My Favorite Small Kitchen Appliance Of 2026 Is From A Brand You’ve Never Heard Of
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CNET reviewer David Watsky says the $250 Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker has become his most-used small kitchen appliance of 2026 after months of testing. The 4.5-quart glass bowl and detachable cooker units combine air frying with slow cooking and other modes, but the appliance cannot perform both functions at once and costs more than many standalone air fryers.

CNET reviewer David Watsky says the $250 Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker has become his most-used small kitchen appliance of 2026, after months of testing the relatively new brand’s two-in-one cooker. The 4.5-quart appliance combines an air fryer with a slow cooker and other multicooker modes, and its components break down for storage; CNET named it an Editors’ Choice and placed it among its top air fryers.

The Magnifique has a glass cooking bowl with a 4.5-quart capacity, an air-fryer hood that clamps onto the bowl, and a base used for slow cooking and other multicooker functions. The bowl is described as oven-safe and dishwasher-safe, and can be used to serve or store food. CNET says the unit measures 12 by 13.5 by 13 inches when assembled, while its detachable parts can be put away separately.

The base has eight modes: slow cook, steam, braise, rice, proof, pasta, oatmeal and warm. Slow cooking offers low and high heat with four- or six-hour settings, and the base reaches a maximum of 214 degrees Fahrenheit. The air-fryer hood has warm, bake, air fry and max air fry settings; its maximum temperature is 450 F. CNET reports that the air fryer does not allow users to select an exact temperature.

Watsky says the appliance cooked foods including chicken thighs, wings, fries and hash browns well, and describes the slow-cooked beef as tender. He also identifies trade-offs: air frying and slow cooking cannot run at the same time, and the $250 price is higher than that of many standalone air fryers. He found the rice function usable but slower and less effective for smaller batches than his separate Tiger rice cooker.

At a glance
reportWhen: The appliance launched earlier in 2026;…
The developmentCNET has named Magnifique’s $250 combination glass air fryer and multicooker a 2026 standout after months of testing.
My Favorite Small Kitchen Appliance of 2026

CNET Review · Small Kitchen Appliances · 2026

My Favorite Small Kitchen Appliance of 2026 Is From a Brand You’ve Never Heard Of

After months of testing, CNET reviewer David Watsky says the $250 Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker has become his most-used small appliance. It pairs air frying and slow cooking in a glass-bowl design that comes apart for storage.

Price$250Combination appliance
Bowl capacity4.5 qtGlass cooking bowl
Air fry max450°FFour hood settings
Base modes8Slow cook plus seven more

One Appliance, Two Cooking Jobs

The appeal is the mix of two appliances the reviewer says he uses weekly: an air fryer and a slow cooker. A take-apart design may also help with counter and cabinet space.

01 / Air fryer

Quick, crisp cooking

The hood offers warm, bake, air fry and max air fry settings. Watsky reports good results with chicken thighs, wings, fries and hash browns.

02 / Multicooker

More than slow cook

The base has eight modes: slow cook, steam, braise, rice, proof, pasta, oatmeal and warm. Slow cook has low and high heat settings.

03 / Glass bowl

Cook, serve, store

The bowl is described as oven-safe and dishwasher-safe. It can move from cooking to the table or refrigerator, and its clear sides make food easier to monitor.

1

Glass bowl

4.5-quart vessel holds the food.

2

Choose a top

Attach the air-fryer hood for crisp cooking.

3

Or use the base

Switch to slow cooking and other modes.

4

Store separately

Detach the components when cooking is done.

How It Compares

The closest comparisons cited in the review each serve a different purpose. The Magnifique’s value depends on whether buyers will regularly use more than its air-fryer function.

Appliance
What it offers
Trade-off

Ninja Crispi
$180

Similar glass-bowl approach; reviewer’s favorite standalone air fryer.

Does not offer the same slow-cooker function.

Ninja and Instant Pot multicookers

Combine functions such as pressure cooking, slow cooking and air frying.

CNET says these tested well but are bulkier and do not break down for storage in the same way.

“Save for my coffee maker, this is the small kitchen appliance I use most.”
David Watsky · CNET reviewer
“I’ve tested a few combination air fryers and slow cookers, but none are as well-designed as Magnifique’s.”
David Watsky · CNET reviewer
Read the fine print

What the Review Doesn’t Establish

CNET’s verdict reflects one reviewer’s months of testing and personal use. The source material does not include a full test protocol or comparative performance measurements, so the award and ranking are editorial assessments rather than broad consumer findings.

  • No simultaneous air frying and slow cooking
  • No exact air-fry temperature selection
  • Rice function was slower than the reviewer’s Tiger cooker
  • No independent sales, reliability or durability data
  • Long-term performance across different kitchens is unreported
  • Future product, software or accessory updates are unspecified
Buyer’s checklist

Does the Combo Fit Your Routine?

At $250, the case for buying it is strongest if both air frying and slow cooking already have a place in your weekly cooking. If you mainly want an air fryer, a less expensive standalone model may be a closer fit.

Consider it if…You regularly use an air fryer and slow cooker, and value a bowl that can serve or store food.
Check the fitIts 4.5-quart capacity and assembled size are right for your meals and storage space.
Weigh the priceCompare $250 with the cost of a standalone air fryer and the functions you will actually use.
Know the limitsOnly one cooking function runs at a time, and air-fry temperature cannot be set precisely.

