Cuisinart
Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster CPT-122
$39.95Cheaper
Best Toasters · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster CPT-122 is cheaper at $39.95. Every spec and price links to its source.
Cuisinart
$39.95Cheaper
Smeg
$275
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster CPT-122 is the cheaper at $39.95.
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✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $39.95 | $275 |
| Brand | Cuisinart | Smeg |
| Released | — | — |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Slice capacity | 2 | 2 |
| Slot width (in) | 1.5 in | 1.4 in |
| Browning settings | 7 | 6 |
| Bagel function | Yes | Yes |
| Defrost function | Yes | Yes |
| High lift lever | Yes | — |
Sources — Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster CPT-122: cuisinart.com (verified 2026-06-19). Smeg TSF01 2-Slice Toaster: smeg.com (verified 2026-06-19).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (2 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Only one whitelisted hands-on tester—NYT Wirecutter—reviewed this exact model, and it names the CPT-122 its overall top pick, praising unusually even browning and fast toasting (1 minute 20 seconds on medium) for a budget toaster. Flaws: occasional pale edges versus the pricier Breville, a crumb tray narrower than the toaster floor, and typical modern-toaster longevity doubts (may not last more than ~5 years). TechGearLab was excluded (site down); Consumer Reports isn't whitelisted. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Browns bread more evenly than almost any other model tested; overall top pick for the money; Toasts fast — fully done on medium in 1 minute 20 seconds; Better built than most cheap toasters; sturdy controls, stays cool to the touch, generous 3-year warranty.
Flagged: Not quite as even as the pricier Breville — occasional pale borders/edges; Crumb tray is narrower than the toaster floor, so removing it doesn't give full access to the mess at the bottom; Plastic levers and printed labels are less durable; prone to quality-control issues and may not last more than ~5 years.
Only one whitelisted tester, Reviewed (USA Today), covers this exact model, across two hands-on articles that reuse the same toaster blurb, so this is effectively a single assessment rather than independent corroboration. Reviewed calls the Smeg 2-Slice a beautifully designed retro 'conversation piece' that offers 'excellent toasting' with even browning, but flags it as expensive for a pop-up toaster. Testing was qualitative, with no published measurements for this model. RTINGS and TechGearLab were not usable and are excluded. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Excellent, even toasting; Beautiful retro design and rich finish; a standout conversation piece; Ranks among Reviewed's favorite pop-up toasters; settings lock firmly into place.
Flagged: Expensive for a pop-up toaster; you pay for novelty and looks.