Ninja SP351 vs SP301 Air Fryer: Key Differences, Pros & Cons Explained (2025)
If you love fried food but are watching your fat and calorie intake, a combination of air fryer and convection oven can be just the ticket. An air fryer is a compact appliance that uses hot air and a fan to circulate moisture-reducing hot air around your food, keeping it moist and preventing it from drying out while also giving it a crispy coating.
A convection oven is basically an ordinary oven with an extra heater element that provides even heat to cook your food more quickly and thoroughly. Combining the two appliances allows you to get the best of both worlds when cooking fried foods.
However, there are plenty of substandard models out there, so how do you know if an air fryer convection oven is right for you? Let’s take a look at Ninja Sp351 vs Sp301, latest air fryer convection ovens from Ninja and find out which one is suitable for your kitchen counter.
Ninja Foodi SP351 vs SP301: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Ninja Foodi Sp351 | Ninja Foodi Sp301 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 15.33x20.21x8.15 Inches | 15.33x20.21x8.15 Inches |
| Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Weight | 21.5 lbs | 21.5 lbs |
| Color | Silver / Black | Silver / Black |
| Cooking Functions | 13 Cooking Functions: | 13 Cooking Functions: |
| Air Fry, Sear Crisp, Rapid Bake, Frozen Pizza, Fresh Pizza, Griddle, Air Roast, Bake, Broil, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, and Reheat | Air Fry, Sear Crisp, Rapid Bake, Frozen Pizza, Fresh Pizza, Griddle, Air Roast, Bake, Broil, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, and Reheat | |
| Cooking Capacity | 2 lb Roast, 6 Chicken Breasts, Air Fry 4 lb ingredients, 12 Inch Pizza | 2 lb Roast, 6 Chicken Breasts, Air Fry 4 lb ingredients, 12 Inch Pizza |
| Smart Thermometer | Yes | No |
| Control Panel | Digital Display, Touch Screen and Dial | Digital Display, Touch Screen and Dial |
| Rack Position | 3 | 3 |
| Preheat Time | 60 Sec | 60 Sec |
| Temperature Range | 500F Max | 500F Max |
| Nonstick Interior | Yes | Yes |
| Oven Light | Yes | Yes |
| PTFE & PFOA Free | Yes | Yes |
| Accessories | Air Fry basket, non-stick Sear Plate, Wire rack, Removable crumb tray, & Foodi Smart Thermometer | Air Fry Basket, Nonstick Sear Plate, Wire Rack, Removable Crumb Tray |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited Warranty | 1 Year Limited Warranty |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7/5 Star | 4.7/5 Star |
| Price | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Key Difference Between Ninja SP351 and SP301 Air Fryer Convection Ovens
The primary difference between the Ninja SP351 and SP301 is the inclusion of the Foodi Smart Thermometer. The SP351 is equipped with a smart temperature probe that ensures precise cooking by automatically tracking internal temperatures for perfect doneness. In contrast, the SP301 does not include this feature.
Aside from the smart thermometer, both models are virtually identical in design, cooking functions, and overall performance. In the following section, we’ll take a closer look at the core features shared by both convection ovens.
- DUAL HEAT TECHNOLOGY: The up to 500°F directly heated SearPlate and up to 500°F rapid cyclonic air work together to allow you to sear and crisp at the same time.
- MAXIMUM VERSATILITY: 13 Functions include Air Fry, Sear Crisp, Rapid Bake, Frozen Pizza, Fresh Pizza, Griddle, Air Roast, Bake, Broil, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, and Reheat in an all-in-one, powerful, 1800-watt appliance.
Construction & Design
By Smart ovens, we mean two things now a days: ovens that automatically cook prepared meals and ovens that are intelligent enough to cook a wide range of meals in a variety of settings. After testing the Ninja Sp351 and Sp301 for a couple of days, we came to the conclusion that the Ninja ovens are leaders of smart ovens. They do it all!
You will notice the large size of Ninja Sp351 and Sp301 when you take these bad boys out of the box also, they have identical dimensions and construction design. Constructed from durable stainless steel, both the Ninja SP351 and SP301 have dimensions of 15.33 x 20.2 x 8.15 inches and weigh approximately 21.5 pounds.
- DUAL HEAT TECHNOLOGY: The up to 500°F directly heated SearPlate and up to 500°F rapid cyclonic air work together to allow you to sear and crisp at the same time.
- INCREASED HEIGHT: Increased height capacity vs. the original Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven. Fits a full 2-lb roast.
The controls are easily the most intuitive we have come across on any air fryer convection ovens. The large size digital display, touch screen buttons and a turning dial is something that anybody can understand and operate with ease.
Ninja Foodi Sp351 and Sp301 feature silver exterior with black accents. It will fit perfectly on most kitchen counters no matter what the kitchen theme is. Most probably it will outshine any other appliances on your countertop.
