Breville Halo Flexi VDF130
Breville
A Full-Size Oven Squeezed Into an Air Fryer's Footprint
Air fryers have a reputation problem: the ones small enough to sit on a countertop rarely have room for a proper family dinner, and the ones big enough for a family dinner tend to eat up half your worktop. The Breville Halo Flexi 11L Dual Oven Air Fryer sets out to solve that specific headache. Rather than being a single basket with a heating element bolted on top, it's built like a miniature double oven — two separate compartments behind two separate doors, each one capable of running its own programme, temperature and timer, or joining forces to cook one large meal.
That "dual oven" framing in the name isn't marketing fluff. It changes how you use the appliance day to day, and it's worth understanding exactly what you're getting before it lands on your counter, because this is a genuinely different category of air fryer to the single-basket models most people are used to.
Design and Build: What You're Actually Putting on Your Counter
Picture something closer to a compact microwave or a large bread bin than a typical air fryer basket, standing 37cm tall, 36cm wide and 30cm deep. That's a real footprint — you'll want to measure your worktop and check under-cabinet clearance before you commit, especially if you're used to a slimline single-basket model. At 7.6kg, it's substantial enough to sit firmly in place during cooking (no wobbling baskets mid-shake), but light enough that one person can reposition it for cleaning or storage without a struggle.
The two doors pull down and forward rather than sliding out like a drawer, which opens up the whole compartment for loading and unloading trays — genuinely useful when you're juggling multiple dishes and don't want to be fishing around blind. A digital touchscreen sits on top, controlling a viewing window and an internal light for both zones, so you can check on your food's progress without releasing heat by opening the door — a small feature that matters more than it sounds, since every door-opening resets your cooking time and lets moisture escape.
Inside, the cooking chamber isn't stainless steel — it's galvanised steel with a non-stick coating, which is worth knowing if you've specifically shopped for a stainless interior before. In practice this affects cleaning and coating longevity more than cooking performance, and it's consistent with how most air fryers in this price bracket are built.
One practical note on placement: given the appliance's power draw, it's designed to be plugged directly into a wall socket rather than an extension lead, and it needs a stable, heat-resistant surface with clear ventilation around it. The 1-metre cable is on the shorter side for a countertop appliance, so factor that into where your nearest socket sits.
Inside the 11-Litre Cooking Space: Two Zones, One Machine
The headline capacity is 11 litres, split into two 5.5-litre compartments by a removable central divider. Pull that divider out and you get one large single oven space; leave it in and you get two independent zones that can run completely different programmes at completely different temperatures.
To put that capacity in real terms: Breville states the combined space is enough for a whole roast chicken up to 2.2kg, and the listing suggests it's built to comfortably feed six or more people in one sitting. That's a genuine step up from the one- or two-portion basket fryers that dominate the budget end of the market — this is designed as a family appliance, not a snack machine. The manufacturer also cites a maximum food capacity of around 11kg based on frozen chips, which gives you a sense of just how much bulk food it can process in one batch when both zones are loaded and working together.
Sync and Match: The Two Modes That Actually Change How You Cook
This is where the "dual oven" concept earns its keep, and it's genuinely the standout feature of the whole appliance.
Sync Mode
Sync mode lets you cook two completely different dishes — different foods, different temperatures, different cooking times — and have them both finish at exactly the same moment. Chicken breasts in one side on a 20-minute air fry, roasted vegetables in the other on a 15-minute cycle: set them up separately and the machine works out the timing so dinner lands on the table together, hot, without you hovering over two timers.
Match Mode
Match mode does the opposite job: it locks both zones to the same settings simultaneously, effectively turning your 5.5-litre zones into one 11-litre batch cooker for when you need volume rather than variety — a big batch of chips for a party, or enough roast potatoes for a full table.
Between the two, you get flexibility that a single-basket air fryer simply can't offer, and it's the feature that will most change your actual cooking routine if you switch from a smaller machine.
