The Great Air Fryer Showdown: Ninja vs Philips vs Kmart — Which One Actually Wins in 2026?

My husband brought home a Kmart air fryer one Saturday and told me it would “change our lives.” He wasn't entirely wrong — but he wasn't entirely right either. Eight weeks, five air fryers, and approximately 47 batches of chips later, here's what I've learned.

Air fryers have become the most-gifted kitchen appliance in Australia. Everyone either owns one, wants one, or has strong opinions about why they don't need one. The problem? There's a massive gap between the $89 Kmart special and the $499 Philips flagship — and most reviews don't tell you whether that gap is worth crossing.

So I tested five of the most popular models over eight weeks of real family dinners. Three kids (ages 5, 8, and 12), a husband who thinks everything should be deep-fried, and a kitchen that's seen better days. Here's the honest truth about which air fryer is actually worth your money.

Quick Picks: The Comparison Table

Here's the cheat sheet. Scroll down for the full food test results.

Prices based on recent sales at JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Big W, Kmart and Amazon AU. Air fryer prices fluctuate constantly — always compare before buying.

Test 1: Frozen Chips — The Australian Family Staple

The frozen chip test: the single most important benchmark for any Australian air fryer.

Let's be honest — this is the test that matters most. If you're buying an air fryer in Australia, you're buying it to make chips. Everything else is a bonus.

The Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer won this test convincingly. The dual-zone design means you can cook a full family-sized batch across both drawers, and the chips came out evenly golden with a proper crunch. The Kmart Anko produced decent chips too — slightly less even, with a few pale spots — but at $89, genuinely hard to complain.

The Philips 5000 XXL produced the most consistently golden chips, but the smaller capacity means you're doing two batches for a family of five. When you're trying to get dinner on the table by 6pm, that extra 15 minutes matters.

Test 2: Crumbed Chicken Schnitzel

The schnitzel test separated the premium models from the budget ones. The Philips 5000 XXL with its steam function produced a schnitzel that was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and genuinely restaurant-quality. The steam injection makes a noticeable difference — it's not just marketing.

The Ninja XXXL came close, with excellent crumb texture, though the chicken was slightly drier. The Kmart Anko produced a serviceable schnitzel but the crumb coating was uneven — crispy on top, slightly soggy underneath. You need to flip halfway, which the instructions don't mention.

Test 3: Whole Roast Chicken — The Sunday Dinner Test

The Sunday roast test — can an air fryer genuinely replace your oven for a whole chicken?

This is where things got interesting. The Philips 5000 XXL absolutely nailed it — a 1.5kg chicken came out with golden, crispy skin and perfectly cooked meat in 55 minutes. The steam function kept the breast meat moist, which is usually where air fryer chickens fall apart.

The Ninja XXXL handled the chicken well too, though the dual-zone design means you're using just one drawer for a whole chook. The Kmart Anko couldn't fit a whole chicken — at 5.3L, it's just too small. We managed a butterflied half-chicken, which was... fine.

The Ninja Double Stack XL surprised us here. Despite its compact footprint, the stacked design gave enough vertical space for a small chicken, and the result was genuinely good.

Test 4: Reheating Last Night's Pizza

Every air fryer handled this well — it's frankly the one thing they all do brilliantly. Leftover Domino's went from sad and soggy to crispy-based and melty-topped in 4 minutes across all five models. If you're still using a microwave to reheat pizza, please stop. Any air fryer — even the $89 Kmart one — will change your leftover pizza life.

Test 5: Roast Veggies — Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, and the Aussie Classics

Roast pumpkin and sweet potato are non-negotiable in this household. The Ninja XXXL won this round — the dual-zone let me cook pumpkin at 190°C in one drawer and sweet potato at 200°C in the other. Both came out perfectly caramelised with crispy edges.

The Philips Essential (the compact $179 model) actually produced beautiful roast veggies — the smaller basket means better air circulation, which gives better caramelisation. If you're cooking for one or two, this little machine punches well above its weight.

Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer — Best for Families

The dual-zone Ninja is a game-changer for weeknight dinners. Cooking chips AND chicken at different temperatures simultaneously has saved me 30 minutes every night. If you cook for 4+ people, this is the one.

Where to buy: JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Big W, Amazon AU. Sales are frequent — rarely need to pay full RRP.

Price tip: RRP $449 but regularly on sale for ~$399 at JB Hi-Fi. We've seen it as low as $349 during Click Frenzy.

Philips 5000 XXL Steam — Best Build Quality

Philips build quality is noticeably better — heavier, premium feel, and everything clicks into place with satisfying precision. The steam function actually makes a difference for chicken and schnitzel. If you're cooking for 1–3 people and want the best results, this is your machine.

Where to buy: Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Myer.

Price tip: RRP $499 but frequently drops to ~$399 during sales at Harvey Norman. EOFY sales are your best bet.

Ninja Double Stack XL — Best for Small Kitchens

Small kitchen? The Ninja Double Stack's vertical design takes up half the bench space of traditional dual-zone models.

If your kitchen bench is already crowded (and whose isn't?), the Double Stack is clever. It goes up instead of out, giving you dual-zone cooking in roughly the footprint of a single-basket model.

Where to buy: JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Big W, Amazon AU.

Price tip: RRP around $349 but regularly drops to ~$299 at Big W and Amazon AU.

Philips Essential — Best Compact

The Philips Essential is the best compact air fryer you can buy. If you're a couple, a uni student, or you just want a small second air fryer for sides, it punches well above its weight at $179.

Where to buy: Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Amazon AU.

Price tip: Regularly drops to ~$149 during sales. At that price, it's an impulse buy.

Kmart Anko 5.3L Digital — Best Budget Entry

The Kmart air fryer is fine. Not great, not terrible — fine. For $89, it makes solid chips. The basket coating started showing wear after 6 weeks, which the Ninja and Philips didn't. But if you're not sure whether you'll actually use an air fryer, spending $89 to find out is a lot better than spending $400.

Where to buy: Kmart stores and online, also at Target.

Price tip: It's $89 — just buy it. If you love air frying, upgrade later. If you don't, you're only out $89.

Air Fryer Pro Tips From 8 Weeks of Testing

Never pay RRP. Air fryers go on sale constantly. JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and The Good Guys run promotions almost monthly. Set an OzBargain alert and wait.

Price match everything. JB Hi-Fi will match The Good Guys, Harvey Norman, and sometimes Amazon AU. Walk in with the competitor's price on your phone.

If you cook for 4+ people, spend the extra $200–300. You'll make it back in saved takeaway within a month. The dual-zone Ninja has genuinely reduced our Uber Eats orders.

Don't overcrowd the basket. This is the number one mistake. Less food = better airflow = crispier results. Two smaller batches beat one crammed one every time.

Parchment liners are worth it. $15 for 100 disposable liners from Amazon AU. They make cleanup a 30-second job instead of a 10-minute scrub. Life-changing.