10 November 2026 · My Store Admin

COSORI Pro LE 4.7L vs Tower 4L digital air fryer: which should you buy?

Last updated 10 November 2026. Written by the Clean Smile Home team. We sell both of the air fryers in this guide, so we've tried to be clear about where each one falls short. We don't run our own lab tests: cooking and noise findings come from the independent reviewers named in the sources at the end, and specifications come from COSORI's user manual and Tower's own product page.

The short answer

Buy the COSORI Pro LE 4.7L if you cook for three or four, want hotter temperatures (up to 230°C), dishwasher-safe parts and a quieter fan. Buy the Tower 4L T17205AFR if you cook for one or two, mostly reheat and do frozen food, and would rather keep the £46 difference.

COSORI Pro LE vs Tower 4L at a glance

	COSORI Pro LE 4.7L (CAF-L501)	Tower 4L Digital (T17205AFR)
Our price (10 Nov 2026)	£82.79	£36.79
Basket capacity	4.7 litres (4.67L in the manual)	4 litres
Power	1,500 W	1,300 W
Temperature range	75 to 230°C	80 to 200°C
Timer	1 to 60 minutes	Up to 60 minutes
Presets	Chicken, fries, frozen foods, steak, seafood, bacon, vegetables, plus preheat and keep warm	Air fry, roast, grill, bake, reheat, keep warm
Shake reminder	Yes, on by default for fries, seafood and veg, and can be added to any setting	Yes
Basket coating	Non-stick, described as PFOA-free and BPA-free in the manual	Non-stick; Tower's page doesn't give coating details
Dishwasher-safe parts	Basket and crisper plate	Not stated on Tower's page
Size (H x W x D)	30.3 x 27.2 x 27.5 cm (manual)	27.8 x 25.0 x 36.6 cm
Weight	4.54 kg	About 3.4 kg (retailer figure; Tower doesn't list it)
Noise	COSORI claims under 55 dB; TechRadar measured 55.7 dB	No figure published
Warranty	2 years (manual)	1 year, plus 2 more if you register online

Two things in that table are worth flagging. First, sources disagree on the COSORI's top temperature: the manual and TechRadar say 230°C, while Ideal Home's review gives 200°C. We've gone with the manual. Second, Which? lists the COSORI as 38 cm deep rather than 27.5 cm, which is probably the size including the drawer handle. Measure your worktop depth with the handle in mind either way.

How the two air fryers differ

Capacity: 4.7 litres vs 4 litres

On paper, 0.7 litres doesn't sound like much. In practice it decides whether you cook in one batch or two. The COSORI's basket is square, which helps more than the extra volume suggests, because chicken thighs, fish fillets and sausages sit side by side instead of overlapping. Which? measured its usable maximum at 1.233 kg of food, and COSORI says it serves three to five people.

The Tower's 4 litre basket is a comfortable size for one or two people. It will take a bag's worth of frozen chips for two, a couple of salmon fillets, or four chicken thighs. Try to feed four from it and you'll be cooking in rounds, keeping the first lot warm in the oven while the second cooks.

A rough rule of thumb: one person needs about 2 to 3 litres, two people 3 to 4 litres, three or four people 4.5 litres and up. If you're on the line between the two, think about what you cook most. Chips and nuggets pile up fine. Anything that needs to lie flat, like fish or breaded chicken, needs floor space, and that's where the COSORI pulls ahead. Our guide on how to choose an air fryer goes into sizing in more detail.

Power and temperature

The COSORI runs at 1,500 W and reaches 230°C. The Tower runs at 1,300 W and tops out at 200°C. Most air fryer cooking happens between 180 and 200°C, so the Tower covers the everyday range. The extra heat on the COSORI matters for searing steak, finishing a crust and getting chips really crisp.

More power has a downside, and the reviews show it. Homes & Gardens, testing the US version, called it "almost too powerful for its own good": fries were done 8 minutes early and bacon charred within 6 minutes. Real Homes advised cutting about a third off packet cooking times. So if you buy the COSORI, check food early for the first few weeks rather than trusting the timings on the bag.

The Tower is gentler, which suits people who want to set it and walk away. We haven't found an independent test of the T17205AFR's cooking performance, so we can't quote measured results for it. More on that below.

Presets and controls

The COSORI has food-based presets: chicken, fries, frozen foods, steak, seafood, bacon and vegetables, plus a preheat button and keep warm. The Tower uses cooking-style presets: air fry, roast, grill, bake, reheat and keep warm. Both have a one-touch digital panel and a 60 minute timer.

