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Not sure what you want? Be sure to check out one of my big, detailed comparison charts:
Air Fryer Review and Comparison Chart (standard size models)
Largest Air Fryer Models (XL and XXL capacity)
The individual air fryer reviews on this site go in depth to give you lots of detail. That’s fine when you’re interested in a specific model, but what if you have no idea where you want to start? Well then, start with my Best Air Fryers Buyer Guide!
This buyer guide pulls it all together to give you a quick look at what’s available. On this one page you’ll find comparison charts and short air fryer reviews on all the major brands – from the highest priced to the relatively cheap, from the highest rated to the questionable but possibly worth considering.
My goal is to help you save time and shop smart. Use this overview to make a wise decision fast. If you don’t find exactly what you want to buy, you’ll find links to the longer reviews where you can learn more about the models that interest you most.
Introduction
If you came here to read air fryer reviews, you’ve probably already discovered the benefits these appliances offer. Most important is that air fryers give you an alternative to old fashioned deep frying. The taste is very good, and it’s a much healthier way to cook.
It’s also much cleaner. You won’t have a big grease spattered mess to clean up, and you won’t have that deep-fried kitchen odor that can linger for days.
Which Air Fryer is Best?
As always, the answer to that depends partly on you. Are you cooking for 1, 2, more? Do you prefer manual or digital controls? Will you mostly cook chicken nuggets and fries, or is versatility important? Some models can handle everything from an omelet to baking a small cake. The best air fryer for you is the one that suits your individual needs.
For years my personal favorite has been Philips. I own the HD9230 (an older, original model) and 2 other Philips models and am extremely pleased with all of them. These machines were used for the development and testing of recipes for two cookbooks, a total of over 360 recipes. Consider that while some dishes may have only been cooked twice, many other required multiple tests in order to perfect the recipes. My co-author and I ran these fryers hours at a time for days on end, and even now they all still work perfectly. I give Philips my highest marks for quality construction, ease of use and cleaning, durability, performance, and excellent results.
For full disclosure, Philips did not give me these air fryers to try to get me to say nice things about them. I ordered mine from Amazon and paid full price like everyone else. Fact is, Philips became my top pick because I’ve used the brand and love it.
However, it’s also one of the pricier brands on the market. For those who don’t want to pay top dollar, there are certainly others worth considering. That brings me to my second personal favorite brand – Cosori.
Cosori makes a very nice large capacity air fryer that sells for far less than the Philips. I bought my Cosori Air Fryer a couple of years ago and absolutely love it for all the same reasons I love Philips. The Cosori is made well, is easy to use and clean, excels in performance and results, and so far has proven to be a hard-working and very durable machine.
Of course you may completely disagree with me, and this overview is designed to help you decide what’s right for you. It covers all the basics and also includes links to the individual air fryer reviews that provide much more detail.
Top Air Fryers – Quick Comparison Chart
 (click to view on Amazon) |  (click to view on Amazon) |  (click to view on Amazon) |  (click to view on Amazon) |  (click to view on Amazon) |
| Philips Premium Airfryer XXL | Cosori Air Fryer | Nuwave Brio Air Fryer | Ninja Max XL Air Fryer | T-fal Actifry |
| Editor's Pick Leading Brand XXL Capacity | Editor's Pick XL Capacity Great Price | Bestseller Available in Several Sizes | Bestseller Gets Good Reviews | Unique Stirring Paddle (users either love it or hate it) |
| 3.1 lb. Capacity | 5.8 qt. Capacity | 6 qt. Capacity | 5.5 qt. Capacity | 2.2 lb. Capacity |
| Digital Controls | Digital Controls | Digital Controls | Digital Controls | Manual Controls |
| 1 Yr. Warranty | 1 Yr Warranty (2 years with registration) | 1 Yr. Warranty | 1 Yr. Warranty (customer pays $20 fee on warranty claim) | 1 Yr. Warranty |
| Under $250 | Under $125 | Under $100 (varies by size) | Under $150 | Under $200 |
| See brief review below | See brief review below | See brief review below | See brief review below | See brief review below |
| Read Detailed Review | Read Detailed Review | Read Detailed Review | Read Detailed Review | |
| Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price | Amazon Price |
All of the models shown above also include:
- timer with automatic shut-off
- adjustable temperature settings
- instruction/recipe booklet
- optional accessories
The accessories are sold separately, with one exception:
- Nuwave does not sell its accessories alone. They only come bundled with a 3 quart model. You can see it on Amazon here – Nuwave Brio Digital Air Fryer, 3 Quart Capacity, with Reversible Rack, Baking Pan, & Recipe Book
Brief Air Fryer Reviews – The Top Bestsellers
Following is a quick overview of each of the models in the above charts. If you need more information, click the link to read our full review, which includes complete details.
