Breville's new Eye Q toaster replaces the traditional timer with optic sensors that monitor the bread's color as it cooks, automatically stopping at the selected doneness. The review praises the design, intuitive controls, and thoughtful details like a tuck-away cord and an easy-to-clean crumb tray. But the technology comes at a steep price: $300 for the two-slice version and $400 for the four-slice.
WIRED's testing found that the toaster usually produced acceptable toast, but the quality was "comparable, not superior" to a regular toaster. Browning was sometimes uneven, with tops darker than bottoms, and a side-by-side test of all seven settings showed inconsistent results—setting six came out lighter than setting four. Store-bought bagels also fared poorly.
The review also flagged potential durability concerns. The first replacement unit sent to the reviewer made lighter shades darker than expected, and a second unit tended to over-toast edges, a problem that seemed to worsen over time. With a 5/10 rating, the Eye Q may appeal to early adopters, but the review suggests buyers might want to wait and see how the toaster holds up before spending premium money.