Quick verdict: the Ninja BN801 earns its 4.8-star average across nearly 15,000 ratings by doing two jobs — blending and food processing — competently enough that most households never miss owning two separate machines. It’s not the quietest or the most compact appliance on your counter, and the food processor bowl shows up often enough in durability complaints to take seriously, but at its regular sale price it undercuts buying a blender and a processor separately by a wide margin.

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Ninja BN801 Review: Specs and What You Actually Get

Two Appliances in One Base, and It Actually Works

The pitch behind any blender/processor combo is that one motor base can replace two countertop appliances, and the BN801 backs that up in practice rather than just on the box. The same 1,400-peak-watt base runs the 72-oz Total Crushing pitcher for smoothies and frozen drinks, and swaps to the 64-oz Precision Processor Bowl for chopping and dough without needing a second motor or a second plug. The five Auto-iQ presets remove the guesswork on both sides — pick “smoothie” or “dough” and the unit handles the pulse-blend-pause pattern itself rather than leaving you to guess timing.

What People Actually Make In It

Owner reviews skew heavily toward smoothies and protein shakes as the daily-use case, with the two 24-oz to-go cups coming up repeatedly as the feature that gets used most: reviewers specifically like making a shake in the cup itself and drinking straight from it rather than dirtying an extra glass. On the food-processor side, chopping cilantro and onion, making raw juice from beets, and mixing pancake or dough batter all come up as real, repeated uses rather than one-off novelty. Several owners contrast it favorably against a previous underpowered blender, specifically calling out how it handles frozen fruit and ice without stalling.

What Owners Consistently Report

Across nearly 15,000 ratings, the recurring positives are raw blending power and versatility: Amazon’s own aggregated review analysis highlights performance, functionality, and ease of cleaning as the most-mentioned themes, with blending performance and power specifically called out as strengths. Several owners who’d previously used a weaker blender describe this as a clear step up for crushing ice and frozen fruit.

The recurring negative, and it’s worth taking seriously rather than glossing over: durability is a mixed picture. Amazon’s own review summary flags this directly — while many owners report the unit holding up well, others specifically report the food processor bowl breaking. Separately, several reviews mention the unit is on the bulky side and takes up real counter space, and that it runs loud when crushing ice or hard ingredients, consistent with what you’d expect from a motor powerful enough to do the job in the first place.

Setup and First Use

Setup is genuinely simple: attach the pitcher or processor bowl to the shared base, lock the lid (both lids use a safety interlock that must seal before the motor will run), and pick an Auto-iQ preset or run it manually. One recurring first-time tripping point from owner reviews: the blending attachments don’t lock into place the way the processor bowl does, so it takes a try or two to seat the lid correctly — not a defect, just a design quirk worth knowing about before your first use.

Is It Worth It Compared to Buying Separately?

At $169.99, the BN801 replaces what would otherwise be a standalone blender and a standalone food processor, and the honest comparison is against buying those two appliances individually rather than against a single-function blender alone. A capable single-function blender in this price range plus a comparable food processor would typically run more than the BN801’s combined price, before you even account for the two-appliances-worth of counter space you’d need instead of one. The tradeoff is the one you’d expect from any combo appliance: neither function is quite as dedicated or specialized as the best single-purpose blender or single-purpose processor at the same price, but for most home kitchens the convenience of one base outweighs that.

Who This Is Actually For

Good fit: households that want genuine blending power (frozen fruit, ice, smoothies) and occasional food-processing needs (chopping, dough, purees) without buying and storing two separate appliances; anyone replacing an underpowered blender who’s tired of it stalling on ice.

Skip it if: you need a dedicated processor for frequent, heavy-duty food prep — a single-purpose food processor will generally outlast and out-perform the processor side of any combo unit; or you’re tight on counter space, since this is a genuinely bulky appliance next to either a blender or a processor alone.

Pros and Cons, Summarized

Pros: Genuinely capable blending power (1,400 peak watts handles ice and frozen fruit without stalling); real food-processing function on the same base, not a token attachment; 5 Auto-iQ presets remove timing guesswork; two to-go cups are a genuinely used feature, not a throwaway extra; strong sustained rating (4.8★, 14,653 ratings); price undercuts buying a blender and processor separately.