Ten Presets, One Simple Dial: How the Programmes Work
Rather than making you guess at temperatures and times for every dish, the Halo Flexi ships with ten digital presets, each tuned to a specific type of food:
Air Fry — the standard all-rounder setting for everyday crisping
Turbo Crisp — a higher-intensity setting for extra-crunchy results
Roast — for joints and larger cuts
Reheat — bringing leftovers back to temperature without drying them out
Grill — direct top-down heat for browning and charring
Bake — oven-style cooking for cakes, pastries and bakes
Fries — dialled in specifically for frozen chips and fries
Chicken — tuned for poultry cuts and whole birds
Vegetables — lower, gentler heat suited to roasting veg without scorching
Steak — higher heat for searing results
Beyond the presets, you get full manual control too: a variable temperature range from 160°C to 240°C and an adjustable digital timer, so once you're comfortable with the machine you can move away from the presets and dial in your own settings for recipes that don't fit a standard mould.
It's worth noting that while "air fryer" is in the name, the Bake and Roast functions mean this appliance functions as a genuine countertop oven substitute for a lot of everyday cooking — not just crisping frozen food.
Temperature Range and Heating Power: What 2,400W Really Buys You
At 2,400 watts, this sits toward the higher end of countertop cooking appliances, and that power draw is what allows both 5.5-litre zones to reach cooking temperature quickly rather than one zone stealing power from the other. If you've used a lower-wattage dual-zone appliance and found one side lagging behind the other, that's the practical difference this spec addresses.
The trade-off worth knowing about: because this is an oven-style design with two full-size compartments to heat, rather than a compact single basket, actual cooking times tend to run a little longer than the smallest, fastest basket-style air fryers on the market. You're trading a bit of raw speed for a lot more capacity and versatility — a fair swap for most family cooking, but worth factoring in if your priority is the fastest possible weeknight turnaround for a single portion.
The Seven Accessories in the Box (and Why They Matter)
You're not left to buy separate trays and baskets to make use of the two zones — the kit is genuinely comprehensive out of the box:
| Accessory | Quantity | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Air fry basket | 2 | Standard crisping, one per zone |
| Airflow (mesh) tray | 2 | Maximising crisp on chips, wings, anything you want extra-crunchy |
| Small roasting tray | 2 | Individual-zone roasting and baking |
| Large roasting tray | 1 | Full-width dishes once the divider is removed |
Every one of these is dishwasher-safe, and there's a pull-out storage compartment underneath the main unit for stashing whichever trays you're not currently using — a detail that matters more than it sounds once you own an appliance with this many parts, since loose trays are usually the first thing to go missing in a busy kitchen.
The one component that draws consistent criticism is the removable basket handle, which some owners find fiddly to attach and detach, and which would be awkward to replace if lost. It's a minor gripe rather than a dealbreaker, but it's the kind of small design compromise that comes with fitting two full baskets behind narrow doors.
Real Kitchen Scenarios: What This Air Fryer Is Actually Like to Cook With
- Chips and crisping.
- The mesh airflow trays are the standout accessory here — they let hot air circulate on all sides of the food rather than just from below, which produces noticeably crisper results than a solid-bottomed basket. If chips, wings, or roast potatoes are a regular feature of your meals, these trays alone are worth the upgrade from a basic basket fryer.
- Combined meals.
- Running protein in one zone and vegetables or a starch in the other, synced to finish together, is where the two-door design genuinely changes your cooking routine — you stop thinking of the air fryer as a side-dish machine and start using it for the whole plate.
- Baking and roasting.
- With the divider removed, the full 11-litre space handles bakes, casseroles in an oven-safe dish, and larger roasting joints. One caveat worth knowing: because it's air-fryer-style circulation rather than a sealed oven cavity, very liquid-heavy dishes may need slightly adjusted cooking times compared to a conventional oven.
- Fresh, not just frozen.
