Ooni Karu 2 Pro Review 2026: Brilliant but bulky

How I tested it

How I tested the Ooni Karu 2 Pro

I cooked ten pizzas consecutively in the Karu 2 Pro and used charcoal, hardwood and gas. I also used the taller chamber for cast-iron cooking and steaks.

My first oven arrived dented and was replaced within days. During ownership I also encountered flame or ignition concerns and occasional difficulty reaching full temperature.

Cooking space

Sixteen inches was possible, but not comfortable

The 17 inches cooking area could take a 16-inch pizza, but clearance became tight with a wide peel and left little room to launch or rotate away from the flame.

Fourteen- and 15-inch pizzas were considerably easier. I would not buy the Pro simply because it technically accepts 16 inches.

For a gas-only Pro model with an 18-inch maximum pizza size, see the Ooni Koda 2 Pro review.

Beyond pizza

The taller chamber was the upgrade I valued

The extra internal height let me use cast-iron pans, cook steaks and prepare food that would have been awkward in a smaller Karu.

That broader cooking ability, the replaceable cooking floor and the choice of fuel mattered more to me than the maximum pizza diameter.

Ten-pizza session

Live fire excelled, while gas recovered more predictably

I achieved excellent Neapolitan-style results with a stable charcoal bed and fresh hardwood to strengthen the flame. Across ten pizzas, that setup required more intervention between launches.

Gas recovered more predictably and let me concentrate on stretching, topping and serving. The oven heated faster than a heavier refractory design, but it also lost heat sooner and needed closer attention during a long session.

Build and support

Fast support did not erase my build concerns

My first oven arrived dented and Ooni replaced it within days. I also encountered flame or ignition concerns and occasional difficulty reaching full temperature.

Ooni responded quickly, but the oven felt less substantially built than the preceding Karu 16. Support quality and product build are separate parts of the buying decision.

Who should buy it?

My enthusiast’s choice in the Karu range

I paid the £699 UK list price. I would choose the Karu 2 Pro for larger pizzas, cast-iron cooking and the option to manage a live fire when I had the time and inclination.

I would skip it if I mainly wanted routine pizza service. Gas was easier and more consistent for that job, and the optional burner costs extra. The Pro earns its price through broader cooking.