Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Instant Pot Vortex
Best Budget CompactNinja Crispi Pro AS101
Best Glass/Nontoxic DesignPrice
$50-$100
$130-$180
Summary
America's Test Kitchen's top pick and a Reddit favorite for durability and ease of use. Transparent window lets you watch food cook, and long-term owners consistently praise its reliability.
A genuinely different take on compact air frying — glass bowl construction means zero PTFE coating concerns, plus you can watch food cook. RTINGS named it best small air fryer tested.
Pros
- America's Test Kitchen recommendation cited across multiple Reddit threads
- See-through window to watch food while cooking
- Multiple Reddit users report it outlasting other brands
- Easy to use and clean per long-term owners
- Glass bowl design is completely nontoxic, no PTFE/PFAS coating concerns
- Visible cooking lets you monitor food without opening the lid
- RTINGS named it best small air fryer tested in 2026
- Swappable components add versatility for its compact size
- CNET reviewer used it over a year and still recommends it
Cons
- Fewer advanced features than Ninja or Cosori competitors
- Smaller brand ecosystem means fewer accessories
- Less buzz in recent 2025-2026 Reddit threads vs. Ninja/Cosori
- Glass bowl adds weight and fragility vs. traditional baskets
- 5.9-quart size is on the larger end of 'compact'
- Higher price point than standard compact basket models
Our take
This is the 'buy it once' compact air fryer. Multiple Reddit users mention outlasting 3+ other brands, and it's the one America's Test Kitchen stakes their reputation on — that combination is hard to beat at this price.
If nontoxic materials matter to you, this is the only small air fryer worth considering. CNET used it for over a year and still calls it the best buy in 2026 — that kind of long-term endorsement is rare.
Buy
