Is the Smeg 2-Slice Toaster Worth It?
Based on tests by Reviewed (Oct 2025). How we score
Save $180Depends. GE 2-Slice for most people.
Amazon prices as of Sep 30, 2:51 AM EDT (details)
Why
Reviewed's take: "If you're looking for a conversation piece, the Smeg 2-Slice Toaster is your pick." It isn't only looks: "As you would expect for the price, it offers excellent toasting." But the same roundup found the GE 2-Slice "toasts evenly and produces three distinct shades of doneness," and named the Cuisinart CPT-122, which toasts "evenly and very quickly," its Best Value. So the extra money buys the retro design and finish. Splurge if the retro look matters to you; save if you just want even toast.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Smeg
2-Slice Toaster
From 1 tester: Reviewed
From 1 tester: Reviewed
Reviewed lists "Even toasting" and "Consistent toasting" among its pros, the same toasting praise the Smeg gets, plus "Sturdy and well built." Its one con: it "Struggles to pop up English muffins." It's plain stainless steel, with no retro styling. America's Test Kitchen named it its Best Conventional Toaster, but ATK tested a different Smeg (the four-slice), so that test isn't used in this comparison.
Sources: Reviewed: The Best Two-Slice Toasters of 2026 (updated Oct. 22, 2025), America's Test Kitchen: The Best Toasters (updated Apr. 15, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
CPT-122 2-Slice Compact Toaster
From 1 tester: Reviewed
From 1 tester: Reviewed
Reviewed's Best Value toaster: "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." It's lightweight plastic, though, 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 Smeg toaster worth it?
For the look, yes, and Reviewed says it "offers excellent toasting" too. But the same test found the GE 2-Slice toasts evenly and consistently, and named the Cuisinart CPT-122 its Best Value, each for a fraction of the price.
Which Smeg toaster is this?
The two-slice TSF01, the model Reviewed tested. America's Test Kitchen tested Smeg's four-slice long-slot model, which it called "beautiful, expensive, and a bit unreliable."
Sources: Reviewed: The Best Two-Slice Toasters of 2026 (updated Oct. 22, 2025), America's Test Kitchen: The Best Toasters (updated Apr. 15, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
