AirCurve 11 vs AirSense 11: Which Do I Need?

Same Shell, Different Therapy

The ResMed AirSense 11 and AirCurve 11 look nearly identical on a nightstand. Same housing, same touchscreen, same humidifier, same app integration. But they deliver fundamentally different therapy, and the difference matters more than the physical design.

The AirSense 11 is a single-pressure device. It delivers one pressure level (or auto-adjusts within a single-pressure range) to keep your airway open. The AirCurve 11 is a bilevel device. It delivers a higher pressure when you breathe in (IPAP) and a lower pressure when you breathe out (EPAP). That pressure difference, called pressure support, makes exhalation easier and can assist ventilation in patients who need it.

You do not get to choose between them based on preference. Your sleep physician prescribes one or the other based on your diagnosis, pressure needs, and how your body responds to therapy. Understanding the differences helps you know what your machine is doing and why.

The Lineup

AirSense 11 Models

Model	Mode	Who It's For
AirSense 11 AutoSet	Auto-adjusting (APAP)	Most new OSA patients. Auto-adjusts pressure 4-20 cmH2O.
AirSense 11 Elite (sold in the US as AirSense 11 CPAP)	Fixed pressure (CPAP)	Patients who need a specific fixed pressure from their titration study.

All AirSense 11 models deliver a single pressure at any given moment. The AutoSet varies that pressure automatically; the Elite holds it fixed. The AutoSet also includes AutoSet for Her, which ResMed describes as a gender-specific therapy mode. It is a setting your provider can choose on the same machine, not a separate model. The AirSense 11 sits in the mid-tier CPAP price range; check current retail pricing for live numbers since they fluctuate.

AirCurve 11 Models

Model	Mode	Who It's For
AirCurve 11 VAuto	Auto bilevel (auto EPAP, fixed pressure support)	Patients who need bilevel but benefit from auto-adjusting pressures. Most common AC11 prescription.
AirCurve 11 S	Fixed bilevel	Fixed IPAP and EPAP. For patients who need consistent bilevel pressures.
AirCurve 11 ST	Bilevel with backup rate	Adds a timed backup respiratory rate. For patients with central apneas or hypoventilation who may stop breathing.
AirCurve 11 ST-A	Bilevel with backup rate + iVAPS	The ST plus higher pressure capability and the iVAPS mode (intelligent volume-assured pressure support with AutoEPAP), per ResMed's spec. For patients who need target-ventilation support.
AirCurve 11 ASV	Adaptive servo-ventilation	Dynamically adjusts pressure support breath-by-breath. For complex and central sleep apnea.

All AirCurve 11 models deliver two pressures: IPAP (inhale) and EPAP (exhale). The gap between them is pressure support. Bilevel devices sit in the premium price tier and run noticeably higher than a single-level CPAP; check current retail pricing for live numbers.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	AirSense 11	AirCurve 11
Therapy type	Single-level (CPAP/APAP)	Bilevel (two pressures)
Pressure range	4-20 cmH2O	Up to 25 cmH2O on the S, VAuto and ASV (IPAP from 4, EPAP from 3 or 4); the ST-A goes higher
EPR	Yes (1-3 cmH2O reduction on exhale)	Not applicable (bilevel handles this natively)
Modes	CPAP, AutoSet, AutoSet For Her	S, ST, VAuto, ASV, iVAPS
Humidifier	HumidAir 11 (integrated)	HumidAir 11 (integrated)
Heated tube	ClimateLineAir 11 (optional)	ClimateLineAir 11 (optional)
Connectivity	Bluetooth + cellular (myAir for you, AirView for providers)	Bluetooth + cellular (myAir for you on most models, AirView for providers)
SD card	Yes (detailed EDF data)	Yes (detailed EDF data)
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Noise level	25 dBA (27 with humidifier)	26 dBA (27 with humidifier)
Weight	1.13 kg with tub, 1.14 kg with side cover	1.23 kg with tub, 1.24 kg with side cover
Dimensions	94.5 x 259.4 x 138.5 mm with tub	94.5 x 259.4 x 138.5 mm with tub
Pricing tier	Mid (single-level CPAP)	Premium (bilevel)
Prescription	Required	Required

Key Differences That Actually Matter

Pressure Delivery

This is the fundamental difference. The AirSense 11 pushes air at one pressure. When you exhale, you push back against that pressure. EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief) reduces exhale pressure by 1 to 3 cmH2O to make this more comfortable, but it is a comfort feature, not a therapy mode.

