The NHS provides home oxygen free after assessment. Its portable option is small cylinders: the NHS says most weigh 2–3 kg and hold up to 3 hours of oxygen. A portable oxygen concentrator (POC) makes its own oxygen from room air, so it doesn’t run out while the battery lasts. This guide covers buying one privately, for example for flying, longer days out or holidays.
UK prices
| Model | Price before VAT | Type | Weight | Battery (published) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inogen Rove 6, 16-cell battery | £2,150 (portableoxygen.co.uk) | Pulse dose, 6 settings | 2.6 kg with 16-cell battery | Up to 13 hours (lowest setting); 8-cell up to 6½ hours |
| Drive DeVilbiss iGo2 | £1,995 (portableoxygen.co.uk) | Pulse dose (SmartDose, auto-adjusting), 6 settings | 2.2 kg | Minimum 3.5 hours at setting 2 |
Prices and specifications are from the retailer’s listings, read 14 October 2026. The retailer showed the Rove 6 (16-cell) at £2,580 including VAT, or £2,150 with VAT relief. It lists both models as FAA-compliant or approved for in-flight use. Other models on the same site, including the CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort, Inogen One G5 and Philips SimplyGo, had no price shown or were out of stock that day, so we haven’t listed them.
Pulse dose isn’t the same as NHS continuous flow
Both machines above deliver oxygen in pulses as you breathe in, measured in settings rather than litres per minute. A setting number isn’t equivalent to a litre-per-minute flow. If your NHS prescription is continuous flow, or you need oxygen while asleep, ask your oxygen team whether a pulse-dose machine suits you. If it doesn’t, you need a continuous-flow model.
VAT relief
HMRC Notice 701/7 names oxygen concentrators as zero-rated medical appliances. This applies when they are supplied to someone chronically sick or disabled for personal or domestic use. Spare batteries designed solely for the device can also qualify, but general-purpose batteries don’t. See our VAT relief guide.
Flying
The CAA says:
- contact the airline before your trip
- carry a doctor’s letter or your prescription
- expect the device to go through the X-ray scanner in a separate tray
Most airlines don’t provide aircraft power for passenger medical equipment, so plan enough battery for the whole journey. All batteries, including spares, must meet the airline’s rules. See flying with CPAP or oxygen.
The verdict
If you fly or travel often and your clinic agrees a pulse-dose setting is right, the Rove 6 with the 16-cell battery (£2,150 before VAT) is the longer-running choice. The iGo2 (£1,995) is lighter. If your NHS prescription is continuous flow, neither replaces it, so speak to your oxygen team before buying.