Ninja is the brand most UK shoppers have in mind when they think about a Black Friday air fryer, and for good reason: the dual-zone models that made air frying mainstream are Ninja’s, and the brand discounts meaningfully most Novembers. But Ninja is also the brand where it is easiest to buy the wrong thing — a near-identical model code with a smaller drawer, a retailer-exclusive bundle, or last year’s unit at this year’s price. This guide explains which Ninja air fryers are actually worth tracking, how to read the model codes, and how to tell a genuine Ninja deal from a dressed-up one.
A note on scope: we review Ninja’s air fryers in depth, and that is what this page covers. Ninja also sells multicookers, blenders and outdoor grills that we do not yet cover, so we will not pretend to rate them here. For the wider picture across every brand and category, see our Black Friday deals hub, and for air fryers specifically the air fryer Black Friday guide.
When do Ninja Black Friday deals start?
Black Friday 2026 falls on 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Ninja is one of the brands that reliably starts early: its own site and Amazon usually run “Black Friday week” pricing from around the middle of the month, and Ninja’s own store occasionally bundles accessories (extra racks, tongs) at no extra cost rather than cutting the headline price. Amazon’s October Prime event has also carried Ninja discounts in recent years, so if you noted an October price, use it as your benchmark. If the model you want hits a genuine low in the week before Black Friday, buy it — Ninja stock on the popular dual-zone units does sell out.
The Ninja model-code maze
This is where most Ninja mistakes are made. Ninja sells a lot of very similar air fryers, and the differences hide in the model code rather than the name. A “Ninja Foodi Dual Zone” could be any of several capacities, and retailers sometimes carry exclusive variants with a slightly different code, a smaller drawer or a different accessory set. Before you buy, match the exact code — not just the family name.
- AF400UK — the 9.5L Foodi MAX Dual Zone. The one we recommend most: two genuinely usable baskets and the model most likely to see a real cut.
- AF500UK — the 10.4L FlexDrawer. Its party trick is a divider you remove to turn two zones into one big drawer for a whole chicken or a large tray bake.
- SL400UK — the Double Stack XL. Stacks the two zones vertically so it takes less worktop width while keeping big capacity.
- AF451UK, AF300UK and similar — other dual-zone capacities and generations. Not worse, but check the litres and the basket dimensions against the AF400UK before assuming a “deal” is better value.
The practical rule: decide on the capacity and layout you want first, note the exact model code, and then only chase that code in the sale. A £40 saving on a smaller-drawer variant you did not mean to buy is not a saving.
Which Ninja suits which kitchen?
All three of the models we track do the core job well — the choice is about capacity and worktop space.
- Family of three or more: the AF400UK is the default. Two independent baskets cook a main and a side at different temperatures and finish together.
- You cook large single items too: the FlexDrawer AF500UK gives you the dual-zone option plus one big drawer when you need it.
- Short on worktop width: the Double Stack XL SL400UK keeps the capacity but takes up less bench space.
If you are still choosing between brands, our Ninja vs Cosori and Ninja vs Tower comparisons weigh up the main alternatives, and the best air fryers ranking shows where each Ninja sits against the field.
How to tell a genuine Ninja deal
Ninja prices are stable enough year-round that a “was” price often reflects a brief pre-sale bump rather than the real selling price. Check the price history on the exact model code (CamelCamelCamel for Amazon, PriceSpy across retailers), compare against any October low, and confirm whether Ninja’s own site is bundling accessories that effectively beat a slightly lower price elsewhere. The cards below give you our target price for each model so you have a clear yes/no test on the day.
Running costs still matter in the sale
A cheaper air fryer that you run daily is only a bargain if the running cost stacks up too. Ninja’s dual-zone models are typically 1,500–2,470W; our air fryer running costs guide has the full maths at current UK rates, and air fryer vs oven costs shows how much switching from the oven actually saves.
Our shortlist and what counts as a genuine deal
These are the models from our reviews that are worth tracking in the sale. For each one we show the same five things, so you can judge any Black Friday price in a few seconds rather than trusting a “was” figure. We do not show live prices and we do not run a price-history tracker — so the “lowest price in the sale” links straight to a free price-history tool, and “what we would happily pay” is our own target for good value, not a price we have seen.
How to read each card: Typical price is the real price when we last checked (7 October 2026); weeks before the sale tells you whether the price usually moves; lowest in the sale is yours to check on the day via the price-history link; what we would happily pay is our value target; and is it a genuine deal? turns all of that into a simple yes/no test.
Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UKOur pick
9.5L, two independent baskets. The Ninja we recommend most and the model most likely to see a genuine cut.
Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer AF500UK
10.4L drawer that splits into two zones or opens into one — the most flexible layout Ninja makes.
Stacked four-layer dual-zone for small worktops — tall capacity without the footprint.
Prices shown are the typical prices we recorded on 7 October 2026 and will drift over time. Always confirm the live price and recent price history on the retailer’s own site before buying. “What we would happily pay” is our editorial view of good value, not a guaranteed or observed sale price.
The full Black Friday 2026 guide
We keep one connected set of Black Friday pages rather than dozens of near-identical ones, and update them through November as real deals land. Jump to any part:
- Black Friday hub — The master guide: timeline, how to check a deal, what goes on sale.
- Air fryer deals — Dual-zone and single-basket targets, by brand and price band.
- Robot vacuum deals — Where the big cash savings fall on self-emptying flagships.
- Coffee machine deals — Bean-to-cup and espresso machines worth tracking.
- Dehumidifier deals — The sale lands in peak damp season — but do not wait if you have mould.
- Ninja deals — you are here. Decode the AF-series model maze and target the right Ninja.
- Shark deals — Make sense of Shark’s model-code variants before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
When do Ninja Black Friday deals start in 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on 30 November. Ninja typically begins “Black Friday week” pricing from around mid-November on its own site and at Amazon, and some discounts appear even earlier. If your model hits a genuine low before the day itself, there is rarely any benefit to waiting.
Which Ninja air fryer is best for a family?
For most families the Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone AF400UK (9.5L) is the one to track — two independent baskets let you cook a main and a side at different temperatures and finish them together. If you also cook large single items, the FlexDrawer AF500UK adds a one-big-drawer mode.
What do the Ninja model codes mean?
The code tells you the exact capacity and generation: AF400UK is the 9.5L Foodi MAX Dual Zone, AF500UK is the 10.4L FlexDrawer, and SL400UK is the Double Stack XL. Retailers sometimes carry exclusive variants with slightly different codes and accessories, so match the exact code to the model you researched before buying.
Are Ninja Black Friday deals genuine?
Many are, but check the price history on the specific model code using a tracker such as CamelCamelCamel or PriceSpy, and compare against any October low. Also check whether Ninja’s own site is bundling accessories, which can be better value than a slightly lower price with nothing included.
Is it better to buy from Ninja’s own site or Amazon?
Both are worth comparing. Amazon often has the keenest headline price, while Ninja’s own store sometimes matches it and adds accessories. Confirm the exact model code and the seller (to be sure of warranty and returns) on whichever you choose.
