Is the Breville Die-Cast Toaster Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Apr 2026) and Reviewed (Oct 2025). How we score
Save $146Depends. GE 2-Slice for most people.
Amazon prices as of Sep 30, 2:51 AM EDT (details)
Why
The testers split. Reviewed calls it "the best toaster we've tested" and praises its "top-notch toasting of bread and thick (sliced) bagels": "It's pricey, but we recommend it if you want the best." America's Test Kitchen liked the features ("This toaster felt high tech") but "had trouble evenly toasting bread, as this model consistently made toast with pale spots," and rated the GE 2-Slice higher for performance. You're paying for the motorized lift, the Lift & Look and A Bit More buttons, and the build. Splurge if you want the motorized lift and extra buttons; save if you just want evenly toasted bread.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Breville Die-Cast
2-Slice Toaster
Average of 2 testers: America's Test Kitchen 10 · Reviewed 8
Average of 2 testers: America's Test Kitchen 7 · Reviewed 9
America's Test Kitchen's Best Conventional Toaster, rated higher than the Breville for performance (2.5 vs 2 of 3): "This affordable toaster was sleek and produced relatively evenly toasted slices of white bread and bagels in under 2 minutes." Reviewed ranks it below the Breville but found it toasts evenly and consistently. No motorized lift or A Bit More button, and "The sides and top of the toaster get hot during use."
| Criterion | Breville Die-Cast | GE 2-Slice |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Ease of use | 3/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Speed | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Cleanup | 3/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Toasters (updated Apr. 15, 2026)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Toasters (updated Apr. 15, 2026), Reviewed: The Best Two-Slice Toasters of 2026 (updated Oct. 22, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
CPT-122 2-Slice Compact Toaster
From 1 tester: Reviewed
From 1 tester: Reviewed
Reviewed's Best Value toaster, from the same roundup that ranks the Breville first: "Despite its rock-bottom price, the Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact is beautifully designed and performs well." "When we toasted five 2-slice batches in a row on medium, we got 10 slices of identical toast in about six minutes." The catch: it's lightweight plastic, and "a fat New York-style bagel is a tight fit."
Sources: Reviewed: The Best Two-Slice Toasters of 2026 (updated Oct. 22, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is the Breville Die-Cast toaster worth it?
Reviewed says yes if you want the best, calling it "the best toaster we've tested." America's Test Kitchen found it "consistently made toast with pale spots" and rated the much cheaper GE 2-Slice higher for performance. Its extras (motorized lift, Lift & Look, A Bit More) are the main reason to pay more.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Toasters (updated Apr. 15, 2026), Reviewed: The Best Two-Slice Toasters of 2026 (updated Oct. 22, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
