The Breville Smart Oven Pro and the Compact Smart Oven serve different needs despite sharing the same brand-name quality. The Smart Oven Pro is a larger, more powerful countertop convection oven with advanced Element IQ technology for precise heating across a wider range of cooking tasks, while the Compact is a space-saving powerhouse designed for smaller kitchens and more basic needs like toasting and reheating.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which Breville countertop oven is right for you.
Breville Smart Oven Pro
The Breville Smart Oven Pro is a versatile and high-performance appliance engineered to be a true secondary oven on your countertop. It leverages convection heating and Element IQ technology to intelligently distribute heat where it's needed most, ensuring even and consistent cooking results whether you're baking a pie, roasting a chicken, or toasting bread. Its roomy interior and wide array of presets make it a workhorse for serious home cooks who need flexibility and power without firing up their full-size oven.
- What it is: A large-capacity countertop convection oven with smart heating technology.
- Key features: Element IQ technology with five independent quartz heating elements, 10 preset cooking functions (Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat, Warm, Slow Cook), interior oven light, and an easy-to-read LCD display.
- Price: Around $280.
- Dimensions: 18.5" (W) x 14.5" (D) x 11" (H). Fits a 13" pizza or 6 slices of toast.
- Materials/Construction: Brushed stainless steel casing with a reinforced rack and non-stick interior cavity coating for easy cleaning.
- Style: Sleek brushed stainless steel design with a modern, informative digital interface that fits well in contemporary kitchens.
- Pros: Powerful convection reduces cooking time. Element IQ provides exceptionally even cooking. Large capacity is great for families. 10 functions offer incredible versatility. The slow cook function can replace a separate appliance.
- Cons: A large footprint that requires significant counter space. It's a pricier option for a countertop oven. The exterior surfaces can get very hot during operation.
The Smart Oven Pro is built for an avid home cook who wants the performance of a full-size oven in a more convenient, energy-efficient package.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/ovens/bov800xl.html
Breville Compact Smart Oven
The Breville Compact Smart Oven packs much of the brand's signature heating technology into a smaller, more streamlined package. While it's smaller, it still includes Element IQ to direct power effectively for better results than a typical toaster oven. It's the perfect solution for anyone living in a small apartment, dorm, or RV, or for those who simply need a reliable appliance for toasting, reheating, and cooking small meals without sacrificing quality.
- What it is: A small-footprint countertop oven designed for efficiency and tight spaces.
- Key features: Element IQ technology with four quartz heating elements, 8 preset cooking functions (Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Reheat), and a simple backlit LCD screen.
- Price: Around $190.
- Dimensions: 16" (W) x 14.25" (D) x 8.5" (H). Fits an 11" pizza or 4 slices of toast.
- Materials/Construction: Brushed stainless steel exterior with a non-stick interior.
- Style: Minimalist and clean aesthetic with straightforward dial and button controls that blend in easily.
- Pros: Compact design saves a lot of counter space. Still provides more even cooking than standard toaster ovens thanks to Element IQ. Very easy and intuitive to use. A more affordable entry point into Breville's quality.
- Cons: Cannot fit larger dishes like a whole chicken or standard baking pans. Lacks a convection fan and an interior light, unlike the Pro model.
This oven is the ideal pick for individuals or couples in small living spaces who demand better performance for essential cooking tasks than a basic toaster can provide.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/products/ovens/bov450xl.html
Breville Smart Oven Pro vs. Compact Comparison
Dimensions & Scale
The most obvious difference between these two ovens is their size. The Smart Oven Pro measures 18.5" x 14.5" x 11", demanding a dedicated spot on your countertop. Its spacious interior can accommodate a 13-inch pizza, 6-cup muffin tray, or a small Dutch oven. It’s large enough to serve as a legitimate alternative to your main oven for many meals.
In contrast, the Compact Smart Oven lives up to its name with a much smaller footprint of 16" x 14.25" x 8.5". It's designed to slide into tighter spots in small kitchens or even on a shelf. The trade-off is its capacity - it can fit a personal 11-inch pizza or four slices of toast, making it perfect for smaller meals but restrictive for larger ones.
Features & Performance
Both ovens feature Breville’s Element IQ technology, which intelligently puts the power where it needs to go for precise cooking. However, the Smart Oven Pro takes this a step further with five heating elements and the addition of a powerful convection fan. The fan circulates hot air, speeding up cooking times by as much as 30% and ensuring extra-crispy, evenly browned results. This makes it far superior for roasting vegetables, chicken, and baking.
