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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	Fixed pressure (CPAP)	Patients who need a specific fixed pressure from their titration study.
AirSense 11 AutoSet For Her	Auto-adjusting with female-specific algorithm	Women with OSA. Algorithm optimized for female breathing patterns.

All AirSense 11 models deliver a single pressure at any given moment. The AutoSet varies that pressure automatically; the Elite holds it fixed. Typical street price: $700 to $1,000 without insurance (as of April 2026).

AirCurve 11 Models

Model	Mode	Who It's For
AirCurve 11 VAuto	Variable bilevel (auto EPAP + auto PS)	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 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. Typical street price: $1,500 to $2,800 without insurance, depending on the model (as of April 2026).

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	AirSense 11	AirCurve 11
Therapy type	Single-level (CPAP/APAP)	Bilevel (two pressures)
Pressure range	4-20 cmH2O	EPAP 4-25, IPAP 4-30 cmH2O
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)	Bluetooth + cellular (AirView for providers)
SD card	Yes (detailed EDF data)	Yes (detailed EDF data)
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Noise level	26 dBA	26 dBA
Weight	1.1 kg (without humidifier)	1.3 kg (without humidifier)
Dimensions	169 x 112 x 262 mm	169 x 112 x 262 mm
Price (typical)	$700-1,000	$1,500-2,800
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

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. AirCurve 11 support is in progress.

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

myAir vs AirView

The AirSense 11 connects to myAir, ResMed's patient-facing app. It shows a daily score (0-100), usage hours, mask seal, and events per hour. It is simple and intentionally limited.

The AirCurve 11 connects to AirView, ResMed's provider-facing platform. Patients typically do not have direct access to AirView. Your sleep physician or DME sees the detailed data; you see the simplified myAir version (if your provider enables it for your device).

This means AirCurve 11 users often have less visibility into their own therapy data than AirSense 11 users, despite having a more complex machine. Reading your SD card with a tool like CPAP Clarity or OSCAR fills that gap.

Cost

The price difference is significant. An AirSense 11 AutoSet (opens in new tab) typically runs $700 to $1,000 cash. An AirCurve 11 VAuto runs $1,500 to $2,000, and the ASV can reach $2,500 to $2,800.

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 (opens in new tab) (nasal pillow), AirFit N30i (opens in new tab) (nasal), and AirFit F20 (opens in new tab) (full face) 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. See our SD card guide.
Power supply: same 24V adapter (90W for both)
CPAP pillows (opens in new tab) 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 helps you and your provider optimize your therapy.

CPAP Clarity currently supports AirCurve 10 bilevel data with full I:E ratio and inspiratory time charts. AirCurve 11 support is coming. 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.

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AirSense 11 vs AirCurve 11: Which Do You Need?