Cons: Food processor bowl durability is a real, recurring complaint for some owners, not universal but common enough to know about; bulky footprint that takes real counter space; runs loud when crushing ice or hard ingredients; blending attachments don’t lock in place the way the processor bowl does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Ninja BN801 crush ice without stalling?

Yes — this is one of the most consistently reported strengths across owner reviews. The 1,400-peak-watt motor and Total Crushing blades handle ice and frozen fruit in smoothies without the stalling or grinding that owners describe from weaker blenders.

Is the food processor bowl durable?

Mostly, but it’s a real mixed picture rather than a universal strength. Amazon’s own aggregated review data specifically flags durability as inconsistent — some owners report years of solid use, while others report the processor bowl breaking. My guide to food processor bowl cracking covers the actual causes and whether it’s worth trying to fix versus just replacing the bowl. Worth factoring in if food processing is a heavy, frequent use case for you rather than occasional.

How loud is it?

Loud enough that multiple owners mention it specifically, especially when crushing ice or hard ingredients. This tracks with the amount of power needed to do that job — a quieter blender at this price generally isn’t crushing ice as effectively.

Do the to-go cups actually get used, or are they a gimmick?

Based on owner reviews, genuinely used — it’s one of the most frequently mentioned features, specifically for making a shake or smoothie and drinking straight from the cup without dirtying a separate glass.

Is this a better value than buying a blender and food processor separately?

For most home kitchens, yes — the combined price undercuts buying two separate single-function appliances, and you only need counter space and a plug for one base. The tradeoff is that neither function is quite as dedicated as a single-purpose blender or processor at the same price point.

Does it come with a dough attachment?

Yes — dough is one of the 5 Auto-iQ presets, run through the food processor bowl rather than the blender pitcher.

How much counter space does it need?

More than a standalone blender. Owner reviews consistently describe it as bulky, so measure your available space before buying, particularly if you plan to leave it out rather than store it between uses.

For the full lineup including budget and family-size alternatives, see my best blender food processor combo guide. See my full Ninja BN801 vs. NutriBullet Combo comparison if you’re deciding between the food-processor combo and a blending-only alternative. If you’re using a blender for more than smoothies, see whether you can grind coffee beans in a NutriBullet, or check why a blender leaks from the bottom if you’re troubleshooting an existing one. For dedicated food-processing uses beyond what a combo unit covers, see my creative uses for a food processor.

guide to blending hot liquids safely before you try it.>

Quick verdict: the Cosori Pro II earns its 4.6-star average across nearly 2,400 ratings honestly — it’s fast, the app integration is more than a gimmick, and the price has stayed reasonable for what you get. The one thing worth knowing before you buy: basket handle durability shows up repeatedly as a real weak point, not an isolated complaint.

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Cosori Pro II Review: Specs and What You Actually Get

The Smart Features Are Genuinely Useful, Not Just Marketing

A lot of “WiFi air fryer” features amount to little more than a remote start button. The Pro II’s app integration goes further: the Scan-to-Cook function lets you scan a frozen food package directly in the VeSync app to pull up matching cook settings, and the app pushes notifications when it’s time to flip or check food rather than requiring you to set your own timer reminder. Voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant works for starting and stopping, though you still have to physically press Start/Cancel on the unit itself as a safety requirement — a sensible limitation, not a bug.

What People Actually Cook In It

Owner reviews describe a genuinely wide range beyond fries and wings: whole roast chicken, pork loin, marinated meats, fish, shrimp, and sweet potato fries all come up specifically and repeatedly. The 5.8-quart capacity is doing real work here — several reviewers explicitly contrast it with smaller units they’d previously owned, noting they can now cook a full family meal in one batch rather than running multiple rounds. One long-term owner with two teenagers living at home specifically credits the capacity and ease of cleanup with getting the household eating healthier day-to-day, not as a one-off novelty.

What Owners Consistently Report

Across nearly 2,400 ratings, the recurring positives are speed and versatility: several long-term owners specifically compare it favorably against previous air fryers (including well-known competing brands), reporting noticeably crisper results at the same temperature and in less time than their prior unit. Cleaning comes up often as a strength too, thanks to the fully detachable, dishwasher-safe basket.

