Ninja is selling two air fryers for $79 this Black Friday — I've tested both, and this is the one you should buy

I've been testing air fryers for well over five years, so when it comes to finding a great Black Friday air fryer deal, I know how to tell a dud from a great deal. And there's no greater example than the difference between two of Ninja's discounted air fryers.

Right now, the Ninja 4-in-1 Pro Air Fryer is reduced from $129 to $79 at Amazon. But so is the Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, down to $79 after a 33% saving. So which should you buy?

I'll explain why below, but of these two fryers, the Ninja 4-in-1 Pro Air Fryer is by far the superior choice. That's why it sits at the top of my best air fryers buying guide, after all.

My top pick

Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1: was $129 now $79 at Amazon

Sitting at the top of our best air fryers buying guide, the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 has a wide and low basket that will fit a surprisingly large amount of food. In our review, we praised its dishwasher-safe basket and speedy, even cooking. Combined with its neat, compact design, it's the perfect option for most kitchens.

View Deal

Ninja Air Fryer AF101: was $119 now $79 at Amazon

One of Ninja's first air fryers to hit the market, the AF101 does offer one slight advantage over the Pro. Its compact design makes it ideal for small kitchens, and it does still offer an impressive 05°F-400°F temperature range.

View Deal

Why you should buy the Ninja Pro 4-in-1

More recent model

If you were to try and find the AF101 on Ninja's website, you'd fail. That's because Ninja actually stopped selling this air fryer directly a number of years ago. And what replaced it? The Pro 4-in-1.

It's not that the AF101 is a bad air fryer. When I first tested it four years ago, it was pretty revolutionary! But air fryers have improved since it was first released. The Pro is quieter, quicker, and easier to clean.

A (slightly) better saving

The AF101 retails for $119, whereas the Pro 4-in-1 sells for $129. In reality, both air fryers go on sale relatively frequently, but I can say with confidence that $79 for my top pick is a really good deal. Whereas the AF101 is almost never at full price. It's like someone has a never-ending stockpile they just can't shake. Is it worth $119? Absolutely not.

Better layout

These air fryers claim to have the same capacity of four quarts. And while that is technically true, it's based on the capacity they'd offer if you were to fill the basket right to the brim.

In reality, the metric that matters is the dimensions of the base of the fryer basket. This is what determines how much food the fryer can comfortably fit, without adding a big pile of fries or chicken that won't crisp evenly.

And on that front, the Pro 4-in-1 wins easily. Its low, wide basket is surprisingly large for its neat dimensions. It can fit four chicken thighs or enough fries for a family with relative ease. By contrast, the round and deep basket of the AF101 is rather limiting. You won't mind too much if you're cooking for one or two people, but it lacks the flexibility of the Pro.

For more discounts, check out our Black Friday deals live blog.

Shop today's best Black Friday deals

• Amazon: 50% off Ring, Ninja, AirPods and more
• Walmart Plus: 50% off @ Walmart
• REI: half-off Arc'teryx, Patagonia, more
• Dell: monitors from $69, laptops from $299
• Nectar: 50% off mattresses + bundles
• Best Buy: laptops from $149
• Lenovo: doorbuster deals from $319
• Wayfair: up to 80% off home decor
• Lululemon: top picks from $9
• Newegg: Doorbuster deals from $6
• Walmart: holiday gifts from $15
• Birkenstock: deals from $20 @ Nordstrom
• Saatva: luxury mattresses from $1,099

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.