Ninja is the one to buy if you cook for more than two people. Its dual-drawer machines hold nearly twice the food per litre that Philips manages, because Philips counts the whole basket volume while Ninja splits it into two usable drawers. Philips is the better buy at the small end, where its 6.2-litre model undercuts everything Ninja sells and adds a viewing window Ninja does not offer at any price.
Both carry two-year Australian warranties and both are stocked deeply at The Good Guys. The Ninja AF300 is the most-reviewed small kitchen appliance on the site's shelf, with more than 870 owner reviews.
Ninja Dual Zone AF300
Two independent 3.8-litre drawers in one 7.6-litre machine, 1670 watts, six programs and a temperature range from 40 to 240°C. The DualZone controls let you run two different programs and have both finish together, which is the feature people actually buy it for. It holds 1.8kg of chips. Owners rate it 4.8 from more than 870 reviews at The Good Guys.
It is 375mm wide and 8.3kg, and there is no window, so checking food means pulling a drawer out.
What We Like:
- Two drawers, two programs
- 1.8kg of chips
- Most-reviewed air fryer here
What We Don't Like:
- No viewing window
Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket XXL
Philips' answer to the Ninja: nine litres split unevenly into a 6-litre main drawer and a 3-litre second, 2300 watts, eight presets and a copy function that mirrors time and temperature to the second basket. It holds 1.5kg of chips and costs around $50 less than the Ninja. Owners rate it 4.8 from more than 150 reviews.
The uneven drawers are the catch. The 3-litre side handles a side dish, not a second main.
What We Like:
- Around $50 cheaper than the Ninja
- 2300W
- Copy function across baskets
What We Don't Like:
- Uneven 6L and 3L drawers
Side by side
| Ninja AF300 | Philips 3000 Dual | Philips 2000 6.2L | Ninja AF400 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $200–250 | $150–200 | $200–250 | $300–350 |
| Total capacity | 7.6L | 9L | 6.2L | 9.5L |
| Drawers | 2 × 3.8L | 6L + 3L | Single basket | 2 × 4.75L |
| Chips capacity | 1.8kg | 1.5kg | 0.8kg | 2.8kg |
| Power | 1670W | 2300W | 1700W | 1670W |
| Temperature | 40–240°C | 40–200°C | 60–200°C | 40–240°C |
| Programs | 6 | 8 | 13 | 6 |
| Viewing window | No | No | Yes | No |
| Width | 375mm | 383mm | 309mm | 415mm |
| Weight | 8.3kg | 7.9kg | 5.4kg | 8.8kg |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Owner rating | 4.8 (875) | 4.8 (157) | 4.8 (315) | 4.9 (285) |
Owner ratings are from The Good Guys, with review counts in brackets.
What actually differs
Usable capacity. This is the number that matters and the one the marketing hides. The Philips 2000 is a 6.2-litre machine that holds 800 grams of chips. The Ninja AF300 is 7.6 litres and holds 1.8kg. A single deep basket wastes its top half because air fryers need food in a shallow layer; two drawers give you twice the floor area in the same box.
Two programs at once. Both brands' dual machines can run different settings per drawer. Ninja's Sync and Match functions are the more mature implementation, and Philips' copy function only mirrors settings rather than timing two different dishes to finish together.
Temperature ceiling. Ninja reaches 240°C, Philips stops at 200°C. For chips and anything you want genuinely crisp, those 40 degrees are noticeable.
The window. Philips puts one in several models. Ninja does not, on anything. If you like watching food cook without breaking the cycle, that alone may decide it.
Presets. Philips lists 8 to 13 programs against Ninja's 6. Most owners use two or three of them whichever brand they buy.
Which to buy
Buy Ninja for a household of three or more, for chips and crisp food, and for cooking two things at once.
Buy Philips for one or two people, for a smaller bench, for the window, and if the price at the 6-litre end matters more than capacity.
For a machine that also toasts, bakes and does a 12-inch pizza, a benchtop oven is the alternative, covered in air fryer vs benchtop oven.
FAQs
Does more wattage mean crispier food?
Not directly. Philips' 2300W dual machine and Ninja's 1670W dual machine both crisp well; airflow design and how thinly you load the basket matter more. Wattage mostly affects how fast the machine reaches temperature.
Can I put foil or baking paper in either?
Yes, weighted down by food so it cannot lift into the element. Both brands' manuals allow it and both warn against covering the whole basket floor, which blocks the airflow the machine depends on.
Which is easier to clean?
Both have dishwasher-safe drawers and crisper plates. Ninja's drawers are deeper and heavier; Philips' non-stick coating drew more complaints in owner reviews across models.
