I’ve been using this budget-friendly touchscreen toaster for over a month. It adds a little luxury to my morning routine with a surprisingly useful bonus.
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I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous when our test kitchen got its hands on a Revolution Toaster a few years back. After thorough testing, a former editor compared it to luxe kitchen gadgets like the Ninja Creami and Opal Ice Maker thanks to its touchscreen, smart features and lightning-fast toasting.
Meanwhile, my college toaster was not that. It had survived years of Eggo Waffles and Pop-Tarts and looked like a museum relic, complete with fossilized crumbs at the bottom. A touchscreen upgrade felt delightfully unnecessary, but I sure wasn’t about to drop hundreds on a new toaster—at least not without long, internal debate.
Then I found this Kalorik toaster for a fraction of the price, and the debate was squashed. I could live without live weather updates and photo displays if it meant getting the same sleek design, full-color touchscreen and customizable presets. After all, I’m not just standing around watching my toaster when it’s not in use.
Here’s why I’m currently obsessed with the Kalorik Vivid Touch Toaster after over a month of near-daily use.
Kalorik Vivid Touch 2-Slice Toaster
A wallet-friendly touchscreen toaster with a sleek design and full-color display
What’s so special about a touchscreen toaster?
Well, for starters, it looks really sleek. But the touchscreen isn’t just about looks. I mean, it’s largely about looks, but the visual controls are also helpful if you toast a variety of things regularly and want to do so with more precision.
With a few swipes, you can choose exactly what you’re toasting: white, wheat, gluten-free, brioche, waffles, bagels, English muffins, you name it. From there, you can fine-tune and select whether the item is fresh, frozen or being reheated, plus your preferred shade of toast. (Think timing tweaks for the first two settings and heat level for the last.)
While it’s toasting, a countdown timer shows exactly how long you’ve got left. When it’s idle, the screen briefly turns into a clock before going dark. Simply tap the screen to wake it back up. Easy peasy.
You can also save go-to favorites (like your perfect breakfast bagel) and access them quickly from the home screen. There are a few customization perks, too: light or dark mode, adjustable brightness and multiple language options.
The 4.5-inch display is crisp, responsive and so far, glitch-free. And while it skips some of the over-the-top tech features (no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth, no smart temperature sensors), I think that’s kind of part of the appeal. It’s straightforward, intuitive and low maintenance.
Toasting Performance
The toaster’s slots are wide and deep enough for a variety of foods, from thick Belgian waffles and buns to even a folded quesadilla (because who enjoys a soggy leftover ‘dilla reheated in the microwave?). Longer sourdough slices may peek out the top, but a quick mid-toast flip solves that.
As for evenness and consistency, I’ve noticed one side tends to brown a bit faster on standard bread settings. This may be by design, after all, perfectly toasted sandwich bread is crispier on the outside and softer on the inside, but it’s worth noting. That said, each side toasts pretty evenly, no major issues with patchy spots or pale corners.
The touchscreen adds precision, which I love, though it’s not perfectly consistent. Occasionally, the same setting delivers slightly different results, but it’s nothing an extra quick toast cycle can’t normally fix.
On the practical side, the high-lift lever makes retrieval easy. The toaster also has an auto-shutoff feature and a removable crumb tray, so no ancient crumbs lurking at the bottom. It’s also surprisingly lightweight, with cord storage tucked underneath for a clean setup. The only question is long-term durability, but so far, so good.
One Unexpected Perk
The Kalorik toaster has definitely added a touch of luxury to my morning routine, as I hoped it would. One thing I didn’t anticipate, however, was how much my toddler would enjoy it.
Once my two-year-old decides what she wants for breakfast, I’ve got about four seconds to deliver before she’s convinced she’s starving. It’s developmentally appropriate, but some mornings feel like an episode of Next Level Chef. “The platform is moving!” IYKYK.
All that to say, the countdown timer with its disappearing yellow ring has been an unexpectedly useful toddler tool. “Watch the circle,” I tell her, and she does because visual timers turn abstract concepts into visible info. And just like that, fewer morning meltdowns. Big win for me.
One note: the stainless-steel exterior does get hot, so keep that in mind, especially with little hands nearby.
Where to Buy
Kalorik Vivid Touch 2-Slice Toaster
A sleek touchscreen toaster that offers total toasting precision
If you’re after a modern toaster upgrade without the super high price tag, the Kalorik Vivid Toaster is a solid pick. It retails for $120 at places like Walmart, Amazon and Target, but you’ll often find it closer to $100 (or less during big sales).
Tap your go-to setting, drop in a bagel or frozen waffle, start your espresso machine and mornings feel a lot more put together.