- While the headline capacity figures are benchmarked against frozen chips, home-cut fresh potato chips work too — lightly oiled and shaken partway through, though expect somewhat longer cooking times than the frozen equivalent.
- Cleaning.
- Every removable part is dishwasher-safe, and the non-stick coating on the trays and baskets means most residue lifts easily even with a hand wash.
One point worth flagging for anyone cooking for a household with allergies or dietary restrictions: while the two compartments do reduce the chance of foods coming into direct contact with each other, they don't have fully separate air circulation. If cross-contact between allergens is a hard requirement rather than a preference, that's a genuine limitation to know about upfront.
Who the Halo Flexi Is Built For
This air fryer makes the most sense if:
- You're regularly cooking for four or more people and have outgrown a single-basket fryer
- You want to cook a full meal — protein, vegetables, and a side — without juggling multiple appliances or timers
- You've got a whole chicken, a joint of meat, or a large batch of a single dish on the menu often enough to want genuine 11-litre capacity
- You value flexibility (small trays for individual portions one night, one large oven space the next) over having the single fastest, smallest gadget on the counter
- You're comfortable with — or actively want — a countertop appliance that doubles as an air fryer, oven, grill and reheater in one unit
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Solo cooks and couples who mostly want quick single portions will find this oversized and slower than a compact basket fryer designed for smaller loads
- Kitchens with very limited counter space should measure carefully first — at 37cm tall and a 36×30cm footprint, this needs a genuine dedicated spot, not a squeeze between other appliances
- Anyone prioritising the fastest possible cook time above capacity and versatility will get quicker results from a smaller, single-zone basket air fryer
- Households needing guaranteed separated air circulation for strict allergen management should look at fully independent dual-unit appliances instead
How It Stacks Up Against Other Air Fryer Types
| Air fryer style | Typical capacity | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact single-basket | 2–5 litres | 1–2 people, fast weeknight meals | Limited to one dish at a time |
| Dual-zone basket (side-by-side baskets) | 7–10 litres combined | Small families wanting two foods synced together | Less oven-style versatility (no bake/roast trays) |
| Dual-oven, door-style (Halo Flexi VDF130) | 11 litres | Families of 6+, full meals, whole roasts | Larger footprint, slightly slower than basket-only designs |
The Halo Flexi occupies a distinct niche within dual-zone cooking: rather than two side-by-side baskets, it's built like a genuine small oven with two doors, which is what unlocks the roasting, baking and whole-chicken capability that basket-only dual-zone fryers can't match. If your main draw to a dual-zone appliance is speed and simplicity for two quick dishes, a basket-style dual-zone fryer will likely suit you better. If you want an appliance that can replace your everyday oven for smaller households or supplement it for larger ones, the oven-style format this appliance uses is the more capable choice.
Pricing on this model typically sits in the sub-£150 bracket, which places it competitively against other dual-zone appliances of similar capacity, while undercutting many of the larger combi-oven-style air fryers that offer comparable versatility.
Strengths and Trade-Offs: The Honest Take
The strongest case for the Breville Halo Flexi VDF130 is straightforward: very few air fryers at this size and price genuinely double as an oven substitute. The combination of a large capacity, a removable divider, and true independent-zone control with Sync and Match modes means it earns its "dual oven" name rather than just borrowing the term for marketing purposes. The mesh airflow trays produce excellent crisping results, the viewing windows and internal light are a small but genuinely useful touch, and the fact that every accessory is dishwasher-safe removes one of the more tedious chores that comes with an appliance this comprehensive.
Set against that, it's not a fast appliance in the way the smallest basket fryers are — the size that gives it its versatility is the same size that slows it down slightly compared to compact single-zone models. The basket handle is a genuine, if minor, design weak point. The interior isn't stainless steel, which will matter to some buyers and not at all to others. And the shared internal air circulation means it isn't a guaranteed solution for strict allergen separation, even though the two compartments help.
None of these are dealbreakers for the audience this appliance is built for — but they're the honest caveats worth weighing before you commit counter space to it.
