When we talk about sleep apnea machines, ResMed, Transcend, and Philips Respironics are a few brands that first come to mind. But there are other underrated devices that make for excellent choices as well–just like the React Health Luna G3 APAP and Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Auto CPAP machine.
Both packed with great features, the two brands’ best-selling machines are made to provide you with a comfortable sleep apnea therapy experience. Despite the similarities in quality, each offers a unique set of advantages that may suit certain CPAP users.
At the time of publishing, the modem version of the F&P SleepStyle Auto (SPSAAU) is not available in the US. So in this guide, we’ll compare the modem-free SleepStyle Auto (SPSABU) with the modem-free model of the Luna G3 (LG3600W).
In This Review:
- Luna G3 Auto CPAP vs SleepStyle Auto Specifications Comparison
- Similarities Between the Luna G3 Auto CPAP and SleepStyle Auto
- Differences Between the Luna G3 Auto CPAP and SleepStyle Auto
- Luna G3 Auto CPAP: Pros & Cons
- F&P SleepStyle Auto CPAP: Pros & Cons
Comparison Chart: Luna G3 Auto CPAP vs SleepStyle Auto
| React Health Luna G3 Auto CPAP (without modem) | Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Auto CPAP Machine (without modem) | |
| Dimensions with Humidifier (L x W x H) | 10.4” x 5.7” x 4.5” | 7” x 7.2” x 5.7” |
| Weight with Humidifier | 3.75 lbs | 3.7 lbs |
| Operation Modes | CPAP and auto CPAP | CPAP and auto CPAP |
| Noise Level | 26 dBA | 28 dBA (+-1.5 dBA) |
| Filters | 2 reusable filters. Disposable filters (sold separately) can also be used. | 2 disposable filters |
| Controls | LCD screen and dial | Screen and buttons |
| Humidifier Capacity | 360 ml | 380 ml |
| Humidification | Built-in heated humidifier | Built-in heated humidifier |
| Humidifier Settings | Auto, fixed levels 0-5 | Fixed levels 0-7 |
| Ramp | Auto, set time 0-60 mins | SensAwake, fixed 20-min duration |
| Data Storage | SD card | F&P InfoUSB |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| iOS/Android App | 3B Luna G3 QR Code app | SleepStyle app |
| Compliance Data Program | iCodeConnect | SleepStyle website |
| Warranty | 2-year manufacturer warranty | 2-year manufacturer warranty |
| Expected Service Life | 5 years | 5 years |
| RespShop’s Price | $649 (as of this writing) | $999 (as of this writing) |
Similarities Between the Luna G3 Auto CPAP and SleepStyle Auto
What makes these two devices competitive–even if they’re not as popular as other CPAP brands? Let’s check out the convenient features they share:
Weight
Weighing in at 3.7 pounds, the React Health Luna G3 APAP and Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Auto CPAP machine are both as lightweight as a parka. Plus, they each come with a carry bag for easy portability.
FAA Approved
Planning to travel soon? While these sleep apnea machines are heavier than travel CPAP devices, they’re both approved by the FAA for in-flight use.
Noise Level
Rated at 26 dBA, the Luna G3 is a couple of decibels quieter than the F&P SleepStyle. But despite this minimal difference, the two are highly recommended for their whisper-quiet operation.
Exhalation Pressure Relief
Breathing out through your CPAP mask won’t be difficult with these devices’ exhalation pressure relief systems. The Luna G3 Reslex and SleepStyle Auto expiratory relief lower the air pressure as you exhale and increase the pressure to your prescribed level as you inhale, so you can breathe more naturally and comfortably. Each of these exhalation relief systems also has three pressure settings and can be turned off.
Integrated Heated Humidifier
With the SleepStyle Auto and Luna G3 heated humidifiers, you won’t have to worry about dry airways. The Luna G3 heated humidifier has five fixed settings, while the F&P SleepStyle CPAP humidifier has seven.
Heated Tubing
Each of these two devices includes a 6-foot heated CPAP hose, which works hand-in-hand with its respective CPAP humidifier. The Luna G3 heated CPAP hose and SleepStyle Auto’s ThermoSmart heated tubing with AirSpiral technology are designed to prevent condensation buildup. They’re also fairly lightweight (weighing around 5 ounces) and come with 22-millimeter cuffs, which are compatible with all CPAP masks.
Differences Between the Luna G3 Auto CPAP and SleepStyle Auto
While these two sleep apnea machines share a few similarities, they have plenty of differences that can help you better decide–from their interfaces and overall designs to their connectivity and prices.
