Head to head

Excel HR vs Nordlys (2026)

The biggest practical difference is cost of entry: Nordlys's new pricing is $80k–$110k, while Excel HR's is $95k–$135k. They are used for different treatments (Nordlys: IPL/swt platform; Excel HR: dual-wavelength laser), so the right pick depends on which treatments you're building demand for.

Category group: Hair removal (diode, alexandrite, Nd:YAG, IPL)

Device A

Device B

Price comparison

Price comparison: Candela Nordlys vs Cutera Excel HR
Attribute	Candela Nordlys	Cutera Excel HR
New price range	$80k–$110k	$95k–$135k
Used asking range	$30k–$55k	$40k–$70k
Payback calculator	View ROI calculator	View ROI calculator
Next step

New price range

Candela Nordlys: $80k–$110k
Cutera Excel HR: $95k–$135k

Used asking range

Candela Nordlys: $30k–$55k
Cutera Excel HR: $40k–$70k

Payback calculator

Candela Nordlys: View ROI calculator
Cutera Excel HR: View ROI calculator

Next step

Candela Nordlys

Cutera Excel HR

Consumable economics

Consumable economics: Candela Nordlys vs Cutera Excel HR
Attribute	Candela Nordlys	Cutera Excel HR
Consumable cost / lock-in	The applicators are the consumable: each IPL handpiece carries a flash counter and needs factory recharge after its rated pulse life — ~$2,000-5,000 per recharge, hit every 1-2 years per handpiece at busy volume. Frax applicators have no per-treatment tip. Model $3,000-8,000/year all-in.	None per treatment — a decisive operating-cost advantage over diode rivals with tip fees and Candela systems burning DCD cryogen at $0.05-0.15 per pulse. Flashlamp and cooling-system maintenance is the only recurring cost.
Service cost	Not published	Not published

Consumable cost / lock-in

Candela Nordlys: The applicators are the consumable: each IPL handpiece carries a flash counter and needs factory recharge after its rated pulse life — ~$2,000-5,000 per recharge, hit every 1-2 years per handpiece at busy volume. Frax applicators have no per-treatment tip. Model $3,000-8,000/year all-in.
Cutera Excel HR: None per treatment — a decisive operating-cost advantage over diode rivals with tip fees and Candela systems burning DCD cryogen at $0.05-0.15 per pulse. Flashlamp and cooling-system maintenance is the only recurring cost.

Service cost

Candela Nordlys: Not published
Cutera Excel HR: Not published

FDA clearance

FDA clearance: Candela Nordlys vs Cutera Excel HR
Attribute	Candela Nordlys	Cutera Excel HR
FDA status & indication	FDA ClearedK161162, K192951, K212492 “Ellipse Nordlys system is intended to be used in dermatology, as tabled below: • Permanent Hair Reduction (defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing when measured at 6, 9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime) (overall 600-950nm). • Treatment of Telangiectasias (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Port Wine Stains (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions (eg Mottled Pigmentation, Ephilides) and Benign Vascular Lesions (eg Diffuse Redness) (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Rosacea (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Poikiloderma of Civatte (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Benign Epidermal Pigmented Lesions (eg Lentigo Solaris) (400-720nm). • Treatment of Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris (530-750nm). Using Nd:YAG Laser, (1064 nm): • Treatment of Leg vessels (0.1 -3.0 mm diameter). • Treatment of Benign Vascular Lesions. • Treatment of Venous Lakes. • Treatment of Port Wine Stains. • Treatment for Clear Nail defined as: Temporary increase of clear nail in patients with onychomycosis (e.g., dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, and/or yeasts Candida albicans, etc.). • Treatment of benign cutaneous lesions, such as warts. • Podiatry (ablation, vaporization, incision, excision, and coagulation of soft tissue), including: - Matrixectomy. - Periungal and subungal warts - Plantar warts. Using Frax 1550 Laser, (1550 nm): • The Frax 1550 nm laser is indicated for use in dermatological procedures requiring the coagulation of soft tissue, as well as for skin resurfacing procedures.”	FDA ClearedK132185 “Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers The Cutera Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for use in surgical and aesthetic applications in the medical specialties of dermatology and general and plastic surgery. 755 nm: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is indicated for temporary and permanent hair reduction on all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI), including tanned skin. Permanent hair reduction is defined as tong-term, stable reduction in hair counts observed atS6, 9,and 12 months after the end of a treatment regime. The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is also indicated for: o treatment of benign pigmented lesions o treatment of wrinkles ol photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas and telangiectasias 1064 nm: Dermatology: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasias, rossosa, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as, but not limited to, warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The lasers are also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age soots), solar lentigos (sun spots), caf4 au lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratoses, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue/black tattoos) and plaques. Additionally, the lasers are indicated for pigmented lesions to reduce lesion size, for patients with lesions that would potentially benefit from aggressive treatment, and for patients with lesions that have not responded to other laser treatments.”

