Philips XXL Connected review - should you buy an app-controlled air fryer?

The Philips XXL Connected Air Fryer looks like a lot of air fryers on the market. Sleek, matte and black, it's got a modern design that's not intimidating. Conventional looks aside though, this air fryer features some interesting elements that set it apart from the competition. 

I've reviewed many of the best air fryers on the market, but I've yet to try an air fryer that can be connected to an app on your phone. As a smart tech (and gimmick) averse editor, I was curious to try an air fryer that can be controlled by my phone - feature that you won't find with rivals such as Instant and Ninja air fryers. 

Although the smart controls didn't feel necessary for my lifestyle, it's a nice-to-have feature that works as expected and can come in handy if you want to start (or stop) your air fryer while on your commute home. The most impressive thing about the Philips XXL Connected Air Fryer is the power. Its strong air circulation cooked my food incredibly fast, and gave a crispy finish that rivalled deep-fried foods. 

Philips XXL Connected Air Fryer specifications

• RRP: £189.99
• Dimensions: H33 x W30 x D41 cm
• Modes available: Fry, bake, grill, roast, dehydrate, toast, defrost, reheat
• Dishwasher safe? Yes

My first impressions of the Philips XXL Connected

The Philips XXL Connected is a weighty air fryer, and I had some difficulty getting it out of the large box it came in. As with all fryers, it comes fully assembled and after a quick rinse to remove residue from manufacturing, you're ready to plug in and go. 

This air fryer has pre-set cooking modes for different food types such as fish, chicken, chips, etc. These are marked by (sometimes confusing) pictures of the food, and when you press on an icon it will come up with a pre-set temperature and timer. Alternatively you can toggle with both elements manually, although I found it annoying that I couldn't increase or decrease temperature very fast. When holding the button down it took one second to increase or decrease by one minute until you'd skipped through five minutes, after which point the timer sped up. 

How does the Philips XXL Connected perform?

My first test was to bread some chicken breast and air fry it with just a little low-cal spray. I was interested to see if the Philips XXL Connected would crisp up my breadcrumbs without any oil. I cooked them for ten minutes, noticing that (much like a Ninja air fryer) there's no pre-heat with this air fryer - it starts counting down the second you press start, before it's hit your target temperature. Despite this, my chicken was cooked (if anything, a bit tough and overcooked!) after 10 minutes at 190 degrees, with a good crisp on the breaded layer thanks to the Philips XXL Connected's strong circulation. I did find that my chicken could've done with being flipped over halfway through cooking, because the goujons were more crisp on the top than the bottom. Again, some air fryers will give you a reminder to flip your food halfway through cooking, which is something the Philips lacks. 

I always test bacon in an air fryer. Some, like my go-to Instant Vortex, cook it in a matter of minutes but without blowing it around the cooking basket, leaving it in a tangle rather than in crisp strips. Unfortunately, I did have this problem with the Philips XXL Connected, which isn't necessarily an indication of any flaws on the machine, just its powerful airflow that can blow lighter foods around the basket with ease. My bacon was still crisp, but more cooked in some places than others because of the way the bacon had stuck together. 

Finally, I cooked some frozen wedges in the air fryer. I like to test cooking food from frozen because this is one of the best uses of air fryers - taking the convenience of frozen food to the next level with a crispy finish in a lot less time. Sure enough, my chips were done after 12 minutes, with a crispiness that was audible when I shook them around the basket.

Another feature that sticks out with the Philips XXL Connected is that its basket insert lifts out from the base. Most air fryers I've tried have a grate that slots into the bottom of the basket and can be lifted out without removing the handle of the basket, but in the Philips this grate is connected to the handle, meaning you can't cook directly on the base of the basket - something I do if I'm reheating food or cooking something a bit saucier in my go-to air fryer. 

The lift-out basket does have its perks though - I found it incredibly easy to tip food onto my plate without worrying about spilling any fallen oil while pouring, and when I'd done pouring I could slot the insert back into the base without having to touch the hot metal. 

When it comes to app-compatibility, I had to download Philips' NutriU App to access this. Connecting to the air fryer was easy, and I was then able to turn on my air fryer or edit the timer using my phone from the living room as opposed to having to go to the kitchen again. This was of limited use to me though, because I still needed to go to the kitchen to check on my food, shake it so it cooked evenly, and of course, add it to the basket in the first place. One thing I could imagine being really handy with this air fryer is leaving something like a jacket potato in there before you go to work, and then switching the air fryer on while you're heading home so you walk in to a freshly-cooked jacket spud. 

Another perk of the app is the range of recipes it comes from. If you're an air fryer newbie, these are a really good way of getting stuck into the world of air frying. 

How does the Philips XXL Connected compare?

With a smaller capacity but also a lower price, the Ninja Air Fryer MAX PRO 6.2L has a lot of the features I missed with the Philips, such as the reminder to shake my food halfway through, and the removable base insert that allows me to cook food straight on the base of the basket. 

Another good alternative is the Instant Vortex Slim 5.7L Air Fryer, which is the one I tend to use when I'm not reviewing. It's a slimline air fryer that has a dial to control temperature and time, which feels very user-friendly. It also has a pre-heat, meaning you may get more accuracy with cooking times. 

Should you buy the Philips XXL Connected Air Fryer?

The Philips XXL Connected is one of the most powerful air fryers I've tested, but it does lack a few of the convenience features I enjoy from rival air fryer companies. Where this air fryer stands out is its smart features. The app compatibility, although not massively convenient in my work from home routine, would be incredibly handy for those who commute or who simply want to check out new recipes for their air fryer all in one place. If that appeals, this is the air fryer for you. 

About this review, and the reviewer

Millie Fender has been reviewing air fryers for nearly five years. A keen home cook in her spare time, she loves to bring her two passions together by reviewing kitchen appliances for woman&home's shopping channel. As woman&home's Head of Shopping, Millie will continue to test the latest air fryer launches and report back to keep this review updated after prolonged testing.