Is the Smeg 4-Slice Toaster Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Apr 2026). How we score
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Why
America's Test Kitchen's verdict on the Smeg 4-Slice: "This toaster is like a sports car: beautiful, expensive, and a bit unreliable." It "often toasted evenly, but it took nearly 3 minutes to get there," the slowest in ATK's lineup. The exterior got hot, toast sometimes flew out of the slot, and "The bagel function worked in reverse as compared to standard toasters." ATK's Best Conventional Toaster, the GE 2-Slice, rated higher for performance and toasted in under 2 minutes for a fraction of the price. Its slots are standard two-slice size, so for long artisan slices look at the Magimix Vision instead. Buy the Smeg for the retro look, not the toast.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Smeg 4-Slice
2-Slice Toaster
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's Best Conventional Toaster, rated higher than the Smeg for performance (2.5 vs 2 of 3) and full marks for speed against the Smeg's 1: "This affordable toaster was sleek and produced relatively evenly toasted slices of white bread and bagels in under 2 minutes." It toasts two standard slices, not four or long ones, and like the Smeg, "The sides and top of the toaster get hot during use." The GE listing doesn't state a warranty.
| Criterion | Smeg 4-Slice | GE 2-Slice |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Ease of use | 2/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Speed | 1/3 | 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), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
the 'A Bit More' 2-Slice Toaster
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
Rated Recommended by America's Test Kitchen, and higher than the Smeg for performance and ease of use: "This model produced nice medium and dark brown toast, although it took a little longer than other models and hardly toasted on its lowest setting." Its A Bit More button adds a short extra cycle, much like the Smeg's reheat function that ATK liked. Two standard slots. Watch the model number: ATK rated Breville's four-slice long-slot Bit More (BTA730XL) much lower after a retest.
| Criterion | Smeg 4-Slice | Breville Bit More |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Ease of use | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Speed | 1/3 | 2/3 |
| 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), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
CPT-142 4-Slice Compact Toaster, White
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
The four-slot option from the same America's Test Kitchen test, for households that toast four slices at once. "It was speedy and efficient but toasted both sandwich bread and bagels unevenly, leaving significant pale spots," so it rated below the Smeg for performance (1.5 vs 2 of 3) but far above it for speed and ease of use. It toasts two or four slices at a time, and "Its crumb tray was easy to clean." The listing doesn't state a warranty.
| Criterion | Smeg 4-Slice | Cuisinart CPT-142 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2/3 | 1.5/3 |
| Ease of use | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Speed | 1/3 | 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), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is the Smeg 4-slice toaster worth it?
Not for the toast. America's Test Kitchen called it "beautiful, expensive, and a bit unreliable" and timed it at nearly 3 minutes per batch. Its much cheaper GE 2-Slice rated higher for performance and speed. Buy the Smeg if the retro design matters most to you.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Toasters (updated Apr. 15, 2026), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