User Interface
Let’s start with the most obvious difference between the two machines: their interfaces.
The React Health Luna G3 APAP features a large color LCD screen, a control dial, a home button, and an on/off button. The Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Auto CPAP machine has a simpler interface, with a fully integrated black screen, which displays the settings and data in yellow font. Under this screen are four buttons for menu navigation, and above it is a prominent on/off button.
Settings and Customization
While both their screens display your summary data, the Luna G3 interface offers a higher level of customization. It has a few more features, including a mask fitting test, a selection of CPAP mask types (to let the machine know which mask you’re using), and accessories reminders to alert you whenever the filter, tubing, and CPAP mask need to be replaced.
Another thing that the SleepStyle Auto lacks is temperature adjustability. While both devices can automatically adjust the heated tubing temperature based on their environments, the Luna G3 allows you to manually set the heat level from 1 to 5.
Additional Comfort Features
While the two devices come with integrated CPAP humidifiers, only the Luna G3 heated humidifier offers an auto mode. This means you don’t have to manually change the humidity settings to maintain a comfortable level of moisture.
The Luna G3 APAP also has a warm-up mode, an extra feature that allows you to preheat the Luna G3 water chamber 30 minutes before starting your therapy.
That’s not all–with the Luna G3 auto CPAP, you can start your sleep apnea therapy by simply breathing into your CPAP mask and pause your therapy by removing it. This auto start/stop feature can be pretty convenient if you often get up in the middle of the night.
Ramp
Like most auto CPAP machines, the Luna G3 APAP features an auto ramp mode. When enabled, it starts your therapy at a low pressure, and once you’re asleep, it gradually raises the pressure to the prescribed level. You can also manually set the ramp time from 0 to 60 minutes.
The F&P SleepStyle also has an auto ramp feature called SensAwake. But the difference is it works all night to detect whether you’re awake. When you wake up in the middle of your therapy, it reduces the pressure to help you fall back asleep more easily.
Another difference in SleepStyle Auto’s ramp feature is the amount of starting pressure it delivers, which gradually increases over a set 20-minute duration. If your prescribed pressure is 12 cm H2O or less, the ramp is preset to start at 4 cm H2O. If your prescribed pressure is higher than 12 cm H2O, it starts at 1/3 of that pressure level.
While the Luna G3’s manual ramp function has a default starting pressure setting of 4 cm H2O, it can be adjusted according to your needs. If you prefer a more straightforward device, having a preset starting ramp pressure, like that of the SleepStyle Auto, can eliminate the hassle of complicated modifications when using the standard ramp mode.
Data Storage
Viewing your CPAP machine compliance data at home is easy with the Luna G3 auto CPAP and F&P SleepStyle. The former uses a standard SD card, while the latter uses the F&P InfoUSB.
The F&P InfoUSB takes a bit more work to set up–you have to install the InfoUSB program before you can start uploading your CPAP machine compliance data to your computer. The Luna G3 SD card offers a more plug-and-play setup, but unless your computer has a built-in SD card reader, you need to purchase an external reader.
CPAP Machine Compliance Program
To generate and send your CPAP machine compliance report to your provider, you can upload your data to the two brands’ dedicated web-based programs: the iCodeConnect portal for the React Health Luna G3 and the SleepStyle website for the Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Auto CPAP machine.
Some users find the reports generated by these two programs lacking in detail, preferring OSCAR (a third-party program) to analyze their sleep apnea therapy data. But unlike the F&P SleepStyle, the Luna G3 is not yet supported by OSCAR. So if you want a more comprehensive breakdown of your data, the SleepStyle Auto is currently a better choice.
App and Connectivity
What’s great about these two modem-free models is despite their lack of cellular connectivity, users still have a way to connect the devices to their compatible smartphone apps.
The Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Auto CPAP machine has Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to pair the device to the SleepStyle app. On the app, you can see your summary data, problems with your sleep apnea therapy, and solutions to these issues.
While the Luna G3 APAP has no Bluetooth, it can generate a unique iCode QR code, which you can scan on your phone’s 3B Luna QR app to generate your summary data and CPAP machine compliance report. The app then automatically uploads the data to your iCodeConnect account.
Another way to upload your data to the iCodeConnect portal is by manually entering your “iCode.” This is the 16-digit string that can be found on the Luna G3’s “Report” menu (beside the “iCode QR”).
Water Chamber
One of the common complaints about sleep apnea machines is the tricky removal of their water chambers. That’s why React Health and Fisher & Paykel designed the devices with unique, easy-to-clean CPAP humidifiers.
