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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• SharkNinja IG651 — biggest strength: It is a 7-in-1 indoor grill and griddle combo with a 500°F independently powered grill grate, a 12" flat top, and a Foodi Smart Thermometer that hits 4 protein settings and 9 doneness levels. That is a lot of capability in one machine.
• SharkNinja IG651 — biggest trade-off: It is heavy at 27.5 pounds and physically wide (17.4"W), so it wants real counter or storage space. It is also a grill-forward appliance, not a dedicated basket air fryer.
• Generic 6 — biggest strength: It is a straightforward 6-quart basket air fryer at 1800 watts with a see-through glass window, a cooking probe, a water atomizer, and dishwasher-safe removable parts. Light at 15.4 pounds.
• Generic 6 — biggest trade-off: It does not grill or sear the way a direct-heat grate does. Its versatility comes from air-frying, broiling, baking, defrosting and dehydrating — not from open-flame-style char.
• Who each pick is for: Pick SharkNinja IG651 if you cook for a family and want grill marks, pancakes and air-crisped fries from one unit. Pick Generic 6 if you want a lighter, easier everyday air fryer that fits tighter spaces.
The IG651 is built around the idea that one appliance should replace several. Its headline feature is a 500°F independently powered grill grate that heats directly edge-to-edge, so you get real searing rather than a bake-and-hope approximation. It uses 1750 watts, runs on 120 volts, and offers 5 power levels with a 5998 BTU heating output. That is a grill-first design, and it shows in the cooking method: electric contact grilling and griddling.
Then there is the 12" flat top BBQ griddle. It interlocks with the grate to borrow its direct high heat, and the temperature controls are precise enough to avoid hot and cold spots. That means pancakes, sandwiches, nachos and seared proteins all live on the same surface. You can cook with the hood down for cyclonic air that crisps and melts, or hood up for direct bottom-heat searing.
Capacity is the other reason people look at this model. The grate fits six steaks plus sides at once, and the griddle handles a whole platter of nachos, four sandwiches or six pancakes. Add the 4-quart crisper basket and you can air crisp with up to 75% less fat than deep frying, based on testing against hand-cut deep-fried fries. Seven functions cover Grill, BBQ Griddle, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil and Dehydrate.
Who should buy it: anyone feeding a household, anyone who wants grill marks indoors, and anyone who wants a smart thermometer to remove the guesswork from steak, chicken or pork. The Smart Cook System Plus Thermometer gives you 4 smart protein settings and 9 customizable doneness levels from rare to well.
Generic 6: Who It's For
The Generic 6 takes the opposite approach. It is a 6-quart basket-style smart air fryer that weighs 15.4 pounds and measures roughly 10.59"D x 14.65"W x 15.67"H — a tall, compact footprint that suits smaller kitchens. It runs at 1800 watts on 120 volts, and the brand's stated pitch is fast, even cooking with reduced energy use and shorter cook times.
The features are practical rather than theatrical. A see-through glass window lets you monitor food without pulling the basket out, which matters more than it sounds when you are trying not to lose heat. A cooking probe and a water atomizer round out the "smart" side of the name, and the appliance covers broiling, baking, defrosting, air frying and dehydrating. There is also a BBQ grill rack listed among its special features, so it can do a little more than pure air frying.
Controls are touch-based, which keeps the front panel clean, and all removable parts are dishwasher safe. That last point is the quiet hero here — cleanup is often what decides whether an air fryer gets used on a Tuesday night or sits idle.
The brand describes two modes: a Chef Mode for meals you want to nail with minimal effort, and a Probe Mode for when you want hands-on control. The marketing language claims the smart algorithm breaks cooking into precise steps to optimize flavor, texture and aroma. Take that framing as brand copy rather than proven performance, but the underlying hardware — probe plus atomizer plus glass window — is a sensible combination for anyone who wants guidance without babysitting.
Who should buy it: singles, couples, small families, and anyone who wants a lighter air fryer with a compact footprint and easy cleanup. It also suits people who bake and dehydrate more than they grill.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants genuine searing, griddle cooking or the ability to cook six steaks at once. The 6-quart capacity and plastic body point to a different job. If char and surface area are your priority, this is not the machine for that.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for griddle cooking → SharkNinja IG651. The 12" flat top handles pancakes, sandwiches and nachos, and interlocks with the grate for direct heat.
• Best for smart doneness control on proteins → SharkNinja IG651. Four smart protein settings and nine doneness levels from rare to well.
• Best for family-sized capacity → SharkNinja IG651. Six steaks plus sides on the grate, or six pancakes on the griddle.
• Best for lighter weight and smaller kitchens → Generic 6. At 15.4 pounds with a tall, narrow footprint, it is far easier to move and store.
• Best for monitoring without opening the basket → Generic 6. The see-through glass window is a genuinely useful everyday convenience.
• Best for simple everyday air frying, baking and dehydrating → Generic 6. Five functions, touch controls and dishwasher-safe removable parts.
• Best for air frying with less fat → SharkNinja IG651. The 4-quart crisper basket is rated for air crisping with up to 75% less fat than deep frying.
In my opinion, the SharkNinja IG651 is the stronger pick if "best smart air fryer" to you means one appliance that can actually grill, griddle and air-crisp — and do it for a family. The Smart Thermometer plus the 500°F grate plus the 12" flat top is a combination the Generic 6 simply cannot match on capability. I would choose the IG651 for a household that cooks real meals indoors year-round.
But I would not talk anyone out of the Generic 6. It is lighter, more compact, easier to store, and its glass window, probe and atomizer make everyday cooking simpler. If your cooking is mostly fries, wings, reheated leftovers and the occasional bake, it covers that well. If you are weighing cost, check the current price on Amazon before deciding — that is the one variable that can flip this call.
FAQ
what is the best smart air fryer
what is the best smart oven air fryer
Neither of these is a full oven, so it helps to be precise about what they are. The SharkNinja IG651 is a 7-in-1 indoor grill and griddle combo that also air crisps, roasts, bakes, broils and dehydrates. The Generic 6 is a 6-quart basket air fryer that also broils, bakes, defrosts and dehydrates. If you want the closest thing to oven-style versatility here, the IG651 covers more functions and more surface area.
how to use smart home air fryer
On the Generic 6, load the basket, close it, and use the touch controls to pick air fry, broil, bake, defrost or dehydrate — then watch through the glass instead of opening it. The probe and water atomizer are there for guided cooking and moisture control. On the SharkNinja IG651, you choose Grill, BBQ Griddle or Air Crisp, set the hood up or down depending on whether you want direct searing or cyclonic crisping, and insert the Smart Thermometer to hit your target doneness.
what brand is best for air fryer
That is a matter of what you value, not a fact. SharkNinja builds the IG651 around a powered grill grate, a flat top griddle and a smart thermometer — a grill-first, family-capacity approach. Generic builds the 6-quart model around a compact basket format with a glass window, probe and atomizer at a lighter 15.4 pounds. In my opinion, pick the brand whose design matches how you actually cook, then check the current price on Amazon.
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See also: SharkNinja Crispi Glass Air vs Generic 5.8: Best Air Fryer, SharkNinja Air Fryer XL vs Generic 6‑Quart: Best Air Fryer, EUROSTAR EAF481R vs Generic 2.2: Best Air Fryer for Dorm