Why I Think These Are the Best Countertop Air Fryer Ovens: Breville Joule vs. Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
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If there is one small appliance I would design space for in my kitchen all over again, it is a large countertop oven/air fryer.
And after actually living with one, I don't mean one of those little air fryers that can cook a handful of fries. I wanted something substantial enough to act as a real second oven.
For me, Breville makes two of the best options: the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) and the newer Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV950BSS).
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) Versatle oven with air frying, dehydration, and roasting.
Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV950BSS)Premium countertop oven with advanced air frying and baking features.
I own the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, and I use it literally every day. After researching the newer Joule model too, I think either one is a great choice. The biggest question is really whether you want the extra smart features of the Joule.
Why I Chose Breville in the First Place
When I remodeled my kitchen, I wanted a second oven without sacrificing the space for a huge double wall oven.
My solution was to put a large countertop oven inside my appliance garage.
It ended up being one of my favorite decisions in the entire kitchen.
I wanted something that could toast bread in the morning, air fry chicken nuggets for the kids, reheat leftovers, roast vegetables, bake dinner and actually help me during holidays.
In other words, I didn't want another gadget.
I wanted a second oven. That's the big difference with these Breville models.
1. They're Actually Big Enough to Replace a Second Oven
This is probably the number-one reason I recommend the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro.
The BOV900 has a 1-cubic-foot interior and is designed to accommodate a 9" × 13" pan, 13" pizza, nine slices of toast and even a 14-pound turkey.
That is a completely different category from a little basket air fryer.
For a busy family, the extra room matters. You can actually make enough food to justify turning it on.
And I LOVE having that capacity during holidays.
At Thanksgiving, I can put the turkey in my full-size Café oven and use my Breville for side dishes. That alone makes me wonder why I ever thought I needed two giant wall ovens.
2. One Appliance Does Almost Everything
The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro has 13 cooking functions, including toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, proof, air fry, reheat, cookies, slow cook and dehydrate.
That means I don't need a separate toaster taking up space.
I don't need a separate basket air fryer.
And for many everyday meals, I don't even need my full-size oven.
That is especially important if you're designing a smaller kitchen. I'd much rather devote precious cabinet and countertop space to one beautiful appliance that does multiple jobs well.
3. The Air Fryer Is Actually Useful for Families
I'll admit that when air fryers first became popular, I wondered whether I really needed another appliance.
Now?
I use the air-fry function constantly.
Chicken nuggets, fries, leftover pizza, roasted potatoes, vegetables—you name it.
And don't forget vegetables! My kids actually love vegetables with that little bit of crispiness around the edges.
Breville uses its Super Convection setting to increase airflow for air frying and says the technology can reduce cooking time by up to 30%.
For a mom trying to get food on the table before somebody has to be at practice, a game or an activity, THAT is the kind of kitchen feature I care about.
4. I Don't Have to Heat My Giant Oven
This sounds like such a little thing until you own one.
Want to heat two pieces of leftover pizza?
You don't need your full-size oven.
Making nuggets for one kid?
No giant oven.
Toast? Vegetables? A small side dish?
Same thing.
I actually use my little Breville more than my beautiful 36-inch Café oven.
That's something I never expected when I designed the kitchen.
5. Breville's Element iQ System Is a Big Part of the Difference
Both models use Breville's Element iQ system, which is designed to direct heat where and when it's needed for different cooking functions.
That's important because this isn't simply a heating box with a fan attached.
The oven adjusts how its heating elements operate depending on what you're asking it to do.
For me, that's one of the reasons the Breville feels much closer to using an actual oven than a basic toaster oven.
6. They Look Beautiful Enough for a Designed Kitchen
This matters to me.
I spend a LOT of time thinking about finishes, stone, cabinetry and hardware. After putting that much thought into a kitchen remodel, I don't want to stick an ugly plastic appliance in the middle of it.
The Breville has that substantial, professional-looking countertop-oven appearance that works beautifully in a higher-end kitchen.
The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is offered in multiple finishes, so you can also choose something that works with your kitchen rather than fighting against it.
Mine lives inside my appliance garage, but even with the doors open, it looks like it belongs there.
7. I Prefer the Oven-Style Design Over Plastic Basket Air Fryers
Another reason I personally gravitated toward Breville was the construction.
The BOV900 is listed by Breville as having a brushed stainless-steel construction. I prefer an oven-style appliance with a stainless-steel body and glass door to many of the plastic-heavy basket-style air fryers.
I wouldn't describe any countertop appliance as completely "toxin free," because that's a much broader claim. But for my own kitchen, minimizing plastic around high-heat cooking surfaces where practical was important to me.
I like being able to open the door and cook on traditional oven racks, pans and air-fry baskets.
8. The Breville Joule Takes the Same Idea and Makes It Smarter
This is where the BOV950 Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro becomes really interesting.
Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro The Joule adds connectivity through the Breville+ app, including guided recipes, progress monitoring and Joule Autopilot.
Autopilot can move through multiple cooking stages for compatible recipes rather than making you manually change the oven settings at every step.
So if you love smart-home technology and guided cooking, I would seriously consider spending more for the Joule.
Why I Think They're Worth the Money
Are these the cheapest countertop air fryers?
Absolutely not.
But I also wouldn't compare them to a $75 basket air fryer.
For me, the value is that one appliance can replace or reduce my need for a:
toaster
toaster oven
air fryer
dehydrator
slow cooker for some recipes
and, most importantly, a second full-size oven
When you look at it that way—especially when you're designing a kitchen and cabinet space is incredibly valuable—the price makes much more sense.
My Final Take After Actually Living With One
My Breville isn't one of those appliances I bought because everyone on the internet said I needed it and then forgot about six months later.
I use it every single day.
That's ultimately why I recommend it.
If you're designing a smaller kitchen, I would seriously consider skipping the giant double ovens and creating a dedicated appliance garage or butler's-pantry space for one of these instead.
Choose the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro BOV900 if you want the best value and don't care about app-connected cooking.
Choose the Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro BOV950 if you want the added smart features and Breville+ experience.
Either way, you're getting something much more useful than a basic air fryer. You're getting a legitimate second oven that can handle everyday family meals, quick food for the kids and holiday cooking—and still look beautiful in your kitchen.
For my family and the way we actually cook, that is what makes these two Breville models worth the counter space.
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