The recurring negative, and it shows up enough to take seriously: basket handle durability. Amazon’s own aggregated review analysis flags this specifically — multiple owners report the basket handles breaking or melting with regular use. Separately, at least one long-term owner (3+ years of regular use, multiple times a week) reports the nonstick basket coating beginning to wear after that period, consistent with what ceramic and nonstick coatings generally do over years of heavy use rather than pointing to a defect unique to this model.

Setup and First Use

Setup is straightforward: unbox, connect to the VeSync app over 2.4GHz WiFi if you want the smart features (the fryer works as a standard air fryer without connecting it at all), and you’re cooking. The app pairing process is the only step that adds real time versus a basic air fryer, and it’s optional rather than required for day-to-day use.

Is the App Worth Setting Up?

For anyone skeptical of “smart” kitchen appliances generally, the honest answer here is that the core cooking function doesn’t need it at all — you can ignore the app entirely and use the Pro II as a normal air fryer with its physical controls. Where the app earns its place is specifically the Scan-to-Cook feature and the push notifications: being told your food needs flipping while you’re in another room is a genuine convenience, not just a novelty checkbox. The tradeoff owners should know about upfront: voice control specifically is limited by a safety requirement (you still have to physically press Start on the unit), so don’t expect fully hands-free operation from the Alexa or Google Assistant integration.

Value for Money at This Price

At $119.99, the Pro II sits in the same price range as several 4-quart single-basket air fryers on the market, but delivers 5.8 quarts of capacity and the app layer on top. For a household of 3 or more, that combination of capacity and features at a compact-fryer price point is a genuinely good value trade — you’re not paying a premium for the extra capacity the way you would with some larger dual-basket models.

How It Compares to the Ninja AF101

Both sit around the same price point and serve a similar buyer, but the core tradeoff is simplicity versus features: the Ninja AF101 is a smaller 4-quart unit with a straightforward touch panel and no app, while the Cosori Pro II offers meaningfully more capacity (5.8 quarts) and a genuinely useful app layer, at the cost of more going on if you don’t want the smart features at all. For a full head-to-head, see my Ninja AF101 vs. COSORI Pro II comparison.

Who This Is Actually For

Good fit: households of 3 or more who’d otherwise need multiple batches in a smaller unit; anyone who’ll genuinely use app-based cooking notifications rather than just standing near the fryer anyway; buyers replacing an aging air fryer whose nonstick coating has already failed, since a fresh basket resets that clock.

Skip it if: you’re cooking for 1-2 people and don’t need the extra capacity — a smaller, cheaper unit like the Ninja AF101 covers that case without paying for capacity you won’t use; or you specifically don’t want any smart-home features in your kitchen, since the price here is partly buying into that layer even if you never activate it.

Pros and Cons, Summarized

Pros: Larger 5.8-quart capacity suited to families, not just 1-2 people; genuinely useful app features (Scan-to-Cook, cooking notifications, 200+ online recipes applied directly); strong sustained rating (4.6★, 2,396 ratings); detachable, fully dishwasher-safe basket; competitive price for the feature set.

Cons: Basket handle durability is a real, recurring complaint — not a one-off; nonstick coating wear after years of heavy regular use, same as most nonstick baskets eventually show; smart features require a 2.4GHz WiFi network and app setup most competitors at this price don’t ask for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to connect the Cosori Pro II to WiFi to use it?

No. It functions as a standard air fryer with its physical controls without ever connecting to the VeSync app. The smart features (remote monitoring, Scan-to-Cook, voice control) are optional additions on top of normal operation.

Is the basket handle durability issue serious?

It’s a real, recurring complaint in Amazon’s own aggregated review data, not an isolated report — multiple owners describe handles breaking or melting with regular use. It doesn’t appear to be universal, but it’s common enough to factor into your decision, especially if you handle the basket by the handle frequently rather than supporting the base.

How does the 5.8-quart capacity compare to smaller air fryers?

It’s meaningfully larger than compact 4-quart models and comfortably fits family-sized batches — a whole chicken or enough food for 3-4 people in a single layer, according to owner reports, versus the 1-2 person realistic capacity of smaller units.

Does the nonstick coating hold up long-term?

Generally yes for the first few years based on available reports, with at least one detailed long-term account noting coating wear beginning after 3+ years of regular multiple-times-weekly use — in line with how nonstick coatings typically age rather than a defect specific to this model.

