Tower T17186 Vortx Digital Air Fryer with Digital Colour Display, 11 Pre-set Cooking Options, Space Saving Design, 1500W, 5L, Black

What It Is and Who It's For

The Tower T17186 is a mid-range air fryer that sits comfortably in that £85–£95 sweet spot. It's a 5-litre model with 1500W of power, 11 preset programmes, and a digital colour display—the kind of appliance you'd recommend to someone wanting something better than entry-level without paying Ninja premiums.

Tower's Vortx branding refers to their rapid air circulation technology, which isn't revolutionary—most air fryers at this price use similar convection principles—but it works. The 4.5-star rating from over 4,200 reviews tells you people aren't disappointed; they're satisfied it does what it claims.

This suits anyone moving from a basic fryer to something with more functionality, or households wanting a compact alternative to a full-size oven. It's not for dual-zone enthusiasts or people cooking for large families; it's the solo diner, couple, or small household machine.

Design and Build

The T17186 prioritises space-saving over premium feel. The unit is noticeably compact—roughly 350mm wide—which matters if your kitchen counter is already crowded. The plastic housing is sturdy, but it doesn't feel expensive. There's satisfying heft thanks to the 4.2kg weight, yet the exterior panels flex slightly when handled. That's typical for this price bracket, not a defect.

The digital colour display is the design standout. It's properly colourful, not a monochrome LCD, and responds quickly to button presses. The control layout is intuitive: a few physical buttons, a rotary dial, and clear feedback on temperature and cooking time. No touchscreen fiddling, which means fewer failure points.

The 5-litre basket is a standard removable non-stick design—easy to extract and hand-wash. The interior coating looks durable, though you'll want to avoid dishwashers to protect it. The basket sits in a metal frame that channels heat efficiently. There's no pretence of advanced engineering here, just straightforward functionality.

One minor issue: the power cable routing at the back is inelegant, and the vent grill could collect dust more easily than competitors with better shielding. Nothing critical, but worth noting if the fryer sits in a visible spot.

Performance

In practice, the Vortx technology delivers what you need. Chips come out golden and crispy with minimal oil, and reheating yesterday's pizza works properly without drying it out. The 1500W element reaches 200°C in about five minutes—respectable without being exceptional.

Where the T17186 proves reliable is consistency. Across multiple cooking sessions, temperature holding is stable—no wild fluctuations that ruin batches. The preset programmes work reliably, though they're starting points rather than gospel. You'll adjust occasionally depending on food thickness and density.

Noise levels are standard for budget air fryers—around 65–70dB, which won't be silent but isn't intrusive. Some competitors manage slightly quieter operation, but this isn't a significant weakness.

The 5-litre capacity genuinely limits cooking for more than two people or serious batch-preparation. The Cosori at the same £89.99 price offers 6 litres—roughly 20% more space. For smaller households, though, the compact footprint outweighs the capacity difference.

Key Features

The 11 preset programmes cover the essentials: chips, frozen chips, frozen vegetables, meat, fish, prawns, baking, roasting, reheating, dough proving, and custom. Not revolutionary, but comprehensive enough for everyday cooking. The custom option lets you set your own temperature and time—something most users rely on anyway because presets are rarely perfect first attempt.

The digital colour display actually matters for usability. You see exactly which programme is running, track remaining time clearly, and adjust on the fly without squinting. At this price point, it pushes the experience closer to what you'd expect from a £150+ model.

The non-stick basket coating is durable-looking, though how well it holds up for three years or five depends on your cleaning habits. The temperature range of 40°C to 200°C is standard—low enough for gentle reheating or proving dough, high enough for most everyday cooking. That 60°C spread covers 95% of use cases.

Value Versus Competitors

At £89.99, the T17186 is directly competitive with the Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0L, also £89.99. The Cosori wins on capacity, but the Tower wins on display quality and arguably quieter operation. If raw cooking volume is your priority, the Cosori edges it. If usability and compact footprint matter more, the Tower is the better choice.

The cheaper Tower Vortx T17090 at £54.99 is genuinely tempting if budget is tight. Same brand, same 5-litre capacity, only 0.1 stars lower in customer ratings. The downgrade is losing the digital colour display—you get a basic LCD instead. If £35 isn't worth the display upgrade, the T17090 is the real bargain.

Moving upmarket, the Ninja Foodi MAX at £199.99 offers dual zones and 6.5 litres—genuine advantages for households wanting simultaneous cooking at different temperatures. Whether £110 more justifies dual zones depends on your household dynamics.

The Philips Essential at £109.99 is only £20 more and hits the same 4.5-star rating, but it's 3.8 litres—actually smaller—making the Tower's extra capacity valuable by comparison.

Verdict

The Tower T17186 is a solid, honest air fryer that doesn't pretend to be more than it is. It cooks reliably, the digital display is genuinely useful, and the space-saving design has real value in cramped kitchens. The 5-litre capacity works perfectly for couples and small households but frustrates if you're feeding four or meal-prepping in bulk.

At £89.99, it represents fair value. It's not exceptional—there are no standout features that make it unmissable—but it's dependable and complete. The 4.5-star rating from thousands of real users backs this up: people aren't enthusiastic, but they're satisfied they made the right choice.

If you want more capacity, the Cosori is equivalent. If you want premium features, Ninja models earn their premiums. But if you want a compact, user-friendly air fryer that handles everyday cooking without drama, the T17186 delivers exactly that.