The AirCurve 11 delivers genuinely different pressures for inhale and exhale. If your IPAP is 14 and your EPAP is 10, you get 14 cmH2O on every inhale and 10 cmH2O on every exhale. That 4 cmH2O gap (pressure support) is not a comfort adjustment. It is part of the therapy, actively assisting your ventilation.

For most people with straightforward obstructive sleep apnea, the AirSense 11 with EPR is sufficient. Bilevel therapy is typically prescribed when:

You need pressures above 15 cmH2O and find exhaling difficult
You have central sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea
You have obesity hypoventilation syndrome
You have COPD overlap (COPD + OSA)
You have neuromuscular conditions affecting breathing
A standard CPAP trial failed due to pressure intolerance

AirCurve 11 VAuto vs AirSense 11 AutoSet

These two are the most-prescribed models on each side, so this is the comparison most people actually mean. The AutoSet auto-adjusts one pressure and offers EPR as a comfort feature on exhale. The VAuto auto-adjusts your exhale pressure (EPAP) and delivers every inhale at a fixed distance above it, the pressure support your provider prescribes, with IPAP capped at a prescribed maximum. On the AutoSet the exhale drop is comfort; on the VAuto the gap is the therapy. If your titration showed you need pressure support, the VAuto is the machine that provides it; if not, the AutoSet does the job with less machine. Both record equally detailed data to the SD card, and both are fully readable in CPAP Clarity (AirSense 11, AirCurve 11 VAuto).

SD Card Data

Both machines write detailed data to an SD card in EDF+ format. The data structure is nearly identical, with the same .2s suffix signal labels for 2-second resolution time series.

The AirCurve 11 records additional bilevel-specific channels that the AirSense 11 does not:

IPAP and EPAP as separate values (the AirSense 11 records only a single therapy pressure)
I:E ratio (inspiratory to expiratory time ratio)
Inspiratory time (Ti) and expiratory time (Te)
Target ventilation (on ASV and iVAPS modes)

If you use an AirCurve 10, CPAP Clarity already displays these bilevel channels including I:E ratio and inspiratory time charts. Both AirCurve 11 ASV and AirCurve 11 VAuto are supported as of 2026-05-19, including the same breath-by-breath flow-rate waveform the AirSense 11 gets; see the comparison table on the ASV review for the differences in data shape between them. The remaining AirCurve 11 modes (S, ST, ST-A) need contributor data before we can verify their SD card formats.

For AirSense 11 users, CPAP Clarity reads your SD card and shows detailed AHI breakdowns, pressure charts, leak trends, a breath-by-breath flow-rate waveform, and a therapy score. Import your whole SD card folder to see your data.

myAir vs AirView

Both machines work with two ResMed services. myAir is the patient app. It shows a daily score (0-100), usage hours, mask seal, and events per hour, and ResMed lists the AirSense 11 and the AirCurve 11 VAuto and ASV as myAir machines. AirView is the provider platform, where your sleep physician or DME sees your therapy data. Patients do not normally get AirView access.

myAir is deliberately simple. It does not show your IPAP, EPAP, pressure support, or I:E ratio, so AirCurve 11 users see less of what makes their therapy different than their provider does. Reading your SD card with a tool like CPAP Clarity or OSCAR fills that gap.

Cost

The price difference between single-level and bilevel is significant. The AirSense 11 AutoSet sits in the mid-tier CPAP price range. AirCurve 11 bilevel models run noticeably higher, with the ASV at the top of the bilevel range. Retail pricing fluctuates, so check live numbers when comparing.

Insurance typically covers both, but copays and rental vs. purchase structures vary. If your insurance covers a bilevel device, the out-of-pocket difference may be smaller than the sticker price suggests. See our Medicare compliance guide for details on the 90-day trial period that applies to both.

Which One Do You Need?

