Why are there so many air fryer model numbers?

High sales volume has produced many near-identical variants, often differing only by a preset, display or colour. Retailers also stock exclusive versions, so the exact model at one shop may not exist at another.

Is a dual-drawer air fryer the same capacity as a single basket?

No. A dual-drawer model splits its advertised total across two baskets, so no single drawer holds the headline figure. A single-basket model of the same stated litres fits considerably more in one go.

When are air fryers cheapest in the UK?

They are discounted hard around major sale events and in January, when energy-efficient appliances are promoted heavily. Outside those periods the price is fairly stable.

Cheapest place to buy an air fryer in the UK

A category with more model numbers than there are meaningful differences between them.

Updated 3 September 2026 · 2 min read

Why this category is so hard to compare

Air fryers sell in enormous volume, which has produced an enormous number of near-identical models. A single manufacturer may list a dozen variants differing only in a preset, a display, or a colour, each with its own model number and its own price.

The practical effect is the same one you get with televisions: the exact model at one shop frequently does not exist at another, so there is no like-for-like comparison to make. The difference is that with air fryers the variants really are close to identical, so the closest sibling is usually a fair comparison.

Capacity is measured in more than one way

This is the trap that costs people money. A dual-drawer model advertising a total capacity splits that figure across two baskets, so no single drawer holds anything like the headline number. A single-basket model of the same stated litres holds considerably more in one go.

Worse, some capacities are measured to the very top of the basket rather than to a usable fill level. Two fryers with the same number on the box can differ noticeably in what they actually cook.

What actually drives the price

Drawer configuration. Single, dual, or oven-style. This is the real dividing line and it matters more than brand.
Brand tier. The premium names carry a genuine premium, and the mechanism inside a budget model is not that different. Where you notice the difference is build, noise and how long the coating lasts.
Seasonality. This category is discounted hard around major sale events and in January, when energy-saving appliances are heavily promoted.
Retailer-exclusive bundles with racks, liners or recipe books, which make direct price comparison harder without adding much.

Before you buy

Decide single-basket or dual-drawer before looking at any price.
Note the full model number and search it, then search the range to find the siblings.
Check the drawer dimensions, not just the litre figure.
Compare the closest sibling models across retailers — with near-identical variants that is a fair comparison.