9 Best Counter Top Air Fryers of 2026

This game-changing countertop powerhouse redefines what a multifunctional oven can do. With its Element iQ System, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro delivers pinpoint heat control using five independent quartz elements and smart algorithms—eliminating cold spots and ensuring restaurant-grade precision in your kitchen. Its 1800-watt power, super convection technology, and 13 cooking functions make it a true do-it-all appliance, handling everything from crisp-bottomed pizzas to golden air-fried wings with zero guesswork. If you’re tired of juggling multiple appliances, this is the ultimate space-saving upgrade that doesn’t compromise on performance.

In real-world testing, the Breville shines brightest when multitasking. Roasting a whole 14-pound turkey or baking a 9×13 casserole? Done with room to spare in its 1 cubic foot cavity. The super convection fan slashes cooking times by up to 30%, making weeknight dinners feel effortless. The air fry function produces fries and wings with an addictive crunch rivaling deep frying—no preheating needed. However, its size demands serious counter real estate, and the learning curve is steeper than simpler models. The LCD interface, while packed with smarts, can overwhelm first-time users.

Compared to the Nuwave Bravo XL or Midea Flexify, the Breville trades raw capacity for superior temperature intelligence and build quality. It’s not the largest or cheapest, but for serious home chefs who value precision, it’s unmatched. Where the Midea offers more volume at a lower price, the Breville wins with tighter engineering and consistency—delivering restaurant-caliber results in a countertop form. It’s the gold standard for performance-driven cooking, blending innovation with reliability.

The revolutionary DualZone design of the Ninja DZ201 makes it the undisputed king of multitasking in the air fryer world. With two independent 4-quart baskets, each equipped with its own rapid heater and cyclonic fan, you can air fry chicken wings in one side and roast veggies in the other—both finishing at the same time thanks to Smart Finish. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters or scaling family meals, this eliminates back-to-back cooking like no other model. The 6-in-1 functionality—Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Reheat, Dehydrate—plus a wide 105°F to 450°F range gives it surprising versatility for a basket-style unit.

In daily use, the DZ201 proves its worth with consistent, crispy results and effortless coordination between zones. Cooking frozen fries and salmon fillets simultaneously? No problem. The 8-quart total capacity handles family-sized portions with ease, and the dishwasher-safe crisper plates make cleanup a breeze. However, the dual baskets eat up counter space, and the digital interface can feel finicky when adjusting settings mid-cycle. While it excels at air frying, the reheat function lacks nuance, occasionally over-drying delicate foods.

Stacked against the Ninja AF141 or Cosori 6 Qt, the DZ201 wins on flexibility and family meal efficiency—but at a higher cost and footprint. It’s overkill for singles or couples, but for households that cook multiple dishes daily, it’s a time-saving powerhouse. Where the AF141 offers simplicity and value, the DZ201 delivers unmatched parallel cooking capability, making it the smartest investment for busy kitchens.

The Ninja AF141 is a streamlined performance beast that punches well above its price tag. With 400°F superheated air and Air Crisp technology, it delivers golden, crunchy exteriors on everything from frozen nuggets to homemade fries—using little to no oil. Its 5-quart capacity fits up to 4 lbs of fries or 5 lbs of wings, making it ideal for small families or meal preppers. The 4-in-1 functionality—Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate—is straightforward and effective, and the space-saving design fits neatly on cramped countertops without sacrificing usability.

In real-world testing, the AF141 proves reliably fast and consistent, going from frozen to crispy in under 20 minutes. The nonstick basket and crisper plate wipe clean easily, and the digital controls are intuitive for all skill levels. While it lacks the bells and whistles of premium models, it excels at core air frying tasks without fluff. That said, the single basket limits multitasking, and the reheat function can dry out food if not monitored. It doesn’t offer dehydrate presets with precision, making it less ideal for jerky or fruit drying enthusiasts.

