Ninja Grill vs Air Fryer MAX: the smarter buy for UK kitchens

Display

Neither of these machines has a flashy touchscreen in the sense of a modern smart appliance; both are practical countertop cookers built for fast, reliable use rather than showy interfaces. The AF160UK is the more straightforward digital air fryer, with a cleaner purpose-built control layout that makes everyday cooking feel easier. The AG301UK is also simple to operate, but its grill-first identity means the interface is more about switching between modes than giving you a super-streamlined air-fryer experience. Winner: Product B, because its digital air-fryer setup is more immediately intuitive for most users.

Performance

This is where the two products really diverge. The AG301UK uses Cyclonic Air Technology and adds a proper grill function, which makes it the better choice if you want char marks on chicken, burgers, halloumi, or vegetables. Its 5-in-1 design covers Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Roast, and Dehydrate, and that grill plate gives it a genuine edge for meat lovers and anyone who wants a more barbecue-like finish indoors. The AF160UK, meanwhile, focuses on air frying and crisping, with 6-in-1 functions including Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. For chips, frozen snacks, roast veg, and quick weeknight meals, the AF160UK is excellent and arguably more versatile in day-to-day use because the Max Crisp and Reheat functions are genuinely useful. Winner: Product A for grilling performance and overall cooking drama; Product B for everyday air-fry convenience.

Build quality and design

Both are Ninja products, so both should feel solid, durable, and sensibly engineered rather than flimsy. The AG301UK is the larger, more appliance-like machine, and that makes sense because it includes a grill plate and a more complex cooking chamber. It will suit a kitchen where the cooker can live on the worktop and earn its keep as a multifunction machine. The AF160UK is more compact and easier to place in a typical UK kitchen where counter space is at a premium, especially in flats or smaller family kitchens. It also has the advantage of a dishwasher-safe basket, which supports the simple, low-fuss design philosophy. Winner: Product B, because it is the more practical fit for most UK worktops and daily use.

Battery life

Neither product runs on battery power, so this category doesn’t really apply in the conventional sense. What matters instead is cooking capacity and how efficiently each machine handles family portions. The AG301UK has a 5.7L capacity, while the AF160UK comes in at 5.2L. That slightly larger capacity gives the AG301UK a small edge for batch cooking and larger portions, especially if you want to grill and air fry in one appliance. Winner: Product A, narrowly, for capacity and flexibility.

Price and value for money

This is the clearest win on the page. At £215.99, the AG301UK costs £116.99 more than the AF160UK, which is priced at £99.00. Both have the same impressive 4.8/5 rating, but the AF160UK has far more reviews: 11,874 versus 3,083. That suggests a much broader real-world user base and strong confidence from buyers over time. Unless you specifically want the grill function, the AF160UK delivers exceptional value and is far easier to justify for most households. Winner: Product B, decisively.

Game library/features

Interpreting this as cooking modes and feature set, the AG301UK offers 5-in-1 cooking with a standout Grill mode, plus Bake, Roast, Dehydrate, and Air Fry. The AF160UK offers 6-in-1 cooking: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The AF160UK wins on sheer feature count and practical usefulness because Max Crisp and Reheat are everyday wins for frozen food and leftovers. But the AG301UK wins if you value the grill function specifically, because no amount of extra air-fryer modes replaces the ability to sear and grill properly in one countertop appliance. Winner: tie overall, with Product A winning for grill lovers and Product B winning for broader everyday utility.

Overall user experience

The AG301UK feels like the more exciting kitchen upgrade if you love cooking from scratch and want that indoor grill experience without firing up the oven or barbecue. It is the better machine for steaks, burgers, kebabs, and anyone who wants more than just crisping. The AF160UK is the better all-rounder for most people: cheaper, simpler, highly rated, and backed by a much larger review pool. It is the one I’d recommend to the majority of UK buyers who want crispy chips, roast chicken pieces, frozen food done fast, and easy cleanup with minimal fuss.

Overall summary: if you want the most versatile cooking experience and will genuinely use the grill, buy the AG301UK. If you want the best-value Ninja air fryer for everyday family cooking, buy the AF160UK. For most homes, the AF160UK is the smarter purchase, but the AG301UK is the better specialist machine.