The Luna G3 water chamber can be refilled while it’s still attached to the side of the device. To remove it from the heating plate, you just need to give it a firm push.
To open the lid of the F&P SleepStyle water chamber, simply press the wide button at the top of the device. Then, pull out the seal and chamber to clean them.
While the SleepStyle Auto water chamber is arguably easier to detach, it’s made to fit inside the machine. That means you can’t readily see its water level, whereas the Luna G3 water chamber offers a clear view of the water level since it’s placed at the side of the device.
Price
As with any purchasing decision, cost is a huge deciding factor. At the time of publishing, RespShop’s prices for the modem-free Luna G3 and SleepStyle Auto are $649 and $999, respectively. If you’re on a budget, the Luna G3 APAP is certainly a more appealing choice.
User Experience
Pros: React Health Luna G3 Auto CPAP
Interface, Customization, and Extra Features
Most Luna G3 users love the level of customization this device offers. You can select the type of CPAP mask to optimize the settings and adjust the starting ramp pressure level and heated tubing temperature. Plus, it comes with comfort features like auto start/stop, auto humidity, warm-up, accessories reminders, and CPAP mask fitting test, making your sleep apnea therapy a little easier.
Even with so many features, the way the LCD interface is designed makes the device user-friendly. It has large icons and a well-organized menu layout, so navigating the device is fairly easy.
Easy-to-Fill Water Chamber
Refilling the Luna G3 water chamber is convenient since it doesn’t need to be removed from the device. For easy cleaning, you only need to push it down to detach it from the device or put it back.
Budget-Friendly
Perhaps the best thing about the Luna G3 APAP is its affordability. It has all the features of high-end sleep apnea machines at a fraction of the cost.
Cons: React Health Luna G3 Auto CPAP
Exhalation Pressure Relief
One issue that some users have encountered with the Luna G3 APAP is its Reslex feature. According to them, it can be hard to get used to. But it might just be a problem with their settings or choice of CPAP mask.
Not Yet Supported by OSCAR
At the moment, the Luna G3 is not compatible with OSCAR. This can be an issue for users who prefer to view a more in-depth CPAP machine compliance report than what’s generated on iCodeConnect.
Pros: F&P SleepStyle Auto
Simple Interface
“Get set up and started, simply” is what Fisher & Paykel had in mind when designing the SleepStyle Auto. This bare-bones sleep apnea machine offers just the right amount of features for a comfortable sleep apnea therapy experience. With its simple digital screen and large buttons, getting started with your therapy will be an effortless process, which many reviews can attest to.
SensAwake
The F&P SleepStyle took the auto ramp feature to the next level with its SensAwake technology. As a solution to frequent nighttime awakenings, it provides pressure relief whenever you wake up, helping you fall back asleep more easily.
Easy-to-Access Water Chamber
With just a press of a button, the SleepStyle Auto water chamber opens up easily. It also conveniently fits inside the device, so you don’t have to double-check whether you put it in correctly.
Cons: F&P SleepStyle Auto
Fewer Comfort Features, Lower Level of Customization
Fisher & Paykel might have taken its commitment to simplicity too far with the SleepStyle Auto. It has no auto start/stop, auto humidity option, warm-up mode, mask fitting test, and other comfort features found in the Luna G3 (and other modern sleep apnea machines). Plus, its heated tubing temperature is not adjustable.
Water Level Is Not Readily Visible
Since the F&P SleepStyle CPAP humidifier is built inside the machine, you have to take out the chamber just to see how much water’s left.
The Verdict
Boasting a whisper-quiet operation, FAA-approved designs, and integrated heated humidifiers, the React Health Luna G3 and Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle Auto CPAP machines are both great choices for sleep apnea machines. But which is the better auto CPAP device?
If you’re looking for an affordable device with all the bells and whistles, you’ll want to go for the Luna G3 APAP. It has all the features of a modern sleep apnea machine and offers a high level of customization, so you can tweak your therapy settings to your liking.
For a “no muss, no fuss” sleep apnea therapy experience, the F&P SleepStyle Auto fits the bill. With a simple interface and enough comfort features, it’s easy to set up and use right out of the box. And if you find the CPAP machine compliance data on the SleepStyle website insufficient, you can generate a more detailed report on OSCAR.
Still can’t decide between the two? Feel free to browse our catalog of auto CPAP machines. Or contact our team of respiratory therapists and sleep specialists for more info.