FX300 vs FX500: The Quick Answer (Which to Buy)

Short answer: pick the FX300 ($199.99) if you mostly want to treat one area at a time — a knee, a shoulder, your lower back, or your face — without spending a lot. Pick the FX500 ($269.99) if you want broader, full-body coverage and the shortest sessions. Both use the same clinical 660nm + 850nm wavelengths, and both are FSA/HSA eligible. The difference is size, coverage, and how fast you can treat larger areas.

Which AWA panel should I buy?

Here's the 30-second way to decide.

• Choose the FX300 if: you're targeting a specific spot (one joint, your face and neck, a patch of skin), you have limited space, or you want the gentler price. It's the easiest place to start.
• Choose the FX500 if: you want to treat your back, both legs, or your whole front in one go, you're sharing it across the household, or you'd rather sit a little farther back and cover more at once.

What's actually different between the FX300 and FX500?

The light itself is the same quality — both deliver red (660nm) and near-infrared (850nm) light. What changes is scale:

• Coverage: the FX300 is compact and targeted; the FX500 is the larger, full-body flagship.
• Session time for big areas: a bigger panel treats a wide area (like your whole back) in fewer repositionings, so larger sessions go faster on the FX500.
• Price: FX300 is $199.99; FX500 is $269.99. Both are eligible to buy with FSA/HSA funds.

Who each panel is for

The FX300 is best for: new users, targeted pain relief, joint treatment, facial and neck use as a complement to a face mask, and apartment living or limited space. Its smaller footprint is easier to position precisely for direct treatment of joints, localized pain areas, or specific muscle groups.

The FX500 is best for: athletes and active-recovery users, widespread pain or inflammation, and anyone committed to a full-body daily protocol. It covers the torso, back, or large body segments in a single position — what would take multiple repositionings with a smaller panel happens in one session.

The case for owning both

Many serious users end up with both devices for different protocols: the FX500 for post-workout full-body recovery sessions, and the FX300 for targeted joint treatment or morning skin sessions. Because both are FSA and HSA eligible, the combined investment is accessible through pre-tax healthcare funds.

Want a recommendation based on your specific goals and space? Take our quick device finder quiz — it points you to the right panel in about a minute.

Are both panels FSA/HSA eligible?

Yes. Both the FX300 and FX500 are FSA/HSA eligible, so you can use pre-tax dollars. If you're new to that, here's how to pay with your FSA or HSA, including when a letter of medical necessity helps.

Frequently asked questions

Can the FX300 do full-body treatment? It can, but you'll reposition it more to cover large areas. If full-body sessions are your main goal, the FX500 is the more comfortable fit.

Is the FX500 worth the extra $70? If you'll regularly treat large areas or more than one person uses it, the time saved makes it worth it. For one targeted area, the FX300 is plenty.

Do they use the same wavelengths? Yes — both combine 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared, so the therapy is the same; only the coverage area differs.

Which is better for a beginner? Most first-time users are happy starting with the FX300, then adding a larger panel later if they want full-body coverage.

Still deciding? Compare full specifications on the FX300 and FX500 product pages, or browse all red light therapy panels.

Lights on, pain off.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Red light therapy devices are intended for general wellness and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always check with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.