Breville's Eye Q 850 Toaster Uses Optic Sensors Instead of Timers to Judge Doneness
Breville has launched the Eye Q 850 Auto Toaster, a $300 device that uses a pulsing internal light sensor to track the bread's color as it toasts, rather than relying solely on a timer or fixed temperature settings. A CNET reviewer tested the toaster for a month and found the sensor-based approach generally delivers consistent results, though with some caveats worth noting. The sensor only operates in the left slot, and the machine features a motorized lift instead of a spring-loaded pop-up mechanism.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Most toasters still rely on crude timers or thermostats that can't account for bread type or thickness, leading to inconsistent results across batches. By borrowing optical sensing technology more common in fitness trackers, Breville is signaling a shift toward smarter, sensor-driven kitchen appliances that adapt to actual conditions rather than preset assumptions. If successful, this approach could push other toaster makers to adopt similar visual-monitoring tech.
- Breville's Eye Q 850 uses a pulsing optic sensor to visually judge toast doneness in real time.
- The $300 toaster only senses doneness in the left slot and requires bread inside to operate.
- It uses a motorized lift instead of a traditional spring-loaded pop-up mechanism.
Breville Eye Q Auto Toaster — This is the exact toaster the article reviews, using optic sensors to judge doneness by color rather than a simple timer. It's a clever solution for anyone tired of inconsistent toast between batches or different bread types, letting you set your preference once and trust the sensor to deliver consistent results.
See Breville Eye Q Auto Toaster on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — John Carlsen, 2026-09-17
Published there as: “Breville’s Wild New Toaster Swaps the Timer for Optic Sensors to Tell When Toast Is Done”
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