The Verdict: Should You Buy the Breville Halo Flexi VDF130?
If you're cooking for a family, regularly find yourself wanting to serve more than one dish hot at the same time, or you've been eyeing a whole roast chicken in an air fryer rather than a conventional oven, the Breville Halo Flexi 11L Dual Oven Air Fryer is a genuinely strong option. It delivers real oven-style versatility in a footprint that, while not small, is far more manageable than running two separate appliances — and the Sync and Match modes solve a problem that most air fryers on the market simply don't address.
If your household is one or two people, your kitchen counter space is at a premium, or your priority is speed over capacity, you'll likely be better served by a smaller, faster basket-style model. But for larger households wanting one appliance that can genuinely handle a full family meal, this is a well-built, thoughtfully designed choice that earns its place as a countertop workhorse rather than a novelty gadget.
What People Say
173 commentsHalo Kitchen mini masterchef !
When I saw Breville had brought out this new mini oven, I knew that this was guaranteed to be a great quality little oven that really delivers on good cooking results , even if you can't cook..And it is.
This little oven takes all of the guesswork out of cooking different foods at the same time ..and finishing the two different foods at the same time for you . (Bye bye maths, hello just creating good food ).
It can also be used as a one little mini oven, or with dual drawers , which is so handy!.
It gets bonus points that it cooks Greggs sausage rolls and Greggs savoury bakes to perfection ,as well as chicken strips and wings .
If you are looking for a mini oven that's easy to keep looking spotless inside it , this could also be the oven for you. I know this since I've has my halo oven for a month and its still nice and shiny inside.
It is fantastic for small households , or for cooking snacks or sides for Christmas for slightly larger households, I'd say it's perfect for that.
It comes with lots of accessories ,such as little air fryer trays, baking trays , dual drawers , divider and a handy detachable handle and it has cute hidden convienient storage built into it underneath for to house the accessories so it offers truly brilliant value for money.
It has an impressive amount of cooking functions too!.
Just don't let the amount of accessories and buttons and functions scare you off . It is likely very easy to use for most people , and it's fantastic for people who have memory issues since the oven switches itself off once the food is cooked.
I'd also recommend it for people who feel unmotivated about cooking. Try it - you'll love it.
Exceeded Expectations, Fabulous Air Fryer!
I am so pleased with this air fryer, it's made mealtimes a joy and so much easier.
I've previously owned single basket types, but this has elevated things to a whole new level.
I love being able to put different foods in each side at different temperatures and synch them to finish together.
I mainly use the mesh trays and solid trays rather than a basket as it allows even better air flow I feel, and crispiness and feels more like an actual oven.
Removing the dividing wall is great too, and I've baked some nice mini almond cakes using
the bake function which turned out very well.
Jacket potatoes are a breeze.too, I do them for about 5 mins in microwave.then use the Turbo Crisp which crisps them up lovely at 240° in about 7 minutes.
The windows and light are great too, negating the need to keep opening the door and losing heat.
Very easy to clean too and looks smart in my kitchen.
Surprisingly it takes up very little room too, marginally more than my old one that had far less capacity.
I cant comment on longevity as not had it long enough but so far am thoroughly thrilled with it!
Brilliant, versatile
Bought this as a stop gap because oven / hob socket stopped working. However, this cooks great in less than half the time, so can’t see me going back to the oven. More I use it, more I can find it does. Apparently you can cook a soft boiled egg, although I haven’t tried this yet! Love the fact that 2 deep compartments take a sizeable amount of food, and that if I need a big compartment for a roast say, the middle divider can be taken out to make one big space. Baskets are high quality non stick with raised bit inside that can be taken out to out. Finally I have a real lack of worktop area, but this doesn’t take up an huge amount of space and fits under standard kitchen cupboards. Overall, for price, quality, performance, very pleased. 👍👍
A game changer in the kitchen!
