Breville Smart Oven Pro vs Air Fryer Pro: Is It Worth It? (October 2026)

On this page (16 sections)

1. Breville Smart Oven Pro vs Air Fryer Pro: what do the extra functions add?
2. Who should choose the Smart Oven Pro?
3. How do the interiors compare?
4. How big are they on the counter?
5. How does the Air Fryer Pro's fan change results?
6. Which one is easier to use every day?
7. What do the two Breville ovens have in common?
8. What comes with each oven?
9. Is the air fryer worth the extra size?
10. Is the Smart Oven Pro good without air fry?
11. Does the Air Fryer Pro justify its extra counter space?
12. What's the difference for a sheet pan of vegetables?
13. How do the scores compare?
14. What about cleaning the two Breville ovens?
15. Which Breville fits a family kitchen?
16. Which Breville should you buy?

Breville makes these two ovens as a pair. The Smart Oven Pro is the baseline model with ten functions, while the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro adds air fry and dehydrate, a larger interior and a bigger body.

This guide looks at the trade-offs: what the extra functions add, what the extra size costs you on the counter and how to tell whether you'll use the features at all.

Breville Smart Oven Pro vs Air Fryer Pro: what do the extra functions add?

The Air Fryer Pro adds air fry and dehydrate to a list that already covers toast, bake, roast, pizza and slow cook. Breville says its two-speed convection fan gives more control for air frying.

If you air fry most weeks, the extra fan speed and the mesh basket rack matter. If you don't, the Smart Oven Pro's ten functions cover most of the same everyday meals.

Can the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro dehydrate food?

Yes, Breville says it can dehydrate up to 4 trays at once. Dehydrating takes hours, so plan a long session and check the food from time to time.

Who should choose the Smart Oven Pro?

Choose the Smart Oven Pro if your cooking runs toward baking, roasting, toast and slow cooks, and you don't plan to air fry. It covers a 13-inch pizza, a roast chicken and a slow-cooked meal in a smaller body.

It also suits a counter that's tight in width. At 18.9 inches wide, it leaves more room on either side than the larger Air Fryer Pro does.

How do the interiors compare?

The Smart Oven Pro's interior is 13.5 by 11.5 by 5.5 inches. Breville says it fits 6 slices of bread, a 13-inch pizza and a roast chicken.

The Air Fryer Pro's interior is 16 by 13.5 by 7 inches. Breville says it fits 9 slices of bread, a 14-pound turkey and most 9 by 13 inch pans.

How big are they on the counter?

The Air Fryer Pro is about 2.6 inches wider, 1.6 inches deeper and 1.8 inches taller than the Smart Oven Pro. It also weighs 30.2 pounds, against 22.8 pounds for the Smart Oven Pro.

Measure the width first, since it's the number most likely to rule out the larger model. Check the height too, because the door drops down and needs clear space in front of it.

How does the Air Fryer Pro's fan change results?

Breville describes the Air Fryer Pro's fan as two-speed, with a super setting that moves a greater volume of hot air. That's the feature that matters most for crisp food, since more air movement helps the surface dry and brown.

The Smart Oven Pro uses a convection setting for the same kind of even heat, though it doesn't have the air fry mode or the second fan speed. For a crisp snack, the Air Fryer Pro is the stronger tool.

Which one is easier to use every day?

Both ovens use knob controls and an LCD display, so the daily routine is similar. Both also have an interior light that comes on at the end of a cook.

Breville says the Air Fryer Pro's digital temperature control eliminates cold spots. That's a feature to weigh if you cook at higher temperatures or load the oven full.

What do the two Breville ovens have in common?

Both use Breville's Element iQ system with five quartz elements, which Breville says steers the power where the food needs it. Both run at 1800 watts, and both pair a control knob with an LCD.

Both also include an interior oven light and an LCD display, and both have a 13 inch pizza pan in the box. That shared base means the choice comes down to size, functions and weight, not the core heating system.

What comes with each oven?

The Smart Oven Pro includes one oven rack, a 12 by 12 inch enamel baking pan, a 12 by 12 inch enamel broiling rack, a 13 inch non-stick pizza pan, a wire rack and a crumb tray.

