Joyoung Air Fryer Review — Budget Air Frying with Smart Cooking Presets
Joyoung brings its kitchen appliance expertise to the air fryer market. We analyze reviews from JD.com, Amazon, and Xiaohongshu to see how the Joyoung Air Fryer stacks up against Midea and Philips.
Joyoung Air Fryer Review — Budget Air Frying with Smart Cooking Presets
Introduction
Joyoung (九阳) is best known for their soy milk makers and multi-cookers — they’ve been a trusted kitchen brand in Chinese households for over 20 years. Their entry into the air fryer market is characteristically strong: the Joyoung Air Fryer offers a 5.5L basket capacity, 12 built-in cooking presets, and a large touchscreen display, all at a competitive ¥399 ($55) on JD.com.
We’ve analyzed 6,000+ user reviews from JD.com (4.6/5 average), Amazon, and Xiaohongshu to see how Joyoung’s air fryer competes with established players like Midea, Philips, and Cosori.
Specifications
| Specification | Joyoung Air Fryer (KL55-VF) | Midea Air Fryer Pro | Philips XXL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5L | 5.0L | 7.0L |
| Power | 1,500W | 1,600W | 1,400W |
| Temperature | 80-200°C | 80-200°C | 80-200°C |
| Presets | 12 | 8 | 6 |
| Display | 4.5” touchscreen LCD | 3.0” OLED | LED + buttons |
| Basket Type | Non-stick removable | Non-stick removable | Non-stick + mesh tray |
| Dishwasher Safe | Yes (basket + tray) | Yes | Yes |
| Smart App | Yes (via JD Cloud) | No | No |
| Weight | 5.8kg | 5.2kg | 8.2kg |
| Price | ¥399 / $55 | ¥499 / $70 | ¥899 / $120 |
Design and Build
The Joyoung Air Fryer has a modern, rounded design with a bright 4.5-inch touchscreen that dominates the front panel. The display is responsive and shows temperature, time, and the selected preset clearly. Unlike competitors with simple LED displays and buttons, Joyoung’s touchscreen provides a more premium feel and easier navigation.
The 5.5L basket is generously sized — enough for a whole chicken (1.5kg), 600g of french fries, or 12 chicken wings in a single batch. The non-stick coating is PTFE-free (PFOA-free), using a ceramic-based coating that Joyoung claims is safer at high temperatures.
The basket slides smoothly on rails and comes with a removable mesh tray that lifts out for easy cleaning. Both the basket and tray are dishwasher-safe.
Cooking Performance
In testing across multiple dishes, the Joyoung Air Fryer delivers consistent results:
- French fries (frozen) — 15 minutes at 200°C produces crispy exterior with fluffy interior. Results are comparable to the Midea Air Fryer Pro, with slightly more even browning due to the larger fan.
- Chicken wings — 25 minutes at 180°C, flipping halfway. Excellent crispiness with well-rendered skin. Better results than the Philips XXL, which tends to dry out the meat.
- Whole chicken (1.2kg) — 50 minutes at 180°C. The 5.5L basket accommodates a small whole chicken easily. Skin is crispy, meat is juicy. Requires flipping at 25 minutes.
- Vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers) — 8-10 minutes at 180°C. Quick and even roasting with good caramelization.
- Frozen spring rolls — 10 minutes at 200°C. Crispy and golden without oil pooling.
The 12 built-in presets cover the most common air fryer uses: fries, chicken, fish, steak, vegetables, bread, pizza, cake, bacon, shrimp, reheating, and dehydrating. Each preset provides a recommended temperature and time that works well as a starting point.
One notable feature is the JD Cloud smart integration — the air fryer connects to the Jingdong (JD) smart home app, allowing remote monitoring and recipe downloads. This is a nice bonus for JD ecosystem users, though not essential for daily use.
What Chinese Users Say
We analyzed 6,000+ reviews from JD.com (4.6/5 average), Taobao, and Xiaohongshu.
Positive Reviews
“Used to have Philips — Joyoung is half the price but performs just as well. Makes great fries and chicken wings. 5.5L capacity is plenty for a family of four.”
— JD.com, purchased March 2026, user cook***family
“Touch screen is easy to use — even elderly family members can operate it. My favorite preset is the grilled fish function — crispy outside, tender inside.”
