a small, lightweight setup that is easy to carry in order to transport. It’s a slim black oxygen concentrator in a small size, making it ideal for anyone who wants a long battery life and an easy-to-carry device. User-friendly buttons on the top of the device make it simple to use when powering on and off or changing the settings. And, while this specific POC does not have wheels, it’s only around 5–6 pounds.

Reviews for the Freedom are scarce, but the few that can be found are positive, with consumers consistently mentioning its ease of use and long battery life. While these benefits are ideal, the Oxlife Freedom has a higher noise level at 46 decibels, although consumer reviews show more complaints about the noise level of the Independence.

Warranty: The warranty is three years, including a one-year warranty on the sieve bed and accessories.

Model Details

MSRP
$2,795
Weight
5.88 pounds
Dimensions
9.0 by 3.4 by 9.4 inches
Battery life (single battery)
4.55 hours
Battery recharge time
2 hours
IF/CF
IF
IF Range
1–5
CF Range
N/A
Max O2 Output
880 milliliters per minute
Noise level on default setting
46 decibels
FAA approved

Accessories Included:

  • Battery
  • AC power supply
  • DC cable
  • Carrying bag
  • Cannula 

Compare Oxlife Portable Oxygen Concentrators

While both the Oxlife Independence and Oxlife Freedom offer the same MSRP point at $2,795, they’re unique in their features. The right option for you will depend on your specific oxygen needs, where you plan on taking the device, and how long you want to use it when away from power.

“People on oxygen need to be aware that oxygen is a medication and they need to use it as prescribed,” said Llewellyn.

The Oxlife Independence wins when it comes to flow settings, offering both pulse and continuous flow options, while the Oxlife Freedom only offers pulse flow. If you don’t need continuous flow, however, either system can work for you depending on your prescription. As far as noise level, the Oxlife Independence is quieter at 40 decibels (comparable to a nearby whisper) compared to 46 decibels with the Oxlife Freedom, but there are reports from consumers that the Oxlife Independence can be louder than anticipated. Typically, devices that provide both continuous flow and pulse flow options are louder, but this is not the case with the Oxlife Independence, which is why it wins on both levels.

Compared to the Oxlife Independence, which is quite heavy at 18 pounds, the Oxlife Freedom weighs in at only 5.88 pounds—making it the more portable solution if you’re looking for a device that’s lightweight, small, and your oxygen needs can be met with a pulse-flow only model.

Product
MSRP Price
Oxlife Independence$2,795
Oxlife Freedom$2,795
Weight
Oxlife Independence18 pounds with a single battery
Oxlife Freedom5.88 pounds
Dimensions
Oxlife Independence10.9 by 8.0 by 20.2 inches
Oxlife Freedom9.0 by 3.4 by 9.4 inches
Battery life (single battery)
Oxlife Independence5.75 hours
Oxlife Freedom4.5 hours
Battery recharge time
Oxlife Independence1.5 hours
Oxlife Freedom1.5 hours
IF/CF
Oxlife IndependencePulse Continuous
Oxlife FreedomPulse
IF range
Oxlife Independence1–6
Oxlife Freedom1–5
CF range
Oxlife Independence0.5–3.0
Oxlife FreedomN/A
Max O2 output
Oxlife Independence3,000 milliliters per minute
Oxlife Freedom880 milliliters per minute
Noise level on default
Oxlife Independence40 decibels
Oxlife Freedom40 decibels
FAA approved
Oxlife Independence
Oxlife Freedom
Warranty
Oxlife Independence5 years (2 years sieve beds, 1 year battery and accessories)
Oxlife Freedom3 years (1 year sieve bed and accessories)

While the device that’s right for you depends on your oxygen needs, purchasing a POC can be a game changer that can allow you to have a more active, fulfilling life.

Battery life is an important consideration when choosing a POC, since you’ll want a machine that can accommodate your activities, whether that’s running errands or traveling by plane. The battery life between the two devices is relatively close, considering the large difference in weight and overall size. While the Oxlife Independence has a longer overall battery life at 5.75 hours on setting 2 on continuous flow and 6.25 hours on the 0.5 pulse setting, and a larger frame on wheels, the Oxlife Freedom also offers a good amount of battery life at 4.5 hours in a lighter weight device that can be carried over your shoulder. Both options provide quick battery recharge times, especially when compared to other models on the market like the Inogen One G5 with a battery recharge time of four hours and the DeVilbiss iGo2 at five hours.

