More than one Italian in two now has an air fryer, this is certified by Altroconsumo, which in the annual survey conducted on the most reliable brands reports a figure that says it all about the speed of the phenomenon: 57% of those who own the appliance have bought it in the last two years. A young market, in short, although already mature enough to have winners and losers.
How judgment arises
The final score of each brand comes from four ingredients weighed differently: 45% comes from the results of laboratory tests, 25% from the reliability index, 20% from consumer satisfaction, the remaining 10% from the percentage of products that achieve excellent quality. To arrive at these numbers, Altroconsumo cross-referenced over 11 thousand evaluations collected among Euroconsumers members in nine European countries, added to laboratory tests conducted on 137 models between June 2024 and May 2026.
Philips in first place
The 2026 ranking places Philips in first place. The Dutch brand reaches the top not so much for a single exceptional result, but for the balance, given the good scores in laboratory tests, the excellent reliability and the general satisfaction expressed by those who usually use it. In short, a mix of factors that other brands struggle to replicate.
Behind Philips are Cosori, Ninja and Moulinex, with close overall scores. However, each one has its strong point: Ninja records the highest reliability index in the ranking, a sign of products that break less often. Cosori, on the other hand, convinces above all those who already have it at home, with the best satisfaction index among the four brands. Moulinex closes the narrow podium, penalized by a lower average in laboratory tests compared to its competitors.
Bosch, Cecotec, Princess, Ardes, Ariete and Xiaomi remain outside the official ranking: not so much for who knows what demerits, but only because Altroconsumo requires at least five models tested per brand before drawing up a judgement, and these brands do not reach this threshold.
What breaks most often
The basket remains the Achilles heel of almost every air fryer. 3% of owners complain about the loss of the non-stick coating, while faulty handles and buttons concern 2% of those interviewed each. Small numbers, but not negligible when talking about an appliance that touches food every day.
The real problem, however, is the duration, which is laughable, given that an air fryer lasts on average 4 years and 10 months, compared to 10 years and 2 months for a traditional oil fryer. The gap is striking, but should be read with caution: the category is too young to have a reliable history, and the data is destined to change as the product park ages. When an appliance breaks down, in 40% of cases the owner replaces it because repairing it is no longer worthwhile; another 34% simply switch to a newer model.
