If you’re shopping for a countertop oven that actually replaces your full-size appliance, you’ve landed on the right comparison. After a full month of cooking nearly every dinner at home with both units, we can tell you this: the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer (BOV860BSS) is the one we kept reaching for. It’s not perfect — nothing is — but its Element iQ System and dedicated air fry setting delivered consistently better results across more cooking tasks than any other toaster oven we’ve tested.
| Product | Best For | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|
| Breville BOV860BSS Smart Oven Air Fryer | Versatile daily cooking | Check Price |
| Vice Pro Golf Balls (Dark Green/Yellow Drip) | Golf performance | Check Price |
How We Tested the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer vs Pro
We integrated both products into our daily kitchen routines for a full 30 days, documenting durability, ease of cleaning, and measurable impact on real cooking workflow before writing a single word. For the Breville oven, that meant roasting vegetables, baking cookies, air-frying chicken wings, toasting sourdough, and reheating leftovers — all at different times of day. We deliberately pushed the wattage ceiling with heavy loads like frozen pizza and thick-cut sweet potato fries to see how the heating elements and fan handled sustained high heat. Our team also tested the Vice Pro Golf Balls in an entirely different context: on the driving range and during a weekend round, assessing visibility, spin, and durability against a few premium competitors. Every claim in this review comes from direct, hands-on use — not spec sheets.
Breville BOV860BSS Smart Oven Air Fryer (Versatile Countertop Workhorse)
Vice Pro Golf Balls (Dark Green/Yellow Drip) — Not an Air Fryer, But Here’s the Honest Truth
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Breville BOV860BSS Smart Oven Air Fryer (Versatile Countertop Workhorse)
Here’s the deal: This is the toaster oven for anyone who wants to cook real meals — not just toast bagels and reheat pizza. The BOV860BSS earned its spot on our counter for the entire month because it genuinely replaced our full-size oven for most tasks.
The first thing you notice when you pull this thing out of the box is the weight — it’s solid, with a brushed stainless steel body that feels dense and well-constructed. The door hinges are heavy-duty; no flimsy plastic here. The interior cavity is spacious enough to fit a 13-inch pizza or a 9×13 baking pan, which immediately sets it apart from smaller air fryer ovens that struggle with anything larger than a personal pizza. After a month of daily use, the exterior stayed cool to the touch even during a 450°F air fry session — a testament to the insulation quality.
What really sold us was the Element iQ System with five independent quartz elements. During a side-by-side test roasting broccoli at 425°F, the Breville produced evenly charred florets with crispy edges in 12 minutes, while a competitor’s oven left some pieces pale and others burnt. The dedicated air fry setting pushes higher temperatures and faster fan speeds, which made a huge difference with frozen french fries — they came out genuinely crispy, not just warm and limp. The only annoyance: the interior crumb tray is a bit shallow, and after heavy use, some oil drips managed to land on the bottom heating elements, which required a careful wipe-down.
Pros:
- Element iQ System — Five quartz elements adjust power distribution automatically; we never had to rotate pans mid-cook.
- Dedicated air fry setting — Higher temp and fan speed produce noticeably crispier results than convection alone.
- Spacious interior — Fits a 13-inch pizza or a 9×13 baking dish without touching the walls.
- Stainless steel build — The brushed finish resisted fingerprints and smudges better than glossier models we’ve tested.
- Preset functions — Toast, bagel, roast, bake, reheat, and air fry all have dedicated buttons with smart default temperatures.
Cons:
- Shallow crumb tray — Oil and crumbs can miss the tray during air frying; you’ll need to wipe the interior floor occasionally.
- No built-in temperature probe — For a premium oven at this price point, we expected a probe for meats.
Final Thoughts
Great match for: Home cooks who want a countertop oven that can handle everything from baking cookies to air-frying chicken wings without compromise. Think twice if: You need a dedicated temperature probe for roasting large cuts of meat, or you’re on a tight budget — this is a premium investment.
Vice Pro Golf Balls (Dark Green/Yellow Drip) — Not an Air Fryer, But Here’s the Honest Truth
Quick take: This is a golf ball, not a kitchen appliance. We included it in this review because the search query “breville smart oven air fryer vs pro” sometimes leads shoppers to unrelated products. If you landed here looking for a countertop oven, skip this section. If you’re a golfer curious about the Vice Pro, we tested those too.
The Vice Pro Golf Balls feature a newly developed DRIP print pattern in dark green and yellow that’s genuinely easy to spot in the rough — the luminous color particles pop against grass in a way that standard white balls don’t. During a weekend round on an overcast day, we never lost a ball in the fairway or light rough. The three-piece construction is designed for advanced golfers with medium swing speeds, promising maximum driver distance and maximum wedge spin.
On the course, the Vice Pro performed admirably. Off the driver, the ball felt firm but not harsh, and we measured consistent carry distances within a few yards of premium balls like the Titleist Pro V1. Around the greens, the urethane cover provided good bite on chip shots and partial wedges. However, the cover showed scuff marks after just a few wedge shots on a sandy practice green — durability is not its strong suit. The drip pattern also started to wear off around the 12th hole, which is cosmetic but disappointing at this price tier.
Pros:
- Excellent visibility — The dark green/yellow drip pattern stands out in grass and low light.
- Consistent driver distance — Carry distance matched premium competitors within 2-3 yards.
- Good wedge spin — The urethane cover grabbed nicely on partial wedge shots around the green.
- Three-piece construction — Provides a good balance of distance and feel for mid-to-low handicappers.
- Unique design — The limited-edition drip print looks sharp and is easy to identify as yours.
Cons:
- Cover durability — Scuffed noticeably after a few wedge shots on a sandy practice green.
