Amazon Basics 2 Slice Toaster vs Bella 2 Slice Slim Toaster: Which Should You Buy? (UK 2026)
Published 29 October 2026 • 🍞 Toasters • Contains affiliate links
Eight pence separates these two toasters in price, yet they are built on entirely different premises. The Amazon Basics packs a bagel button, defrost mode, and 40,700 customer ratings into a conventional side-by-side chassis. The Bella trades those functions for a 3.58-inch-wide body, narrower than most novels, designed to fit wherever a standard toaster cannot. Understanding which compromise suits your kitchen matters more than that 8p price gap.
🍞 Products Compared
Amazon Basics 2 Slice Toaster with Extra Wide Slots
£24.90
* 4.3/5
Check Price *
📊 Specs Comparison
| Feature | Amazon Basics 2 Slice Toaster | Bella 2 Slice Slim Toaster |
|---|
| Price | £24.90 | £24.98 |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Key Feature 1 | Bagel and Defrost buttons | Ultra-slim 3.58-inch body width |
| Key Feature 2 | Extra-wide 1.25-inch slots for thick bread | 10-inch single slot for artisan loaves |
| Wattage/Power | 900W | 900W |
| Capacity | 2 slices, side by side | 2 slices, end to end in one slot |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
* Amazon Basics 2 Slice Toaster with Extra Wide Slots
- * Dedicated bagel button toasts only the cut side, which is the correct result for a halved bagel
- * Defrost mode handles frozen bread in a single cycle without pre-thawing
- * Extra-lift lever safely retrieves crumpets and smaller items that would otherwise be tricky to grab
- * 40,700-plus ratings give a reliable picture of long-term everyday performance
- ❌ Browning is inconsistent at mid-range settings: users report setting 3 produces darker results than the dial suggests
- ❌ The 6.5-inch-wide body occupies noticeably more counter depth than the Bella
* Bella 2 Slice Slim Toaster
- * 3.58-inch body width is among the narrowest available, freeing up genuine counter space in tight kitchens
- * 10-inch slot accommodates full-length artisan sourdough slices that a standard toaster would reject outright
- * Reheat button warms already-toasted bread without adding further browning
- * Anti-jam mechanism and auto shut-off provide a practical safety margin for unattended use
- ❌ No bagel setting and no defrost function: toasting a frozen waffle requires multiple cycles or a higher shade setting
- ❌ TechGearLab testing found the usable browning range is narrow, with only the level-4 setting producing even results
📝 User Reviews
Amazon reviewers consistently praise the Amazon Basics for even browning on bagels and thick bread, with a vocal minority flagging that mid-range shade settings run darker than labelled. The Bella earns consistent praise for its slim footprint, though durability concerns and narrow browning consistency appear more frequently than on the Amazon Basics.
🏆 Verdict
For most UK buyers, the Amazon Basics is the more capable machine: a bagel button, defrost mode, and a far larger review sample all point in the same direction. The Bella makes sense only if your counter genuinely cannot fit a 6.5-inch-wide toaster, and you can accept doing without frozen-bread and bagel functions.
Amazon Basics best for anyone who toasts bagels or frozen bread regularly and wants the reassurance of 40,000-plus customer ratings behind a purchase. Bella best for studio flats and compact kitchens where freeing up counter space outweighs the need for specialist toasting functions.
❓ FAQs
Does the Amazon Basics have a bagel setting?
Yes. The dedicated bagel button heats only one side of each slot, giving you a toasted cut face and a softer outer crust, which is the correct result for a halved bagel.
Can the Bella toast a full-length artisan sourdough slice?
Yes. The 10-inch single slot is specifically designed for longer loaves that would need cutting to fit a standard toaster, making it a practical option for sourdough fans.
Which toaster is better for a small kitchen or studio flat?
The Bella, at 3.58 inches wide, takes up far less counter depth than the Amazon Basics. If space is genuinely the deciding factor, it is the clearer choice, provided you can work around the absence of a bagel or defrost button.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices accurate as of 29 October 2026.