ConsFirst / Toasters / Compare
Cuisinart 4-Slice Custom Select 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
Cuisinart 4-Slice Custom Select Toaster ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on batch-to-batch consistency, settings & features. Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster wins on durability.
The biggest complaint about the Cuisinart 4-Slice Custom Select Toaster is lever won't stay down; early failures; 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
| Cuisinart 4-Slice Custom Select Toaster | Smeg 50's Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in toasters | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Type | 4-slice | 2-slice |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 15% | 13% |
| Overall score | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Even toasting | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Batch-to-batch consistency | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Settings & features | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Easy cleaning | — | 4.0 |
| Durability | 2.5 | 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
Cuisinart 4-Slice Custom Select Toaster
- Lever won't stay down; early failures
Amazon's summary says multiple owners report it breaking within two months and the lever not staying down. Wirecutter's test unit had a faulty left lever that wouldn't hold the bread down.
- Uneven toast; burns above setting 3
Amazon's summary says toasting quality is mixed, with some owners reporting uneven toasting and others saying settings above 3 out of 7 burn the toast.
- More complex than needed for some
Serious Eats says it probably isn't for you if you want a dead-simple toaster.
Source: Serious Eats (four-slice)
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 Cuisinart 4-Slice Custom Select Toaster if
Households toasting many bread types
Artisan slices in a 4-slot toaster
One-slot toasting
Skip it if: You want a dead-simple toaster; Lever reliability matters most; You usually toast on dark settings
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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