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The original Cosori Pro was one of the best-selling air fryers on Amazon for three straight years, so when Cosori released the Pro II, expectations were sky-high. After cooking over 40 different foods in two months of testing, I can tell you the upgrade is real but subtle. The Pro II doesn’t reinvent air frying. It refines everything the original did well and fixes the few things it didn’t.
Quick Verdict
Rating
8.7 / 10
Price
~$90
Best For: Everyday cooking for 2-4 people. Consistently crispy results with minimal oil and a 5.8 qt capacity that handles a full pound of wings.
Weakest At: The touchscreen panel smudges easily and can be unresponsive with wet hands.
What’s Changed From the Original Pro
Cosori didn’t do a complete redesign. Instead, they refined the heating element, upgraded the nonstick coating, and added VeSync app connectivity. The key differences:
- Improved NTC temperature sensor: More accurate internal temperature regulation means fewer hot spots. This was the original’s biggest weakness.
- Upgraded nonstick basket: The new coating resisted scratching better than the original over our 2-month test period.
- VeSync app integration: Control presets, monitor cooking remotely, and access a library of recipes from your phone.
- Shake reminder: Audible midway reminder to shake the basket for even cooking.
Cooking Performance: 5 Real-World Tests
| Food | Temp / Time | Result | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen french fries (1 lb) | 400°F / 18 min | Uniformly crispy, golden exterior | A |
| Chicken wings (1 lb) | 380°F / 24 min | Crispy skin, juicy interior, no dry spots | A+ |
| Salmon fillet (2 pieces) | 370°F / 10 min | Flaky, moist, slight browning on top | A |
| Frozen mozzarella sticks (8 pcs) | 360°F / 8 min | Golden, cheese melted, 1 leaked slightly | B+ |
| Homemade donuts (4 pcs) | 350°F / 6 min | Even browning, fluffy inside | A |
The improved NTC sensor showed its value in the chicken wing test. The original Pro sometimes produced wings that were crispy on the edges but slightly underdone near the center when the basket was full. The Pro II delivered consistent doneness across all pieces, even packed tightly.
French fries were the most dramatic improvement. The original Pro needed basket shaking twice for even results. The Pro II needed it once (the built-in reminder is perfectly timed), and the bottom fries were just as crispy as the top ones.
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Design & Build Quality
The square basket design remains one of the Cosori’s best features. It fits more food per cubic inch than round baskets, and the corners give you natural zones for different food types. The 5.8 quart capacity is genuinely useful for a family of four.
Build quality is a step up from the original. The handle has a more solid feel, the basket release mechanism is smoother, and the base has better non-slip feet. At 13 pounds, it’s neither light nor heavy for a countertop appliance.
The touchscreen panel is my one ergonomic complaint. It looks sleek, but fingerprints and oil smudges accumulate fast. With wet or greasy hands, you sometimes need two or three taps to register an input. Physical buttons would have been more practical, though less attractive.
The VeSync App: Useful or Gimmick?
Surprisingly useful. The app connects via Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz only) and lets you start, monitor, and adjust cooking from your phone. The recipe library includes over 100 one-tap presets with temperature and time settings.
The most practical feature: custom preset saving. Once you figure out the perfect temperature and time for your favorite foods, save them as one-tap presets. After two months, I had 12 custom presets and rarely used manual controls anymore.
Voice control works through Alexa and Google Assistant. “Alexa, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees” works reliably. It won’t replace the touchscreen for most people, but it’s handy when your hands are full of raw chicken.
“Cosori Pro II Air Fryer” on Amazon
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Energy Efficiency
We measured power consumption across multiple cooking sessions:
- Preheat (3 minutes to 400°F): 1,700W peak draw
- Active cooking (average over 20-min session): 1,500W
- Cost per use (20-min session at $0.15/kWh): approximately $0.075
Compared to a full-size oven, the Pro II uses roughly 75% less energy for equivalent cooking tasks. It also heats up in 3 minutes versus 10-15 for a conventional oven, saving both time and electricity.
Cleaning & Maintenance
The nonstick basket is dishwasher safe (top rack). In our experience, hand washing with warm soapy water takes about 60 seconds and preserves the coating longer. After two months of near-daily use, we saw zero coating degradation.
The heating element is exposed and easy to wipe down. Cosori recommends inverting the unit and wiping the element monthly. We did it every two weeks and never had smoke or odor issues.
What We Like
- Consistent, even cooking with improved NTC sensor
- Square basket maximizes usable cooking space (5.8 qt)
- VeSync app with custom preset saving is genuinely practical
- Quieter than most competitors (measured 55 dB during operation)
- Shake reminder at midpoint prevents uneven cooking
- Competitive price under $100
What We Don’t
- Touchscreen smudges easily and can be unresponsive with wet/greasy hands
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only (no 5 GHz support for smart features)
- Power cord is only 3 feet long (need countertop outlet nearby)
- No rotisserie or dehydrate function (available in higher-end models)
Who Should Buy the Cosori Pro II
- First-time air fryer buyers who want reliable, no-fuss performance
- Families of 2-4 who cook everyday meals (wings, fries, fish, veggies)
- Smart home users who want app and voice control
- Anyone upgrading from the original Cosori Pro
Who Should Skip It
- Households of 5+ who need more than 5.8 qt capacity
- Cooks who want an air fryer oven combo with toasting and dehydrating
- People who prefer physical dial controls over touchscreens
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cosori Pro II worth it if I already have the original Pro?
If your original still works fine, the upgrade is nice but not essential. The biggest improvements are the NTC sensor and app connectivity. If your original is showing wear or you’ve had uneven cooking issues, the Pro II is a worthwhile upgrade.
Can I cook a whole chicken in the Cosori Pro II?
A small whole chicken (3-3.5 lbs) fits if you position it carefully. For larger birds, you’ll need a 6.5+ qt model or an air fryer oven.
How does it compare to the Ninja AF101?
The Ninja AF101 is typically $10-20 cheaper but lacks Wi-Fi, has a smaller 4 qt capacity, and uses a ceramic-coated basket instead of nonstick. The Cosori Pro II is the better choice for most people.
Does preheating really matter?
Yes. We tested fries with and without preheating. Preheated fries were noticeably crispier and cooked 2-3 minutes faster. The 3-minute preheat is worth it every time.