Air Fryers comparison

How to choose an air fryer in 2026

The Mars Score for air fryers weights power (40%), capacity (30%) and features (30%). The right answer depends almost entirely on how many people you cook for and whether you want a single-basket workhorse or a dual-zone unit that finishes two foods at once.

Capacity: count the chicken thighs

A 4 L single basket fits dinner for two; a 6 L basket fits a small whole chicken; dual-zone units like the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone AF400 or the bigger Double Stack XL SL400 reach 9.5–12.7 L and finish two dishes simultaneously. The capacity_l and has_dual_zone columns are the first filters to apply.

Wattage and max temperature

A 2,000+ W heating element with a 240 °C ceiling browns chicken skin and crisps fries in a way that 1,500 W / 200 °C units cannot match. Faster preheat, better Maillard reaction, less rubbery texture. Read the Buyer's Guides preset for power-first picks.

Presets, smart apps and noise

Preset count matters less than people think — most cooks use three programs and ignore the rest. What does matter: smart-app integration for remote start, and the noise_db rating. Cheap air fryers run at 65 dB which is louder than a typical dishwasher.

Cleanup

Dishwasher-safe baskets and removable crisper plates are the single biggest determinant of whether the appliance gets used weekly or shoved in a cupboard. Check dishwasher_safe_basket before committing.

Glossary

For unit conversions and shopping definitions see /en/glossary.

How vsMars scores air fryers

Mars Score weights power highest because the temperature and wattage envelope determines what the fryer can physically do. See methodology for the full formula and Mars Labs for sustained-temperature bench tests.