Key Questions

A quick guide to the appliance and the claims behind its favorable review.

What is the Magnifique Combo?

A $250 countertop appliance with a 4.5-quart glass bowl, air-fryer hood and a base for slow cooking and six other modes, including rice, steam and braise.

Can it air fry and slow cook at once?

No. The review says it can perform only one of those functions at a time.

What did the reviewer like?

Watsky praised its cooking, glass bowl and components that separate for storage. He says the bowl can serve or store food and is dishwasher-safe and oven-safe.

Does CNET’s verdict make it best for everyone?

No. Editors’ Choice and its air-fryer ranking are CNET’s editorial assessment. The source does not provide broad consumer results or long-term reliability data.

One Appliance, Two Cooking Jobs

The central appeal is not simply that the Magnifique combines several settings. It brings together two appliance types that CNET’s reviewer says he uses weekly: an air fryer and a slow cooker. For households short on counter and cabinet space, a single machine that can be disassembled and stored could reduce the number of bulky appliances they need to keep accessible.

The glass bowl also changes how the appliance can be used between cooking and serving. CNET says it can go from cooking to the table or refrigerator, avoiding the need to transfer food to a separate serving or storage vessel. The bowl’s visibility lets users check food as it cooks without opening an opaque chamber, according to the review. Those features may be useful to cooks who value fewer dishes and easier monitoring, though they do not establish that the appliance will suit every kitchen or cooking routine.

The price remains a practical consideration. At $250, it costs more than many basic air fryers, so its value depends on whether buyers will use the slow-cooker and additional multicooker functions as well as the air fryer. The reviewer’s favorable verdict reflects his own extended use; it is not a guarantee of the same results for every household.

Products Worth Considering

Cuisinart 8-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill, 1800W, Stainless Steel (TOA-70NAS)

Cuisinart 8-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill, 1800W, Stainless Steel (TOA-70NAS)

Instant Pot Pro 8-Quart 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Black

Instant Pot Pro 8-Quart 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Black

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

A Newcomer in a Crowded Market

Magnifique is described by CNET as a relatively new countertop-appliance brand. The report says it has also released a claypot multicooker, rice cooker, glass air fryer and handheld ice cream maker. Its combination cooker entered the market earlier in 2026, according to the source material.

The closest comparison cited is the $180 Ninja Crispi, which CNET’s reviewer calls his favorite standalone air fryer. It has a similar glass-bowl approach but does not provide the same slow-cooker function. The review also compares the Magnifique with multicookers from Ninja and Instant Pot that combine functions such as pressure cooking, slow cooking and air frying. CNET says those alternatives performed well in its testing but are bulkier, do not break down for storage in the same way, and have cooking chambers that are less multipurpose.

The report’s favorable judgment is based on a reviewer’s months of testing and personal use, including a CNET Editors’ Choice designation and placement on the outlet’s best-air-fryer list. The source does not provide a full test protocol or comparative performance measurements, so the award and ranking should be understood as CNET’s editorial assessment, not an industry-wide finding.

“Save for my coffee maker, this is the small kitchen appliance I use most.”

— David Watsky, CNET reviewer

Limits of the Review Evidence

The source material does not give independent sales figures, reliability data or long-term durability results, and it does not establish how the appliance performs across a broad range of kitchens. CNET’s review reflects one reviewer’s testing and preferences; details of the test methods and the basis for its rankings are not included here.

It is also unclear from the report whether Magnifique plans software, product or accessory updates, or whether the company will expand availability. The review identifies practical limitations—including no simultaneous air frying and slow cooking, no precise air-fry temperature control, and a slower rice function—but does not quantify how those constraints compare with every competing model.

What Buyers Should Check

For shoppers considering the appliance, the immediate decision is whether its combination of functions matches their regular cooking. Buyers can weigh the 4.5-quart capacity, detachable design and dishwasher-safe bowl against the $250 price and the fact that only one cooking function can be used at a time. Those who mainly want an air fryer may find a lower-priced standalone model a closer fit, while cooks who regularly use both an air fryer and slow cooker may value the space savings.

No future Magnifique announcement or product update is specified in the source material. CNET’s assessment is the latest development covered here; further information about availability, durability and the company’s product plans remains unreported.

Key Questions

What is the Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker?

It is a $250 countertop appliance with a 4.5-quart glass bowl, an air-fryer hood and a base that supports slow cooking and six other modes, including rice, steam and braise.

Can it air fry and slow cook at the same time?

No. The source review says the appliance cannot air fry and slow cook simultaneously; users select one function at a time.

What did CNET’s reviewer like about it?

Reviewer David Watsky praised its cooking performance, glass bowl and components that separate for storage. He said the bowl can also be used for serving and storage, and reported that it is dishwasher- and oven-safe.

What are the main drawbacks?

The cooker costs more than many standalone air fryers, does not allow precise temperature selection for air frying, and cannot use its air-fryer and slow-cooker functions at once. Watsky also said its rice function was slower than his separate rice cooker.

Does CNET’s verdict prove it is the best appliance for everyone?

No. The Editors’ Choice designation and ranking are CNET’s editorial assessment, based on the reviewer’s testing and use. The source does not provide broad consumer results or long-term reliability data.

Source: CNET

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