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Head-to-head · Best Toasters

Breville Die Cast Smart Toaster BTA820XL 2-Slice vs Elite Gourmet 2-Slice Cool Touch Toaster

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Breville Die Cast Smart Toaster BTA820XL 2-Slice comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about buyers who want a fingerprint-resistant, smart toaster — read the strengths below before deciding.

Breville Die Cast Smart Toaster BTA820XL 2-Slice
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Toasters
Breville Die Cast Smart Toaster BTA820XL 2-Slice
1 sourceall derived$199.95as of Jul 31

The Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster gets consistent praise for its sleek, fingerprint-resistant design and four functional settings, among them 'lift and look' and 'a bit more.' Food & Wine's Liv Dansky rated its performance well, singling out the frozen bread feature, and noted how many owners end up buying multiple units. Not everyone agrees: some reviewers report uneven toasting and inconsistent heating. It fits buyers who want a premium, aesthetically pleasing toaster with smart features, less so anyone who demands perfect toasting consistency.

Strengths
  • — Sleek design that doesn't show fingerprints
  • — Four convenient functions including 'lift and look' and 'a bit more'
  • — Effective heating mechanism for consistent toasting
Watch-outs
  • — Some users report uneven toasting with one side darker than the other
  • — One reviewer noted that it dries bread more than toasting it
$199.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Elite Gourmet 2-Slice Cool Touch Toaster
Ranked #3 in Best Toasters
Elite Gourmet 2-Slice Cool Touch Toaster
2 sources1 derived$15.99as of Jul 31

The Elite Gourmet 2-Slice Cool Touch Toaster browns evenly across 6 levels, and its extra-wide 1.25" slots take bagels and thick breads. Reviewers praised the compact design, the cool-touch exterior, and the cancel function. The lightweight polycarbonate body reads as inexpensive to some owners, and a few found very large bagels won't fit properly. Small spaces and light-to-moderate use suit it; a household toasting all day should buy something sturdier.

Strengths
  • — 6 adjustable toasting levels for precise browning control
  • — Extra wide 1.25" slots accommodate thick breads, bagels, and specialty items
  • — Cool-touch exterior for safe handling
Watch-outs
  • — Lightweight plastic construction feels cheap compared to metal-bodied toasters
  • — Self-centering guides may not work well with very large or dense bagels
$15.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Breville Die Cast Smart Toaster BTA820XL 2-Slice

The Die Cast Smart Toaster competes with the Breville 'A Bit More' in terms of smart features but lacks the consistent performance on medium settings. While both offer 'lift and look' functionality, the 'A Bit More' delivers better browning results and is more reliable overall, making it a better choice for those seeking dependable toasting.

Elite Gourmet 2-Slice Cool Touch Toaster

The Elite Gourmet toaster offers precise 6 browning levels and cool-touch exterior, but its lightweight plastic build makes it less durable than the Breville 'A Bit More' or Proctor Silex models. While it's a good option for light use, it lacks the consistent performance and robust construction that the Breville delivers, especially in medium to dark settings.

Specs side-by-side

SpecBreville Die Cast Smart Toaster BTA820XL 2-SliceElite Gourmet 2-Slice Cool Touch Toaster
Price$150$15.99
Slices2—
Functions4toasting bread, bagels, English muffins and more
MaterialMetalPolycarbonate
Dimensions11.6"D x 8.6"W x 7.5"H5.75" D x 9.25" W x 6.25" H
Settings6 settings6
FeaturesA Bit More, Lift and Look, Bagel—
Wattage—750 W
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