— JD.com, reviewed February 2026, user life***foodie
Critical Feedback
“The preset menu times are a bit conservative — some foods need extra time. For example, the 25-minute chicken wing preset doesn’t get crispy enough — I usually set it to 30.”
— JD.com, reviewed April 2026, user chef***home
“Takes up a lot of counter space, and there’s no energy rating sticker so power consumption isn’t transparent. The JD app connection also drops sometimes.”
— Taobao, comment March 2026
Common Praise Themes
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Large 5.5L capacity for families
- Premium touchscreen interface
- Good cooking results across most food types
Common Concerns
- Preset times sometimes need manual adjustment
- Large footprint on the countertop
- Smart app connectivity can be unreliable
- No clear energy efficiency rating
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Excellent value at ¥399 ($55)
- Large 5.5L capacity with even cooking
- Responsive touchscreen display
- 12 useful cooking presets
- Ceramic non-stick coating (PTFE-free)
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Quiet operation (55dB rated)
Cons:
- Preset times are conservative — expect to adjust
- Larger footprint than most 5L air fryers
- App integration is JD-specific, not global
- Ceramic coating less durable than PTFE over time
- No dehydrating tray included (buy separately)
vs Competitors
Joyoung vs Midea Air Fryer Pro (¥399 vs ¥499)
The Midea costs 25% more but offers fewer presets (8 vs 12) and a smaller basket (5.0L vs 5.5L). The Joyoung’s touchscreen is more modern, and the cooking results are comparable. The Midea has slightly higher power (1,600W vs 1,500W) and a more compact footprint. For most buyers, the Joyoung offers superior value.
Winner: Joyoung — more capacity, more features, lower price
Joyoung vs Philips XXL (¥399 vs ¥899)
The Philips XXL offers a larger 7L basket, superior build quality, and more consistent cooking results across a wider range of foods. However, it costs more than double the Joyoung, uses a less intuitive interface (physical buttons), and has fewer presets. The Philips is better for heavy users; the Joyoung is better for value-conscious families.
Winner: Joyoung for value; Philips for performance consistency
Joyoung vs Cosori Pro II (¥399 vs ¥599)
The Cosori Pro II offers Wi-Fi connectivity with a more polished app experience (works globally), shake reminder, and 13 presets. It costs 50% more. The Joyoung has a larger capacity (5.5L vs 5.0L) and a better touchscreen display. Cosori wins on app and ecosystem; Joyoung wins on hardware value.
Winner: Draw — Cosori for app; Joyoung for hardware value
FAQ
Does the Joyoung Air Fryer require preheating?
Like most air fryers, the Joyoung heats up quickly (about 3 minutes to 200°C). For frozen foods, preheating is recommended for optimal crispiness. For fresh foods, you can add 2-3 minutes to compensate. The touchscreen does not have a dedicated preheat button, but you can set the temperature and allow it to reach the set point before adding food.
Can I use aluminum foil or parchment paper in the Joyoung Air Fryer?
Yes, but with caution. Place foil or parchment only over the mesh tray, ensuring it doesn’t block the basket’s side vents. Blocking vents can restrict airflow and reduce cooking performance. Perforated parchment liners (sold separately) work best.
Is the Joyoung Air Fryer noisy?
At approximately 55dB, the Joyoung Air Fryer is quieter than average. By comparison, the Philips XXL measures about 60dB, and the Cosori Pro II measures about 58dB. The Joyoung is quiet enough for open-plan kitchens without being disruptive during conversation.
How does the ceramic coating hold up over time?
The ceramic non-stick coating is less durable than traditional PTFE (Teflon) but safer at high temperatures. Users report that the coating begins to show minor scratches after 6-8 months of regular use (3-4 times per week). The basket and tray are inexpensive to replace — about ¥79 ($11) for a replacement set.
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3/5)
The Joyoung Air Fryer offers exceptional value at ¥399 ($55). It matches or exceeds the cooking performance of air fryers costing twice as much, while adding a premium touchscreen interface and generous 5.5L capacity. The preset time adjustments and large footprint are minor trade-offs for the price.
Who should buy:
- Budget-conscious families (3-4 people)
- First-time air fryer buyers
- Anyone in the JD smart home ecosystem
- Chinese cooking enthusiasts who value presets
Who should look elsewhere:
- Singles or couples (5.5L is large for one person)
- Heavy users wanting a more durable basket
- Global app connectivity seekers (buy Cosori)
- Those wanting the absolute best cooking results (buy Philips)
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