Can voice control fully operate the Cosori Pro II hands-free?

Mostly, but not entirely — you still need to physically press Start/Cancel on the unit itself as a built-in safety requirement, even when using Alexa or Google Assistant for the rest of the process.

Is the Pro II good for a family, or just a couple?

It’s specifically well-suited to families — the 5.8-quart capacity is large enough for a whole roast chicken or a full batch of sides in one cook, which is the main reason owners with households of 3+ mention choosing it over smaller compact models.

What happens if my WiFi goes down — can I still use it?

Yes. WiFi connectivity is only required for the app-based smart features (remote monitoring, Scan-to-Cook, voice control). The physical controls on the unit work independently of any network connection.

For the full lineup of tested picks across every budget, see my best air fryers guide. And for the complete range of air fryer content on the site, start at the air fryers hub.

Quick verdict: the Ninja AF101 is still a genuinely good small air fryer — 59,369 ratings at 4.7 stars is a real, sustained track record, not a launch-week spike. But it’s no longer Ninja’s current model, and the machine that replaced it is both cheaper and bigger. If you’re deciding between the two, read the “Should you buy this instead of the newer model” section below before you check out.

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Ninja AF101 Air Fryer Review: Specs and What You Actually Get

What’s in the Box, and First Setup

The AF101 ships with the unit itself, the 4-quart nonstick basket, a separate crisper plate that sits inside the basket, and a 20-recipe booklet to get you started beyond the obvious fries-and-nuggets territory. Setup is genuinely just unbox, insert the crisper plate into the basket, slide the basket in, and plug it in — no assembly, no calibration step.

One thing worth knowing before your first cook: several owners mention a noticeable plastic smell during the very first run, which is standard for new heating elements and nonstick coatings off-gassing, and consistently reported as fading after that first cycle. Running it once empty for 10-15 minutes before cooking anything (ideally with a window open) avoids the smell reaching your food on day one.

Who This Size Actually Fits

4 quarts is genuinely a 1-2 person capacity, not a family size — this comes through consistently in the owner reviews, and it matches the physical reality of the basket. It fits about 2 lbs of French fries or enough chicken for two people in a single layer. If you’re regularly cooking for three or more, you’ll be doing multiple batches, which defeats a lot of the appliance’s speed advantage. For a couple, a single adult, or as a second unit for quick reheating duty alongside a bigger air fryer, the size is a genuine fit rather than a compromise.

What Owners Consistently Report

At nearly 60,000 ratings, patterns show up clearly. The recurring positives: it’s simple to operate (a straightforward touch panel, not an overloaded preset menu), it cleans up fast since the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, and it cooks noticeably faster than an oven for the same result — several owners specifically mention cutting cooking time in half compared to baking.

The most substantive complaint that shows up repeatedly, not just once: the nonstick ceramic coating on the basket can start flaking after relatively light use — one detailed long-term review reported visible coating loss within the first month, worsening over a year of regular use, though notably confined to the basket (not the crisper plate) and not on a food-contact surface. This is worth taking seriously rather than dismissing as an outlier, since it’s a known weak point of ceramic-coated nonstick generally, not unique to this unit.

What People Actually Cook In It

Beyond the obvious fries and chicken wings, owner reviews describe a wider real-world range than the marketing copy suggests: raw chicken thighs and legs coming out crisp with a juicy interior, browned and juicy steak, “grilled” cheese sandwiches, stuffed bell peppers, bacon, fish sticks, and reheating leftover fried food without the sogginess a microwave leaves behind. The common thread across almost every specific food mentioned is that it handles anything you’d normally do in a small toaster oven or under a broiler, just faster and without heating up the kitchen the way a full oven does.

Noise Level

It’s not silent — multiple owners specifically flag it as “a little noisy” during operation, which tracks with how every air fryer in this category works (a genuinely powerful fan is what makes air frying work at all). None of the reviews describe it as louder than typical for the category, just noticeable, the way any countertop appliance with a real fan is noticeable in a quiet kitchen.