You don't choose. Your doctor prescribes based on your sleep study results and clinical needs. But here's the general pattern:

AirSense 11 is right if:

You have obstructive sleep apnea (the most common diagnosis)
Your titration study showed good results on a single pressure
You tolerate CPAP pressure with EPR for comfort
This is your first CPAP machine

AirCurve 11 is right if:

Single-pressure CPAP was tried and you could not tolerate the exhale pressure
You have central sleep apnea, complex sleep apnea, or treatment-emergent central apnea
You have COPD, obesity hypoventilation, or neuromuscular conditions
Your sleep physician specifically prescribed bilevel therapy

If you are currently on an AirSense 10 or AirSense 11 and doing well, there is no clinical reason to switch to bilevel. Bilevel solves specific problems that single-pressure CPAP cannot.

Accessories and Compatibility

Both the AirSense 11 and AirCurve 11 use the same accessories:

Masks: any ResMed AirFit or AirTouch mask works with both. The AirFit P10 (nasal pillow), AirFit N30i (nasal), and AirFit F20 (full face) cushion replacements are the most popular. See our mask types guide or take the Mask Finder Quiz to find the right fit.
Humidifier: HumidAir 11 (integrated, same unit)
Heated tube: ClimateLineAir 11 (same for both)
Filters: same disposable and reusable filters. See our replacement schedule.
SD card: same standard SD card. To pull data off either machine you only need a basic USB-C / USB-A SD card reader. See our SD card guide.
Power supply: same 24V adapter (90W for both)
CPAP pillows and other accessories work identically with either machine

Tracking Your Bilevel Data

If you use an AirCurve 11, your SD card contains bilevel-specific data (IPAP, EPAP, pressure support, I:E ratio, inspiratory time) that myAir does not show you. Understanding these numbers gives you and your provider a fuller picture to work from.

CPAP Clarity supports AirCurve 10 bilevel data with full I:E ratio and inspiratory time charts, plus the AirCurve 11 ASV and AirCurve 11 VAuto. The remaining AirCurve 11 modes (S, ST, ST-A) need contributor data before we can verify their SD card formats; in the meantime, OSCAR can read AirCurve 11 SD cards.

For AirSense 11 users, import your SD card data now to see detailed pressure, leak, AHI, and therapy score analysis. No account needed, everything stays in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the AirSense 11 and AirCurve 11?

Therapy delivery. The AirSense 11 is a single-pressure device that delivers one pressure level (or auto-adjusts within a single-pressure range) to keep your airway open. The AirCurve 11 is a bilevel device that delivers a higher pressure when you inhale (IPAP) and a lower pressure when you exhale (EPAP). The housing, touchscreen, and humidifier are nearly identical; the therapy is fundamentally different.

Do I need an AirCurve 11 instead of an AirSense 11?

That is your sleep physician's call, based on your diagnosis and how your body responds to therapy, not a preference choice. Bilevel is typically prescribed when you need pressures above 15 cmH2O and find exhaling difficult, when a standard CPAP trial failed due to pressure intolerance, or for conditions like central or complex sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation, COPD overlap, or neuromuscular conditions affecting breathing. For most people with straightforward obstructive sleep apnea, the AirSense 11 with EPR is sufficient.

Can an AirSense 11 work as a bilevel machine?

No. EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief) reduces exhale pressure by 1 to 3 cmH2O, but it is a comfort feature, not a therapy mode. The AirCurve 11's pressure support delivers genuinely different inhale and exhale pressures and actively assists ventilation as part of the therapy, which a single-pressure machine cannot do.

Do the AirSense 11 and AirCurve 11 use the same masks?

Yes. Any ResMed AirFit or AirTouch mask works with both machines. They also share the same HumidAir 11 humidifier, ClimateLineAir 11 heated tube, filters, standard SD card, and 24V power supply.

Which AirCurve 11 is for central sleep apnea?

The AirCurve 11 ASV (adaptive servo-ventilation) is the model built for complex and central sleep apnea; it dynamically adjusts pressure support breath by breath. The AirCurve 11 ST adds a timed backup respiratory rate for patients with central apneas or hypoventilation who may stop breathing. Which one you get depends on your sleep study results and your physician's prescription.

How can I see my AirCurve 11 bilevel data?

Pull the SD card. The AirCurve 11 VAuto and ASV work with ResMed's myAir app, but myAir shows a simple daily summary rather than your bilevel pressures. The SD card records IPAP, EPAP, I:E ratio, and inspiratory time, and CPAP Clarity supports the AirCurve 11 ASV and VAuto models; the S, ST, and ST-A variants still need contributor data.