Versatility
Loaded with 13 amazing cooking programs and a premium look, Ninja Sp351 and Sp301 are versatile enough to serve as your main oven. If you can manage without rotisserie and stage cooking, you can’t find better value than this.
Here is the complete list of cooking functions and programs you could find on Ninja Sp351 and Sp301 convection ovens.
>> Sear Crisp, Air Fry, Griddle, Rapid Bake, Fresh Pizza, Frozen Pizza, Toast, Bagel, Air Roast, Bake, Broil, Reheat, and Dehydrate
Flip and Store
Ninja Sp351 vs Sp301 boast of great space saving and minimalist design which is especially design for small kitchens, apartments and dorms. The flip up design immediately reduces 50% space required to store the appliance on the counter and also, the accessories can easily be stored inside.
Once cooking cycle is over, let the oven cool down, flip it up and store away to spare all the space you need for other cooking tasks.
The minimalist design does not compromise on its capacity to cook large batches of meals. It can easily accommodate a 2-pound roast, 6 chicken breasts, air fry 4 pounds of ingredients and a 12-13” pizza.
Dual Heating Technology
The combination of SearPlate and convection fan replicate dual heating technology to cook restaurant quality delicious recipes in effortlessly. It gives you the ability to sear tuna to perfect doneness, make loaded grilled cheese sandwich and more.
Reheating leftover pizza gives it a fresh crisp that is hard to achieve in a regular microwave oven. Try grilled open faced roast beef and provolone sandwiches and thank us later.
Cleaning
Before the innovative nonstick coating, it used to be pain to clean pots and pans especially with burnt and stubborn stuck on food residue which is not the case anymore.
Most ovens come with nonstick coated accessories which doesn’t let the food stick to the surface and make cleaning a real pain. Simply soak in soapy water and clean it off with a soft piece of cloth. In some cases, accessories are dishwasher safe but Ninja Sp351 and Sp301 comes with accessories which aren’t dishwasher safe which is not so bad as we have seen dishwashers ruining the Teflon coating in a few months.
Hand-washing actually can increase the shelf life of Teflon or ceramic coating and also the shelf life of accessories itself. Even if the accessories are dishwasher safe I always hand-wash mine and suggest the same to our readers.
Quick Overview of Ninja SP351 Air Fry Oven
- DUAL HEAT TECHNOLOGY: The up to 500°F directly heated SearPlate and up to 500°F rapid cyclonic air work together to allow you to sear and crisp at the same time.
- MAXIMUM VERSATILITY: 13 Functions include Air Fry, Sear Crisp, Rapid Bake, Frozen Pizza, Fresh Pizza, Griddle, Air Roast, Bake, Broil, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, and Reheat in an all-in-one, powerful, 1800-watt appliance.
Pros ✅
- Powerful 1800W with efficient cooking performance
- Preheats in 60 sec and cooks 60% faster
- Impressive wide temperature range (85-500F)
- Flip up and store away to save space
- Multiple useful accessories
- Spacious interior with oven light
- Integrated temperature probe
- User-friendly interface
Cons ⚠️
- Slightly intimidating for newbies
- Hard to deep clean
- Fragile nonstick coating
Quick Overview of Ninja SP301 Air Fry Oven
- DUAL HEAT TECHNOLOGY: The up to 500°F directly heated SearPlate and up to 500°F rapid cyclonic air work together to allow you to sear and crisp at the same time.
- INCREASED HEIGHT: Increased height capacity vs. the original Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven. Fits a full 2-lb roast.
Pros ✅
- Combines 13 cooking functions in one appliance
- 60 sec preheat
- Flip up and store away
- Easy to wipe clean exterior and interior
- Cooks 60% faster than a regular oven
- Easy to follow controls
- Wide temperature range
- Versatile with impressive cooking performance
Cons ⚠️
- No integrated temperature probe
- Not dishwasher safe
- Hard to deep clean
Conclusion: Ninja Sp351 Vs Sp301 Convection Oven
Ninja Sp351 and Sp301 are complete solution for a foodie family and a small kitchen. Both take up as much space as a small microwave oven and leave enough room for other tasks such as preparing ingredients. Both can handle most cooking jobs with grace except the rotisserie.
Both Ninja Sp351 vs Sp301 have flip up and store away feature which ultimately saves space on the counter. Furthermore, their elegant and futuristic design will fit right in. In terms of cooking performance, both are second to none and offers impressive performance.
Having similar design and features, Ninja Sp351 only has one advantage over Sp301 which is the integrated temperature probe which helps you achieve precise cooking results. We hope Ninja Sp351 vs Sp301 comparison has helped you to make up your mind about your favorite Ninja convection oven.
