Ninja DZ201 vs DZ550: which DualZone air fryer should you buy?
Both are Ninja dual-basket air fryers with the same power, the same temperature range and the same Smart Finish and Match Cook functions. What separates them is the size of each basket, the DZ550's probe thermometer and how much they cost.
Quick answer
Pick the DZ201 if there are up to 4 or 5 of you: two 4 qt baskets, a higher Amazon rating (4.8 from 25,000 reviews) and one price tier lower.
Pick the DZ550 if there are 5 or 6 of you, you cook meat often and want to nail the doneness without watching it (it has a probe and shuts off on its own), and your counter has 17 inches of free depth.
| Spec |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 8 qt (7.6 L) | 10 qt (9.5 L)best |
| Baskets | 2 | 2 |
| Fits a whole chicken | Yes | Yes |
| Power | 1690 W | 1690 W |
| Temperature range | 105 – 450 °F | 105 – 450 °F |
| Presets | 6 | 6 |
| Controls | Digital, buttons | Digital, buttons |
| Mobile app | No | No |
| Viewing window | No | No |
| Basket | Two 4 qt nonstick baskets + two crisper plates | Two 5 qt nonstick baskets + two crisper plates, dishwasher safe |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 17.9 lbbest | 19.8 lb |
| Counter footprint | 15.6 x 13.9 inbest | 13.9 x 17.1 in |
| Warranty | 1 year(s) | 1 year(s) |
| Amazon rating | 4.8 ★best | 4.6 ★ |
| Amazon reviews | 25,013best | 6,139 |
| Price tier | Gama alta | Premium |
| Our scores | ||
| Capacity (0-10) | 10 | 10 |
| Power (0-10) | 10 | 10 |
| Versatility (0-10) | 10 | 10 |
| Ease of use (0-10) | 6 | 6 |
| Compact size (0-10) | 1 | 1 |
| Value for money (0-10) | 6best | 4 |
| Buy | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Specs from the manufacturer and ratings from Amazon.com; the 0-10 scores are ours and relative to the catalog. our testing and scoring method.
Capacity: two 4 qt baskets vs two 5 qt baskets
The DZ201 adds up to 8 qt (7.6 L) across two 4 qt baskets; the DZ550, 10 qt (9.5 L) across two 5 qt ones. With the DZ201 you can do up to 4 lb of fries or wings and a small chicken in one zone. The DZ550 gives one more serving per basket, which is exactly what is missing when there are five or six of you or when you cook for the whole week.
Both are 1,690 W, go from 105 to 450 °F and have 6 presets. We score them the same on power and versatility.
The DZ550's thermometer
It is the one feature the DZ201 lacks. You put the probe in the meat, choose one of 4 doneness levels and the air fryer stops on its own when it gets there. If you cook chicken, pork or red meat often, it saves the most annoying part of air frying: opening the basket to check.
Counter footprint: watch the depth
Neither is small. The DZ201 measures 15.6 × 13.9 inches and weighs 17.9 lb; the DZ550 is narrower (13.9 inches) but much deeper (17.1 inches) and weighs 19.8 lb. It fits on a standard 24-inch-deep counter, but with little room in front. Measure before you buy.
Price and ratings
The DZ201 sits in the upper tier of our catalog and the DZ550 in the premium tier. We do not quote figures because they change every week; check the day's price on Amazon. On reviews, the DZ201 has more and a better score: 4.8 from about 25,000, against 4.6 from about 6,100 for the DZ550. That is why the DZ201 scores better for value (6 vs 4).
Where to buy them
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Ninja DZ201 and the DZ550?
The DZ550 has bigger baskets (2 × 5 qt vs 2 × 4 qt) and a probe thermometer that stops cooking at the target doneness. Power, temperatures and presets are the same.
Which is better for a family of 4?
The DZ201: it has more than enough capacity for four, takes less depth and is one price tier lower.
Does the DZ550 fit on a normal counter?
It is 17.1 inches deep. It fits on a standard 24-inch counter, but with little room in front.
Do both have Smart Finish?
Yes. Both sync the baskets so they finish together and copy settings from one to the other with Match Cook.
Add a third one in the comparison tool
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