Compared to the Chefman 4 Qt or bella 4Qt, the AF141 offers more capacity and better heat distribution at a minimal price bump. It’s not as flashy as the DZ201, but for budget-conscious buyers who want Ninja reliability, it’s a no-brainer upgrade. It delivers real air fryer performance without the premium tax—making it the best value in the mid-size category.

The bella 4Qt Slim is a masterclass in minimalist design, built for those who crave performance without clutter. Its ultra-slim profile saves up to 50% more space than traditional air fryers, making it perfect for dorms, RVs, or tiny kitchens—yet it still holds 3.3 lbs of food, enough for 2–3 servings. The EverGood ceramic nonstick coating is a standout, being PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE-free, offering a healthier, more durable alternative to standard baskets. With 1300 watts of power and circular heat technology, it circulates heat efficiently, delivering crispy results on fries, chicken, and salmon.

In practice, the bella performs admirably for basic air frying and reheating. The 6 presets—Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Broil, Reheat, Dehydrate—cover most daily needs, and the digital controls are simple to navigate. It heats up quickly and shuts off automatically with an audible tone—great for safety and convenience. However, the lower wattage means slower cooking compared to higher-powered models, and the basket is prone to hot spots, leading to uneven crisping if not shaken. It’s not built for large families or heavy-duty use.

Against the Chefman 4 Qt or Ninja AF141, the bella wins on aesthetics and footprint, but lags in power and consistency. It’s not the fastest or crispiest, but for small households prioritizing style and space, it’s a smart, eco-conscious pick. Where the Chefman offers more power, the bella delivers sleek, sustainable simplicity—ideal for light, everyday cooking.

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro is a futuristic countertop titan, engineered for those who want professional-grade cooking with zero compromise. Its 2025 Ultra-Fast Convection System delivers 35% crispier results and twice the evenness of standard air fryers, thanks to top and bottom heating elements and a high-efficiency fan that eliminates hot spots. With a massive 30-quart capacity, it can handle two 13-inch pizzas or a 10-lb chicken, making it ideal for large families or entertainers. The 142 presets—including 100 one-touch programs—turn complex cooking into a single button press.

Real-world testing confirms its blazing speed and precision. The smart digital thermometer monitors internal food temps and auto-stops cooking at perfect doneness, a feature rarely seen outside high-end ovens. The reversible ceramic grill/griddle delivers authentic char-grilled marks and flavor, even indoors. However, the sheer number of settings can overwhelm beginners, and the unit runs loud on high fan speed. While it excels at even cooking, the grill plate takes up vertical space, limiting rack flexibility.

Versus the Midea Flexify or Emeril Lagasse, the Nuwave offers more presets, smarter tech, and superior grilling. It’s pricier than the Midea, but justifies the cost with innovation. For cooks who want a mini smart oven with grill prowess, it’s the most feature-rich option available—delivering restaurant-level control in a countertop package.

The Cosori 6 Qt TurboBlaze is the gold standard for even cooking, thanks to its revolutionary 5-fan speed system and 3600 rpm TurboBlaze fan. With precise 90°F to 450°F control in 5-degree increments, it handles delicate tasks like proofing dough or dehydrating fruit with the same accuracy as crisping chicken at max heat. The 6-quart square basket maximizes space and promotes uniform airflow, eliminating the need to rotate food mid-cycle. It’s the quietest high-performance air fryer, operating under 53dB even at full blast.

In testing, the Cosori consistently produced perfectly browned, juicy results across all functions. Frozen fries came out uniformly crispy, while roasted salmon retained moisture flawlessly. The ceramic-coated basket resists scratches and cleans easily, and the dishwasher-safe parts make maintenance simple. However, the square basket is harder to shake, and the handle gets hot during long cycles. The proof and dehydrate functions are excellent, but the keep-warm feature is weak, losing heat after 20 minutes.

