ResMed released the AirSense 11 in 2021 as the successor to the AirSense 10 — a machine that had become the most-prescribed CPAP in North America over the prior seven years. The marketing made the upgrade sound transformative; the reality is more modest. The AirSense 11 is a refinement, not a rethink. For some users that refinement is worth real money. For others, the AirSense 10 they already own is the better choice. Here's the practical comparison.
The TL;DR
The AirSense 11 has a touchscreen, climate-controlled tubing, smartphone-based setup, and a sleeker form factor. The AirSense 10 has the same therapy algorithm, slightly more rugged construction, and a much larger supply ecosystem. If you're picking from new today: get the 11. If you have a working 10: there's no medical reason to upgrade.
What's actually different
The screen
The AirSense 10 has a small monochrome LCD with physical buttons. The AirSense 11 has a 4-inch full-color touchscreen. This sounds like a cosmetic change but isn't — configuration on the 10 (changing humidity, ramp time, mask type) requires navigating through menus with up/down/enter buttons. On the 11, you tap. Older users sometimes prefer the physical buttons (more tactile feedback); most everyone else finds the touchscreen materially better.
Climate-controlled tubing
The AirSense 11 supports auto-heated ClimateLineAir tubing — a hose with a heating wire that the machine controls to prevent rainout (condensation in the tube). The AirSense 10 supports the older ClimateLine Air heated tubing, but the 11's circuit is more refined. If you live somewhere cool and dry, this is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade. If you live somewhere warm, you won't notice the difference.
Worth noting: the tubing standards are different between the two machines. AirSense 10 climate tubing won't work on an AirSense 11, and vice versa. We sell standard slim tubing compatible with both as well as a climate tube specific to the AirSense 11.
App integration
The AirSense 11 pairs with the ResMed myAir app via Bluetooth as well as cellular — the 10 only does cellular. The practical effect: the 11 lets you set up the machine from your phone without needing the device near a cellular signal, and lets you change settings within the limits the prescription allows. The 10 sends therapy data to myAir overnight but doesn't let you initiate from the app.
Form factor and weight
The 11 is about 15% smaller and 10% lighter. Not a huge deal at the nightstand, but meaningful if you travel and pack the machine into a carry-on. Both are quieter than their predecessors; the AirSense 11 is officially 27 dBA at typical pressure, the 10 is 26.6 dBA — basically identical, both well below conversational volume.
Setup process
The AirSense 11 walks new users through setup on the screen — a 5-minute guided tutorial when you plug it in for the first time. The 10 doesn't have this. If you're prescribing for an older patient who's never used a CPAP, the 11's setup flow is worth real money. If you're an experienced user, this is irrelevant.
What's the same
The therapy algorithm
This is the part most users don't realize. The AutoSet algorithm that decides what pressure to deliver moment-to-moment is essentially identical between the AirSense 10 and AirSense 11. ResMed has refined the firmware over the years, but the core pressure-detection and event-classification logic is shared. A patient who is well-treated on a 10 will be well-treated on an 11 at the same pressure settings, and vice versa.
What this means in practice: if your AHI is good on your current machine, an upgrade won't lower it. The screen and app are nice but they don't make the therapy better.
HumidAir humidifier
Both machines use the same HumidAir-style humidifier chamber that clicks into the side of the unit. The chamber size and shape are slightly different between the 10 and 11 — you need an AirSense 11-specific chamber for the 11 and an AirSense 10-specific chamber for the 10. But the heated-humidifier mechanism and water capacity are essentially the same.
Filter compatibility
Both machines use the same standard filter cartridge. Our standard AirSense filters and hypoallergenic filters fit both. Same goes for ResMed-brand replacements.
What's worse on the AirSense 11
Most reviews skip this part. There are a few legitimate regressions.
The myAir update issue
Some users have reported the AirSense 11's firmware updates over cellular as intrusive — the machine occasionally won't start therapy until the update completes, which can be an unwelcome surprise at bedtime. ResMed has improved this over successive firmware releases but it still happens.
Less third-party support
The AirSense 10 has been on the market longer, so there are more travel cases, DC power adapters, battery packs, and aftermarket accessories specifically built for it. The AirSense 11 is catching up but the ecosystem is smaller.
The screen is glossier
A minor complaint, but the touchscreen on the AirSense 11 picks up fingerprints. If your bedroom has bright morning light, this can be visually distracting.
Should you upgrade?
If you're prescribing new today
Get the AirSense 11. The improvements (touchscreen, climate tubing, setup flow) are real and the price difference at typical insurance reimbursement is minimal. Out of warranty most insurance plans cover a new machine every 5 years; if your replacement cycle hits soon, plan for the 11.
If you have an AirSense 10 that's working well
Don't upgrade. The therapy is the same and the AirSense 10's larger supply ecosystem is genuinely useful. The AirSense 10 is still officially supported by ResMed and parts are widely available.
If you have an AirSense 10 with problems
Before upgrading, replace your supplies. A common pattern: a user with an AirSense 10 notices their AHI creeping up or their machine getting louder, attributes it to the machine, and considers an upgrade. In most cases the cause is overdue filters or a worn cushion — both fixable for $40 total. Run through our leak-troubleshooting checklist and replace the obvious wear items before assuming the machine itself is the problem.
The supply implication
The AirSense 10 and AirSense 11 don't share most consumables. If you're transitioning between machines (yours died, insurance approved a new one, you upgraded by choice), you'll need a new water chamber and you may need new tubing — the cushions, headgear, and standard filters carry over.
Our Mask Finder handles this automatically — tell us your machine and we'll show you the parts that fit. If you're an existing AirSense 10 user getting upgraded to an 11, the parts to budget for swap-out are the water chamber and (if you used heated tubing) the climate tube.
Bottom line
The AirSense 11 is the better machine — but not dramatically so, and not in ways that matter to your sleep apnea outcome. The therapy algorithm is shared. The differences are in the user experience: setup, controls, climate management, app integration. If you're choosing today, choose the 11. If you have a working 10, keep it, and put the money you'd spend upgrading into a year of on-cadence supply replacements — that's where the actual quality-of-life gain lives.