A four-slice toaster gets breakfast onto the bench twice as fast, but you do not need to spend big to get dual controls and high-lift levers. The $29 Contempo Textured Steel toaster sits $50 lower than Russell Hobbs' $79 Legacy model, yet packs the exact daily essentials needed for a busy kitchen.
Pay for pedigree or pocket the savings?
At $79, the Russell Hobbs Legacy brings retro gloss cream styling, extra-wide self-centering slots, 1670W of heating power, and a two-year warranty. Yet Contempo's blue textured steel model costs 63.3% less while matching its core feature set: independent dual-side controls, six browning settings, and dedicated reheat and defrost buttons.
Unless retro cream enamel and soft-touch button illumination are non-negotiable for your kitchen, paying nearly triple for the Russell Hobbs is hard to justify.
Budget steel versus navy texture
Kmart's $39 Anko Stainless Steel toaster occupies the middle ground with a standard silver aesthetic. Contempo undercuts it by $10 (25.6% cheaper) while delivering a brushed-texture blue finish accented with metallic levers and dials.
If plain stainless steel feels a bit utilitarian, Contempo brings genuine personality to your benchtop at an even lower price.
Everyday dual-zone convenience
Both Contempo and Russell Hobbs include high-lift levers to save your fingertips when retrieving smaller items like crumpets, alongside removable rear crumb trays for straightforward weekend cleaning.
Dual independent controls across both models allow one side to gently warm frozen sourdough while the other crisp-toasts fresh white bread to shade six.
Side-by-side comparison
| Compare features | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.00 | $79.00 | $39.00 |
| Price difference | 63.3% cheaper than Russell Hobbs Legacy 4 Slice Toaster Cream (goodguys) | Most expensive | 50.6% cheaper than Russell Hobbs Legacy 4 Slice Toaster Cream (goodguys) |
| Capacity | 4 slice | 4 slice | 4 slice |
| Housing & finish | Blue brushed-texture steel with metallic accents | Gloss cream housing with stainless steel dial | Stainless steel finish |
| Browning & function controls | Dual independent controls, 6 browning levels, Defrost & Reheat buttons | Dual independent controls, 6 browning levels, Defrost, Reheat & Cancel buttons with illumination | Unknown |
| Slot design & lift lever | High-lift metallic pull-down levers | Extra wide, deep self-centering slots with High-Lift lever | Unknown |
| Power rating | Unknown | 1670 W | Unknown |
| Warranty | Unknown | 2 years | Unknown |
| Best for | Style-conscious shoppers wanting 4 slots on a tight $29 budget | Buyers wanting retro cream styling, wide slots, and a 2-year warranty | Shoppers seeking classic stainless steel under $40 |
| Bread type versatility | Unknown | Wide slots handle standard, thick, and specialty breads including crumpets and bagels. | Unknown |
| Functions | Unknown | Defrost, Reheat, Cancel | Unknown |
| Material | Unknown | Gloss coloured housing with stainless steel dial | Unknown |
| Model | Unknown | RHT445CRM | Unknown |
| Packaged depth (mm) | Unknown | 355 | Unknown |
| Packaged height (mm) | Unknown | 230 | Unknown |
| Packaged weight (kg) | Unknown | 3 | Unknown |
| Packaged width (mm) | Unknown | 349 | Unknown |
| Power | Unknown | 1670 W | Unknown |
| Product depth (mm) | Unknown | 270 | Unknown |
| Product height (mm) | Unknown | 180 | Unknown |
| Product weight (kg) | Unknown | 2.4 | Unknown |
| Product width (mm) | Unknown | 300 | Unknown |
| Size | Unknown | Unknown | One Size |
| Small kitchen fit | Unknown | Compact for a four-slice toaster; suitable for most benchtops but larger than two-slice models. | Unknown |
| Additional features | Unknown | Extra wide and deep self-centering slots, Illumination around buttons, High Lift lever, Soft touch accents | Unknown |
| brand | Contempo | Russell Hobbs | Anko |
| colour | Blue | White; Cream | Silver |
| Family | Unknown | Russell Hobbs Legacy | Unknown |
| Programs | Unknown | Independent browning controls per side, 6 levels | Unknown |
| Type | Unknown | 4 Slice Toaster | Unknown |
| Shop this product | View at store | View at store | View at store |
Verdict
If you want retro cream styling, extra-deep slots, and a guaranteed two-year warranty, the $79 Russell Hobbs Legacy delivers. But for pure benchtop value, the $29 Contempo 4-Slice toaster takes the win—delivering six shade levels, dual-zone independence, and standout blue textured steel for a fraction of the cost.
Contempo 4 Slice Toaster Textured Steel - Blue
$2900
Big WRussell Hobbs Legacy 4 Slice Toaster Cream
$7900
The Good Guys4 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster
$3900
Kmart