Finally, both devices are user friendly and feature large buttons to change modes and settings on top of the device. However, the Oxlife Independence is the larger of the two options because of its ability to house double batteries and provide continuous flow oxygen. Overall, consumers enjoy the small size of the Oxlife Freedom because it’s easier to bring along and carry, but the Oxlife Independence is the better choice for people who need the continuous flow oxygen and longer battery life.

Support

Both O2 Concepts models have DNA technology, which keeps your portable oxygen device connected using the Verizon network—meaning customer service is at your fingertips at all times of the day. You can also reach O2 Concepts technical support by phone at 877.867.4008, prompt 5, and customer support at 877.867.4008, prompt 6. If you prefer email, you can email tech support at techsupport@o2-concepts.com, or email sales and general inquiries to info@o2-concepts.com.

Warranty

The Oxlife Independence unit has a five-year warranty on all new products based on the original ship date. The warranty also covers the sieve beds for two years and the battery and accessories for one year. Disposables, including cannulas, filters, and tubing are not covered under this warranty.

Bottom Line

Overall, the Oxlife Independence offers a good quality for the price, but it’s outshined by the Oxlife Freedom model as far as weight, dimensions, usability, and user reviews. When compared to other models on the market, the Oxlife Independence ranks somewhere in the middle of the pack with an overall score of 7.6/10, primarily due to its long battery life, price, and weight.

When comparing the two Oxlife devices, the Oxlife Freedom wins overall, but should not be considered an option if you need continuous flow oxygen.

Other Portable Oxygen Concentrators We Recommend

Other portable oxygen concentrators we recommend include the Inogen brand. With a variety of products such as the G4 System (the lightest of all of the Inogen brand oxygen concentrators), the G5 System, and the Inogen at Home, there is a range of options to choose from. Others to consider include the Belluscura X-PLOR and the CAIRE Freestyle Comfort.

Why Trust Us?

The AgingInPlace.org team researches, analyzes, and tests health products to help older adults make better decisions as they age. For portable oxygen concentrators, we’ve reviewed 11 manufacturers and 22 individual models on the market today to offer you our top picks for the best cheap oxygen concentrators in 2022.

We’re committed to bringing you the most accurate information, based on our in-depth research. Below you’ll find a description of our methodology for reviewing portable oxygen concentrators:

  • Spent hundreds of hours researching POC brands and models
  • Consulted medical experts and journals
  • Studied the user experience through insight from professionals, user reviews, and third-party research

To provide the most fair and objective reviews and comparisons, we use a mathematical formula to score each model based on the following considerations:

  • Unit weight
  • Battery life
  • Range of settings
  • Price
  • Battery recharge time
  • Warranty
  • Oxygen delivery method

Our team monitors and regularly updates information to ensure relevance and reliability throughout all of our content. Many products and services featured on AgingInPlace.org will play a crucial role in your daily life. As these products should help enhance aging at home, we work to uncover as much as possible about the products and services we review. We also consult occupational therapists, audiologists, geriatricians, respiratory therapists, professional adult caregivers, and other experts in the field to ensure we’re providing the most accurate, helpful information.

See a full explanation of our research methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

The battery of the Oxlife Independence portable oxygen concentrator will run for 5.75 hours (pulse), while the battery life of the Oxlife Freedom portable oxygen concentrator is 4.5 hours (pulse) for a single battery. Battery life can vary depending on your setting and flow.

The Oxlife Independence also has the option of double batteries, which will help extend the amount of time the oxygen concentrator can be used without being plugged in. If you will be away from your home often without access to power, consider this as one of the most important features when viewing a variety of portable oxygen concentrators.

Pricing is accurate as of 9/6/2022.

WRITTEN BY

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MEAGAN SHANK

Meagan Shank is a freelance writer based out of New Hampshire, specializing in unbiased web reviews, blogs, and how-to guides in the fields of health, fashion, and interior design. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational and Corporate Communications from the University of Texas at El Paso and is passionate about providing informative digital content that is easy to understand.