Customer Reviews Breville BTA820XL Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster™

One side is always darker than the other.

The toaster actually dries the bread more than it toasts ... could use hotter elements and that would fix this problem... NOT WORTH THE MONEY!!!!!!!

I was expecting a high performing appliance. It toast unevenly. Sometimes, il glitched ie stay on heating mode without raising the bread once cycle completed. Disappointing for such a hign price toaster.

I'm in love with the style and the features, with the function, not so much. Toasts unevenly. In the end, it's like a beautiful cheerleader. Lots of looks, no substance.

We loved this toaster for 6 years, until it stopped working and started tripping the GFCI outlets in my kitchen. It's a premium toaster built like a tank with great features. We really wanted to buy another one for those reasons but chose not to because we won't spend that type of money for a product that won't last. I always try to repair my appliances rather than throw them away. I'm willing to pay for a quality product and while this Breville toaster seemed to be one, it ceased to be when it broke so soon. After reading other reviews, I see a lot of problems with this toaster and the broken electronics after such a short time.

Got it as a wedding gift. Had it for about 3 years then the heating element kicked the bucket. Really disappointed especially for the price!

Bought this at the recommendation of the store clerk. It worked fine but after a while it started heating unevenly. We've tried everything but it hasn't helped. Feel like for the price it should make perfect roast for years!

After barely 3 years of use, this toaster is a big, expensive, silver paperweight on our kitchen counter. As many others have reported, the heating elements gave out: first the inner ones, and now the outer ones. By comparison, our previous toaster (made by a competitor who I won't name) cost 5 times less and lasted 5 times longer -- that's 25 times more value! Regrets.

Had this two slice toaster for a little over a year. It stopped toasting on both sides of the bread. That is the reason i replaced the previous identical model. It stopped toasting on both sides of the bread. On regular the outside elements would work. On bagel the inside elements would work but never bot elements at the same time.I am debating considering another brand and try again. Model # BTA820XL/B

We bought this seemingly high quality toaster in an effort to avoid what appears to be a norm these days with run-of-the-mill toasters - "planned obsolescence." It's sleek, sturdy, no lever to break, convenient lift and look, and a reputable brand known for quality. Unfortunately after about 2 years or so the outside elements stopped working. We now have to flip our slices to get them toasted on both sides. We've been running with it for 4 years now. Yes, the toaster still looks great and functions - but only 50%. Disappointing :(

Bought this toaster because of sleek design and electronic 'Smart Controls'. Now notice that it intermittently 'Wakes Up' and activates several times an hours (leds light up) without being touched at all or in use. Have to keep it unplugged except when using for fear that malfunctioning 'Smart Controls' will turn on and cause a kitchen fire. It was a nice looking toaster when it worked.

It's probably one of the better toasters available and it STILL isn't acceptable. I think the variability in reviews may be a function of the manufacturers poor quality control. If all elements aren't even, then the toast will be uneven- as was mine. For the cost, the gamble isn't worth the risk. Seems well built but besides above complaint, the tone that signals the toast is done is barely audible (yeah, I'm old but my wife and son could barely hear it either.) Finally, there seems to be an issue with it's longevity- again, for a premium product I'd expect the longevity of a vintage toaster! To be honest, I might try to find another of this model and hope it's better-because features and perceived quality, on the other hand I might just save the cash, limp along with my cheap toaster, no features and more even toast. Someday, I'll find the holy grail toaster...but clearly not today. Were this toaster half the price (or less) I might give it more stars- my expectations based on price were not met.

Toasts fine when toasting two slices at a time but when toasting one slice at a time, it burns one side and the other side is fine. Must be a design flaw.

I got this toaster a couple of months ago and I remembered it heating evenly, but then it stopped and I contacted support and they sent me a replacement. The replacement seemed to work at first but now about 2 weeks later, it is heating unevenly again. At first we thought it was because the bread was so thin, but now it's not evenly toasting even thick sliced bread. so I'm assuming it's just the way it is. I'll attach a picture of my bread. The general composition of the toaster is great, it's solid and smooth controls. But it doesn't heat evenly, and thats important in a toaster.

I just received this and tried toasting 1 slice of bread, with the slide control set at 3. One side was medium dark, and the other was medium light to medium brown. I really expected better from a toaster at this price point. On the positive side, the controls were easy to use and I like that it doesn't require a lever to lower the bread, as that was what failed on the cheap toasters I had previously.

thought it would last longer than it did.

after 19 months my toaster failed me.it started smoking setting of smoke detectors,could smell plastic burning ( wire coating).

I bought this 2 slice toaster 2 months ago and have tried to like i, but NO. I only use it for toasting English Muffins toasted on one side using Bagel setting.with browning setting on Max. I barely get any color and need to retoast by setting unit on very low setting (2). It is easier for me to use my toaster oven and watch degree of brownness negating reason for buying this in first placei

This toaster was purchased several weeks ago due to a good review from Consumer Reports. It has been used around four times and did make nice toast. However, it is now unusable. The mechanism which is used to lower the bread is now broken. At this point I'm unsure what to do with it. I don't want to have it repaired since I plan on purchasing a new, more dependable toaster.

We loved this toaster for 1.5 years, until it stopped working and started tripping the cirucuit breaker. It doesn't seem like a cheap toaster at all. it is sturdy with many great features. We really wanted to buy another one for those reasons but chose not to because we won't spend that type of money for a product that won't last. I don't want to be throwing things into the landfill! I'm willing to pay for a quality product and while this Breville toaster seemed to be one, it ceased to be when it broke so soon. Please for the sake of the environment and keeping happy customers, fix what appears to be a toaster with an issue with short circuiting (saw other similar reviews) !

Unfortunately, spending this much on a toaster one would expect it to last longer than the other brands. We have had this one just coming on 4 years and yesterday there was a bright flash and now not all the heating elements work. We regularly clean the crumb tray. Disappointing. If it wasn't for this, it would have been a 4/5. Better to buy cheaper brand and replace every year. Ends up costing the same.

Returned this toaster because it toasted more on one side and around the edges than the middle of the slice. Set it at 3.5 as per the recommendation in the manual. Received a replacement about 3 weeks later and it's exactly the same as the first one. Do I really want to send it back again and wait 3 weeks? Not really. Frustrated.

Disappointing. The reviews said it was the best toaster for getting your toast browned all over. I wanted this toaster for a while for the perfect toast... well it did it once and never again. I tried changing the settings but it didn't change anything. The bottom of my toasts stays white. If you want a perfect toasted bread this is not to buy.

The lowering button stopped working and due to the cost of this toaster I expected better. Very disappointing.

Bought this toaster last October. Worked great until it stopped toasting today. Lifting mechanism works but no heat whatsoever. For the price, this is unacceptable. My last cheapie toaster lasted 7 years.