How It Compares to Other Small Air Fryers

At 4 quarts and $119.99, the AF101 sits in the same rough category as compact single-basket air fryers from Cosori and Chefman, most of which land in the $60-$130 range for similar capacity. What differentiates the AF101 within that group is less about raw features and more about Ninja’s touch-panel simplicity versus the more preset-heavy interfaces some competitors ship with — a genuine tradeoff between “more options” and “faster to actually use,” not a clear win either way. Where the AF101 clearly loses ground is value-for-capacity against its own successor (below) and against larger dual-basket models on this site’s frozen-food-focused picks, which trade the AF101’s compact footprint for the ability to run two items at once.

Pros and Cons, Summarized

Pros: Simple, uncluttered touch controls that don’t require reading a manual; dishwasher-safe basket and crisper plate; a sustained, high-volume rating (4.7★ across 59,369 ratings) rather than a small or recent sample; genuinely handles a wide range of foods beyond fries and nuggets; noticeably faster than oven cooking for the same result.

Cons: 4-quart capacity is a real ceiling for anything beyond 1-2 people; basket nonstick coating has a documented tendency to flake with regular use over time; it’s been superseded by a newer, larger, currently cheaper model from the same brand, which undercuts the case for buying this one new; noticeable (though not unusual) fan noise during operation.

Should You Buy This Instead of the Newer Model?

Here’s the honest complication with recommending the AF101 today: Ninja has since released the AF141, and on paper it beats the AF101 on almost every spec that matters. It’s larger (5 quarts vs. 4), more powerful (1,750W vs. 1,550W), and — as of this review — genuinely cheaper ($89.99 vs. $119.99). It also carries a strong rating of its own (4.7★, 8,265 ratings) with a notably positive “customers usually keep this item” retention signal from Amazon.

If you’re buying new today with no strong reason to want this specific model, the AF141 is very likely the better purchase — more capacity, more power, lower price, and it’s Ninja’s current design rather than a superseded one. The AF101 still makes sense if: you’ve found it meaningfully discounted below the AF141’s price, you specifically want the smaller 4-quart footprint for counter space reasons, or you already own one and are trying to decide whether it’s worth replacing (per the coating note above, probably not until it’s actually causing you a problem).

Cleaning and Day-to-Day Use

The basket and crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, which matters more in daily practice than any spec sheet number — air fryer baskets get used constantly, and hand-washing one after every meal is the kind of friction that makes an appliance quietly stop getting used. Wipe-downs of the exterior housing are quick since there’s no complex venting or removable heating element to work around, just a single top-mounted heating unit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ninja AF101 still worth buying in 2026?

Yes, if the price is right for your specific situation, but the newer AF141 is the stronger default recommendation for most new buyers — it’s bigger, more powerful, and currently cheaper. The AF101 makes the most sense at a real discount or if you specifically want the smaller footprint.

How many people can the Ninja AF101 actually feed?

Comfortably 1-2 in a single batch. It fits about 2 lbs of fries or enough chicken pieces for two adults without overcrowding. Cooking for 3+ means running multiple batches.

Does the nonstick coating actually wear out?

It can. The most detailed long-term reports describe basket coating (not the crisper plate) beginning to flake within the first month of regular use, worsening gradually over a year but staying confined to non-food-contact areas in that specific case. This is a known characteristic of ceramic nonstick generally, not a defect unique to this unit.

What’s actually different about the newer AF141?

More capacity (5 quarts vs. 4), more power (1,750W vs. 1,550W), and at review time, a lower price ($89.99 vs. $119.99). It’s a straightforward upgrade on paper for anyone buying new without a specific reason to prefer the smaller unit.

Can the AF101 cook frozen food well?

Yes — frozen fries, nuggets, and similar items are squarely what this size and style of air fryer handles well, same as the rest of the category. Follow package air fryer instructions where given rather than the conventional oven instructions.

Is there a smell when I first use it?

A mild plastic smell during the first cook is commonly reported and normal for new heating elements and nonstick coatings — it consistently fades after that first cycle. Running it empty for 10-15 minutes before your first real cook, with a window cracked, resolves it before it can affect food.

Is the AF101 loud?

Noticeable but not unusual for the category — owners describe it as “a little noisy,” which is typical of any air fryer with a genuinely effective fan. It’s not reported as louder than comparable models.

For the newer model discussed above, see the Ninja AF141 on Amazon. If you’re deciding between this model and a Cosori alternative specifically, I’ve covered that head-to-head in my Ninja AF101 vs. COSORI Pro II comparison. And for the full range of tested picks across every budget, see my best air fryers guide.