We'd treat presets on both machines as starting points. The reviewers who tested the COSORI found several of its defaults off. Ideal Home found the bacon preset (165°C) too low and got crisp bacon in 8 minutes at 180°C. TechRadar found the 10 minute frozen food preset too short for steak-cut chips: even after 10 extra minutes some were undercooked in the middle. Real Homes also thought the bacon setting was too cool. Once you know your favourite times and temperatures, you'll mostly use manual mode anyway.

The COSORI's preheat button runs at 205°C for 4 minutes by default. The Tower has no dedicated preheat setting listed, but you can run it empty for a few minutes at your cooking temperature to get the same effect.

Shake reminder

Both have one. On the COSORI it is on by default for fries, seafood and vegetables, beeps five times and repeats after a minute if you don't pull the basket out. You can add it to any other setting. Shaking halfway is the single biggest thing you can do for even browning in either machine, so this feature earns its place.

Noise

This is the clearest win for the COSORI. COSORI claims it runs at under 55 dB, and TechRadar measured 55.7 dB, which it described as one of the quietest air fryers it had tested. That's slightly over the claim but still quiet; Homes & Gardens said the end-of-cycle beep was the loudest sound it made.

Tower doesn't publish a noise figure for the T17205AFR, and we haven't found anyone who has measured it. If you have an open-plan kitchen or cook while someone is watching TV, the COSORI's measured figure is the safer bet.

Cleaning

COSORI's manual says the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, and the reviewers agree. The weak point is the glass top panel: Ideal Home and Real Homes both said it marks easily, and Real Homes warned it can crack if you knock it. Wipe it with a soft cloth rather than anything abrasive. Homes & Gardens also noticed small pieces could fall through a hole in the crisper plate.

Tower's product page doesn't say whether the T17205AFR's basket can go in the dishwasher, so check the leaflet in the box before you try. Hand washing with warm soapy water and a soft sponge is the safe default for any non-stick basket and will make the coating last longer. Our step-by-step guide on how to clean an air fryer properly covers both.

Size on the worktop

The COSORI is the taller, squarer machine at about 30 cm high and 27 cm wide. The Tower is lower and narrower but deeper, at 36.6 cm front to back. Under wall cupboards, height matters most; on a narrow worktop, depth does. Both vent hot air out of the back, so leave the gap the manual asks for around each machine and don't run either one tucked under a cupboard that traps the steam.

Warranty

The COSORI manual gives a 2 year warranty. Tower gives 1 year as standard and adds 2 more years if you register the product online, for 3 years in total. That's a real point in the Tower's favour, as long as you remember to register. Do it the day it arrives and keep the confirmation email with your receipt.

What the reviewers found

COSORI Pro LE

The COSORI Pro LE has been reviewed widely since it launched in 2021. TechRadar called it "a sleek, stylish air fryer that's great for fries". Its homemade chips needed the 25 minute preset plus 5 more minutes and came out crisp, though not evenly browned, and chicken wings had crisp skin. Its main complaint was frozen food, where the preset was too short.

Ideal Home called it a "top pick for families" and the "perfect middle ground" between tiny and huge air fryers. Frozen chips were crisp in just under 20 minutes, well short of the 30 minute chips preset. Its downsides were the preset timings and the glass top marking easily.

Which? lists the COSORI and, in the part of the review visible without a subscription, says it "might be worth a look" if you want a basic air fryer without too many features. Its full scores are behind the paywall, so we can't tell you whether it is a Best Buy. Which? estimates its running cost at £20.34 a year on its own usage assumptions.

Put together, the picture is consistent: strong, quick, quiet, roomy for the size, and you need to learn its timings.

Tower T17205AFR

Here we have to be straight with you. We couldn't find any independent review of the T17205AFR: not from Which?, TechRadar, T3 or any of the usual names, and no retailer ratings under that model number either. Which? has tested other Tower air fryers, and older Tower 4 litre models such as the T17067 have been reviewed elsewhere, but those are different machines and we won't pass their results off as this one's.

What we can tell you comes from the spec sheet. It's a simple 1,300 W single-basket fryer with six presets, a 60 minute timer, a shake reminder, overheat protection and auto shut-off. For the money, that's a sensible set of features. If you'd like more detail, our post on everyday air frying with the Tower 4L covers how we'd use it.

A note on Tower's recall

You may have seen news of a Tower air fryer recall. In April 2025 the UK government published a recall for several Tower models made between January 2022 and April 2023, because they could overheat and catch fire. The models listed are the T17023, T17061BLK, T17067, T17087, T17129L and T17129. The T17067 is also sold as a "4 litre digital" air fryer, which is where the confusion comes from. The T17205AFR is not on the recall list. If you own one of the listed models, check the GOV.UK notice in the sources below.

COSORI had a large recall in 2023, but it covered the US, Canada and Mexico only and did not include the Pro LE. We found no UK recall for either model in this guide.

