ConsFirst / Toasters / Compare
Breville Bit More 2-Slice Toaster vs Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Breville Bit More 2-Slice Toaster ranks higher (#1 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on even toasting, batch-to-batch consistency, settings & features. Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster wins on easy cleaning.
The biggest complaint about the Breville Bit More 2-Slice Toaster is breaks or starts toasting one side; for the Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster it's one-sided or burnt toast. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Breville Bit More 2-Slice Toaster | Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in toasters | #1 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Type | 2-slice | 2-slice |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 20% | 13% |
| Overall score | 4.1 | 3.4 |
| Even toasting | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Batch-to-batch consistency | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Settings & features | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Easy cleaning | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $50 · $$ $50–150 · $$$ over $150. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Breville Bit More 2-Slice Toaster
- Breaks or starts toasting one side
Amazon's summary says durability gets negative feedback, with multiple owners reporting it broke after about 2.5 years, and others saying only one side toasts. Wirecutter has read reviews saying it starts toasting unevenly after a year or two, and a reader said one side stopped heating after 6 months.
- Lever won't stay down
Amazon's summary says several owners report the lever won't stay down.
- Pricey for a 1-year warranty; low lift
Wirecutter notes the 1-year warranty versus Cuisinart's 3 years, and long-term testers wish it lifted toast higher. Amazon owners are split on value.
Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster
- One-sided or burnt toast
Amazon's summary says some owners find it only toasts one side, or that one half of the toast gets almost burnt, and some report it caught fire. Wirecutter had two practically burned batches in back-to-back testing.
- Lever problems; low lift
Amazon's summary says the lever won't stay down for some owners. Wirecutter says the lever doesn't lift food out of the slot, so you risk burnt fingers.
- Expensive; some break within a year
Serious Eats calls it the most expensive of its winners at $229, and bigger and heavier than the rest. Amazon owners are split on value, and some report it breaking within 9 months.
Who should pick which
Pick the Breville Bit More 2-Slice Toaster if
The most even 2-slot toast
A proper one-side bagel setting
Peeking at toast mid-cycle
Skip it if: You want a long warranty; You often toast long sourdough slices; You're price-sensitive
Pick the Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster if
Retro looks in many colors
Frozen bagels and waffles
A wide range of shades
Skip it if: You want the best toast per dollar; You need a high-lift lever for small items; You toast long sourdough slices
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