Ninja Vs Philips Air Fryer [Detailed Comparison]

Many similar-looking air fryers are not actually the same, and comparing them while shopping can be confusing. A little help in this regard can go a long way in making an informed decision.

Today, I am comparing two top air fryer models of Ninja and Philips — Ninja AF161 and Philips XXL HD9650/96. Both are well-established brands and are reigning in the hearts and kitchens of countless users. But are they suitable for your kitchen, too? Let’s find out.

Difference Between Ninja Max XL Vs Philips XXL Air Fryer

The main difference between Ninja AF161 Max XL and Philips XXL is their size and capacity. The Ninja air fryer has a 5.5 qt capacity and a compact footprint. Philips has around 7-quart capacity and a larger footprint than Ninja.

Pros And Cons

Capacity: Suitability For Your Family

The Ninja Max XL AF161 has a 5.5 QT capacity; therefore, it is suitable for a small family of two to three. In one batch, it can accommodate about 10-12 chicken wings. So, using it to make large family meals can become a hassle.

On the contrary, the Philips air fryer has around 7 quart cooking capacity. It can cook 15 chicken wings or 5.5 lb. whole chicken, which makes it suitable for a household of four to five.

Dimensions: Suitability For Your Kitchen

Philips HD9650/96, like other units in the XXL series, has a very large footprint compared to its capacity. The space it requires on the kitchen counter can easily be determined from its dimensions of 15.55”x 15.55″x 15.67″ (WxLxH).

Ninja AF161, on the other hand, is compact, measuring 11″D x 14″ W x 14.75″H. Due to small footprint of the air fryer, you can easily accommodate it in a corner of your countertop.

Style And Design

As far as the looks and design of both units are concerned, they share several similarities. Some of those aspects are the following:

• Both Ninja AF161 and Philips HD9650/96 have a glossy finish.
• They have fully digital control panels, which are very sensitive to the touch of your fingers.
• Both are basket-style air fryers, each having a large ergonomic handle on their baskets.
• Both can roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and air fry.
• Their air fryer baskets are Teflon-free and dishwasher-safe.

Along with similarities, there are some contrasting factors:

• Ninja AF161 has a round basket, while the Philips has a square basket design. In my opinion, the square basket can fit food more efficiently.
• Ninja can air broil and max crisp, while Philips can toast and grill, in addition to other types of cooking.

Wattage And Power Consumption

The operational wattage of Ninja AF161 is 1750 watts, whereas that of Philips HD9650/96 is 2225W. Considering these numbers, if you are particular about buying an air fryer with low energy consumption and don’t mind batch cooking, Ninja AF161 is more suitable.

Ease Of Use Of Ninja Air Fryer Vs Philips

Regarding ease of use, both air fryers are pretty user-friendly, and their control panels are straightforward.

Ninja AF161: Ninja has a digital control panel that is self-explanatory. The buttons are labeled with the functions they perform. There is also a start/stop button to pause (for checking food) and restart cooking.

An impressive aspect of the Ninja AF161 is that its crisper plate remains secure in the basket and does not fall off when dishing out contents.

The top and the handle remain relatively cool to the touch, but the back gets very hot, which is understandable due to the presence of a heat vent.

The best thing is you don't need to preheat Ninja Air Fryer, just dump the food in the basket and begin cooking.

Philips HD9650/96: There are cooking presets for everything from chicken to fish and cake, and they have default temperatures.

However, you must set the time yourself. In addition, there is a manual mode, which I really admire as it gives you complete control of your recipe.

One complaint about Philips is that the temperature can only be adjusted in 25F increments, which is a bit annoying.

Most recipes require precise temperature adjustments, so cooking in this air fryer means adjusting settings whenever you try a new recipe.

You don't need to preheat Philips XXL air fryer, just dump the recipe in the basket, set time and temperature and start cooking.

Cleaning Of Ninja Air Fryer Vs. Philips

Cleaning the Philips HD9650/96 is not a big deal. The exterior can be cleaned with a damp towel followed by a dry one. The removable parts can be hand-washed or loaded in a dishwasher for quick cleaning. The only difficulty is degreasing the heating element after a bacon-crisping session.

Like Philips, cleaning Ninja basket air fryer is also very easy, much thanks to its ceramic-coated basket and crisper plate. The basket is dishwasher safe, but hand-washing is recommended as it can increase the lifespan of the coating.

Cooking in Ninja Air Fryer Vs Philips

My ultimate impression of the Ninja vs. Philips air fryer comparison was hinged on cooking tests. Therefore, I ran several tests using various cooking modes like baking, broiling, air frying, etc.

Air-frying fish sticks in Ninja Max XL was a delightful experience; they came out crisper than they did in the oven. Furthermore, I tried French fries and tater tots, and everything came out great. However, in some cases, I had to experiment with times and modes to get the desired results.

I used this Philips air fryer several times to cook fried chicken and reheat pizza slices, steaks, and warm Buffalo wings. Overall, I am satisfied with its cooking ability. It crisps evenly— making chicken wings and fries give you a 10/10 crispy skin. Reheating food in the air fryer also gives satisfactory results.

Final Thoughts

Both Ninja and Philips are high-quality cooking appliances as far as cooking, build design, and sturdiness are concerned. However, some obvious differences exist, like size, capacity, footprint, and price. If you want a bigger air fryer and are ready to pay a higher price for a premium product, Philips is the right choice. However, you must have ample countertop space for placing it safely.

On the contrary, if you need a smaller unit with many useful features that are also present in Philips, but at half the price, ninja Af161 must be your obvious choice. However, be ready to cook in batches as it has a smaller capacity than Philips HD9650/96.