Breakfast & everyday rituals
Ninja Foodi vs Smeg, Ariete and Philips: which toaster fits your breakfast?
In this guide
- Choose by what you actually eat
- Ninja Foodi ST202EU: the one that turns sideways
- Smeg TSF01: for bagels and the breakfast corner you love
- Ariete Vintage 155: pastel styling with sandwich tongs included
- Philips Daily HD2581/90: when breakfast is the whole job
- What actual owners made us check
- Before you buy: three checks that matter more than another setting
Research checked 29 October 2026. Amazon owner comments referenced below were checked on 26 October 2026. This is a researched comparison, not a hands-on test.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links below open searches: check the exact model, regional version, accessories and seller.
The Ninja toaster that turns sideways is appealing because it promises something an ordinary toaster cannot: breakfast toast and a little more freedom at lunchtime. But a clever transformation is only useful if it suits what you eat.
For a quick slice before work, a straightforward toaster can be the easier appliance to live with. For toasted sandwiches and small hot snacks, the Ninja becomes more interesting. And if you want a breakfast corner that makes you smile every morning, Smeg and Ariete deserve a place in the comparison.
Choose by what you actually eat
| Your routine | Our shortlist pick | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Toast in the morning, panini at lunch | Ninja Foodi ST202EU | More accessories to clean; Italian availability needs checking |
| Bagels and a carefully styled breakfast corner | Smeg TSF01 | Sandwich racks are optional |
| A pastel toaster for bread and occasional filled toast | Ariete Vintage 155 | Check bread size and access to its crumb tray |
| Sliced toast and warming a morning brioche | Philips Daily HD2581/90 | A breakfast appliance, not a sandwich grill |
These are recommendations by use case, not a ranking from comparative cooking tests. We have not measured browning evenness or speed.
Ninja Foodi ST202EU: the one that turns sideways
The ST202EU switches between upright toasting and horizontal grilling. It offers seven functions: toast, bagel, defrost, grill, panini, bake and reheat. A panini press and baking tray are included. Ninja recommends hand-washing the accessories. Official Ninja product page.
Who it suits: someone who will use the horizontal position regularly. Think about your working-from-home lunch: would you actually make a warm sandwich, or would this become another appliance used only for toast?
What to check: the official page gives conflicting size and weight figures, so confirm both operating footprints with the seller before planning a tight counter space. Our Amazon Italy search did not establish a matching listing. It is not presented here as a current Amazon bestseller or a newly launched model.
Only use an appliance horizontally when it is designed for that position. Turning an ordinary pop-up toaster on its side is not an equivalent workaround.
Check Amazon for Ninja ST202EU. Results may include other Ninja appliances; do not substitute an unrelated grill or oven.
Smeg TSF01: for bagels and the breakfast corner you love
Official Smeg image; affiliate image link.
The cream TSF01CREU combines two slots with six browning levels, defrost, reheat and a one-sided bagel setting. Sandwich racks and a warming rack are optional. It measures about 32.5 × 19.5 × 20 cm including the lever and weighs 2.4 kg. Official Smeg specifications.
Who it suits: someone who wants to leave the toaster on display and will use the bagel function. Choosing an object partly because you enjoy looking at it is perfectly reasonable. Just distinguish that pleasure from evidence that it cooks better.
If filled toast is your usual lunch, compare a bundle with the appropriate racks against the Ninja or Ariete. A lovely photograph of the toaster does not tell you what accessories arrive in the box.
Find Smeg TSF01CREU on Amazon.
Ariete Vintage 155: pastel styling with sandwich tongs included
The two-slice 155/05 includes steel sandwich tongs, six browning levels, defrost, reheat and a removable crumb tray. Published dimensions are 30 × 19 × 20 cm; weight is 1.6 kg. Its slots are 14 cm long, with approximately 3 cm usable width. Official Ariete specifications.
Who it suits: someone who likes the retro look and wants the sandwich accessory included. The practical question is whether your usual bread and filling fit comfortably. A large bakery slice and supermarket sandwich bread are different buying situations.
In our 29 October Amazon Italy search, the green 155 displayed “700+ bought in past month” and the light-blue version “300+.” Those are temporary listing-level signals, not verified unit sales for the whole range. They do show this is a relevant alternative to investigate, rather than a choice based only on appearance.
Find Ariete Vintage 155 on Amazon.
Philips Daily HD2581/90: when breakfast is the whole job
Philips offers eight browning settings and an integrated bun-warming rack. The current official page lists a 27.5 × 15.6 cm footprint, 18.8 cm height and approximately 1.07 kg weight. It is a 220–240 V model. Official Philips product page.
Who it suits: someone who wants toast and a warmed brioche without buying separate warming accessories. The rack is for warming; it does not turn this into a panini press or oven.
The black HD2581/90 displayed “2K+ bought in past month” in the same Amazon search. That is a stronger visible purchase signal than we could establish for Ninja, but popularity does not prove it is the better appliance for your lunch routine.
Find Philips HD2581/90 on Amazon.
What actual owners made us check
Previously checked Amazon reviews highlight two useful details. Verified Smeg TSF01 buyers noted that sandwich racks were separate purchases. An Ariete 155 owner liked using its tongs for sandwiches; another wished the crumb tray pulled out at the front rather than the rear.
These are individual experiences from a limited sample, not proof of overall reliability. We have not verified comparable owner-review samples for Ninja or Philips, so we do not invent a customer consensus for them. Smeg owner reviews · Ariete owner reviews.
Before you buy: three checks that matter more than another setting
- Measure your bread and your counter. Leave the clearance required in the manual, plus room to remove trays and accessories. An appliance fitting into a gap does not mean it is safe to operate there.
- Think about cleanup after the meal. A filled sandwich creates a different cleanup job from dry toast. Follow the model’s instructions for fillings, unplug before cleaning and allow it to cool.
- Compare the exact regional bundle. Check voltage, plug and included accessories, especially with imported Ninja listings. For seasonal offers, compare like with like rather than trusting the headline discount.
Our choice: Ninja if its extra cooking role will earn regular use and you can source the correct version; Smeg if bagels and design are your priorities; Ariete for pastel styling with tongs; Philips for a simple breakfast routine. More functions are worthwhile when they remove a real step from your day.
Related: Smeg vs Ariete kettles and toasters · Italian inspiration collection.