Tower T17021 Vortx Air Fryer Review — The Best Budget UK Air Fryer?

A Proper UK Brand Worth Paying Attention To

Tower is one of the UK’s most popular kitchen appliance brands — sold in Argos, Currys, Robert Dyas, and Amazon UK. They don’t have the global marketing budget of Ninja or the US-focused branding of Cosori. What they have is affordable, well-built appliances designed specifically for UK kitchens.

The T17021 Vortx is their core air fryer model — a 4-litre, 1,500 W machine at around £50. I tested it alongside my Cosori Pro II and Ninja AF101 to see whether the savings were meaningful or whether you’d regret not spending more.

Tower T17021 Specs

Note the 2-year warranty — longer than Ninja’s standard 1 year.

How I Tested It

Six weeks, cooking for 2–4 people (I used it for weekday lunches with the two younger children and for evenings when my husband was away, so cooking for three rather than five). 35 total uses. Chicken thighs, fish fillets, chips, sausages, vegetables, reheated leftovers, and frozen foods.

What Works

Cooks just as well as more expensive models

This was the finding I did not expect. At equivalent temperatures and times, the Tower T17021 produced chicken thighs, chips, and roasted vegetables that were indistinguishable from the same foods cooked in the Cosori Pro II. The airflow system is effective, heat is even, and there are no obvious cold spots.

For basic air frying — the thing 95% of people use these machines for — the T17021 performs at the level of machines costing twice as much.

Compact footprint

The T17021 is notably smaller than the Cosori Pro II or Ninja AF101. At 29 × 26 cm it fits easily under low cupboards and takes up minimal counter space. For smaller kitchens this is not a trivial consideration.

Excellent 2-year warranty

Tower’s standard warranty is two years. Ninja and Cosori both offer one year on their comparable models. For a budget purchase, the extended warranty is meaningful reassurance.

Easy to clean

Basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe and handwash in under two minutes. The exterior wipes clean easily. Build quality feels solid — nothing about the T17021 feels cheap or flimsy during use.

Simple controls are not a disadvantage for most cooking

Two dials: temperature and timer. No digital display, no presets, no app connectivity. For someone who uses an air fryer primarily to cook chicken thighs, chips, and vegetables to temperatures they’ve already memorised, the simplicity is not a limitation.

What Doesn’t Work

4 litres is genuinely small for families

The 4-litre basket holds four chicken thighs comfortably. For a family of four cooking a proper batch, you’ll be cooking in two rounds. If you’re regularly feeding four or more people, buy the Tower T17086 (6 litres) or the Cosori Pro II (5.8 quarts).

30-minute maximum timer

Most chicken recipes finish in 22–25 minutes, so the 30-minute cap is fine in practice. The exception: whole chicken pieces from very cold, batch cooking at low temperature, or dehydrating, which can run longer. Not a problem for normal family cooking but worth knowing.

No digital precision

The temperature dial is not precisely calibrated — “200°C” on the dial may cook slightly hotter or cooler than exactly 200°C. In practice I found it ran a few degrees hot compared to my Cosori, meaning I reduced times by 1–2 minutes. Easy to account for once you know, but not as predictable as a digital-control machine.

No preheat function or indicator

Some cooks preheat their air fryer for 2–3 minutes before adding food. The T17021 has no preheat button or indicator, so you set a timer, let it run for 3 minutes, open and add food, then reset the timer. A minor inconvenience, not a dealbreaker.

Tower T17021 vs Ninja AF101 vs Cosori Pro II

Who Should Buy the Tower T17021

Buy it if: You’re on a tight budget, cooking for 1–3 people, want something simple without learning any digital controls, or are buying for an elderly relative who finds digital appliances confusing. The build quality is good, the cooking results are genuinely excellent, and the 2-year warranty is reassuring.

Skip it if: You’re cooking for four or more people regularly (buy the 6-litre Tower or the Cosori Pro II), you want digital precision and recipe presets, or you want to use dehydrate or bake functions at low temperatures for extended periods.

Tower vs Ninja: The Real Question

The Ninja AF101 costs about £20 more and offers digital controls, 4 cooking functions instead of 1, and a slightly larger capacity in the same physical footprint. If you’re deciding between these two: buy the Tower if budget is genuinely tight; buy the Ninja if you’ll use the digital precision and additional functions.

Neither is wrong for what they cost.

Verdict

The Tower T17021 Vortx does one thing — air fry — and does it very well for very little money. The cooking results are not meaningfully different from machines costing £90+. The limitations (small capacity, manual controls, 30-minute timer) are real but predictable given the price point.

For a first air fryer, a kitchen with limited space, or anyone who doesn’t need digital controls and presets, the T17021 is the right choice.

[CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON]

FAQs

What’s the difference between the Tower T17021 and T17086?
The T17086 is the 6-litre version of the same basic design. Same controls, higher capacity, slightly higher wattage (1,700 W), higher price (~£65). If you’re feeding 4+, buy the T17086.

Is Tower a reliable brand?
Yes — Tower has been manufacturing UK kitchen appliances since 1912. Their air fryers consistently score well in UK consumer reviews and their 2-year warranty reflects genuine confidence in build quality.

Does the Tower T17021 have a light inside?
No interior light. You need to open the basket to check food progress. Minor inconvenience, normal at this price point.

Can I use foil in the Tower air fryer?
Yes, with caution — don’t cover the entire basket floor (blocks airflow) and don’t let foil touch the heating element. Use it to line the bottom only, or use silicone liners instead.