By the Air Fryer UK Guide Team · Updated May 2026 · Independent, reader-supported

Ninja Air Fryer Review UK 2025: Is It Really Worth the Hype?

Ninja has dominated the UK air fryer market for years, and in 2025 the brand still attracts more searches than almost any competitor. But dominance doesn't automatically mean best-in-class. This review looks hard at two of the most popular current models — the Ninja AF160UK (the mid-range single-drawer) and the Ninja AF300UK (the dual-zone flagship) — and gives you an honest answer on whether either one is worth your money.

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The Two Models at a Glance

Ninja AF160UK is the natural successor to the beloved AF100. It's a 5.2-litre single-basket unit sitting at roughly £90–£110, aimed at households of two to four people. The AF300UK is the dual-zone model — two independent 3.8-litre baskets that total 7.6 litres — and typically retails between £180 and £220. Both use Ninja's Crisper Plate design and claim up to 75% less fat than traditional frying.

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Performance: Where Ninja Genuinely Earns Its Reputation

The AF160UK runs at up to 200°C and cycles through six presets: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. In daily use, it handles chips, chicken thighs, and roasted vegetables exceptionally well. Frozen chips come out evenly golden in around 18 minutes at 200°C without any halfway shake if you use the crisper plate correctly. Skin-on chicken thighs at 180°C for 22 minutes produce genuinely crispy skin with moist flesh — results that a conventional oven often can't match without careful monitoring.

The AF300UK adds a serious practical dimension with its Sync and Match functions. Sync finishes two different foods at the same time (it calculates and staggers the start automatically), while Match simply mirrors the same settings across both zones. For a family meal — chips in zone one, chicken wings in zone two, both ready together — this is genuinely transformative. It removes the timing juggling that makes cooking stressful. Both baskets perform identically in heat distribution to the AF160UK's single basket.

One mild criticism: neither unit has a window in the drawer, so you're checking food blind unless you pull the basket out. That's a minor inconvenience rather than a dealbreaker, but competitors like Salter and Cosori have started adding windows at similar price points.

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Capacity: Who Is Each Model Actually For?

The AF160UK's 5.2-litre basket comfortably feeds two people and can stretch to three at a push. A whole medium chicken fits, though you won't have room for simultaneous vegetables. For couples or small families cooking one element at a time, it's more than adequate.

The AF300UK's dual baskets (each 3.8 litres) suit families of four to six. You can cook a main and a side simultaneously without the flavour transfer you'd get in a single basket. If you regularly cook for four or more people, the price premium over the AF160UK is easy to justify on convenience alone.

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Ease of Use and Cleaning

Both models share Ninja's clean, straightforward control panel. Buttons are tactile and clearly labelled — no touchscreen to smear with greasy fingers, which is an underrated design choice. Presets are sensibly calibrated out of the box, so you don't need to spend an afternoon adjusting default temperatures.

Cleaning is where air fryers either win or lose households long-term. Both Ninja baskets and crisper plates are dishwasher safe, and the non-stick coating holds up well over repeated washes provided you avoid abrasive sponges. The AF300UK is slightly more involved to clean simply because there are two baskets and two crisper plates, but each individual component is no harder than the AF160UK's. The outer unit wipes down easily with a damp cloth. No complaints here.

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Energy Use

A common misconception is that air fryers always save energy. They do compared to heating a full-size oven for small tasks, but it depends on the job. The AF160UK draws around 1,550W; the AF300UK around 2,400W when both zones are active. For a portion of chips or reheating leftovers, the AF160UK is meaningfully cheaper to run than a 2,000–2,500W oven that needs 10–15 minutes to preheat. For cooking a full meal for six in the AF300UK at full load, the advantage narrows.

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Value: Honest Verdict on the Price

AF160UK: At £90–£110, it competes directly with the Cosori Lite and Salter Dual models. Ninja's build quality and reliable after-sales support (including a two-year warranty) justify the slight premium over cheaper alternatives. It doesn't have a window or a digital display with a timer countdown, which some buyers at this price point might expect.

AF300UK: At £180–£220, the dual-zone format is where Ninja genuinely has fewer strong competitors at a similar build quality. The Salter Dual Air Fryer costs less but has a smaller combined capacity and less consistent cooking results in testing. The Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer is larger but pricier still. If you need dual-zone cooking, the AF300UK is the most sensible choice in this price range.

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Who Should Buy Each One?

• Buy the AF160UK if you're cooking for one to three people, have limited worktop space, and want a reliable, no-fuss daily driver.
• Buy the AF300UK if you regularly cook for four or more, want to batch-cook or prepare full meals simultaneously, and can justify the higher outlay.
• Skip both if you're cooking for one and already have a decent compact oven — the cost and counter space may not be worth it.

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Final Verdict

Ninja's air fryers live up to most of the hype for a straightforward reason: they cook food well, consistently, with minimal faff. The AF160UK is one of the most reliable mid-range single-basket air fryers in the UK market. The AF300UK is the most practical dual-zone option at its price point for larger households.

Neither model is perfect — the lack of a viewing window is a genuine gap compared to some rivals — but if reliable performance and longevity matter more to you than a window or a glossy interface, Ninja remains the benchmark to beat.