The Breville Halo air fryer has revolutionised our cooking routine. Since its arrival, our traditional oven has been gathering dust!
We've been blown away by its versatility. From a succulent, medium-sized chicken to perfectly crispy pork crackling, the Halo delivers consistently impressive results. Even simple dishes like jacket potatoes, bacon, and sausages are elevated to new heights of deliciousness.
The Halo's efficiency is another major plus. It saves us both time and energy, making it a fantastic addition to any kitchen.
If you're looking for a reliable, efficient, and versatile air fryer, the Breville Halo is an excellent choice. It's definitely worth every penny!
Great all rounder
Recently bought this as a replacement for our old air fryer that died on us. We went for this one because of the make, we know we can trust Breville and the fact it is both a dual zone or one large zone. Great how it has shelves too so it gives lots of scope for various foods to be cooked at the same time.
Love the turbo crisp function and the storage drawer under the doors is great to keep everything together.
The display is very easy to understand and lovely and clear and bright and the flip reminder buzzer halfway through cooking is great too for any foods that need flipping.
Can't recommend this air fryer enough, well worth the money!
Brilliant - Worth Every Penny/Pence
Purchased to replace our Ninja Air Fryer/Slow Cooker as the versatility of the Breville Dual Oven Fryer is a better fit for our needs. Due to the design it fits nicely on the counter under the cupboard and I no longer have to pull the appliance out to use it (the Ninja was a top loader). I was able to make a full dinner ... air fried chicken thighs in the wire basket with new potatoes below on a tray in Zone 1 and roasted vegetables in a wire basket in Zone 2. I could have easily doubled the quantities to feed 4 adults. Easy to clean and the storage is brilliant. I don't foresee using our oven except when we want pizza!!
A Superb piece of kitchen Appliance
Bought this particular air fryer following a research and viewing customer purchase reviews. This appliance is so easy to use with a touchpad navigation panel, to select type of cooking mode and time. It has 2 door compartments with removable trays, baskets, and a divider for larger cooking items. There is a light facility allowing the user to view progress of cooking period to reduce possible overcooking. All trays are neatley stored in a compartment below the cooking compartments, they are non-stick and very easily cleaned. Cannot imagine being without this marvel of a appliance saving time, energy in the process.
Extremely Versatile
I purchased the Belleville to replace an existing traditional air fryer, and so far it's been extremely Versatile due to being able to remove the baskets and the wall in the middle to allow larger items to be cooked, as well as a traditional air fryer. Plus with the different type of cooking styles really helps too.
The only reason for not giving it 5 starts is due to the touchscreen keypad isn't particularly easy to use, either having to press quite hard for it to register what you're selecting, or sometimes it doesn't respond at all, and have to press a few times to get it to register.
Brilliant!
I have had a Ninja foodie for a few years which is great, does everything but make tea. However, everything has to go in and out via the lid on top, and as I am short this us a bit of a problem.
But the halo flexi dual oven is fantastic - opens at the front, two separate ovens that transform into one, multiple shelves, just like a full size oven. The doors open downwards so you can slide the food out onto them in order to get a good hold of the trays.
I shall miss the Ninja's steam function but the halo flexi ease of use and excellent cooking makes up for that.
Versatile machine.
This is absolutely brilliant! Doesn't dry out the food as the Ninja does and everything we've cooked in it was good. We haven't tried all the settings yet but I'm sure it's a fairly consistent machine. There's no need to pre-heat and it comes with its own trays and mesh baskets which is a bonus. Easy to wash up and you store them in a compartment at the bottom of the fryer. Each compartment cooks at a different temperature but there's room to cook 2 different foods in each compartment. We'll use this more often than we used our old Ninja.
Good versatility and range of functions.
I have used 3 times. Modes etc are easy to use. Like being able to use one side rather than the whole of it. Great to be able to store everything in the appliance. Haven't used both sides at once yet but the control panel is very straight forward. My only negative is the handle for the baskets is very difficult to fit on a hot basket so i have used oven gloves to hold the basket whilst I move things around with tongues. That could definitely be improved. So far though I am pleased with the appliance and would recommend.
