With the rise of smart home technology and internet-connected devices, many appliance makers are adding “smart” features to previously “dumb” appliances. One appliance that has received the smart treatment is the humble toaster. But what exactly makes a toaster smart, and are these features really useful or just gimmicks? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a smart toaster?
A smart toaster is a toaster that is connected to the internet and can be controlled via a smartphone app. The main features that make a toaster “smart” include:
- Remote operation – You can turn the toaster on and off and select settings like toast darkness from your smartphone, even when away from home.
- Custom settings – Save your preferred toast settings for different types of bread and recall them with a tap.
- Notifications – Get notified when your toast is ready so you don’t burn it.
- Voice control – Some models work with virtual assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free voice commands.
Some smart toasters also have special modes like frozen, reheat, and bagel modes that automatically adjust settings. Advanced models may allow you to customize settings for each slot.
The benefits of a smart toaster
So what are the benefits of having Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connected into your morning toast? Here are some of the touted advantages:
- Consistency – Save customized settings for perfect toast every time.
- Convenience – Start toasting from bed and have toast ready when you go to the kitchen.
- Avoid burning – Get notified when toast is ready so you don’t burn it.
- Energy savings – Remotely turn off the toaster in case you forget. This prevents wasting energy.
- Hands-free – Use voice commands if the toaster is compatible with a virtual assistant.
Smart toaster manufacturers argue these features enhance the experience and take the guesswork out of making the perfect piece of toast. But are these features really that beneficial in reality?
Evaluating smart toaster benefits
While the benefits listed above may sound enticing, in practice, many of the touted advantages of smart toasters may not be that useful or necessary for making toast. Let’s evaluate them more closely:
Consistency
Saving customized shade settings does allow you to recreate the same piece of toast every time. However, is toast consistency really that difficult with a regular toaster? As long as you use the same toaster, the same setting will produce a similar result every time. The difference with smart toasters is just the ability to name and save those preferences.
Convenience
Starting toast remotely is arguably more convenient. However, most people make toast right before eating it. Is it really worth paying significantly more for the ability to start it a couple minutes earlier from another room?
Burn notifications
Getting notified when toast is done could prevent burning it if you happen to step out of the kitchen. However, with reasonably timed toaster settings, burning isn’t usually an issue for quick toasting. For longer toasting, just setting a timer or listening for the sound achieves the same result.
Energy savings
Remotely turning the toaster off could save some energy in the rare case you forgot to unplug it after using it. However, smart toasters still draw power when in standby mode, waiting to be activated via the app. Unplugging it or using an ordinary power strip is just as effective for cutting power.
Hands-free operation
Voice commands offer some hands-free convenience. However, this only works if you already own and use a compatible virtual assistant device in the kitchen. Additionally, voice commands may not be faster or easier than simply pressing a lever or button on the toaster itself.
Summary
Overall, while the smart features sound impressive, they provide relatively minor upgrades in convenience and performance for such a basic appliance. None of the features significantly enhance or revolutionize the core functionality – making toast.
Downsides of smart toasters
Beyond marginal benefits, smart toasters also come with some downsides:
- Higher cost – Smart toasters cost $50-100+ more than basic models with the same toasting capabilities.
- Technical issues – Connectivity problems can prevent remote operation and other “smart” features.
- More cleaning – Grooves and crevices around touchscreens collect more crumbs.
- Shorter lifespan – Smart models have more points of failure and may not last as long.
Additionally, some smart toaster models collect user data like your toast settings and usage patterns. Sharing even mundane data may raise privacy concerns for some consumers.
Overall, the downsides reduce the value proposition of paying significantly more for a smart toaster versus a regular one.
A comparison of regular and smart toasters
To visualize the differences between regular and smart toasters, here is a comparison table:
| Feature | Regular Toaster | Smart Toaster |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $25-50 | $75-150+ |
| Connectivity | None | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, App |
| Settings | Manual knob | App control, Saved profiles |
| Features | Toast, defrost, reheat | Remote start, custom schedules, notifications |
| Voice assistant integration | No | Some models |
| Data collection | No | Some models |
As this table demonstrates, smart toasters have tech-focused features, but lack advantages in core toasting functions.
Are smart features necessary for making toast?
Based on the analysis so far, smart features appear to provide limited utility for such a basic task. To evaluate whether they are truly necessary, let’s consider the core purpose of a toaster:
Toasting bread
Fundamentally, a toaster needs to be able to toast bread to the desired color evenly and consistently. Fancy features don’t inherently improve the underlying heating elements or design. In fact, smart models tend to have wider slots, which can lead to uneven toasting.
Ease of use
Toasters should be easy and intuitive to use. Pressing buttons or levers directly on the device is often simpler than using a smartphone app or voice commands. Apps can also introduce lag between pressing a button and the toaster starting.
Reliability
Since toasters have a simple job, they should be reliable rather than frequently break down. Smart toasters have more technical components to fail and may require software/firmware updates.
Affordability
Basic toaster ovens cost $25-50, while smart models run $75-150. The price difference is large given the limited benefits. Smart features appear to be a premium rather than necessity.
Summary
For a task as straightforward as toasting bread, smart features like apps and voice control provide little meaningful benefit. They introduce unnecessary complexity for a simple appliance designed to do one thing: toast bread consistently.
Do smart features justify the higher cost?
Given the minimal benefits for core toasting performance, are fancy smart features worth paying almost 2-3x more? For many consumers, the answer is likely no.
Worth it for some
Smart toasters may appeal to those who want the absolute latest connected tech gadgets. The novelty factor of features like remote start and voice control has value for some early adopters. Smart toasters can serve as a conversation starter for those who frequently entertain.
Not necessary for most
However, the majority of consumers just need a toaster that reliably toasts bread without burning it. The high cost and marginal benefits mean smart models are luxury rather than necessity. Most people can happily stick to basic and affordable manual toasters.
Better off upgrading a regular toaster
Instead of buying a smart toaster, you can spend the same money to get a higher-end regular toaster with more premium materials, design, wider slots, and higher wattage for faster toasting. This provides more meaningful benefits for the cost.
Wait for prices to drop
Like most tech, smart toaster prices may come down over time. But as an early product category, they currently demand a significant price premium over regular toasters with similar performance.
Conclusion
Smart toasters offer some novelty and minor conveniences through connectivity and app control. However, these features provide little meaningful benefit for the core purpose of simply toasting bread. While fun gadgets for tech enthusiasts, most consumers will find basic and affordable manual toasters provide the best value. As smart toasters mature as a product category, prices will hopefully decrease to better match the utility they provide. But for now, smart features appear to be an unnecessary luxury rather than requirement for the majority of home cooks.