Breville Smart Oven Pro vs Smart Oven Air Fryer: Vilken bänkövn passar bäst i ditt kök? (Recension 2025)

Breville's countertop ovens have long set the standard for versatility, precision, and build quality. Two of the most popular models—the Smart Oven Pro and the Smart Oven Air Fryer—often leave shoppers wondering which one fits their cooking style. While both share Breville's signature Element IQ™ technology and sleek stainless steel design, the Air Fryer model adds a powerful convection fan and dedicated air fry preset that changes the game for crispy, healthy meals. In this detailed comparison, we'll break down their differences in size, performance, special features, and everyday usability to help you decide which is the best investment for your 2025 kitchen.

Design and Build: Similar Footprint, Distinct Vents

At first glance, the Breville Smart Oven Pro and the Smart Oven Air Fryer look nearly identical. Both feature a brushed stainless steel exterior, a large viewing window, and an intuitive LCD display with a dial control. The Smart Oven Pro measures roughly 18.5 inches wide, 16 inches deep, and 11 inches tall, while the Air Fryer model is slightly deeper and taller to accommodate the enhanced fan system. The most visible difference is the rear venting: the Air Fryer has a more prominent exhaust grille to handle the higher airflow from its 1800W heating system. Inside, both ovens use quartz heating elements, but the Air Fryer includes an extra high-speed fan that can circulate air up to 40% faster than the Pro model. If you cook for a family of four or more and want the option of air frying without a separate appliance, the the Smart Oven™ Air Fryer Compact offers a slightly smaller footprint but similar performance, while the full-size Air Fryer is ideal for batch cooking.

Capacity and Interior Space

Capacity is a critical factor when choosing between these two ovens. The Smart Oven Pro fits a 13-inch pizza, 9 slices of toast, or a 4-pound chicken—perfect for most weeknight meals. The Smart Oven Air Fryer, however, offers a slightly larger interior (0.85 cubic feet vs. 0.8 cubic feet) and can accommodate a 14-inch pizza, 9 slices of toast, or a 5-pound chicken. This extra inch in pizza diameter might not sound like much, but it means you can cook a full-size frozen pizza without trimming the corners. For air frying, the larger basket area allows you to cook a pound of french fries or chicken wings in a single batch, reducing cooking time and energy waste. If you frequently host dinner parties or meal prep for the week, the Air Fryer's expanded capacity is a clear advantage.

Cooking Performance: Element IQ™ and Convection

Both ovens feature Breville's Element IQ™ technology, which automatically adjusts the power of the heating elements based on the selected function. This ensures even browning and prevents hotspots—a common complaint with cheaper toaster ovens. The Smart Oven Pro has 10 preset cooking functions: Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat, Warm, and Slow Cook. It delivers excellent results for standard baking and roasting, with a convection fan that circulates heat for even cooking. The Smart Oven Air Fryer takes things further with 13 presets, adding Air Fry, Dehydrate, and a dedicated Reheat mode optimized for crispy leftovers. The high-speed fan in the Air Fryer model is the star: it blasts hot air at a furious rate, creating a Maillard reaction on the surface of foods that mimics deep frying with up to 80% less oil. We tested both ovens with frozen chicken tenders, and the Air Fryer produced a shatteringly crisp exterior in 12 minutes, while the Pro's convection setting still yielded a slightly soggy bottom. For health-conscious cooks, the Air Fryer is the clear winner.

Toast and Bagel: The Everyday Test

Toast quality is a make-or-break feature for a countertop oven. Both models scored high marks for even browning across nine slices, but the Smart Oven Pro's dedicated Bagel mode toasts only the cut side while warming the crust—a feature the Air Fryer lacks. If you're a bagel lover, the Pro's precision on this front is hard to beat. However, the Air Fryer's toast function runs slightly faster thanks to its more powerful fan, so you can get breakfast on the table a minute quicker. For most users, this difference is negligible, but it's worth noting if speed is your priority.

Air Frying: The Decisive Feature

The most significant difference between these two ovens is the air frying capability. The Smart Oven Air Fryer comes with a large mesh basket and a baking pan that doubles as a drip tray. The high-speed fan combined with the mesh basket allows hot air to circulate around food from all angles, producing results that rival dedicated air fryers. We tested homemade sweet potato fries: the Pro's convection setting gave them a golden color but a soft texture, while the Air Fryer model delivered crispy edges and fluffy interiors in just 15 minutes. The Air Fryer also excels at reheating pizza—the crust stays crispy while the cheese melts evenly, avoiding the soggy microwave effect. If you love fried foods but want to cut calories, the Air Fryer's dedicated mode makes it a no-brainer. For those who rarely eat fried foods and primarily need an oven for baking, roasting, and reheating, the Smart Oven Pro is perfectly adequate.

