Is the Ninja Air Fryer Actually Worth It? We Tested 5 Models

Bottom line: The Ninja AF101 ($89) is the one most people should buy. But if you cook for a family, the DualZone DZ201 ($149) might actually be worth the extra $60. Here's why.

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Why Air Fryers (and Why Ninja?)

Air fryers aren't new in 2026, but they've gone from "weird countertop gadget" to "legitimate kitchen essential" for a lot of people. Ninja dominates the market — walk into any Target or Walmart and their wall of air fryers is basically a Ninja showroom. But with 10+ models ranging from $60 to $250, which one actually makes sense?

We tested 5 of the most popular Ninja models, cooking the same foods (fries, chicken wings, Brussels sprouts, salmon, and reheated pizza — the real tests) across all of them for a month.

The Contenders

• Ninja AF101 ($89) — 4-quart, single basket, the "classic"
• Ninja AF161 ($119) — 5.5-quart, bigger single basket
• Ninja DZ201 DualZone ($149) — Two 4-quart baskets, cook two things at once
• Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 ($199) — Air fry + pressure cook + everything else
• Ninja SP101 ($159) — Flip-up design, saves counter space

The Results

🏆 Best Overall: Ninja AF101 ($89)

This is the Goldilocks air fryer. 4 quarts is perfect for 1-2 people. It heats fast, cooks evenly, and the controls are dead simple (two dials: temp and time). No touchscreen that stops working after a year, no apps, no nonsense. Chicken wings came out crispy outside, juicy inside — exactly what you want.

The only downside: If you cook for 3+ people regularly, 4 quarts feels cramped. You'll be doing batches. Also, the basket coating showed some light scratches after a month of daily use (nothing that affects cooking though).

🥈 Best for Families: Ninja DZ201 DualZone ($149)

Two baskets that can cook independently at different temps/times, or sync to finish at the same time. This is genuinely useful — chicken in one basket at 400°F, broccoli in the other at 375°F, both ready together. For family dinners, this saves real time.

The catch: It takes up a LOT of counter space. Measure first. It's 15" wide and 13.5" deep. And at $149, you're paying $60 more than the AF101 for that second basket.

🥉 Best Space-Saver: Ninja SP101 ($159)

Flips up against the wall when not in use. If you have a tiny kitchen, this is a legitimate game-changer. Cooking performance is identical to the AF101. But at $159, you're paying a $70 premium for the flip-up feature. Worth it if counter space is precious; skip it if you have room.

What We'd Skip

Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 ($199): The jack-of-all-trades problem. It pressure cooks, air fries, steams, slow cooks, dehydrates... but it does none of them as well as a dedicated appliance. The air frying is fine, the pressure cooking is fine, but for $199 you could buy the AF101 AND a decent Instant Pot and have money left over. The interface is also confusing — our testers kept having to look up which button combination does what.

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Quick Comparison

Model	Price	Capacity	Best For	Rating
AF101	$89	4 qt	1-2 people	★★★★★
DZ201	$149	8 qt (2x4)	Families	★★★★½
SP101	$159	4 qt	Small kitchens	★★★★
AF161	$119	5.5 qt	2-3 people	★★★★
Foodi 10-in-1	$199	6.5 qt	— Skip it —	★★★

Final Verdict

Get the AF101 unless you have a specific reason to get something else. It's the best value, the best size for most households, and the simplest to use. The DualZone is worth it if you regularly cook for 3+ people. The SP101 saves space but costs more. Avoid the Foodi — it's trying to be too many things at once.

Disclosure: All units were purchased at retail. No sponsorship from Ninja.