Inogen One G5: An Expert Review and Buying Advice (2024)

The Inogen One G5 is the latest addition to the family of Inogen’s user-friendly portable oxygen concentrators. With expanded features built on the foundations of the Inogen One G3 and the Inogen One G4, the Inogen One G5 is looking to be a “one-size-fits-all” portable oxygen concentrator that will do well for almost any person who requires supplemental oxygen on-the-go.

In this blog post, I will discuss what is new in the Inogen One G5 and provide my overall review. If you missed my latest review of the Inogen One family of portable oxygen concentrators (which includes the Inogen At Home 5L stationary concentrator), be sure to read that blog post to get a full scope of the differences between each device.

Why I’m An Expert

I am not affiliated in any way with Inogen, so my review of these products constitutes from publically-available information by Inogen and my experiences as a board-licensed respiratory therapist for 11 years, working primarily in acute care hospitals. My experience has exposed me the various challenges and situations that relate to oxygen therapy use, both in the hospital and home settings. Through my training and clinical experience, I have worked extensively with various Inogen product and providing my opinions in the post.

Finally, this post does not constitute medical advice in any way. It is advised to discuss the specifics of these oxygen concentrators with your doctor before ultimately purchasing a device to ensure you have the right equipment for your needs. This information is for educational purposes only.

What is New in the Inogen One G5

There are 2 primary updates with the Inogen One G5: the flow setting capacity and battery life.

It seems that Inogen focused the updates on this device to increase the user’s ability to get more oxygen if needed and to increase the overall life of the machine while on-the-go. Both of these additions will allow the user more flexibility in terms of being able to perform more activities of daily living without the need for constant equipment changes. These additions are consistent with Inogen’s mission to increase the independence of people who require supplemental oxygen.

Flow Setting Update

The pulse flow settings for the Inogen One G4 can reach a maximum flow setting of 3, while the Inogen One G3 can reach a maximum flow setting of 5. However, the Inogen One G5 is now capable of reaching a flow setting of 6, which makes it the most powerful oxygen concentrator available by Inogen, even surpassing their stationary concentrator.

While a higher flow setting might seem like a gimmick if you only need a low setting, there is a benefit to the higher liter flow setting for almost anyone requiring supplemental oxygen. Exercising with COPD can be a challenge because of the higher utilization of oxygen by your muscles, which means you will need to take in more oxygen during your exercise routine. However, if your device is not capable of reaching higher liter flows, you might be stuck limiting your exercise routine or only exercising at home where you can use your stationary oxygen device.

With 6 liter flow settings, the Inogen One G5 gives you even more capacity for getting the oxygen you need during exercise so you can go farther without needing to limit your routine.

Additionally, during emergencies, you might need more oxygen than you are typically prescribed with. Although the best strategy for dealing with an emergency is to call 911 or visit your local emergency room, there is greater peace of mind knowing that your portable oxygen device can go higher in liter flow until you can be seen and treated by a professional.

Battery Life Update

The Inogen One G5 has also increased the total battery life for the Inogen family. The Inogen One G3 previously held the highest battery capacity at 10 hours with a double battery, but the Inogen One G5 can now reach 13 hours with a double battery. The additional 3 hours is long enough to give you the freedom to run a few more errands or go a bit farther if you are traveling as well as the need to keep a second battery with you for the short local trips or outdoor activities.

Additional Updates

There are several more updates that, while smaller in scale, are an improvement over previous models.

The noise level for the Inogen One G5 has dropped to 38 decibels at setting 2, which is down from 39 decibels at setting 2 for the Inogen One G3. While not a very large drop, the Inogen family overall is already quieter than most devices on the market, so a slight decrease in noise level is just that much better.

Additionally, the Inogen One G5 is smaller in both height and length compared to the Inogen One G3, but the Inogen One G3 is still slightly smaller in width. Overall, the Inogen One G5 is smaller, but the Inogen One G4 still beats both the G3 and the G5 in terms of size and weight. However, the Inogen One G4 only reaches a maximum liter flow setting of 3, so the Inogen One G5 is still the overall most significant improvement.

My Overall Review of the Inogen One G5

In terms of updates, I think the Inogen One G5 is a significant improvement over previous models for those looking to do more and go farther in their daily lives. If you already have an earlier model, I wouldn’t say you need to retire the old for the new just yet, unless you know for sure you need the higher liter flow settings and longer battery life. However, if your current device is seeing its final days and you are looking for an upgrade, or if you are in the market for your first oxygen concentrator, the Inogen One G5 is a great “one-size-fits-all device” that will cover most of your supplemental oxygen needs.