Air fryers have come a long way since their early days as bulky machines that promised healthier fries. Today’s high-tech air fryers offer smarter cooking, better results, and multiple functions — making them a real asset in modern kitchens. With features like digital touchscreens, smart connectivity, and multi-level cooking, top appliances do more than just crisp. They bake, roast, dehydrate, and reheat with speed and precision. Understand what to look for and why they’re worth it.
What Makes an Air Fryer “High-Tech”?
At first glance, all air fryers might seem similar — a basket, a heating element, and a fan. But high-tech models stand out through smart design and advanced features. These often include digital temperature control, preset cooking programs, dual-zone cooking, and app connectivity. Some even come with built-in meat thermometers or shake reminders to help ensure your food cooks evenly.
The real advantage of a high-tech air fryer is control. Instead of guessing or hovering nearby, you can set exact cooking times, monitor progress through a digital display, or even control the device through your phone. That means less fuss and more consistent results.
Another feature in newer models is cooking versatility. Many air fryers now act as multi-cookers, with functions for baking, broiling, dehydrating, and even rotisserie-style roasting. This allows you to replace more than one appliance with a single, countertop-friendly unit.
Best for Smart Kitchens: Ninja Foodi DualZone Air Fryer
The Ninja Foodi DualZone model offers two separate cooking baskets, each with its own settings. That means you can cook two different dishes at the same time without flavor crossover. One side could crisp up sweet potato fries while the other roasts salmon, and both can finish at the same time thanks to the brand’s Smart Finish feature.
Each basket has individual temperature and time controls, and both are spacious enough for a variety of meals. For busy home cooks, this allows real multitasking — no more waiting for one batch to finish before starting the next.
The digital interface is clear and simple, and the results are consistently crispy without drying out the food. This air fryer is especially good for meal prepping or family dinners when time and oven space are limited.
Best for Precise Control: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
If you’re looking for an air fryer that also replaces a toaster oven, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer stands out. It combines convection cooking with Element IQ technology, which uses sensors to adjust heat placement and intensity for more accurate results. This means less guesswork and more even browning.
It comes with multiple cooking modes — including slow cooking, dehydrating, roasting, and proofing dough — making it ideal for home bakers and food experimenters. The air fry mode is strong enough to crisp everything from wings to kale chips, and the oven-style design gives you more room to spread food out in a single layer.
While it takes up a bit more space than basket-style air fryers, it also replaces more appliances. It’s great for anyone who wants a dedicated kitchen workhorse without filling cabinets with single-use tools.
Best for Compact Power: Instant Vortex Plus
The Instant Vortex Plus, from the makers of the Instant Pot, offers a strong balance between compact design and high-tech features. It includes a digital touchscreen, preset programs, and a rotating rotisserie basket in select models — which is perfect for evenly crisping fries, wings, or vegetables.
The Vortex Plus preheats quickly and has a powerful fan that delivers that signature crunch with less oil. It also includes features like a see-through door and interior light, so you can check your food without opening the unit and losing heat.
This model is popular for small kitchens because it’s tall rather than wide, and its sleek design fits easily on the counter. It’s a solid pick for anyone looking for performance and tech-forward design in a smaller footprint.
What to Look for Before Buying
Before adding a high-tech air fryer to your counter, think about how you’ll actually use it. If you cook large meals or prep in batches, look for models with two zones or a larger interior. For quick snacks or reheating leftovers, a single-drawer design might be more efficient.
Also, consider cleanup. Removable, dishwasher-safe parts make a big difference in daily use. Nonstick baskets and trays are easier to clean but may wear out over time — so look for models with durable finishes.
Some air fryers now connect to apps that offer recipes and remote controls, which is helpful if you like trying new things or want to automate parts of your cooking process.
An Appliance That Earns Its Place
A high-tech air fryer doesn’t just replace deep frying — it adds speed, variety, and creativity to your everyday cooking. From dual-basket multitaskers to smart ovens that do it all, today’s best models help you cook better with less effort.
With more control, faster preheating, and less mess than traditional methods, a quality air fryer proves its value quickly. Once it’s part of your kitchen routine, you’ll wonder how you cooked without it — and it’ll never collect dust.