ConsFirst / Air fryers / Compare
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro vs Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook Air Fryer
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on capacity, build & durability. Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook Air Fryer wins on easy cleaning.
The biggest complaint about the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is very expensive; for the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook Air Fryer it's plastic or chemical smell. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro | Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook Air Fryer | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in air fryers | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | Oven-style | Basket |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 9% | 5% |
| Overall score | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| Crispiness | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Capacity | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Ease of use | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Easy cleaning | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Quietness | 2.5 | — |
| Build & durability | 3.0 | 2.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $80 · $$ $80–150 · $$$ over $150. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
- Very expensive
Wirecutter calls it very expensive and says a cheaper Cuisinart gets similar results more slowly. Value for money is mixed on Amazon, with some owners saying it isn't worth the high price.
- Durability: shattered glass, failed elements
Durability is a negative aspect in Amazon's review summary (413 mentions), citing glass doors shattering and heating elements breaking.
- Uneven toast, hot exterior, loud fan
Wirecutter, Serious Eats and Tom's Guide all found it toasts less evenly than the best options. Tom's Guide notes the exterior gets hot, and Wirecutter calls the super-convection fan loud.
Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook Air Fryer
- Plastic or chemical smell
Odor is the most-mentioned negative in Amazon's review summary, with owners saying food can smell and taste like plastic. Several 1-star Walmart reviews say the smell lingered even after repeated burn-in runs.
- Breaks after about a year
Amazon's summary says multiple customers report it breaking after a year of use. Walmart reviewers describe dead units just past the 1-year warranty, broken basket handles, and no replacement parts.
- Forced preheat and awkward handle
Shop TODAY notes you must preheat and that some food drops through the tray. Serious Eats found the angled handle awkward to hold.
Source: Shop TODAY, Serious Eats
Who should pick which
Pick the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro if
Replacing both a toaster oven and an air fryer
Cooking for 4-6 or on a 9x13 pan
Roasting and baking
Skip it if: You only air-fry occasionally; You have little counter space; You want perfect toast
Pick the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook Air Fryer if
Watching food cook without opening the drawer
Families of 3-4
Easy dial controls
Skip it if: You are sensitive to plastic smells; You want something that lasts years with spare parts available; You hate preheat cycles
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