Philips HD2626 2 Slice toaster

**Classy**

This is a classy lil number to be sure, as one should expect from a Philips product. I love the brushed steel and classy lines; very contemporary design although a few years old now, it still looks the part in any modern kitchen.

**Design**

The outer casing is high quality black plastic and the brushed steel wraps around in a seamless design. All the controls are at the front and although there aren't many, there is all you need;

There are 3 small buttons that are backlit red line up vertically on the left at the front; Toast, Toast from Frozen and warm (with the aid of the flip up rails on the top. Each one has a satisfying CLICK that just says 'hey I'm a quality toaster'... There is a round dial in the centre for the darkness of your toast. This is surrounded by a silver shroud that also runs up the middle for the slider button.

**Best thing**

The absolute best thing about this toaster is the extra wide slots, great for big chunky doorstops of bread for those lush thick chunks of toast... yummage.... I read somewhere that the power consumption of this toaster is lower than others in the same bracket, but this does in no way reduce the power output. In fact you get very good results on setting number two. The ONLY time I've had to put up the power is for pop tarts and frozen toaster snacks...

The elements are a made of sturdy looking flat metal as oppose to some toasters having thin round wire. I don't really know if there is a benefit to this but again it just says quality.

The sides of it never get hot at all, nothing revolutionary there but it does seem cooler than other toasters I've had.


**Be aware of**

Cleaning out the annoying crumbs is pretty much the same as with most toasters. There is a nice little pull out tray at the back to catch crumbs, but it is a bit narrow, and to be honest you still have to turn it upside down and shake it out a few times to get it really empty.

Try not to touch the sides at all though because the brushed steel will show every tiny finger mark or splash and the flex could do with being a few inches longer but otherwise I found no fault with this. Good times.

**Positives**
Everything about this toaster says QUALITY.... Low power consumption.....

**Negatives**
Shows finger marks easily..... Flex is a little short....