Presets and Smart Features

Both ovens offer a digital display with pre-programmed settings, but the Air Fryer's additional presets (Air Fry and Dehydrate) open up new culinary possibilities. Dehydrate mode is excellent for making beef jerky, dried fruit, or herb-infused snacks. The Air Fryer also includes a Slow Cook function, which the Pro does not, making it more versatile for braises and stews. However, the Smart Oven Pro counters with a dedicated Slow Cook preset (though it lacks the Air Fry capability). In terms of smart features, neither model offers Wi-Fi connectivity—Breville's Element IQ™ is purely algorithmic. This is fine for most users who prefer a hands-on approach. If you want a compact version of the Air Fryer model for smaller countertops, the the Smart Oven™ Air Fryer Compact shares the same air frying technology in a space-saving design.

Accessories Included

What comes in the box can affect your overall value. Here's a quick comparison of included accessories:

Accessory	Smart Oven Pro	Smart Oven Air Fryer
Baking pan	Yes (enamel-coated)	Yes (enamel-coated)
Broiling rack	Yes	Yes
Air fry mesh basket	No	Yes (large)
Pizza pan	No	No
Crumb tray	Yes	Yes

The Air Fryer's included mesh basket is a significant bonus—it's well-made, dishwasher-safe, and large enough for a full meal. If you plan to air fry often, you won't need to buy additional accessories. The Pro's baking pan is fine for roasting vegetables or baking cookies, but you'll need to purchase a separate basket if you want to try air frying (though results won't match the dedicated model).

Cleaning and Maintenance

Both ovens feature a non-stick interior that wipes clean easily, but the Air Fryer's mesh basket and drip tray require a bit more attention. Food particles can get stuck in the mesh, so a soak in warm soapy water or a run through the dishwasher (top rack) is recommended. The Pro's simpler design means fewer crevices to clean, making it slightly less maintenance-intensive. Both models have a removable crumb tray that slides out for quick disposal. For heavy grease buildup, use a gentle degreaser and avoid abrasive pads to protect the non-stick coating.

Price and Value

The Breville Smart Oven Pro typically retails for around $250–$280, while the Smart Oven Air Fryer is priced at $300–$350, depending on sales and bundles. The $50–$70 premium for the Air Fryer model buys you the high-speed fan, additional presets, larger capacity, and the air fry basket. If you value versatility and plan to use air fry or dehydrate functions regularly, the upgrade is well worth it. For bakers who rarely fry, the Pro offers exceptional performance at a lower price point. Both ovens are backed by Breville's two-year limited warranty, and customer reviews consistently praise their durability—many users report 5+ years of daily use without issues.

Which One Should You Buy?

Here's a quick decision guide:

• Choose the Smart Oven Pro if: You primarily toast, bake, and roast; you want a lower price point; you love bagels and need dedicated Bagel mode; or you have limited counter space (the Pro is slightly smaller).
• Choose the Smart Oven Air Fryer if: You want to air fry chicken, fries, or veggies with minimal oil; you enjoy dehydrating snacks; you often reheat leftovers and want them crispy; or you cook for a larger family and need extra interior space.

For most home cooks in 2025, the Smart Oven Air Fryer is the more versatile choice. It replaces not only a toaster oven but also a dedicated air fryer and dehydrator, saving counter space and money in the long run. The Pro remains a fantastic oven for traditionalists, but the Air Fryer's ability to produce crispy, healthier versions of fried favorites is a game-changer. If you're still unsure, consider your current cooking habits: do you own a separate air fryer that you rarely use? Then stick with the Pro. Do you find yourself craving crispy wings but avoiding deep frying? The Air Fryer is your answer.

Final Verdict: Smart Oven Air Fryer Takes the Crown

After extensive testing, we recommend the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer for most households. Its superior air frying performance, larger capacity, and dehydrate mode offer unmatched versatility for the modern kitchen. The Element IQ™ technology ensures consistent results across all functions, while the high-speed fan makes it the fastest Breville countertop oven we've tested. The Pro is an excellent oven—it just lacks the extra firepower that makes the Air Fryer a true multi-appliance workhorse. Whichever you choose, you're getting a premium product that will elevate your cooking for years to come.

Ready to upgrade your countertop? Explore the the Smart Oven™ Air Fryer Compact for a space-saving version, or check out the full-size model to transform your cooking routine. With Breville's precision and our exclusive deals, you can't go wrong.