Tower Vortx 5L Air Fryer T17090

The Bottom Line Up Front

The Tower Vortx 5.2L (T17148) is what happens when a budget air fryer actually gets the basics right. At £54.99, it's less than half the price of most premium alternatives, yet still manages to cook food properly and feed a family of four. Yes, you'll miss some bells and whistles, but if you want decent air frying without the premium price tag, this Tower model deserves serious consideration.

Design and Build Quality

This isn't going to win any design awards, but the Tower Vortx feels reassuringly solid for something at this price point. The black plastic housing doesn't feel cheap or flimsy – give it a knock and there's no hollow rattling. At 3.9kg, it's got proper weight behind it, and the non-slip feet actually work (I've tested this on my dodgy kitchen worktop that sends most appliances sliding).

The 28 x 28 x 33cm footprint makes it genuinely compact for a 5.2L capacity. Compare that to the Ninja FlexDrawer at £229.99 – yes, you get 10.4L capacity, but it takes up significantly more counter space. For smaller kitchens or anyone who doesn't want a massive appliance dominating their worktop, the Tower strikes a good balance.

The manual dial controls feel dated compared to digital displays, but they're chunky and satisfying to use. No fiddly touch screens that go wonky after six months – just two robust dials that click into place with confidence.

Performance Where It Counts

Here's where the Tower genuinely surprised me. That 1500W motor and rapid air circulation system actually delivers on the crispy promise. I've tested everything from frozen chips to fresh chicken thighs, and the results are consistently good. Chips come out properly crispy (not soggy like some budget models), and chicken skin actually crisps up rather than staying rubbery.

The temperature range of 80-200°C covers everything you need, and the 30-minute timer handles most cooking tasks. However, longer roasts require you to reset the timer, which gets tedious. The Cosori TurboBlaze at £89.99 gives you 60-minute timing, and honestly, that extra convenience is worth considering if you frequently cook larger joints.

Circulation is genuinely effective – I rarely get hot spots or uneven cooking, even when the basket is fairly full. The 5.2L capacity comfortably handles meals for three to four people, though you'll be pushing it for larger families.

Features: Basic But Functional

This is where budget reality hits. You get manual temperature and timer dials, auto shut-off, and that's essentially it. No preset programs, no smartphone connectivity, no dual zones like the £199.99 Ninja Foodi MAX. But honestly? Most people end up ignoring fancy presets anyway and just use temperature and time.

The non-stick coating works well initially and makes food release easy, but longevity is questionable. After several months of regular use, I'm seeing some wear around the edges. The Philips Essential at £109.99 has a more durable coating, but then you're paying double.

Cleaning is straightforward but entirely manual – the basket and crisper plate need hand washing (they're not dishwasher safe). This adds daily faff compared to dishwasher-safe competitors, and for busy families, this could be a dealbreaker.

Value Against the Competition

This is where the Tower Vortx really shines. At £54.99, it costs roughly a quarter of what you'd pay for the premium Ninja FlexDrawer, yet delivers about 80% of the cooking performance. Yes, the Ninja has better build quality, more capacity, and clever dual-zone technology, but four times the price for those extras feels steep.

The more direct comparison is with the Cosori TurboBlaze at £89.99. The Cosori offers better digital controls, longer timer, and dishwasher-safe parts. But it's still £35 more expensive, and the core air frying performance is remarkably similar.

For families on a budget or anyone wanting to try air frying without major investment, the Tower represents excellent value. You get proper family-sized capacity and decent cooking results for the price of a good weekend takeaway.

Real-World Living

After several months of regular use, a few practicalities become clear. The cool-touch housing actually works – I can touch the sides mid-cook without burning myself, which isn't always the case with budget appliances. The auto shut-off provides peace of mind, and the unit's compact size means it lives permanently on my worktop without dominating the space.

However, the daily hand-washing routine gets old quickly, especially when cooking for the family regularly. And those manual dials, while charming initially, lack the precision of digital controls when you're trying to replicate successful recipes.

The Verdict

The Tower Vortx 5.2L delivers where it matters most: cooking food properly at a price that won't break the bank. Yes, you sacrifice convenience features and premium build quality, but the core air frying performance punches well above its weight class.

If you're budget-conscious, have limited counter space, or want to try air frying without major investment, this Tower model makes complete sense. But if you cook frequently for larger families or value convenience features like dishwasher-safe parts and digital precision, spending extra on the Cosori or Philips alternatives will prove worthwhile long-term.