Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Cosori Small Air Fryer (2.1-Quart)
Best BudgetDash Compact Air Fryer (2-Quart)
Best Ultra-CompactPrice
$50-$60
$40-$50
Summary
At around $50, this 2.1-quart Cosori delivers evenly crispy wings and fries without needing to flip — a rare feat at this price. The hidden-button panel looks sleek and the square basket maximizes usable space.
CNET's pick for best small air fryer for beginners — lightweight, colorful, and designed specifically for small apartments. At $50 with a retro look and 5 color options, it's the easiest entry point into air frying.
Pros
- 2.1-quart square basket maximizes interior space for a compact unit
- Wings came out crispy on the bottom without flipping in GH testing
- Intuitive control panel with hidden buttons when off for clean look
- Significantly cheaper than most competitors at ~$50
- Lightest and most portable of all small air fryers — easy to move and store
- Good cooking power despite compact 2-quart size
- Available in 5 colors with a fun retro aesthetic
- ~$50 price point — lowest barrier to entry
Cons
- Nonstick basket prone to scratching over time — avoid metal utensils
- 2.1-quart capacity limits batch size even for one person with larger meals
- No dehydrate function unlike the Ninja AF101
- 2-quart capacity is the smallest on this list — tight for anything beyond snacks
- Fewer cooking presets than Ninja or Cosori competitors
- Not ideal if you want to cook full meals regularly
Our take
For solo cooking on a budget, this is the one to beat. Wings crispy on the bottom without flipping is a legitimately impressive result that pricier models can't always match.
Reddit users literally call this the air fryer 'made for New York apartments.' If counter space is your primary constraint and you're cooking for one, the Dash gets out of your way when you're done with it.
Buy