Philips AirFryer XXL HD9650 Review
Editor’s Pick
Big Model from a Big Brand Name!
Philips is the leading manufacturer of air fryers, and the HD9650 is the largest model in their line. If you need XXL cooking capacity, take a close look at this one.
This company is known for its patented Rapid Air Technology because it is designed to give you the best results possible. With fast, even cooking, foods turn out nicely done inside and crispy on the outside.
This 1,725 Watt unit has an interior capacity of 4 quarts, and it gives you all the best features of an air fryer, including:
- digital touch-screen plus QuickControl Dial
- 60 minute timer and automatic shut-off with a ready signal
- 6 preset functions and adjustable temperature (up to 400°)
- internal cord storage, non-slip “feet”, and dishwasher safe parts
The Philips XXL HD9650 gets high praise from consumers for performance and quality of the construction. Complaints are rare and generally due to user inexperience. Air frying is a new way to cook for most people, so don’t be surprised if you experience a small learning curve.
What are the drawbacks? In a word — size.
The HD9650 isn’t for everyone because it’s a large appliance. Exterior dimensions are 12.7″ wide by 17.05″ deep by 12.4″ high. That can be a bit much for tiny kitchens, and at 18 pounds some people will find it hard to move around.
However, that size is also one of this model’s best features. If you’ll be cooking for a big family or if you enjoy entertaining often, the extra large interior capacity may be exactly what you need.
Click here to read my complete, detailed review of the Philips XXL Airfryer HD9650.
Cosori 5.8-Quart Air Fryer Review
Editor’s Pick
Cosori may be a lesser known manufacturer to you. It is somewhat new on the scene but is quickly earning a very good reputation for its air fryers and other product such as food dehydrators. I am a devout Philips fan, but now I also own a Cosori Air Fryer and am extremely pleased with it.
Features of this model include:
- 5.8 quart capacity
- digital touch screen controls
- automatic shut-off with ready signal
- 12 cooking presets
- keep warm function
- adjustable temperature up to 400°
- 60 minute timer
- dishwasher safe parts
- 2 Year Limited Warranty
The timer also includes a “shake reminder” feature that you can help you remember to stop and shake the basked when needed for more even cooking.
I’m not a big fan of presets because you can’t always trust them. In fact most owner manuals will tell you they are really just a suggestion. Timing can’t be guaranteed because there are always unknown variables such as quantity and beginning temperature of foods. (Likewise, those variables are Why You Should Never Trust An Air Fryer Cooking Time Chart.)
That said, many people DO love to use presets, and if that’s you then you’ll love all the options on this Cosori. The presets are for chicken, steak, shrimp, seafood, bacon, frozen foods, French fries, vegetables, Preheat, Toast, and Bake.
To me one of the outstanding aspects of this model is that you get huge cooking capacity at a very reasonable price – even the extra large 6.8-Quart size Cosori usually sells for less than $150.
The only bad news is that a good number of online reviews are from owners who say their unit either was dead on arrival or that it quit working some time during the first year. In both cases that’s a problem that would be covered under warranty.
Also remember that if you buy from Amazon and receive a dead unit, on many items you have 30 days to send it back to Amazon at no charge to you. After that, your warranty claim would have to be with the manufacturer, unless you pay extra to purchase one of Amazon’s extended protection plans.
Otherwise, customers are very pleased with the Cosori for quality, performance, ease of use and excellent results. I agree. I purchased my Cosori a little over 2 years ago, have never had any trouble with it, and it is still working perfectly.
