Verdict: Rugged, water-resistant AED at the same price as a recertified OnSite. Choose the FRx for schools, sports fields, pools and vehicles; choose the OnSite for indoor-only use.
What AED Leader ships in the box: recertified FRx 861304, carry case, 3-year warranty, SMART Pads II and M5070A battery pre-installed, first responder kit, AED inspection card. The Infant/Child Key is sold separately. Checked on the AED Leader product page 30 September 2026.
Best for: Schools and outdoor sites on a budget
IP55 and drop-rated at $875, with the infant child key option. Pads are the standard two-year cycle.
How we score
Every score is out of 10 and higher is always better. Value compares the price with the other 14 AEDs we track; Features covers coaching, durability, child use and connectivity; 10-year cost is the device plus the pads and batteries bought over ten years, from our 10-year AED cost table. The overall ABR Buyer Score is the average of the three. Prices are re-checked at AED Leader and dated on the page.In the box: Recertified FRx unit, carry case, SMART Pads II, battery, first responder kit, inspection tag, window decal, free ground shipping (AED Leader listing; was $975)
Quick answer
9.1
Philips FRx recertified: price, warranty and what is included
A recertified Philips HeartStart FRx is $875 at AED Leader and Response Ready with a 3-year warranty, against $2,099 new (19 September 2026). It arrives tested on a Fluke Impulse 7000 analyzer with new SMART Pads II and a new battery. The FRx keeps its pediatric key and IP55 rating whether new or recertified.
Recertified FRx AED price, seller by seller
Recertified FRx prices on 18 September 2026 ran from about $674 to $995 for a bare unit, with packages from $1,135; AED Leader and Response Ready are $875 with a 3-year warranty and a published 9-point process, while American AED ($674, out of stock on 18 September, available to order on 1 October 2026) and AED.com ($699.99, out of stock on 1 October 2026) also offer 3 years. The seller table below lists each price and warranty term.
Quick answer
A recertified Philips HeartStart FRx costs $875.00 at AED Leader and Response Ready, verified 18 September 2026, against $2,099.00 to $2,199.00 for a new unit. Warranty on a recertified AED ranges from one to four years depending on the seller, and most of the eight sellers we checked do not publish what their recertification actually inspects. The FRx is not discontinued: since 14 January 2026 the HeartStart line is built by Heartstream, the former Philips Emergency Care business, under a multi-year Philips brand licence. Full safety section. Running cost is identical to a new unit at about $854 in consumables over ten years. It is a prescription device in the United States, although several sellers include a free physician authorisation with the purchase.
Verified by AED Brand Review on 30 September 2026 against the published product data of AED Leader and Response Ready.Is a recertified Philips FRx worth it?
Quick answer
Refurbished, recertified, reconditioned: one FRx, three labels
Sellers use three words for the same used Philips HeartStart FRx, and none of them is a regulated term. What separates a safe purchase from a risky one is not the label but three facts the seller must put in writing: a documented output test on a defibrillator analyzer, new dated SMART Pads II and M5070A battery, and a warranty measured in years. This is how the labels were used across the sellers we checked on 18 September 2026.
| Label | Who uses it | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Refurbished | CalMed, Total AEDs, AED Market | Anything from a cosmetic clean-up to a full biomedical test. Ask for the test record and the warranty in writing. |
| Recertified | AED Leader, Response Ready, AED.com, American AED, Penn Care | Analyzer-tested, guideline software checked, new pads and battery, multi-year warranty. AED Leader publishes the 9 points and names the analyzer. |
| Reconditioned | Training companies reselling units | Usually no process statement at all. Treat it as refurbished and apply the same three questions. |
Whatever the label, the hardware is the same FDA-approved 861304 under PMA P180028, and since 14 January 2026 it is built and supported by Heartstream, the former Philips Emergency Care business, under a multi-year Philips brand licence. Judge the seller and the paperwork, not the word.
What the recertification process actually involves
Quick answer
| Step | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Analyzer test | Unit tested on a defibrillator analyzer for FDA-compliant joule output | Confirms the shock is correct, which the unit's self-test cannot verify |
| Guideline / software check | Firmware verified against current AHA guidelines | Keeps CPR prompts and shock protocol current |
| New consumables | New genuine Philips SMART Pads II (989803139261) and new M5070A battery, maximum-dated | Pads and battery are the top real-world failure point |
| Pediatric check | Infant/Child Key function verified if included | The FRx's pediatric mode must switch energy correctly for small patients |
| Clean, inspect, circuitry test | Sanitized, inspected, IP55 seal checked, internal circuitry verified for self-tests | Preserves the ruggedness the FRx is bought for |
| Documentation | Performance recorded; pad and battery expirations archived; recall notification registered | Puts the unit in the manufacturer recall chain |
Can a recertified FRx be used on children?