It’s a CAPITAL NO from me .
Honestly I brought this to replace a less known brand and honestly it’s worse. It definitely doesn’t feed 10. I can’t wait fig one portion of fries in each compartment and if it’s not spread evenly and thinly it doesn’t cook properly. In my old one I could fit way more and it’s supposed to be 4liters smaller than this one. I can’t return it as I’ve used it but it’s a waste of money. I’ve took my old one back out the cupboard. Don’t waste your money. The functions are good and straightforward but that’s all.
Brilliant Product at a decent price
I recently bought this Air Fryer I have been thinking about one for a while I preferred this particular model because it basically could do anything it is a big size so you can do many items at once and can do many cooking modes as i am a newby with Air Fryers I wanted something that was easy to use and I am very impressed with it so easy to clean I like the colour the design and the maker I always tend to buy well known makes rather than ones I've not heard of very pleased with my purchase.
Plenty of choice programmes
This is an ideal size for 1 or 2 people. I like that it has a grill so as a combination fryer/oven is just right for me. However, with hindsight, the two small baskets are too small to do air frying in. You can't get many chips or veg or fish in just one, so I take the divider out and use a large mesh basket. I find food of any sort cooks quicker than my old table-top oven, which is good. Also trying to get things out of the storage at the bottom is very awkward even for small hands. Beware!
Best of both worlds!
I bought this a couple of weeks ago. I'd been debating whether to get an "air fryer" or an "air oven" when I discovered this! It takes up about the same space as a conventional air fryer. The reason I've only given it 4 stars is that the power cable is quite short & I wouldn't risk using an extension cable with it. As with all other air fryers/ovens it would be good if they came with a replaceable filter for the air outlet & a louder buzzer/beep to let you know when it's finished cooking.
Perfect
I bought this to upgrade my current air fryer. Excellent size for a family of 6. (Though it does depend on what your cooking). Love the fact you can cook in just one or both compartments simultaneously or remove the centre and use it as one big compartment to cook in. Only thing I think could make it better is if there were a large wire shelf to cook on when the air fryer is being used as a whole, rather than individual compartments, that for me would be a huge help! Hence the 4 stars.
Love it.
Bought to replace a well known brand that was unreliable and hard to keep clean. This Breville Airfryer is just so much better. Looks neat and works really well.
Used for about a month now and we still love using it. Some of the accessories store in bottom compartment (trays,wire baskets) and we love the versatility of it having two compartments that you can make into one.
Nice and easy to clean with a damp cloth. Would we recommend it …. YES without a doubt,
Fantastic Air fryer. Well worth the money
I brought the air fryer just after Christmas as mine was getting old. This one caught my eye as it can cool multiple foods at once. Can also be used as a oven. As it comes with its.own trays
You can use the smaller trays on top of the bigger yrayto cook two types off food. I am very happy with the air fryer would recommend it to anyone
Yes it was a bit more expensive than I was looking to spend I'm glad I did spend the little bit more for a better air fryer.
Great even for a Luddite like me!
Easy to use with a good range of preset functions but not an overwhelming number. Really helpful being able to convert to either 2 small ovens or 1 large one. Comes with a good number of trays (not all the ones I looked at did have these "extras"). Helpful that most bits are dishwasher safe to keep clean. I have resisted getting an air fryer for years as just a gimmick but after trying one while staying at a friend's, I am converted & so glad I have this now.
Brevillle Halo Flexi Air Fryer
What can I say I love love love this air fryer it's a game changer for me what you can cook in this is endless and being able to take the divider out instant large space at the bottom to use like an oven that's what sold me on this product and also being able to use it as a grill the preset buttons to cook is also very helpful can not recommend this enough and a bargain of a price compared to the high brow names that charged a fortune thank you Breville.
