Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Deep Dive Review (2025): The Ultimate Kitchen Multitasker?
With a premium build, smart cooking technology, and a wide range of functions including air frying, is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer truly the ultimate countertop multitasker? We put this high-end appliance through its paces to see if its performance justifies its price and counter space.
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Quick Specs
- 1.0 cubic foot (25 liter) interior capacity
- 1800 watts
- 11 Smart Cooking Functions: Toast, Bagel, Broil, Bake, Roast, Warm, Pizza, Proof, Air Fry, Reheat, Slow Cook
- Element IQ System for precise heating
- Convection fan (Super Convection for Air Fry/Roast)
- LCD display
- Includes: Air Fry basket, roasting pan, baking pan, pizza pan
What's in the Box?
- Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer unit
- Air Fry basket
- Enamel roasting pan
- Enamel baking pan
- Non-stick pizza pan
- Wire rack
- User manual and recipe book
Performance Across Multiple Modes
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer, as its name suggests, is fundamentally a high-end countertop oven with air frying as one of its many strengths. Thanks to the Element IQ system and the powerful "Super Convection" fan used in Air Fry and Roast modes, it delivers exceptional performance across a wide range of cooking tasks. The **Air Fry** function is very effective. While it might not always achieve the exact same level of intense crisp as a dedicated, compact basket-style air fryer (which excels at concentrating air in a small space), it still produces satisfyingly crispy french fries, chicken wings, and vegetables, particularly when using the included Air Fry basket and arranging food in a single layer.
Where the Breville truly stands out is its performance in **traditional oven functions**. It toasts bread incredibly evenly, bakes cookies and muffins perfectly, roasts chicken and vegetables beautifully (the large capacity is a major plus here), and handles broiling with precision. The variety of smart functions like Proof and Slow Cook add significant utility that you won't find in most standard air fryers. The LCD display is clear and easy to use, and the intuitive controls for temperature, time, and function make navigating its many modes straightforward.
The unit operates with a noticeable but not excessively loud fan noise during air frying or convection modes, typical for a powerful countertop oven. It takes longer to preheat than a compact basket air fryer (around 5-10 minutes depending on temperature), but this is normal for an oven-style unit with a larger cavity. The viewing window and interior light are invaluable for monitoring cooking progress without opening the door.
For timing guidance on various foods across different cooking methods, our Air Fryer Cooking Times Chart and general cooking resources can be helpful starting points, but it's always best to refer to the Breville manual or test as you go for optimal results in a multi-function oven.
Controls & Usability: Smart and Intuitive
Operating the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is a premium experience. The Element IQ system automatically adjusts power and element usage based on the chosen function, taking some guesswork out of cooking. The large LCD display clearly shows your selected function, temperature, time, and progress. The dial controls are responsive and make adjusting settings easy. While it has more functions than a basic air fryer, the interface is logically organized, making it relatively quick to learn. The door feels sturdy, and the accessories are high quality. The interior light is a must-have for monitoring food through the large window.
Comparing it to other oven-style units, the Breville is often praised for the precision and reliability offered by its Element IQ system compared to simpler analog or less sophisticated digital controls found on some competitors (see Breville vs. Cuisinart comparison).
Cleaning
Cleaning a multi-function oven like the Breville is more involved than a simple air fryer basket, but manageable. It features a non-stick interior coating that helps with wiping down the walls once the unit has cooled completely (always unplug and wait!). The pull-out crumb tray at the bottom is essential and should be cleaned after every use to catch drips and debris and prevent burning/smoking (helps with smoking issues). The included Air Fry basket and other pans typically require hand washing, though some components may be top-rack dishwasher safe depending on the specific model – always check the manual. Cleaning the heating elements (top and bottom) requires careful wiping once fully cooled, avoiding excessive moisture (see general cleaning guide).
While the quality of materials generally means less sticking compared to cheaper non-stick, the larger interior cavity means more surfaces to clean if splatters occur, especially with fattier foods. Using the roasting pan under the air fry basket can help contain drips.
Pros & Cons: Premium Performance Comes at a Price
Pros:
- Exceptional Versatility: Truly replaces multiple appliances (toaster, convection oven, air fryer, dehydrator) with 11 smart functions.
- Premium Build Quality: Durable construction and high-quality materials.
- Precise & Consistent Cooking: Element IQ system ensures excellent results across all functions.
- Generous Capacity: Large interior fits substantial meals, small roasts, or multiple batches.
- Helpful Features: LCD display, interior light, large viewing window, includes useful accessories.
- Robust Performance: Powerful enough for both air frying and traditional oven tasks.
Cons:
- High Price Point: A significant investment compared to dedicated basket-style air fryers or most other oven-style competitors.
- Larger Countertop Footprint: Requires substantial counter space.
- Air Fry Performance: Very good, but may not achieve the absolute maximum crispness of top dedicated basket models due to larger cavity size.
- Interior Cleaning: More involved than cleaning a simple air fryer basket.
- Exterior Gets Hot: Requires adequate clearance around the unit during operation.
Who Is This For? And Who Might Need a Different Option?
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is an ideal appliance for home cooks who value premium quality, extensive versatility, and precise cooking across a wide range of functions. It's perfect for households that need a powerful, reliable countertop oven that can handle everything from toast and baking to roasting and effective air frying. If you want to consolidate multiple appliances, have sufficient counter space, and are willing to invest in a high-end, durable unit built for consistent performance, the Breville is a top choice.
It is likely *not* the best choice if your primary goal is *only* air frying with maximum possible crispness and speed, as some dedicated basket models might edge it out in that single function. It's also not suitable if you have very limited counter space or are on a strict budget (see buying guide for budget options). If you prefer the simplicity and speed of a basic basket air fryer for smaller tasks, a dedicated model might be a better fit (see Top 10 list).
FAQ: Quick Answers
Q: How does its air frying compare to basket models?
A: It provides strong air frying results with good crisping, especially with the included basket. It's excellent for larger batches due to the oven cavity but may not match the *most* intense, fastest crisping achieved by some high-wattage, compact basket models due to the larger air volume to heat and circulate.
Q: Can it replace my regular oven?
A: For many everyday tasks for smaller households (roasting chicken breasts, baking a tray of cookies, making pizzas, air frying sides), yes. For very large roasts, multiple large baking sheets at once, or full-sized oven trays, you will still need your main oven.
Q: Is it worth the higher price?
A: If you will genuinely use its wide range of functions (toasting, baking, roasting, air frying, dehydrating, slow cooking) and value premium build quality and precise cooking control, then yes, its versatility and performance can justify the investment for many users looking to replace multiple appliances with one high-quality unit.
Bottom Line
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is a premium, versatile, and high-performing countertop appliance that excels at combining the functions of a quality toaster oven with effective air frying. Its smart technology and robust build quality make it a reliable workhorse for a wide variety of cooking tasks. If you have the budget and space and need a powerful multitasker that can handle almost anything you throw at it (including great air frying), it's an excellent investment.