Instant Pot RIO vs. Duo vs. Duo Plus vs. Pro vs. Pro Plus: Full Comparison & Verdict 2024

Best Instant Pots?

Best Instant Pots

• Basic: Instant Pot Rio

• Classic: Instant Pot Duo

• Fingerprint-Resistant: Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1

• Quietest: Instant Pot Duo Plus with Whisper-Quiet Steam Release

• Best Looking: Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1

• Smartest: Instant Pot Pro Plus Wi-Fi Smart 10-in-1

Instant Pot® Comparison Chart

Tips:

Discontinued Instant Pots 

• Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1: Discontinued

• Instant Pot Duo Gourmet: Discontinued

• Instant Pot Viva: Discontinued in the U.S.

• Duo Nova Instant Pot: 3- and 10-quart Size Discontinued

• Instant Pot Nova Plus: Discontinued

• Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus: Discontinued

• Instant Pot Lux: Discontinued

• Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi: Discontinued

• Instant Pot Max: Discontinued

Basic: Instant Pot Rio

This Rio is best for: home cooks looking for an upgraded pressure cooker with a sleek look and a big control panel.  

Instant Pot® RIO™ 6-quart Multicooker

$99.99

New

Instant Pot® RIO™ Wide Plus 7.5-quart Multicooker

$179.99

New

Key Specs:

• Year released: 2022

• Cooking functions: 13; 13 customizable smart programs for pressure cooking, slow cooking, meat/stew, poultry, beans/chili, rice, multigrain, soup/broth, steam, sauté, yogurt, cake and keep warm.

• 7-in-1 functions: pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, yogurt, steam, sauté and keep warm

• Power: 1,000 watts

• Working pressure: 11.6 PSI

• Sizes available: 6-quart Instant Pot and 7.5-quart Instant Pot

Editor's review：

The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy to save time in the kitchen. 

The Rio is one of Instant Pot’s more basic and affordable models, and it does everything you need it to do with ease.

The Rio is intended to replace the Instant Pot Duo, but both are currently available. It has the same features as the latest Duo model, such as an auto-sealing lid and easy steam release switch.

But it adds a progress indicator, an anti-rotation rubber handle to hold the pot in place, and a sleek black exterior.

Plus, its $99.99 price tag is $10 less than the $109.99 Duo, so if you're in the market for a slow cooker, why not get the latest good-looking, energy-efficient 6-quart Rio?

Pros: 

• It’s a more modern version of the most basic Instant Pot but with a slimmer, fingerprint-resistant body.

• The Rio’s control panel is more intuitive than the Duo’s, with the addition of a start button, time and temperature controls, and a progress bar.

• It has three temperature levels for precise frying. While some other similarly priced cookware only offers one or two.

• The stainless steel inner pot is durable. 

Cons: 

• It has only one pressure option. The Duo (and the Pro) offers low- and high-pressure cooking, whereas the Rio offers only high.

• This one only comes in one size (6-quart).

• It lacks many of the features you’ll find on more expensive Instant Pots, like air-frying, broiling. 

Classic: Instant Pot Duo

This Duo is best for: anyone looking for the original Instant Pot who doesn't need any fancy upgrades. It also makes a great gift for anyone new to pressure cooking. (Worth mentioning: this Instant Pot is available in a handful of Star Wars designs.)

Instant Pot® Duo™ 6-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5

$109.99

Instant Pot® Duo™ 8-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5

$129.95

Instant Pot® Duo™ Mini 3-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5

$79.99

Key Specs:

• Year released: 2015

• Built-in smart programs: 13 for 6- and 8-quart sizes, 11 for the 3-quart size

• Cooking functions: 7-in-1 pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer

• Power: 1,200 watts

• Max working pressure:  12 PSI

• Sizes available: 3-, 6-, and 8-quart Instant Pots

Editor's review：

The 7-in-1 Duo is a favorite and one of Instant Pot’s best-selling products of all time. Although its "successor" RIO comes with an extra stylish screen, anyone who prefers a simpler approach may prefer the classic Duo.

Other differences from the basic RIO include the ability to switch between high- and low-pressure cooking.

People's loyalty to the Duo lies in its combination of functionality, simplicity, and price. It has a simple screen that's easy to read and operate, making it a good choice for beginners or occasional Instant Pot users.

We love that it's still an incredibly versatile machine that can handle up to seven tasks in the kitchen.

The machine is available in three sizes: 3 quart, 6 quart, and 8 quart.

Pros: 

• Seven models offer rich functionality at an affordable price

• It comes in three sizes, suitable for various family sizes.

• It performed extremely well in our slow-cooking tests

Cons: 

• For a cheaper price than the Duo, you can get the newer Instant Pot Rio, with other added benefits.

• This model doesn’t have an air fry or sous vide function.

• The LCD screen doesn’t display what stage of the cooking process you’re in.

Quietest: Instant Pot Duo Plus with Whisper-Quiet Steam Release

The Duo Plus with Whisper-Quiet Steam Release is best for: those wanting a quiet, high-tech gadget with added safety features.

