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5 CPAP Machines

Yes. In the U.S. (and most countries), CPAPs are FDA Class II medical devices and require a prescription from a sleep physician. You'll typically need a recent sleep study (in-lab polysomnography or a home sleep test) and an AHI ≥ 5 events/hour with symptoms, or AHI ≥ 15 regardless of symptoms.

CPAP delivers a single fixed pressure all night. APAP (auto-titrating CPAP — what every machine on this list does) adjusts pressure breath-by-breath based on detected events, which is generally more comfortable and equally effective for most patients. BiPAP delivers two different pressures (higher on inhale, lower on exhale) and is reserved for higher-pressure needs, central sleep apnea, or COPD overlap.

Quiet. The ResMed AirSense 11 measures around 27 dBA — quieter than a whisper. Most newer CPAPs run at 25–30 dBA at therapy pressure. The mask, hose, and humidifier add some sound, but partner complaints are far less common than they were a decade ago.

Most U.S. private insurers and Medicare cover CPAP rentals (typically a 13-month rent-to-own arrangement) when ordered by an in-network durable medical equipment supplier with a valid prescription. Out-of-pocket purchase is HSA/FSA eligible. Compliance — typically ≥ 4 hours of use on ≥ 70% of nights in a 30-day window — is required to keep coverage.

Auto-titrating CPAPs (APAPs) self-adjust within a prescribed range (commonly 4–20 cmH₂O). Your therapy data — AHI (residual events/hour), leak rate, and 90/95th-percentile pressure — should be reviewed monthly with your sleep clinician through the manufacturer's app (myAir, DreamMapper, etc.) or a downloaded SD card. A residual AHI under 5 with leaks under 24 L/min is the goal.

The 2021 recall covered the original DreamStation (and other legacy Philips devices) due to PE-PUR sound abatement foam. The DreamStation 2 reviewed here uses a redesigned silicone foam and is not part of that recall. Philips has since exited the U.S. CPAP market for new patients (settlement-driven), but DreamStation 2 units already shipped continue to receive support.

Yes. CPAPs are FAA-approved as medical devices and don't count toward your carry-on allowance. The ResMed AirMini and Transcend Micro on this list are purpose-built for travel — both weigh under a pound and run on portable batteries. For longer trips, look for machines that accept 12V DC input or have first-party battery packs.