Cosori Pro II vs Ninja AF101: Which Air Fryer Should You Buy?
Last updated: 2026-09-01 · By NicheHive Editorial
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Our Pick
Cosori Pro II 5.8-Quart Air Fryer
- ✓5.8-quart square basket
- ✓1,800W element
- ✓11 onboard presets
- ✓170°F to 400°F range
- ✓Dishwasher-safe basket and tray
Pros
- 5.8-quart square basket feeds 3 to 4 people in one batch versus the Ninja's 4-quart round basket
- 1,800W recovers temperature faster than the Ninja's 1,550W when cold food is added
- 11 presets remove the need to look up correct times and temperatures for common foods
- 2-year warranty versus the Ninja's 1 year
Cons
- 170°F minimum temperature rules out real dehydration — jerky and fruit need 105°F to 160°F
- Single top element means most proteins still need a manual flip mid-cycle
- $20 to $40 more expensive than the Ninja AF101 at typical pricing
Best for households of 3 to 4 who cook chicken often and want preset convenience over the Ninja's simpler controls.
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer 4-Quart
- ✓4-quart round basket with elevated crisper plate
- ✓1,550W element
- ✓105°F to 400°F range
- ✓Two-knob analog controls
- ✓Dishwasher-safe basket and plate
Pros
- 105°F minimum enables genuine dehydration for jerky, fruit, and herbs — the Cosori's 170°F floor cannot do this
- Simpler two-knob interface with no touchscreen or app prompts to navigate
- Often sells for $10 to $30 less than the Cosori Pro II
- Elevated crisper plate design gives better bottom-surface crisping than a flat basket
Cons
- 4-quart round basket is meaningfully smaller than the Cosori's 5.8-quart square basket
- No presets — every cook requires manually setting time and temperature
- 1-year warranty versus the Cosori's 2 years
Best for households of 1 to 2 who want to dehydrate food and prefer simple manual controls over presets.
Two of the best-selling air fryers on the market, and shoppers still can't agree which one to buy.
Cosori Pro II versus Ninja AF101 is one of the most common air fryer decisions in the $80 to $120 range, and the two machines split fairly cleanly along household size and cooking style.
The Cosori Pro II brings a 5.8-quart square basket, 1800W, and 11 presets. The Ninja AF101 counters with a 4-quart round basket, 1550W, and a temperature range that drops to 105°F, well below the Cosori's 170°F floor, which matters for jerky or fruit dehydration.
On everyday foods like fries and vegetables, testing found both produce equivalent crispiness, with the 250W gap only showing up as a slightly faster preheat on the Cosori.
The real dividing line is household size. One to two people are generally better served by the Ninja AF101's lower price and simpler controls, while three to four people get more out of the Cosori Pro II's larger basket and preset system.
The Short Answer
Buy the Cosori Pro II if you cook for 3 to 4 people, want presets for common foods, and cook chicken frequently — the larger basket, higher wattage, and preset system are meaningful advantages at most meals.
Buy the Ninja AF101 if you cook for 1 to 2 people, want to dehydrate food (jerky, fruit), prefer simpler controls, or are on a strict $80 to $100 budget.
Spec Comparison
| Spec | Cosori Pro II | Ninja AF101 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.8-quart | 4-quart |
| Wattage | 1800W | 1550W |
| Basket shape | Square | Round |
| Temperature range | 170°F to 400°F | 105°F to 400°F |
| Presets | 11 | 4 (air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate) |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (basket + tray) | Yes (basket + plate) |
| Price | $80 to $120 | $80 to $100 |
Where They Match
Crispiness for everyday foods: For fries, vegetables, and reheating, both produce equivalent results. The 250W difference does not produce a noticeable crispiness gap for thin-cut fries, broccoli, or reheated pizza.
Dishwasher cleanup: Both baskets go in the dishwasher — a meaningful convenience shared equally.
Build quality: Both feel well-made at the price point. Neither basket handle feels cheap or fragile.
Cook time: For most foods, cook times are within 1 to 2 minutes of each other. The Cosori's higher wattage means slightly faster preheat (3 minutes vs. 4 minutes) — insignificant at the scale of a 20-minute cook.
Where Cosori Wins
Capacity: 5.8 quarts vs. 4 quarts is not a marginal difference. At every meal where you need more than 1 pound of food in a single batch: the Cosori feeds the table in one round while the Ninja requires two.
Square basket: More usable cooking surface per quart. Rectangular proteins (chicken breasts, fish fillets, pork chops) fit the square basket more efficiently than the round basket. A pound of chicken breasts fits with more space in the Cosori; the same pound in the Ninja wastes the curved corners.
Presets: 11 vs. 4 functions. The Cosori presets (chicken, steak, fries, seafood, dehydrate, bread, etc.) provide calibrated defaults for common foods. For households that cook the same 5 to 8 meals repeatedly: presets remove the need to look up temperatures and times every time.
Where Ninja Wins
Dehydration: The AF101's 105°F minimum temperature is a genuine capability gap. The Cosori's 170°F minimum cannot produce proper food dehydration — too hot for jerky and fruit, which dehydrate at 130°F to 160°F. For households that want homemade beef jerky, dried fruit, or dehydrated herbs: the Ninja is the only option in this comparison.
Simplicity: Two knobs (time, temperature) and four function buttons. No touchscreen. No app prompts. No 11 presets to navigate. For users who prefer minimal interface: the Ninja is cleaner.
Price: The Ninja often sells for $10 to $30 less than the Cosori. For strict budget constraints: the Ninja delivers adequate air frying for 1 to 2 people at lower cost.
Who Should Buy Each
Cosori Pro II: household of 3 to 4 people, frequent chicken cooking, presets appealing, budget $80 to $120.
Ninja AF101: household of 1 to 2 people, dehydrating food is a priority, prefer simple controls, budget under $100.
See Also
- Cosori Pro II Review — full Cosori review
- Ninja AF101 Review — full Ninja review
- Best Air Fryers — full category
Our editorial team researches, tests, and writes every review independently. We never accept payment for placement.