To date approximately 90% of Cosori owners have given this model a 4 or 5 star rating. My personal experience is that it does an excellent job cooking all types of foods. If you want a large capacity air fryer without spending a fortune, this one is an exceptional value for the price.
Nuwave Brio 6 qt. Digital Air Fryer Review
Bestseller
The Nuwave Air Fryer, also known as Nuwave Brio, may be familiar to you because it’s one of the as seen on TV models. Pictured below is the XL model that has a 6 quart cooking capacity, but the Nuwave is also available in several other smaller and larger sizes.
Like its competitors, the Nuwave has these standard features:
- digital control panel
- adjustable temperature settings (100° to 400°)
- dishwasher safe parts (top rack)
- 100 hour timer*
- 1 Year Limited Warranty**
* Yes, that’s correct. At temperatures of 345° or less, you can actually set the timer for up to 100 hours. And yes, I’m completely baffled by that option too.
** Be aware that if you do have a warranty claim you may be required to pay shipping both ways. (See our complete review for a link to the manufacturer’s warranty page.)
As mentioned in our detailed review, one consumer compared this model to the highly advertised Power Air Fryer XL (the other as seen on TV model). This one man’s opinion is that construction quality of the Power Air Fryer is not as good as that of the Nuwave, and that the Nuwave is somewhat sturdier.
The most common complaint about this Nuwave is the time it takes to preheat, up to 15 minutes. That is a very long time for an air fryer! There are also numerous reports of these units ceasing to work after a short period of time. That and the warranty terms might be good reason to purchase an extended warranty.
Despite these drawbacks, a healthy majority of owners are very happy with the Nuwave. It’s easy to use and to clean and reportedly does a good job on a variety of foods. It also sells for a very reasonable price, especially if you’re in the market for an XL air fryer.
Click here to read my complete review of the Nuwave Brio air fryer.
(The link below will take you to the XL size, but on that same page you’ll see the option to select a smaller or larger size if you prefer.)
Ninja Max XL Air Fryer
Bestseller
Ninja is certainly one of today’s best known and most popular brands for small kitchen appliances. Browse around the web and you’ll see that virtually every product this company makes gets extremely high ratings from customers. This Ninja Air Fryer is no exception.
Features of this model include:
- digital control panel
- 7 one-touch programs (different cooking functions)
- adjustable temperature up to 450°
- nonstick, dishwasher safe basket
- adjustable timer
- power button (turns unit on/off) and start/stop button (controls cooking process)
The seven programs on this Ninja are Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The MaxCrisp Technology is designed to give you crispier results by cooking foods as much as 30% faster by using 450° super-heated air. Purposes of the other 6 functions are explained in the owner manual.
All of the low ratings I found were for one of two reasons: either the unit had a very strong plastic smell, or it malfunctioned within the first year or shortly after. I could not locate any manufacturer response to either problem.
Those who were unhappy with this air fryer were also very dissatisfied with Ninja customer service. According to reports, it is difficult to get through and then to deal with Ninja support. Be aware that if you make a warranty claim you must pay a service fee of approximately $20 when you return the unit. This has become more and more common these days among a lot of manufacturers.
Also note that when you buy directly from Amazon you have 30 days to return most items, so be sure to try your air fryer as soon as it arrives. If it is DOA or malfunctions right away, you might have the option to return to Amazon instead of having to go through Ninja.
While those are certainly serious problems, keep in mind that the percentage of 1, 2, and 3 star ratings on this model are extremely low. Amazon alone is showing over 15,000 customer ratings, and 94% of those owners gave the Ninja either 4 or 5 stars.
Those who are extremely satisfied with their Ninja Air Fryer give it high praise for being easy to use and simple to clean. Most importantly they report getting excellent results when cooking a wide variety of foods. Some say it takes a few tries to learn which settings work best for your favorite foods, but that will be true with any air fryer.
Overall, the vast majority of owners are very happy with their Ninja and consider it a good value for the money.
T-fal Actifry Review
The T-fal Actifry has two features that make it completely different from its competitors:
- Set Cooking Temperature: There is no adjustable temperature control on this model. It cooks everything at 338°F, take it or leave it.
