How effective are these new mini-POCs (portable oxygen concentrators)?

I just purchased the Inogen Rove 6. Pricy. Works well. 5-7 lbs depending on battery used (standard 5 hrs or extended 11 hrs) also depends on your flow rate. I am at 2 pretty accurate times. Much easier than the tanks (which were not always filled proper. Frustrated with it)
I always carry along the extra battery when away from home.
Noise level is not bad - get used to it. Pulse dose. Need to do research on many brands that may suit your needs, I did - lots of work looking up all of it. Good luck.

One thing to be aware of is the decibels advertised usually are at the 2 level. Between 4-6 levels the noise is much louder. Also at those levels, the battery runs out much faster. I use it on 5 mostly now and feel like I am always trying to keep my batteries charged. I have 2 each of the large and small for my Inogen.

I have been researching the portables because I am not happy with the one that my insurance provided. I found a chart comparing most of the portable devices. I included the website name and also a QR code. I printed it on my home printer off of my phone. If you don’t have one, your public library may print it for you.

RunningOnAir.org regularly updates its oxygen charts for the portable oxygen concentrators and is a very reliable source of info. I like the Inogen Rover 6—just got it from my supplier. The alarms are quieter than the G5 was

I need a melatonin to use it when sleeping for a trip on the road. (Hotels) I despise the Puff! Once I get to where we are going, I have a regular O2 concentrator delivered for my time visiting our family (thru the provider I use at home). Different Airlines require different Batteries! I couldn't use the 15 hour battery for my Inogen on Luftansa!

When you shop for POCs make sure they are FDA and FAA APPROVED. There are way too many fake/scam devices offered online. If they are too good to be true they probably aren’t. They’re priced much cheaper than the quality, approved POCs. And if you need more that 3 LITERS of supplemental oxygen, unfortunately, POCs are not adequate.

I have interstitial lung disease w severe diffusing capacity. Need supplemental O2 for activity and sleeping. I was provided an Inogen 1 G5 portable in addition to stationery concentrator as part of my initial prescription. These were covered by Medicare. I ended up doing the rental contract w Inogen as local DME provider was impossible to deal with.
The G5 is very heavy for me but battery lasts a long time. I keep that one plugged in and use in area where I’m doing my reconditioning dancing. I also move it easily to other areas. I purchased a new Inogen Rove 4 to be more active outdoors. The smaller battery lasts about 1.5 hours at 2-3 setting. It lasts longer than me as I poop out pretty fast still. I have the larger battery too so can swap out if needed. The car recharging works well so can save the battery during car travel. It was pricey and out of pocket for the Rove 4. Almost the price of a nice international trip I can’t take right now anyway.
These things all seem loud to me but better than canister! I don’t mind the pulse and it beeps at me if I’m not breathing right.
Inogen has provided excellent service over the six months since I started down my O2 journey. Both pre and post rental and sale.

I would most love to never have learned of supplemental O2!