FDA status & indication

Candela Nordlys: FDA ClearedK161162, K192951, K212492
“Ellipse Nordlys system is intended to be used in dermatology, as tabled below: • Permanent Hair Reduction (defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing when measured at 6, 9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime) (overall 600-950nm). • Treatment of Telangiectasias (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Port Wine Stains (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions (eg Mottled Pigmentation, Ephilides) and Benign Vascular Lesions (eg Diffuse Redness) (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Rosacea (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Poikiloderma of Civatte (530-750nm or 555-950nm). • Treatment of Benign Epidermal Pigmented Lesions (eg Lentigo Solaris) (400-720nm). • Treatment of Inflammatory Acne Vulgaris (530-750nm). Using Nd:YAG Laser, (1064 nm): • Treatment of Leg vessels (0.1 -3.0 mm diameter). • Treatment of Benign Vascular Lesions. • Treatment of Venous Lakes. • Treatment of Port Wine Stains. • Treatment for Clear Nail defined as: Temporary increase of clear nail in patients with onychomycosis (e.g., dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, and/or yeasts Candida albicans, etc.). • Treatment of benign cutaneous lesions, such as warts. • Podiatry (ablation, vaporization, incision, excision, and coagulation of soft tissue), including: - Matrixectomy. - Periungal and subungal warts - Plantar warts. Using Frax 1550 Laser, (1550 nm): • The Frax 1550 nm laser is indicated for use in dermatological procedures requiring the coagulation of soft tissue, as well as for skin resurfacing procedures.”
Cutera Excel HR: FDA ClearedK132185
“Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers The Cutera Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for use in surgical and aesthetic applications in the medical specialties of dermatology and general and plastic surgery. 755 nm: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is indicated for temporary and permanent hair reduction on all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI), including tanned skin. Permanent hair reduction is defined as tong-term, stable reduction in hair counts observed atS6, 9,and 12 months after the end of a treatment regime. The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is also indicated for: o treatment of benign pigmented lesions o treatment of wrinkles ol photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas and telangiectasias 1064 nm: Dermatology: The Family of CoolGlide Aesthetic Lasers is intended for the coagulation and hemostasis of benign vascular lesions such as, but not limited to, port wine stains, hemangiomas, warts, telangiectasias, rossosa, venus lake, leg veins, spider veins and poikiloderma of civatte; and treatment of benign cutaneous lesions such as, but not limited to, warts, scars, striae and psoriasis. The lasers are also intended for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age soots), solar lentigos (sun spots), caf4 au lait macules, seborrheic keratoses, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratoses, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue/black tattoos) and plaques. Additionally, the lasers are indicated for pigmented lesions to reduce lesion size, for patients with lesions that would potentially benefit from aggressive treatment, and for patients with lesions that have not responded to other laser treatments.”

Which chains run each

Which chains run each: Candela Nordlys vs Cutera Excel HR
Attribute	Candela Nordlys	Cutera Excel HR
Chain adoption	0 recorded pairings	0 recorded pairings
Chains using it	—	—
Approved reviews	0	0

Chain adoption

Candela Nordlys: 0 recorded pairings
Cutera Excel HR: 0 recorded pairings

Chains using it

Candela Nordlys: —
Cutera Excel HR: —

Approved reviews

Candela Nordlys: 0
Cutera Excel HR: 0

Specs and platform

Specs and platform: Candela Nordlys vs Cutera Excel HR
Attribute	Candela Nordlys	Cutera Excel HR
Manufacturer	Candela	Cutera
Built by (OEM)	Ellipse A/S	Cutera Inc.
Category	IPL/SWT platform	Dual-wavelength laser
Technology	SWT narrowband IPL + Nd:YAG + Frax (Nd:YAG)	755nm alex + 1064nm Nd:YAG (Nd:YAG)
Launch year	2014	2015
Status	Current	Current
OEM platform	—	—

Manufacturer

Candela Nordlys: Candela
Cutera Excel HR: Cutera

Built by (OEM)

Candela Nordlys: Ellipse A/S
Cutera Excel HR: Cutera Inc.

Alternatives

Other devices in the same subcategory.

Lumenis Splendor X

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Lutronic Clarity II

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Quanta System Thunder (MT)

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Quanta System Duetto MT / MT Evo

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New: $80k–$120k

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