Quick answer
Recertified vs new Philips FRx
Quick answer
| Recertified FRx | New FRx | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price (2026) | $674 to $995 | ~$2,099 |
| Device | Same, FDA-approved, IP55 | Same, FDA-approved, IP55 |
| Pads and battery | New, genuine, dated | New, genuine, dated |
| Pediatric option | Infant/Child Key (confirm included) | Infant/Child Key (add-on) |
| Warranty | 1 to 4 years (seller-dependent) | 8 years manufacturer |
| Best for | Budget-focused schools, sports, outdoor | Longest warranty, 8-plus year hold |
What a recertified Philips FRx should cost in 2026
Quick answer
| Seller | Price | Warranty | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| American AED | from $674 | 3-year (+1 or +2 years optional) | 18-point process, free case and kit; out of stock on 18 September 2026, available to order 1 Oct 2026 |
| AED.com | $699.99 | 3-year, Cardio Partners | Process not itemized, out of stock 1 Oct 2026 |
| AED Market | $725 | 1-year | Refurbished labeling, biomedical technician |
| Live Action Safety | $789.99 | 2-year limited | Non-returnable item |
| CalMed Equipment | $800 | 4-year | BioMed tested, in stock |
| AED Leader Documented process | $875 | 3-year | Published 9-point process, Fluke Impulse 7000 analyzer test, 100% money-back, 1-year price match, free shipping. Same price at Response Ready |
| Total AEDs | $995 | 2-year | Certified biomedical technicians, Philips spec |
| Penn Care | $1,135.25 | Not stated | EMS distributor package |
Buy the recertified Philips FRx
Pads, battery, and total cost of ownership
Quick answer
Is a recertified Philips FRx safe and FDA-legal?
Quick answer
Who should buy recertified, and who should buy new
| Buy recertified FRx if… | Buy new FRx if… |
|---|---|
| You need rugged and pediatric-capable on a budget | You want the full 8-year manufacturer warranty |
| The setting is a school, gym, field, or worksite | You plan to hold the unit 8-plus years |
| The seller documents the test and includes the pediatric key | A grant or budget already covers the new price |
How the Philips HeartStart FRx compares
| Model | Verified price | Ten year running cost | Pediatric method | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips HeartStart FRx (this page) | $2,099 to $2,199 | About $854 | Reusable child key, about $139 once | Schools, mixed adult and child settings |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | $1,589 to $1,819 | About $894 | Separate M5072A cartridge, prescription only | Untrained staff, offices, home |
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,082 | About $330 | Pedi-padz II, $155 every 2 years | Lowest running cost, workplaces |
| HeartSine Samaritan 350P | $1,411 | About $472 | Separate Pediatric Pad-Pak, about $279 | Outdoor, portable, over the counter |
New unit prices verified at AED Leader and Response Ready on 30 September 2026. Ten year running cost is our own calculation from published consumable part prices and service lives. We checked the top five ranking pages for every one of these models and not one publishes a table like this.
What each seller promises on a recertified unit
| Seller | Warranty | Returns | Stated process |
|---|---|---|---|
| AED Leader | 3 years | 100 per cent money back guarantee, 1-year price match | Published 9-point process, Fluke Impulse 7000 analyzer test, SMART Pads II and battery pre-installed |
| CalMed Equipment | 4 years | Free returns | BioMed tested, new pads and battery |
| American AED | 3 years, extendable | 30 day money back | 18 point process, free case, kit, decals, prescription |
| AED.com | 3 years, Cardio Partners | Not stated on page | In-house recertification, not itemized on the FRx page |
| Total AEDs | 2 years, parts and labour | Not stated on page | Certified biomedical technicians to Philips specification |
| Live Action Safety | 2 years limited | Non-returnable | Process not described |
| AED Market | 1 year | 30 day money back | Biomedical technician, new pads, new battery, carrying case |
Compiled from each seller published page on 18 September 2026. No seller publishes this comparison. A recertification process claim is a marketing statement unless the seller states what the points actually are and names the test equipment; AED Leader is the only seller in this table that names its analyzer.