Running costs over three years

Both air fryers are cheap to run, but the numbers are worth seeing next to the purchase price. We've used the Ofgem price cap electricity rate for October to December 2026, which is 26.32p per kWh (the GB average for Direct Debit; your rate will differ by region and tariff).

To keep this honest, we've worked out the worst case: the fryer drawing its full rated power for the whole cook. In real use the heating element switches on and off to hold temperature, so actual use is lower.

	COSORI Pro LE (1,500 W)	Tower 4L (1,300 W)
Energy for a 30 minute cook	0.75 kWh	0.65 kWh
Cost per 30 minute cook at 26.32p/kWh	19.7p	17.1p
Four 30 minute cooks a week for 3 years (624 cooks)	£123.17	£106.75
Purchase price (our price, 10 Nov 2026)	£82.79	£36.79
Three-year total, worst case	£205.96	£143.54

So over three years the Tower comes out roughly £62 cheaper on these assumptions, and £46 of that is the price difference on day one. Two caveats. The COSORI's extra power means many foods cook a few minutes faster, as the reviewers above found, which narrows the energy gap. And if you'd otherwise cook for four in two rounds in the Tower, you'll use more electricity than one round in the COSORI. For a family, the gap shrinks to very little.

Either one is far cheaper per cook than heating a full-size oven for a small meal. Our piece on whether an air fryer really saves energy runs the comparison.

Who should buy which

You live alone or as a couple

The Tower. A 4 litre basket is plenty for two, and the lower price leaves room for a decent set of silicone liners or a meat thermometer. The 200°C ceiling won't hold you back for chips, chicken, veg and reheats.

You're cooking for a family of three or four

The COSORI. The square basket and higher heat mean one batch instead of two, which matters more on a weeknight than the purchase price. The dishwasher-safe basket helps too.

You mostly cook frozen food

It's closer than you'd think. Both handle chips, nuggets and fish fingers well enough. The COSORI's frozen preset was too short in TechRadar's test, so you'd be using manual settings anyway. If frozen food is all you cook, the Tower does the job for less.

You want steak, crispy skin and roast veg

The COSORI. Reaching 230°C and running at 1,500 W gives you a better sear and crisper edges. Just check early, because it runs hot.

You have an open-plan kitchen

The COSORI, on the strength of TechRadar's 55.7 dB measurement. We can't vouch for the Tower's noise because no one has published a figure.

You're buying as a first air fryer to see if you like it

The Tower. At £36.79 it's a low-risk way to find out whether you'll use an air fryer every day. If you outgrow it, it makes a good second fryer for sides.

You'd like an air fryer that does more

Neither of these is a multi-cooker. If you also want slow cooking, steaming or pressure cooking, read our pressure cooker vs multi-cooker comparison, which covers the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker and others.

Tips for getting the best from either air fryer

Start with less time than the packet says. Reviewers found the COSORI ran fast. A good rule is to set two thirds of the oven time, then check and add more.
Don't crowd the basket. Air needs to move around the food. A single layer with a bit of space beats a heaped pile, especially for anything breaded.
Shake or turn halfway. Use the shake reminder rather than ignoring it. Chips and veg need a shake; chicken and fish need turning with tongs.
Use a light spray of oil. A teaspoon or a few sprays is enough for fresh chips or veg. A refillable oil mister is kinder to non-stick coatings than aerosol sprays, which many manufacturers advise against.
Use wooden or silicone tools. Metal tongs scratch non-stick baskets. Once the coating is scratched, food sticks and cleaning gets harder.
Preheat for crisp food. Three or four minutes empty at your cooking temperature makes a noticeable difference to chips and breaded chicken.
Use a meat thermometer for chicken. Cooking times vary with size. Chicken is safe when the thickest part reaches 75°C.
Clean the basket after every use. Grease left to cook on again and again is what causes smoke and smells. Let it cool, then soak for 10 minutes in warm soapy water.

Short on ideas? Our 10 easy air fryer recipes for beginners work in both machines.

Common problems and how to fix them

Chips come out pale or soggy

Usually too much in the basket, too little oil or no preheat. Cook in a single layer, dry fresh chips well with a tea towel, toss in a teaspoon of oil and shake halfway. In the Tower, run at the full 200°C for the last few minutes.

Food is burnt outside and raw inside

The temperature is too high for the thickness of the food. Drop 20°C and cook longer. This is more likely on the COSORI because of its higher power, and it matches what TechRadar found with thick frozen chips.

White smoke during cooking

Fat from fatty foods like bacon, sausages or chicken thighs is hitting the hot basket. Pour off the fat partway through cooking and clean the drawer properly afterwards so old grease doesn't burn next time. Black smoke is different: switch off, unplug and check for burnt food on the element.