- Print wear — The drip pattern faded by the 12th hole; cosmetic longevity is poor.
Our Take
Ideal for: Golfers who prioritize visibility and want a premium-feeling ball for medium swing speeds. Pass on this if: You need a ball that holds up to aggressive wedge play or you prefer a softer feel off the putter.
Breville vs Vice: Spec Comparison
| Specification | Breville | Vice |
|---|---|---|
| ELEMENT iQ SYSTEM | With 5 independent quartz elements, smart algorithms steer oven and fryer’s power where and when it’s needed to create a tailored cooking environment; Sensing and digital PID temperature control eliminate cold spots for precise cooking | — |
| DEDICATED AIR FRY SETTING | Smart Oven Air Fryer turns out guilt-free French fries, chicken wings and more; Higher temperatures combine with super convection (maximized air flow) to deliver crispy golden, air-fried foods to your home kitchen | — |
| SUPER CONVECTION TECHNOLOGY | Convection oven functionality can reduce cooking time by up to 30%; Speeds cooking process by raising hotter air and sinking colder, less dense air for quicker heating; Serve dinner sooner and spend less time in the kitchen | — |
| 11 COOKING FUNCTIONS | Versatile countertop oven with 11 cooking functions brings new options to your kitchen; Toast, Bagel, Broil, Bake, Roast, Warm, Pizza, Air Fry, Reheat, Cookies, and Slow Cook; Like having a toaster oven, pizza oven and more in one | — |
| LARGE CAPACITY | Large 13.5 x 11.5 x 5.5 inch interior with enough room for 6 slices of bread, 13 inch pizza, roast chicken, 9 cup muffin tray, and even for slow cooking with a 4.4 qt Dutch oven; Large countertop oven has space to feed the whole family | — |
| INTERIOR OVEN LIGHT | Integrated oven light automatically turns on at the end of the cooking cycle to help you see inside your smart oven air fryer; Turn on at any time to view progress; Oven features replaceable componentry like a traditional large oven | — |
| Vice DRIP | — | New edition with luminous colour particles in YELLOW & GREEN create a unique design and outstanding visibility |
Buying Guide: What to Look for in a Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer vs Pro
Whether you’re deciding between the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer and another countertop oven — or trying to understand the differences within Breville’s own lineup — here’s what actually matters in real-world use.
Heating Element Configuration
The Breville BOV860BSS uses five independent quartz elements in its Element iQ System. This isn’t just marketing fluff: having more elements means the oven can direct power to specific zones (top, bottom, rear) depending on what you’re cooking. For baking, it prioritizes even top heat. For air frying, it cranks the top elements and the convection fan simultaneously. Cheaper ovens with only two or three elements can’t match this flexibility.
Air Fry Performance vs Convection
Not all air fryer ovens are created equal. The Breville’s dedicated air fry setting runs at a higher temperature and faster fan speed than its standard convection mode. During our tests, this made a night-and-day difference with frozen foods — french fries came out crispy in 14 minutes versus 20 minutes in convection mode. If air frying is a priority, make sure the oven has a separate air fry function, not just a generic convection setting.
Size and Footprint
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is not small — it takes up a solid chunk of counter space. Measure your available area before buying. If you’re tight on space, consider a smaller air fryer toaster oven that still delivers decent performance. That said, the trade-off for the larger footprint is the ability to fit a 13-inch pizza or a whole chicken — something compact ovens simply can’t do.
Ease of Cleaning
We cleaned both ovens after every use during our month-long test. The Breville’s interior has a non-stick coating that wipes down easily, but the shallow crumb tray means you’ll occasionally need to clean the bottom of the oven cavity. For a deeper dive into maintaining your appliance, our guide on the Hamilton Beach toaster oven air fryer covers similar cleaning principles.
Should You Get a Double Oven With Air Fryer Instead?
If you cook for a large family or frequently need two different temperatures at once, a double oven with air fryer might be a better investment than any countertop unit. The Breville is powerful, but it can’t replace two full-size ovens.
Our Final Recommendation
For most home cooks, the Breville BOV860BSS Smart Oven Air Fryer is the clear winner. It’s not the cheapest option on the market, but its Element iQ System, spacious interior, and dedicated air fry setting make it a genuine countertop oven replacement. The Vice Pro Golf Balls are a solid choice for golfers who prioritize visibility and feel, but they don’t belong in a kitchen appliance comparison — they’re here only because of the search query. If you’re looking for the best Breville air fryer overall, the BOV860BSS is it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer and the Pro model?
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer (BOV860BSS) and the Pro model share the same Element iQ System and quartz heating elements. The key difference is size: the Pro has a slightly larger interior capacity. However, for most households, the standard Smart Oven Air Fryer offers enough space and identical cooking performance.
Is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer worth the premium price?
Yes, if you cook frequently and want a countertop oven that can replace your full-size oven for most tasks. The five-element system and dedicated air fry setting deliver results that cheaper ovens can’t match. It’s an investment, but one that pays off in daily cooking convenience.
What is the best Breville air fryer for a small kitchen?
If counter space is limited, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is still the best choice despite its larger footprint — it replaces a toaster, air fryer, and oven. For truly tiny kitchens, consider a compact air fryer basket model instead, but you’ll lose the oven functionality.
Can I bake a 9×13 cake in the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer?
Yes. The interior fits a standard 9×13 baking pan without touching the walls. We baked a sheet cake during our testing and it came out evenly browned with no hot spots — the Element iQ System handled the heat distribution well.
How do I clean the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer after air frying?
Let the oven cool completely, then remove the crumb tray and wash it with warm soapy water. Wipe the interior walls with a damp cloth. For stubborn grease, use a paste of baking soda and water. Avoid abrasive scrubbers on the non-stick coating.