Compared to the Breville or Ninja DZ201, the Cosori wins on evenness and quiet operation—though it lacks dual baskets or oven-style capacity. It’s not the largest, but for those who prioritize consistency and noise level, it’s unbeatable. Where the Breville offers more cooking modes, the Cosori nails the fundamentals with smarter airflow—making it the best choice for precision-focused cooks.

The Midea Flexify is a value-packed giant, offering 26.4 quarts of French-door convenience at a price that undercuts most competitors. Its VDE-certified heat evenness system uses one convection fan and six heat tubes to deliver 25% faster cooking and 90% less oil than deep frying—without requiring preheating for air frying. The 10 cooking functions—including Air Fry, Slow Cook, and Dehydrate—make it a true all-in-one, and the French doors open smoothly, allowing full access without taking up rear clearance.

In real use, the Flexify impresses with speed and capacity. It fits a 12-inch pizza or 14 chicken wings with room to spare, and the LED display and precise 5°F/1-minute controls make adjustments a breeze. The air fry basket and baking tray are dishwasher-safe, simplifying cleanup. But the interior lighting is dim, making it hard to monitor food, and the fan noise is noticeable on high. While it heats fast, recovery time after opening is slow, affecting crispiness in long cooks.

Against the Emeril Lagasse or Nuwave, the Midea wins on price and capacity, though it lacks smart probes or grilling. It’s not as high-tech, but for families needing a large, affordable combo oven, it’s hard to beat. Where the Nuwave offers more features, the Midea delivers maximum bang for the buck—making it the top pick for budget-conscious bulk cooking.

The Chefman 4 Qt is a compact dynamo, built for small kitchens and fast meals. Its Hi-Fry Technology cranks up to 450°F in the final two minutes, delivering an extra-crisp finish on fries and tenders—perfect for mimicking deep-fried texture. The 4-quart capacity serves 2–4 people, and the sleek, narrow design fits in tight spaces or cabinets. With touchscreen controls and 4 presets, it’s incredibly user-friendly, and the shake notifications ensure even browning with minimal effort.

In testing, it proved fast and reliable for everyday tasks. Frozen foods go from freezer to table in under 15 minutes, and the nonstick basket cleans up easily in the dishwasher. The automatic shutoff adds safety, and the matte-black finish resists fingerprints. However, the basket is shallow, limiting portion size, and the fan isn’t powerful enough for large roasts. It struggles with dense or thick foods, often requiring manual flipping.

Compared to the bella 4Qt or Ninja AF141, the Chefman offers more power and crispiness at the same size. It’s not as spacious as the AF141, but for singles or couples wanting speed and crunch, it’s a fantastic entry-level pick. Where the bella focuses on design, the Chefman prioritizes performance—making it the best compact air fryer for crispy results on a budget.

The Emeril Lagasse 26QT French Door is a showstopper, combining chef-inspired design with serious cooking power. Its 26-quart capacity fits a 12-inch pizza or 6-lb chicken, and the elegant French doors open with a single pull, offering full visibility with the interior light. The dual-speed convection fan ensures 360° superheated air circulation, delivering even crisping and roasting across multiple racks. With 24 cooking functions, it’s one of the most versatile models—ideal for everything from perfect toast to slow-cooked stews.

In real use, it excels at large-batch cooking and entertaining. The stainless steel exterior resists smudges and adds kitchen flair, and the 7 included accessories—like racks and trays—offer great flexibility. The auto-shutoff for toast prevents burning, a small but smart touch. However, the digital interface feels outdated, and the fan is loud on high speed. It lacks advanced presets or smart features, relying more on manual control.

Against the Midea Flexify or Nuwave Bravo, the Emeril wins on aesthetics and build, but lags in smart tech and precision. It’s not the fastest or most automated, but for home chefs who value style and capacity, it’s a strong contender. Where the Midea offers better value, the Emeril delivers premium presence and French-door ease—making it the best choice for design-forward kitchens.