- Unique Stirring Paddle: Designed to keep foods constantly stirred while cooking, this paddle is what earns this model its highest praise and also its biggest complaints.
The manufacturer’s explanation of the set temperature is that it will “ensure even and thorough cooking of the food”. This does not seem to be an issue as there aren’t a significant number of complaints about it.
The stirring paddle is quite another matter! Users are split almost equally. Half of them are delighted with the paddle and view it as an extra hand in the kitchen. Whether you’re making French fries, cooking stew, or roasting nuts, the Actifry does the stirring for you while you tend something else.
The other half of owners hate the paddle. They complain that it scrapes off breading, tears up soft foods, and can turn something like tator tots into mush. Worse, small foods can jam the paddle. When that happens you have to stop the unit to clear away food and free the paddle. Otherwise it will burn up the motor.
This 1,450 Watt unit has a 2.2 pound capacity, and features include:
- countdown timer with buzzer alert
- some dishwasher safe parts
The timer on this unit is for convenience only. A buzzer sounds when cooking is finished, but the Actifry does not shut itself off automatically.
Exterior dimensions are 16.7 x 13.6 x 9.4 inches, which makes a big footprint but also gives you a little more cooking capacity than some of the egg shaped air fryers.
There are a lot of pros and cons about this unit, but the people who love it are convinced it is the best ever. It’s one of the most expensive air fryers on the market, and clearly, it’s quite different from your “standard” air fryer. If you’re interested in the T-fal Actifry, you might want to check out my full review for more details.
Click here to read my complete, detailed review of the T-Fal Actifry.
Tips for Selecting the Best Air Fryer
Size: Do you have enough space? Whether your kitchen is tiny or massive, only you can decide whether you have ample room on your counter top. Air fryers are not small appliances, so look at those exterior dimensions and get out your measuring tape. Be aware of what you’re getting so that you don’t end up with an unpleasant surprise!
Capacity: You can’t load an air fryer basket to the top and expect foods to come out nicely browned and evenly cooked. With the standard size units, cooking French fries for a family of 4 will likely require a couple of batches. Of course, in part that depends on portion size, and we Americans are notorious for those humongous oversized servings! Still, for large families or crowd-sized cooking you should look at the largest air fryer models.
Controls: Manual and digital controls work equally well. Many people prefer digital simply because it’s what we’ve become accustomed to. Some digital models offer presets, which can be very convenient or never used. Some will also remember the last settings you programmed, or memorize a setting that you use frequently. The trade-off is that you’ll usually pay a little more for digital.
Timer: Be aware that all timers do not work the same. For example, the Philips models have a pause button so that when you stop to stir food, the timer also pauses until you replace the basket and resume cooking.
Compare that to the GoWISE models (read GoWISE Air Fryer Review here). When you remove the basket to check food, the unit automatically shuts down. When you replace the basket, the unit automatically resumes cooking, but the timer will be reset to the original time that you programmed into it — On newer GoWISE models the timer has been redesigned so that it will now resume without resetting and losing its place, a huge improvement!
Why does this matter? One reason is that many (maybe most) foods need to be shaken, stirred or turned at least once during cooking. Another reason is that timing is not an exact science, and especially when you’re first learning you’ll find yourself checking foods often to make sure they aren’t overcooking.
To me, a timer that will pause is much more user friendly. However, plenty of other folks don’t care one way or the other. It may not be a big deal to you, just something to be aware of before you buy.
(Back to Top)Check Out My Editor’s Picks on Amazon:
Top of the Line: Philips Premium Digital Airfryer XXL with Fat Reduction Technology, HD9650/96
Excellent Quality, Very Reasonable Price: Cosori Air Fryer
(or Read All About “The Air Fryer Bible” here)
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Robin says
I’d like to know if you can tell me the difference between the Philips 9240/92 and the 9240/94. Thanks so much
Susan says
Hi Robin,
I did a quick search, and I only see the /92 model on non-U.S. based sites, such as Australia and South Africa. I also see that it shows up on eBay, but I did not look to see where in the world those sellers are located. Based on that, my guess is that the difference is in voltage, meaning that this model is designed for Australian/European homes and not suitable for the American market.
I hope that helps,
Susan