Instant Pot® Duo™ Plus 6-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker with Whisper-Quiet Steam Release, V4

$99.95 was $129.99

Instant Pot® Duo™ Plus 8-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker with Whisper-Quiet Steam Release, V4

$149.99

Instant Pot® Duo™ Plus 6-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V3

$129.95

Key Specs:

• Year released: 2021

• Built-in smart programs: 25

• Cooking functions: Pressure-cooking, rice-cooking, slow-cooking, yogurt making, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, cake making, and sterilizing

• Power: 1,000 watts

• Max working pressure: 11.6 PSI

• Sizes available: 6- and 8-quart Instant Pots

Editor's review：

The Instant Pot Duo gets a major upgrade with this iteration. Not only do you get a sleek, stainless-steel finish, you get 25 smart programs, as well as a far less nerve-wracking way to release steam and open the lid. 

The new-and-improved steam release on this model allows the machine to diffuse steam more quietly than ever. 

It also gives you the option to use a remote button so you can open the cooking pot at a distance for an added layer of safety. 

The controls are easy to find and intuitive to use. Additionally, this model comes with a detailed, well-organized manual that includes handy time, temperature, and settings charts.

The only downside to this Instant Pot option is that it only comes in one color and is a bit pricey, but considering its features and performance, it's well worth your money.

Pros: 

• The steam release on this model is whisper quiet and super safe. 

• You can even open the lid with a remote button. 

• The anti-spin design kept the cooking pot in place while sauteing.

Cons: 

• One significant difference between this version and the original is that the Instant Pot Duo Plus with Whisper Quiet Steam Release trades a sous vide cooking function for a cake-making feature. 

• This model is only available in the stainless steel gray color.

• There’s also no 3-quart option. 

Best-Looking: Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1

The Instant Pot Pro is best for: those who choose countertop appliances with aesthetics in mind. If you appreciate a nice user interface with lots of pre-programmed cooking functions.

Instant Pot® Pro™ 6-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker

$149.99

Instant Pot® Pro™ 8-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker

$169.99

Key Specs:

• Year released: 2021

• Built-in smart programs: 28 ；28 customizable programs for one-touch cooking for a selection of the most essential meals

• Cooking functions: 10-in-1 pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous vide, sauté pan, rice/grain cooker, sterilizer, yogurt maker, food warmer, cake baker and steamer

• Power: 1,200 watts

• Max working pressure: 11.6 PSI

• Sizes available: 6- and 8-quart Instant Pots

Editor's review：

The Instant Pot Pro sets out to replace ten kitchen appliances including a pressure cooker, slow cooker, saute pan, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer, and has 28 cooking modes for preparing different dishes.

Instant Pot Pro also has five buttons that allow you to store your favorite settings for recipes you make regularly, giving you the convenience of the one-touch programs but for your own custom recipes. 

On top of that, the steam release switch is one of the easiest and safest steam release methods we’ve used when testing the pressure cook function on a multi-cooker and the steam valve has a cover to reduce splashes and noise too. 

The inner pot can be used on the stovetop to sear food before cooking, too, and has handles, so you can take the pot straight to the table.

The Pro skips the air-frying lid and WiFi connectivity to offer 10 of Instant Pot's most useful functions without going over the $150 mark. If you opt for the 6-quart, the Pro is almost always on sale between $129.95 and $109.95 — the obvious champ over the older but still similarly-priced Ultra or Duo Plus.

Pros: 

• The inner pot is safe to use on electric, ceramic, and induction stovetops and in the oven up to 450ºF. 

• The large LCD control panel (with a dial!) allows for five of the whopping 28 customizable smart cooking programs to be saved as favorites.

• Frequently on sale for under $110

• Inner pot has handles

• Slick modern interface 

Cons: 

• Buying the air fryer lid later will get pricey

• It also doesn’t come in a 3-quart size. 

• No recipe book or cooking charts included

Best in Smart Cooking with the Launch of the Instant Pot Pro Plus and the Instant Brands Connect App

Instant Pot® Pro™ Plus 6-quart Smart Multi-Cooker

$199.99

Key Specs:

• Year released: 2021

• Functions: 10-in-1: Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, warmer, canning pot, sous vide, and NutriBoost

• Sizes: 6-quart

• New lid with safe steam valve features: Yes, plus wireless steam release

Editor's review：

In terms of the number of appliances it replaces, this Instant Pot isn't the most expensive or fancy (although only the Pro Crisp beats it), but it is the smartest. 

The "plus" in Pro Plus refers to its wireless connectivity to the Instant Brands Connect app. 

We can now pair with the Instant Brands Connect app to access a vast library of more than 1,500 recipes, guided by interactive, step by step meal preparation to ensure great results every time.

The new multi-cooker offers advanced features including delayed start, mobile monitoring, and quick tips and tricks. All in, this smart Instant Pot® Pro Plus is the extra hand consumers need to ensure that dinner is delicious, made possible with the touch of a button. 

While the other pots require you to be present to hit the steam release button, the Pro Plus can be vented through the app. Food can be fully ready to serve upon your arrival.

The Instant Pot® Pro Plus is available at www.instanthome.com, Amazon at $169.99 MSRP. Download the Instant Brands Connect app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to experience the new, smarter way of cooking.

Pros:

• It has 10 functions for maximum versatility.

• Wi-Fi accessibility means you can control it from an accompanying app.

• Redesigned digital face with sensitive touch controls

• Amazing price

• Inner pot has handles

Cons:

• Only one size option

• Doesn't come with an air fryer lid

• The functionality is a bit complicated, so this is better suited to someone who uses their Instant Pot frequently.

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