Before you buy: shipping, prescription and the small print
- Prescription. Only two AED families are approved for over the counter sale in the United States: the HeartSine Samaritan 350P and the Philips HeartStart OnSite in its adult configuration. Every other model here, including the FRx, ZOLL, Powerheart G5, LIFEPAK CR2 and Defibtech, is a prescription device.
- Free physician authorisation. Several sellers include a free prescription from a board certified physician with the purchase, so the prescription requirement is rarely a real obstacle.
- Free shipping threshold. AED.com and American AED both publish free ground shipping on orders above $199 in the contiguous United States.
- Approval route. AEDs are FDA approved through premarket approval, a PMA number. PMA is the only FDA route for an AED, so any seller naming another pathway has it wrong.
Quick answers
Short, sourced answers to the questions buyers ask most about this model. Prices are the ones we verified at AED Leader on the date shown.
How much is a recertified Philips HeartStart FRx?
$875 at AED Leader and Response Ready, price checked 30 September 2026, reduced from $975, with a 3-year warranty, SMART Pads II and a new battery. New, the FRx is $2,099 to $2,199, a saving of about 58 percent.
Is a recertified FRx worth it?
Yes for schools, sports fields, pools and vehicles. It is the same IP55-rated, drop-tested device under PMA P180028 at the price of a recertified indoor AED, and it still accepts the infant child key for pediatric use.
Recertified FRx or recertified Philips OnSite?
Both are $875. Choose the FRx if the AED will face water, dust, cold or transport, or if you need pediatric use without buying separate pads. Choose the OnSite for indoor-only settings with a simpler interface.
Does a recertified FRx still take the infant child key?
Yes. The infant child key is an accessory that plugs into the same device, so a recertified FRx supports pediatric mode exactly as a new one does. The key is purchased separately.
Alternatives at the same price, verified today
Prices checked 30 September 2026 at AED Leader. Each link opens our full review with the buy path.
- Recertified Philips HeartStart OnSite review and price$875Save 45%Recertified, 3-year warrantyBuy at AED Leader
- Recertified ZOLL AED Plus review and price$875Save 58%Recertified, 3-year warrantyBuy at AED Leader
- Recertified HeartSine Samaritan 350P review and price$875Save 38%Recertified, 3-year warrantyBuy at AED Leader
- Philips HeartStart FRx review and price$2,099 to $2,199New, 8-year manufacturer warranty
Related AED Brand Review research
More questions buyers ask about the recertified Philips FRx
Answered 24 September 2026. Prices verified from the AED Leader product feed the same day.
What does a recertified Philips FRx cost?
$875.00 at AED Leader, down from $975.00, against a new FRx from $2,099.00. That is $1,224.00 saved. The warranty is three years against eight on a new value package.
What comes in the recertified Philips AED package?
AED Leader lists six items with the recertified FRx: the unit with pads and battery pre-installed, a carry case, a first responder kit, an AED inspection card, an AED on-site window decal and the three-year warranty. A wall cabinet is not listed, so budget for one if the unit will be wall-mounted; our cabinet and mounting guide covers the choice.
When will the FRx need replacement pads and a battery?
Pads every two years at $89.00, battery about every four years at $249.00. Diary both dates on day one, because a recertified unit arrives with new consumables and its clock starts then.
Recertified Philips FRx FAQ
Is a recertified Philips HeartStart FRx worth it?
How much does a recertified Philips FRx cost in 2026?
Can a recertified FRx be used on children?
What warranty comes with a recertified FRx?
Is the Philips HeartStart FRx discontinued?
Was the Philips HeartStart FRx recalled?
How long does the Philips HeartStart FRx battery last?
Can a defibrillator be reused?
Is recertified the same as refurbished?
The one-line decision
References
- American Heart Association, Cardiac Arrest statistics and Chain of Survival, 2024.
- US FDA, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and Premarket Approval.
- OSHA, Cardiac Arrest and AEDs in the workplace.
- Recertified and refurbished FRx pricing and warranty verified live from aedleader.com, responseready.com, americanaed.com, aed.com, aedmarket.com, liveactionsafety.com, calmedequipment.com, totalaeds.com and penncare.net on 18 September 2026. Heartstream launch announcement, 14 January 2026. FDA recall database entries for the FRx 861304, checked 18 September 2026. Philips HeartStart battery product page (standby and shelf life).
