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Philips Viva Collection XXL HD9650/99 review 2022
This behemoth of an air fryer will cook for a whole family but the price is steep and it needs a big kitchen counter.
- Great capacity and cooking power
- Expensive
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- £299 at Currys
Details
| Price | £299 |
|---|---|
| Capacity (litres) | 7.3 |
| Functions | 5 |
| Functions include | Air fry, Grill, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Keep warm |
| Cooking zones | 1 |
| Cooking tiers | 1 |
| Timer | Digital |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | |
| Transparency | |
| Rotating basket | |
| Overall Finder score | ★★★★★ |
What can you cook in a Philips Viva Collection XXL HD9650/99?
Designed for the entire family, this XXL will cook 1.4kg worth of chips or 5 pork chops. It will also easily handle a whole roast chicken. It’ll zap frozen foods in minutes and you won’t need to add them in batches – just empty the bag into the generous square basket and hit your desired time and temperature.
The NutriU app (which comes tailored to each Philips model) will give you a wealth of recipes for free, ranging from Cajun fish fingers to ratatouille.
We wouldn’t recommend cooking super-wet dishes like stews in the XXL as it’s designed for drier methods like roasting and baking, not sautéing or slow cooking. A better option for those would be a multicooker air fryer, like the Ninja OP450UK.
How big is the XXL HD9650/99?
Given its lavish capacity, the XXL is bound to be bigger than most air fryers. Its height is a whopping 43cm, which is the tallest of all the air fryers we’ve reviewed. Compare that to the spacious Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK, at a height of 31.5cm, and the difference is stark. The XXL is under 40cm in width and depth, but it’s still a beast, so make sure you have enough kitchen space before buying one.
Is this model convenient to use?
The XXL is extremely convenient and easy to use. Once you attach the mesh tray to the basket, it’s all a matter of sticking your favourite foods in and manually setting the time and temperature. The buttons are clear and the dial is simple to turn with a max time of 60 minutes, and temperatures are as low as 40C and as high as 200C.
There’s no need to preheat, and cooking can be as easy as clicking one of the 5 presets (French fries/frozen snacks, chicken, meat, fish and baking). As with other Philips models, the XXL claims to grill and roast, though these functions aren’t visible to the user, which they are on Ninja models. Another downside is that Philips recommends you flip food halfway through cooking, although we think this is more for when ingredients are piled up rather than spaced out. The “keep warm” feature is great if you have a dinner party (or your kids take ages to turn up to a meal).
You’d think cleaning up would be tough with the mesh tray and large basket, but it’s the opposite. Hand washing removes grease easily or you can just throw it in the dishwasher.
Unfortunately, the XXL is not transparent nor does it have a rotating tool – unlike the Tefal Genius XL.
Philips Viva Collection XXL HD9650/99 customer reviews
The XXL has received rave reviews on Amazon and Currys. Many say they can’t live without one. They generally love the size and its cooking power. There are many comments on how the oil channels down to the bottom and how easy it is to clean.
Those who were displeased mentioned the price being a huge turn-off and that it ran out of power after a couple of years. However, the negative reviews were few and far between (based on 470 reviews and last updated in June 2022).
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fantastic capacity
- Can take a whole chicken
- Easy to clean
- Easy to use the presets
Cons
- Expensive
- Consumes more electricity than some
- Durability questions in reviews
- Not transparent nor rotating
Our verdict: Is the Philips Viva Collection XXL HD9650/99 any good?
If you have the space and want to invest in an excellent air fryer for a family of 4 to 6, then this XXL is one of the best choices out there. Its ease of use, cooking prowess, grease deposits and ease of cleaning make this one of the standout picks of any air fryer we’ve reviewed. At 2,225 watts, its power does come at a cost (of electricity), but it’ll cook food fast and won’t require much turning.
It is expensive and the lack of a viewing window may leave you guessing initially, but the smell of crispy chicken after a few uses makes this XXL a worthy consideration for your kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
Finder air fryers scores
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
We rate air fryers based on the aspects that matter to you. We explain what goes into our scores in our guide to ratings.
Review by
Reemul Balla
reemul.balla@finder.comReemul is a writer at Finder, specialising in product reviews and news. He's a qualified journalist having worked at local papers in the UK covering breaking news, food and restaurant reviews. He has an MA in Film from UCL and a BA in History and French from Durham University.
Expert review
The XXL lives up to its name as the biggest air fryer in the business. It’ll stand big and tall in your kitchen, but it remains an elegant machine.
Its cooking capacity is one of the best we’ve reviewed. Seasoned chicken thighs came out crispy and piping hot in the middle after 25 minutes. The oil nicely seeped into the basket and cleaning it up was no sweat.
It is one of the most expensive air fryers we’ve seen. It will also use a bit more electricity than others, and it will leave a big kitchen footprint, but its cooking power, capacity and ease of use are solid reasons to have one on your wish list.
