Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer review: a strong first step into the stacked air fryer market

Not many people realise that Philips actually designed the world’s first air fryer back in 2010 (file that away for your next pub quiz), so I always get a little excited when the brand launches something new. The Philips 5000 Series was my favourite air fryer release of 2025 and quickly shot to the top of our best air fryer guide, so I had pretty high expectations for the new Philips 4000 Series.

This time around, Philips has gone for a stacked design with equal-sized baskets, which immediately sets it apart from its predecessors. It also looks a bit different to what we’re used to, but now brings some useful new features that I couldn’t wait to try out.

Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer review: price and availability

The Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer has an RRP of £270 (roughly $320) but it’s currently discounted to £169.99 at several retailers, including Amazon, Currys and John Lewis.

I’m not entirely sure why this discount has appeared so soon after launch, but it just makes it more affordable, so who’s complaining?

Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer review: design and features

The 4000 Series immediately stands out with its thoughtful, space-saving design. Unlike traditional air fryers that dominate your countertop, this model follows recent trends with two stacked baskets, making the most of vertical space. The exterior is sleek and modern, and the controls feel premium and intuitive to the touch.

One of the biggest design highlights is the dual-basket system, featuring separate temperature and time settings for each 5-litre basket. It’s a huge convenience for families or anyone who meal preps, and despite loving the smaller basket in the 3000 and 500 Series for sides, it's nice to have two large baskets at once.

Another standout feature is that both baskets have viewing windows and internal lights, which is probably one of my favourite things about this model. You no longer have to keep opening the baskets and letting cold air in, which slows cooking time – so it’s a small feature that makes a surprisingly big difference.

The 4000 Series also features Philips’ Rapid Air Technology, circulating hot air quickly and efficiently for crispy, evenly cooked results. There are 13 cooking functions, including air fry, bake, grill, roast and more, plus six ingredient presets to make cooking simpler.

Cleaning is also easy, with both baskets and crisper trays being dishwasher-safe. Each basket also has a non-stick coatings, meaning food releases easily.

Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer review: performance

After a few weeks of using it, I can confidently say the Philips 4000 Series is a really strong entry into the stacked air fryer market. The design is excellent overall, but my absolute favourite feature has to be the viewing windows and built-in light. Once you’ve used an air fryer where you can actually see your food cooking, it’s very hard to go back. Being able to check progress without opening the basket just makes life easier, and I really hope Philips keeps this feature in future models.

The interface is another win. If you’ve ever used a Philips air fryer before, you’ll feel right at home here. It’s clean, intuitive and almost identical to previous models, so there’s very little learning curve involved.

Check out my TikTok below to see the air fryer itself in action:

In terms of performance, food was always cooked through, which I’ve put down to Philips’ Rapid Air technology. However, it did take a bit of time to get used to cooking times, especially as the 4000 Series feels slightly different in how it cooks compared to the 5000 Series. I found manual settings needed a little longer, whilst some presets ran a bit too long and could overcook food if left unchecked. Thankfully, those viewing windows came very handy whilst I was getting to everything.

You’ll also need to shake food a bit more often than with older models. Unlike the 5000 Series, which reminds you halfway through, the 4000 Series tends to beep every 10 minutes or so. This isn't a dealbreaker for me, but it does stop you getting too comfy on the sofa whilst dinner's cooking.

My biggest gripe is the basket design. Because of the rear grate (presumably to improve airflow), you can’t really soak the baskets in soapy water – something I’ve always done with my air fryer. It also means you need to be careful when cooking fatty foods like sausages, as grease can drip out when you’re handling the baskets. For this model, I’d actually recommend using paper or silicone liners, even though I usually prefer washing the baskets properly after each use.

That aside, once you get the hang of it, the results are excellent. The viewing windows, simple controls and overall design make the Philips 4000 Series a very enjoyable air fryer to use – with just a few quirks to be aware of.

Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer review: verdict

The Philips 4000 Series is a confident and well-executed step into the stacked air fryer space. Its standout viewing windows, built-in light and intuitive controls make everyday cooking easier, whilst results are consistently strong once you’ve mastered the timings. It's not entirely perfect, as the basket design limits soaking and cooking times take a little getting used to, but these aren't an excuse not to buy. If you like the idea of a stacked air fryer with great visibility and classic Philips reliability, the 4000 Series is a great choice.

Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket Air Fryer review: alternatives to consider

If you’re weighing up alternatives, the Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer has a similar stacked design and is only 0.5 litres smaller in capacity, but it lacks a viewing window and is slightly more expensive – so I know which one I’d pick.

Another option is the Philips 5000 Series, which despite being much bigger horizontally and also doesn’t have a window, it's still one of the best air fryers I've ever tested. I love its dual steam and air fry function, and the cooking results were slightly easier to get a hang of, but that’s down to personal preference.