Why? Well, for all those newcomers in the future trying to choose between the two, let me tell you why I'm switching, as these features may end up being important to you as well:
- == Adjustable hose temperature --- I can't adjust the hose temperature on the F&P ICON Auto, but I can on the AS10 (with the additional purchase of the ClimateLineAir heated hose). The F&P ICON comes with a heated hose included, but I can't regulate its temperature at all. So why would this matter? Do you like to breathe in warm air? Then it probably doesn't matter to you. But if you're like me and can't stand breathing in warm air (I feel like I'm suffocating!) the temperature control for the hose is a must. I can set it to a cooler temperature so I'm breathing in cooler air. Otherwise, when I use the humidifier (on any level), the air I breathe is warm. So why don't I just turn the humidifier off altogether? I tried, but my nose gets too congested, and the solution to that is... yup, humidity.
== Ramp features on AS10 are miles better --- What's a ramp? It's a comfort feature that allows for a much lower pressure when you're trying to fall asleep. The F&P ICON Auto has a ramp, but it can't be adjusted, except to turn it on or off. It's fixed for 20 minutes, and after that it will ramp up slowly to your prescribed pressure. Well, it takes me longer than 20 minutes to fall asleep, so I end up feeling it ramp up on me when I'm still awake. The AS10 has AutoRamp technology that will stay at the low pressure until it senses you've fallen asleep, then it will ramp up slowly. Or, if you prefer to turn it off auto, you can set the ramp yourself for a fixed period of time from 5 to 45 minutes. Additionally, the AS10 allows you to set the pressure at which the ramp starts (sometimes a pressure too low can make you feel like you're suffocating). The F&P ICON Auto ramp starts at the larger of either 4cm/h20 or 1/3 of your prescribed pressure. This ends up being too low for me.
== Mask fit sensor --- Fiddling with different masks? Or just wonder if you have yours fitted properly on your face? F&P ICON Auto won't tell you if you do, but the AS10 will. Green and red faces on the AS10 indicate proper or poor mask fit. The AS10 also lets you designate what type of mask you're using, but someone else will have to chime in on what adjustment the machine makes given that information?
Other differences that are not as important to me but should be pointed out:
- == AS10 For Her has the algorithm developed for women. From the ResMed website: "A standard algorithm responds after 3 flow limited breaths and will move up by as much as 3 cm/h20. The For Her algorithm responds after just 1 flow limited breath and will move up by as much as 2.5 cm/h20. If needed the algorithm setting can be changed to the standard AutoSet algorithm version." (Just a note - this is the ONLY difference between the AirSense 10 AutoSet and the AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her.)
== See-through water chamber. On the AS10 the water chamber is attached to the side of the machine, and you can view the water level. The water chamber on the F&P ICON Auto is inside the machine, out of view.
== Slicker menu navigation on the AS10. The F&P ICON Auto has a very clumsy, non-intuitive menu design, with no color.
== AS10 has an integrated light sensor which allows the screen to adjust brightness automatically when ambient light changes. The F&P ICON Auto does allow you to change the brightness of the display, but it doesn't adjust brightness automatically.
Having said all of that, here are just a few features that the F&P ICON Auto wins on, in my opinion:
- == Design. The sleek little machine just looks cooler and doesn't scream I AM A MEDICAL DEVICE.
== Alarm clock. The F&P ICON Auto has one, with 10 minute snooze feature and even allows you to save music files onto the USB card to wake up to. This seems like a big miss in the other machines.
== Cheaper. As of right now roughly $300 less expensive in the US.
== Heated hose included, not an optional purchase.
Anyway, this isn't an exhaustive list, by any means, and my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt -- there are a lot of happy F&P ICON Auto users. I just wanted to illuminate the differences that matter to me in hopes that someone in the future can have an easier time of choosing between the two models. I wish my sleep technician had been more knowledgeable and/or forthcoming about the features of the AS10 that are not included in the F&P ICON Auto.
For now, happy CPAPing!
P.S. Anyone wanna buy a gently used F&P ICON Auto? PM me.