The Air Fryer Pro includes a 13 inch pizza pan, a 9 by 13 inch broil rack, an enamel roasting pan, a mesh basket rack and two oven racks. The mesh basket is the piece that makes air frying and dehydrating possible.

Is the air fryer worth the extra size?

Only if you'll use the air fry and dehydrate settings most weeks. If your main cooking is baking, roasting and toast, the Smart Oven Pro gives you most of the same results with less width and weight.

Breville gives the Air Fryer Pro a 2-year limited warranty, against 1 year for the Smart Oven Pro. That longer coverage helps if you use the air fry setting often.

Is the Smart Oven Pro good without air fry?

Yes, for most everyday cooking. Its ten functions cover toast, bagels, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, reheat, warm and slow cook, which is enough for most weekday meals.

The gap shows up with crisp snacks and dehydrated food. If those aren't a habit for you, the Smart Oven Pro saves counter room and lifting.

It also suits a household that wants a second bake station for holiday baking.

Does the Air Fryer Pro justify its extra counter space?

It does if air frying and dehydrating are part of your weekly routine. The extra width and depth give you room for a sheet pan and the mesh basket at the same time.

If those jobs are occasional, the Smart Oven Pro's smaller body is the better use of your counter.

Width matters most in a galley kitchen, where the oven has to fit between two cabinets. Measure first, then decide whether the extra space is worth it for your cooking.

What's the difference for a sheet pan of vegetables?

The Smart Oven Pro's 12 by 12 inch enamel baking pan is in the box, so a pan of vegetables fits with room to spare. The Air Fryer Pro's roasting pan is 9 by 13 inches, which holds a larger tray of food.

For a crisp finish, the Air Fryer Pro's fan moves a greater volume of hot air than the Smart Oven Pro's convection setting. For a slow roast, the Smart Oven Pro does the job well.

How do the scores compare?

Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.

The Smart Oven Pro scores 8.5 for its ten functions, its smaller footprint and its convection baking. The Air Fryer Pro scores 8.4 for its air fry and dehydrate range, offset by its weight and width.

What about cleaning the two Breville ovens?

The Smart Oven Pro comes with a crumb tray for quick cleanup. The Air Fryer Pro adds a mesh basket rack and a roasting pan, so there's more to wash after a batch of fries.

Check Breville's manual for the dishwasher rules on each pan before you load it. Wipe the interior with a damp cloth once it cools, since grease left on the walls can smoke on the next cook.

Which Breville fits a family kitchen?

A family that wants one oven for big weeknight batches and occasional air frying often leans toward the Air Fryer Pro. Its 16 by 13.5 by 7 inch interior holds a 14-pound turkey, and the mesh basket covers crisp snacks.

A family that bakes more than it fries, or that has little counter width, will find the Smart Oven Pro easier to place. Measure the counter first, then match the oven to the meals the family makes most.

Which Breville should you buy?

Pick the Smart Oven Pro if your cooking runs toward baking, roasting and toast. Pick the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro if air frying and dehydrating are on your list every week.

For a full look at the larger model, read our Breville BOV900BSS review.

For a smaller Breville, the Breville BOV650XL review covers the compact model, and the best convection toaster oven roundup shows how the Smart Oven Pro stacks up against other convection ovens.

If you're still deciding on the type of oven, the air fryer toaster oven buying guide explains where each one fits.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Breville Air Fryer Pro worth the extra size?

Only if you'll use the air fry and dehydrate settings most weeks. If your cooking runs toward baking, roasting and toast, the Smart Oven Pro covers most of the same meals with less width and weight.

Does the Smart Oven Pro air fry?

No. Its ten cooking functions don't include air fry, a setting that comes only on the Air Fryer Pro with its two-speed fan and mesh basket rack.

How much bigger is the Air Fryer Pro?

The Air Fryer Pro is about 2.6 inches wider, 1.6 inches deeper and 1.8 inches taller. Its interior is 16 by 13.5 by 7 inches, against 13.5 by 11.5 by 5.5 inches for the Smart Oven Pro, so measure the counter and the height under any cabinet.