Making space for every appliance you need in your kitchen can be tricky, especially if you don't have a pantry. That's where countertop ovens shine, with bonus features that increase functionality while saving you space.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is the best example of a countertop oven that can do it all, with a sleek interface to match. There are 13 functions packed into this oven, with a range of accessories to help you with everything from turning out perfect pizzas to slow-cooking a stew. Breville claims that you can slash cooking time by 30% with this oven, with a temperature range that spans from 80 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit.
Of course, Breville is an in-demand brand when it comes to the best air fryers, but the price tag of its appliances can be less than appealing. It's the same with this Smart Oven, which comes in at $449.95, a significant sum. That's why I put it to the test at home in order to establish if its functionality and form are worth this sort of eye-watering investment.
Molly Cleary is a freelance reviewer and was previously the Staff Writer at Top Ten Reviews. She now works as an e-commerce editor at the home interest site Ideal Home, where she reviews air fryers, vacuums, and a huge range of other appliances every day. Her writing has been featured in Live Science, My Imperfect Life, Livingetc and other titles. Molly tested this air fryer at Future's dedicated test facility alongside a host of other models.
Breville Smart Oven Pro: Key specs
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Row 0 - Cell 1 |
| Capacity | Extra large 21.5 x 17.1 x 12.7-inch interior with capacity for 9 slices of bread, a 14-pound turkey, air frying French fries and slow cooking with a 5 qt Dutch oven; Large enough to fit most 9 x 13-inch pans and 12 cup muffin trays |
| Power | 1800 watts |
| Functions | Air fry, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, warm, toast, bagel, pizza, slow cook, reheat, cookies |
| Weight | 35lbs |
Breville Smart Oven Pro: Price & availability
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro has a list price of $379.95 for the stainless steel finish, whereas the limited edition Dhuuyaay 'Fire Stick Farming' that I have on test will set you back $699.95. It's a steep price, but you do get a huge amount of functionality for your money.
Both the stainless steel finish and the 'Fire Stick Farming' hand-painted finish can be bought directly from Breville. Alternatively, the stainless steel finish can be bought through select resellers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Score: 4/5
Breville Smart Oven Pro: Setup
There's a fair amount of plastic encasing the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, but given that this is an oven model rather than a basket air fryer, it does feel like it needs a little more protection.
Out of the box, the oven is unbelievably sleek. I tried a limited edition version called Dhuuyaay 'Fire Stick Farming,' which celebrates Aboriginal culture with its fantastic hand-painted design, while the standard model is finished in elegant stainless steel.
As it's a toaster oven design, you benefit massively from the large glass viewing window. It also has a pull-down door with an LCD side panel to complete the exterior. It's fairly large, with three spaces for separate trays. If it's a family-sized unit you need for cooking pizza, toasting bread and bagels, and air frying, this air fryer will tick your boxes.
One of the other things I noticed initially and loved during the testing process was that there was plenty of space for plates and bowls in the oven, which made reheating leftovers so easy.
There's a wealth of literature available with the Breville Smart Oven, with recipes and instruction manuals to pore over. The recipes are especially great for anyone new to air frying, showing you how to cook meat and vegetables in new ways.
Breville Smart Oven Pro: Design
Breville products are always great to look at, and the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is no exception. Even away from the overall look of the oven, the tiny details are great here. The dials are polished and feel satisfying to use, and the LCD screen is really comprehensive, so you don't need to click any buttons to access different modes.
You can fit a whole large-sized chicken in here, and you can cook several elements at once thanks to the multi-tray system, so it's hard to find complaints here when it comes to size. There are seven different layers specified on the glass of the door, telling you exactly where to put foods according to the cooking function you need. I've found it to be a fairly faultless design and easy for anyone to use.
Score: 5/5
Breville Smart Oven Pro: Performance
According to the exterior of the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, which is labeled on the inside of the door, the top layer of this oven should be reserved for broiling, air frying, and toasting.
To begin, I started with cooking fries, which are fantastic for crisping up in an air fryer. I set them off to cook using the dial controls and had to wait for the oven to warm first, which took about two minutes. Once that's done, the oven beeps, in the style of a microwave, to let you know that the cooking process has begun.
They were cooked to perfection, which Breville would say is probably due to the Element iQ System. This is an algorithm-based program that directs power to where it's most needed in the oven, which in practice gives you a more even cook on whatever is inside.
Next up, I cooked bacon, for which I used the broil function. For this, I used the top layer of the oven again, which is so the bacon can get closer to the heating element. This air fryer warms up nice and quickly, meaning that after just five minutes, the bacon looks great. I also love how, with this type of air fryer, unlike a basket model, you can cover a tray with tin foil and not have to scrub the whole thing when cleaning due to dripping fat.
Adding vegetables to any meal is essential, which is why I then moved on to trying the bake function on this oven. For this, I used the tray insert again, putting chunky veg to cook in for at least 20 minutes. The range of inserts with this oven is superb, including a mesh basket for air frying, a pizza pan, two oven racks, and a broil rack.
This is also the section of the oven where you can slow cook, roast, and reheat. It took a little longer than air frying would, but the overall result on the vegetables was great. It's also great that you can dial the temperature of this oven all the way up to 480 °F in any mode. It's the highest temperature range on an air fryer I've ever tried, going all the way down to 80°F if you want to use the dehydrate function, too.
Score: 5/5
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro: User reviews
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro has received positive feedback from Amazon users for its performance. Its intuitive settings and user-friendly interface make it easy to cook a variety of dishes, and the air frying feature is particularly praised for its ability to cook food without excess oil, offering a healthier alternative without sacrificing taste. The oven's generous capacity is also highlighted as a benefit for cooking family meals or entertaining.
However, some users have reported minor issues with the oven. One noted a problem with the door hinge getting stuck and the timer stopping working after a few months of use, leading to concerns about quality control. Another user observed slight discoloration around the door after some use, which doesn't affect functionality but is noticeable against the stainless steel appearance.
Should you buy the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro?
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Hugely expensive, but value for money if you can afford it | ★★★★ |
| Design | Sleek stainless steel with so much space, and various cooking levels | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | All the functions are great, as well as cooking results | ★★★★★ |
Buy it if...
Don’t buy it if…
How does the Breville Smart Oven Pro compare?
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is packed full of functionality and simply perfect for everyday family life. From toast to pizza, this oven can do it all. It does come at a high price, however, which is where cheaper alternatives like the Cuisinart Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven come in. Our reviewer gave it a solid review, and it's also more compact than this oven if you're short on countertop space.
If you like the sound of a family-sized air fryer but would prefer a basket-type design, then you can't go wrong with the Instant Vortex Dual 8-Quart Stainless Steel Air Fryer. It has two baskets, so you can cook meat and vegetables simultaneously, and viewing windows, like the Breville oven, for ease of use.
That being said, if it's a countertop oven you're looking for, and you can afford it, absolutely stick with the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro. It's bound to impress you.
How I tested the Breville Smart Oven Pro
The main testing criteria with this air fryer were how well it cooked a range of foods, its value for money, and its overall design.
I did several rounds of testing using different foods. I recorded how long each food type took and took photographs to document how cooked everything was.
Finally, I cleaned and stored the air fryer at home (even though it's quite large!) to have a realistic depiction of day-to-day use.
