Quick verdict
The Philips HeartStart FRx (861304) is the rugged version of the OnSite, built for schools, sports and outdoor use. It survives dust and water jets (IP55), takes a 1-meter drop, and switches to pediatric mode with a single Infant/Child Key instead of a separate pad set. New units run about $2,010 to $2,150; a recertified FRx with new pads, new battery and a 3-year warranty is $875.
8.9
Editorial score
Editorial score, not a consumer-review average. Weighted for durability, pediatric readiness, ease of use, and cost of ownership.
The Philips OnSite and the FRx share the same voice-guided simplicity, but the FRx exists for the places the OnSite is not built for: a soccer sideline in the rain, a factory floor, a school gym that has to cover a six-year-old and a sixty-year-old with the same device. This review covers what the ruggedness and the pediatric key actually get you, what the FRx costs new versus recertified, and whether the OnSite or ZOLL AED Plus is the smarter buy for your setting.
Philips HeartStart FRx specs at a glance
Quick answer
The FRx is a semi-automatic, voice-guided AED weighing about 3.5 lbs, rated IP55, with an 8-year warranty and a single Infant/Child Key for pediatric use. It is sold over the counter.
| Specification | Philips HeartStart FRx (861304) |
|---|---|
| Operation | Semi-automatic, voice prompts + CPR coaching |
| Ruggedness | IP55 (dust and water jets), withstands a 1-meter drop |
| Pediatric | Single Infant/Child Key (no separate pad set) |
| Pads | SMART Pads III, pre-connected, can be placed before the unit is on |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg) |
| Battery / pad life | Battery ~4 years · pads ~2 years |
| Warranty (new) | 8 years |
| Prescription | Not required (OTC) |
What we like, and what we don't
Strengths
- IP55 rugged, handles rain, dust and rough handling the OnSite cannot
- One Infant/Child Key covers pediatric use, no second pad set to buy or expire
- SMART Pads III can be placed before power-on, saving seconds
- 8-year warranty, OTC purchase, same simple voice coaching
- Available recertified at $875 with new pads and battery
Trade-offs
- No CPR depth/rate feedback (the ZOLL AED Plus has it)
- No screen, audio prompts only
- Higher new price than the OnSite for features an indoor office may never use
- Still needs pad and battery replacement on the normal cycle
FRx vs OnSite vs ZOLL AED Plus: which Philips-class AED to buy
Quick answer
Choose the FRx for rugged or mixed adult-and-child settings, the OnSite for a simple indoor office at a lower price, and the ZOLL AED Plus when you want live CPR feedback for trained responders.
| Model | Best for | Rugged | Pediatric | CPR feedback | New (approx) | Recertified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips FRx This review | Schools, sports, outdoor | IP55 | Single key | No | ~$2,010 | $875 |
| Philips OnSite | Home, small office | IP21 | Separate pads | No | ~$1,529 | $875 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | Trained responders | IP55 | Pediatric pads | Yes | ~$1,800 | $875 |
Read the Philips OnSite review and the ZOLL AED Plus review, or line up every spec on the AED comparison tool.
Philips FRx price: new vs recertified
Quick answer
A new FRx runs about $2,010 to $2,150 in 2026. A recertified FRx, the same FDA-approved device with new pads, new battery and a 3-year warranty, is $875.
The FRx carries a bigger new-versus-recertified gap than most models because its new price is higher. For a school or a sports program buying several units, recertified FRx at $875 each is the difference between covering one building and covering the whole campus. See our recertified AED guide for how the process works, and size multi-unit coverage with the AED Quantity Calculator.
Buy the Philips HeartStart FRx
New with the full 8-year warranty, or recertified at $875 with new pads, new battery and a 3-year warranty. Same FDA-approved device, free shipping.
The pediatric key: the FRx's real advantage
Quick answer
The FRx uses one set of SMART Pads plus a green Infant/Child Key. Turn the key and the device delivers a lower pediatric energy dose. The OnSite instead needs a separate infant/child pad set you buy and store.
For any site that covers children, a school, a gym, a place of worship, this is the deciding feature. There is no second pad set to buy, track, or find expired in an emergency. Pull the key for a patient under 8 years or 55 lbs, leave it in place for adults. One device, both patients, one thing to remember.
Maintenance and the failures that actually happen
Quick answer
The FRx self-tests daily, weekly and monthly, but cannot replace expired pads or a flat battery. The real-world failure is expired consumables, not the device.
Ruggedness does not save you from the calendar. Pads expire around two years, the battery around four, and a chirping FRx in a gym closet has almost always failed on an expiration date nobody logged. Put both dates on a reminder the day it is installed. Our AED pads and AED batteries pages carry the FRx-compatible replacements.
Who should buy the FRx, and who should skip it
| Buy it if | Skip it if |
|---|---|
| It covers a school, gym, sports field, or outdoor/industrial site | It sits in a quiet indoor office and price is the priority → Philips OnSite |
| Both adults and children may need it → the Infant/Child Key | You have a trained team wanting live CPR feedback → ZOLL AED Plus |
| You are buying multiple units → recertified at $875 stretches the budget | You only ever cover adults indoors → the OnSite does that for less |
Philips HeartStart FRx FAQ
What is the Philips HeartStart FRx AED model number?
The FRx is model 861304 (861305 in some kits). It uses SMART Pads III and the Infant/Child Key for pediatric use.
What is the first thing you should do before using the HeartStart FRx?
Confirm the scene is safe and call 911, then turn on the FRx and follow its voice prompts. Pull the green Infant/Child Key first only if the patient is under 8 years or 55 lbs.
Are Philips AEDs good?
Yes. Philips HeartStart AEDs are FDA-approved, widely deployed, and known for clear voice guidance. The FRx adds ruggedness and a pediatric key over the OnSite.
How much does a Philips FRx cost?
New FRx units run about $2,010 to $2,150 in 2026. A recertified FRx with new pads, new battery and a 3-year warranty is about $875.
The one-line decision
If children or the outdoors are in the picture, the FRx is the right Philips, and recertified at $875 is how to buy it without paying full retail. For a simple indoor office, read the Philips OnSite review first. Not sure? The Find Your Perfect AED quiz picks for your setting.
References
- Philips, HeartStart FRx (861304) product specifications and Infant/Child Key documentation, 2026.
- US FDA, AEDs and Premarket Approval (PMA).
- American Heart Association, Cardiac Arrest and the Chain of Survival, 2024.
- AED Leader, recertified Philips FRx pricing and 9-point recertification, verified 28 July 2026. New FRx price from authorized retailer listings, 4 August 2026.
Updated August 2026 · Reviewed by the AED Brand Review Editorial Team · Editorial score is our own weighted assessment, not a consumer-review average. Prices verified live and may change.