Plastic smell when new

Common for the first use or two with any air fryer. Wash the basket, then run the fryer empty at 200°C for 10 to 15 minutes with a window open. If the smell persists after a few runs, contact us or the manufacturer.

The fryer switches off mid-cook

Both have overheat protection. Make sure the vents at the back aren't blocked and there's space around the machine. Also check the drawer is pushed fully home after shaking.

Food sticks to the basket

Usually a worn or scratched coating, or food going in without any oil. Use a little oil, avoid metal tools, and try perforated baking paper for sticky marinades. Don't put paper in during preheat, because the fan can lift it into the element.

The COSORI's glass top is streaky

Wipe with a damp microfibre cloth, then buff dry. Avoid abrasive pads and keep heavy items off the top, since Real Homes reported the panel can crack.

Our verdict

For most households of three or more, the COSORI Pro LE is the better air fryer. It's bigger where it counts, hotter, quieter by a measured margin, and the basket goes in the dishwasher. Its weaknesses are presets that need adjusting and a glass top that shows every fingerprint, which are annoyances rather than deal-breakers.

For one or two people, the Tower 4L makes more sense than its price suggests. It does the everyday jobs, it comes with up to 3 years of warranty if you register it, and it costs less than half as much. Our hesitation is that no independent reviewer has tested this exact model, so you're relying on the spec sheet and Tower's reputation rather than published results. If that matters to you, the COSORI has the track record.

If you're still weighing up other brands, our COSORI brand guide and Tower brand guide cover the rest of each range, and our getting started guide for the COSORI Pro LE walks through the first week.

Frequently asked questions

Is the COSORI Pro LE worth the extra money over the Tower 4L?

For families of three or more, yes: the COSORI has a larger square basket, reaches 230°C instead of 200°C, has dishwasher-safe parts and measured just 55.7 dB in TechRadar's test. For one or two people who mainly cook frozen food and reheat, the Tower 4L does the same everyday jobs for £46 less.

How many people does a 4 litre air fryer feed?

A 4 litre air fryer like the Tower T17205AFR comfortably feeds one or two people in a single batch. For three or four people you'll usually need to cook in two rounds, especially for food that needs to lie flat such as fish fillets or breaded chicken.

Is the Tower T17205AFR part of the Tower air fryer recall?

No. The UK recall published in April 2025 covers the Tower T17023, T17061BLK, T17067, T17087, T17129L and T17129 made between January 2022 and April 2023. The T17205AFR is not on the list. Check the GOV.UK product safety notice if you own another Tower model.

What is the maximum temperature of the COSORI Pro LE?

COSORI's user manual gives a range of 75 to 230°C, and TechRadar's review also says 230°C. Ideal Home's review lists 200°C, so sources disagree, but we've gone with the manufacturer's manual figure.

Can you put the COSORI Pro LE basket in the dishwasher?

Yes. COSORI's manual says the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher-safe. Hand washing with warm soapy water and a soft sponge will still help the non-stick coating last longer.

Is the Tower 4L air fryer basket dishwasher safe?

Tower's product page for the T17205AFR doesn't say. Check the instruction leaflet that comes in the box before putting it in the dishwasher, and hand wash it with warm soapy water if you're unsure.

Which air fryer is quieter, COSORI or Tower?

The COSORI Pro LE has a measured figure: TechRadar recorded 55.7 dB and called it one of the quietest air fryers it had tested. Tower doesn't publish a noise figure for the T17205AFR and we couldn't find an independent measurement, so we can't compare them directly.

How much does it cost to run an air fryer for 30 minutes?

At the October to December 2026 price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh, a 1,500 W air fryer like the COSORI costs at most about 19.7p for 30 minutes, and a 1,300 W model like the Tower about 17.1p. Real costs are lower because the element cycles on and off once the fryer is up to temperature.

Do I need to preheat an air fryer?

You don't have to, but three or four minutes of preheating gives crisper chips and breaded food. The COSORI Pro LE has a preheat button set to 205°C for 4 minutes. On the Tower, run it empty at your cooking temperature for a few minutes.

Why are my COSORI air fryer chips overcooked?

The COSORI Pro LE runs hot for its size. Reviewers found food finishing well before packet times, and Real Homes suggested cutting about a third off. Set less time, check early and add more if needed.

What warranty do the COSORI Pro LE and Tower 4L come with?

COSORI's manual gives the Pro LE a 2 year warranty. Tower gives the T17205AFR 1 year as standard, plus 2 more years if you register it online, for 3 years in total.

Can I use baking paper in these air fryers?

Yes, as long as it's weighed down by food and you use perforated air fryer paper so the air can still circulate. Never put loose paper in during preheat, because the fan can lift it onto the heating element.

Sources

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