The Compact Smart Oven uses four heating elements and omits the convection fan. While it cooks much more evenly than a basic toaster oven, it doesn't offer the speed or air-roasting capabilities of the Pro model. The Pro also boasts an interior light and a dedicated Slow Cook function, adding versatility the Compact can't match.
Price & Value
There's a roughly $90 price gap between the two models. The Smart Oven Pro, at around $280, positions itself as a premium countertop appliance. For that price, you get significantly more capacity, superior performance with its convection fan, and added features like a slow cook setting. If you use it regularly to bake, roast, and cook family-sized portions, it delivers excellent value by saving energy compared to a full-size oven.
The Compact Smart Oven, typically priced around $190, offers impressive value for what it is: a high-quality, precise, and compact cooking tool. For users with limited needs and space, saving money on features they wouldn't use makes it the smarter financial choice. It provides access to Breville's engineering for a much lower cost of entry.
Style & Controls
Both ovens share Breville's signature brushed stainless steel aesthetic. The primary difference is in the user interface. The Smart Oven Pro features a large backlit LCD screen that clearly displays settings and glows orange when preheating or cooking. It communicates its status effectively and feels modern. The Compact has a similar but smaller screen and a different layout of its dials and buttons, maintaining a clean and straightforward look suitable for its size.
Who Each One Works Best For
The Smart Oven Pro is built for people who love to cook and want flexibility. It's perfect for small families, avid bakers who want to avoid heating the entire house, or anyone who wants the ability to roast a 4 lb chicken on their countertop. If you have the space and your cooking goes beyond simple toast and frozen pizza, the Pro is a massive upgrade.
The Compact Smart Oven is the clear winner for anyone constrained by space or budget. It's ideal for students in dorms, individuals in studio apartments, RV life, or workplaces. If your primary needs are toasting bread perfectly, reheating leftovers evenly, and baking small batches of cookies or a small pizza, this oven performs those tasks brilliantly without taking over your kitchen.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both of these ovens are top performers in their class, but they cater to very different needs and priorities.
Choose the Breville Smart Oven Pro if:
- You want to bake, roast, and even slow cook full meals on your countertop.
- Capacity is a priority - you need to fit a 13" pizza or a small chicken.
- You value the speed and browning power of a convection fan.
- You have ample counter space and a budget for a premium appliance.
Choose the Breville Compact Smart Oven if:
- You live in an apartment, dorm, or have a very small kitchen.
- Saving counter space is your top priority.
- You primarily need an oven for toast, bagels, reheating leftovers, or cooking small meals.
- You want Breville's quality engineering and even heating without the higher price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Smart Oven Pro and a regular toaster oven?
The main difference is the Element IQ technology and, in the Pro model's case, a convection fan. Element IQ uses smart algorithms to direct heat from five independent quartz elements, resulting in much more even and precise cooking than a standard toaster oven's simple on/off elements.
Is the convection fan in the Smart Oven Pro worth the extra cost?
Yes, if you plan to do any serious baking or roasting. Convection circulates hot air, which crisps skin, browns food evenly, and can reduce cooking time by up to 30%. For just toasting or reheating, it's less critical, but for everything else, it makes a significant difference.
How much bigger is the Smart Oven Pro's capacity?
The Smart Oven Pro can fit a 13-inch pizza, 6 slices of toast, or a 6-cup muffin tin. The Compact Smart Oven can fit an 11-inch pizza or 4 slices of toast. The Pro's chamber is significantly taller, allowing it to fit bulky items like a whole chicken, which is impossible in the Compact.
Can the Breville Compact Smart Oven bake a cake?
Yes, you can bake in the Compact, but you will need smaller bakeware, such as a 6-inch round pan or a small loaf pan. It does a great job with smaller batches of cookies, brownies, or muffins.
Which model is easier to clean?
Both models are relatively easy to clean as they feature non-stick interior walls and a front-access removable crumb tray. The brushed stainless steel exteriors only require a damp cloth to wipe down.
Does the Breville Smart Oven Pro have an air fry function?
No, this model does not have a dedicated air fry function. For that feature, you would need to look at a different model, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, which is a step up in both features and price.
How hot do the exteriors of these ovens get?
Like most countertop ovens, the stainless steel exteriors (especially the top and the glass door) get very hot during operation. It's important to keep the area around them clear and use caution, particularly if you have children.
Which Breville oven should I get for a family?
For a family of three or more, the Smart Oven Pro is the far better choice due to its larger capacity, making it capable of cooking family-sized portions and serving as a reliable second oven.
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