Six Shade Settings on 850 Watts
The shade control runs from 1 (light) to 6 (dark), driving 850 watts across two slots. Six steps is fewer than some toasters offer, but the spacing is what matters, and once you find your setting the result repeats.
The Russell Hobbs TR9150BLR Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster is a retro toaster with real toasting skill, best for kitchens with a colour theme. Rated 4.6 out of 5 across 174 user ratings. The main drawback: durability is mixed. We scored it 4.6 out of 5.
Most retro toasters are bought for the look and forgiven for the toast; this Russell Hobbs is the rare one where the browning is the thing people rave about. The catch is durability: it wins on even toast, a countdown timer and a handy warming rack, but some units are reported to give out after about two years.
NoFussDeal rates the Russell Hobbs TR9150BLR Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster 4.6 out of 5 at $59.95. Last updated September 26, 2026.
The shade control runs from 1 (light) to 6 (dark), driving 850 watts across two slots. Six steps is fewer than some toasters offer, but the spacing is what matters, and once you find your setting the result repeats.
A stainless steel body in a polished Heavenly Blue finish, designed to sit on the counter next to a matching kettle or coffee maker rather than hide in a cupboard. It runs on standard 120-volt power.
Three toasting functions cover everyday toast, bagels and frozen bread, and a removable wire warming rack sits over the slots for buns, pastries and rolls.
A countdown timer on the front shows how much of the toasting cycle remains, and Lift & Look lets you raise the toast to check it without cancelling the cycle.
The toaster's appearance and functionality stand out. Russell Hobbs lists the color as Heavenly Blue and the material as Stainless Steel. Seven of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 97: we started at 92 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.
None of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. Score 92: its 4.6 star average on a 100 point scale.
Three of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 97: we started at 92 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.
Nine of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 97: we started at 92 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.
Five of the ten owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 97: we started at 92 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.
One of the ten owner reviews we read mentions it, and that owner gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 9% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 86: we started at 92 and took off 6 because opinion i…
One of the ten owner reviews we read mentions it, and that owner gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 9% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 86: we started at 92 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
82% of ratings are five stars and 9% are four. 2% are three stars and 7% are one or two. The spread skews positive, but enough ratings sit low that the drawbacks below are worth reading. Score 92: its 4.6 star average on a 100 point scale.
Three of the ten owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 9% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 86: we started at 92 and took off 6 because opinio…
Three of the ten owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 9% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 86: we started at 92 and took off 6 because opinion is split.
Based on 174 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.6 out of 5, recorded 12 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon
| 5 stars | 82% | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 stars | 9% | |
| 3 stars | 2% | |
| 2 stars | 4% | |
| 1 stars | 3% |
YA'LL this is an amazing toaster!! I have never in over 50 yrs had the most perfectly toasted bread everrrr!! BOTH sides are perfect and the style is beyond adorable!! Fantastic brand I just… Read it on AmazonMarcyJ · September 13, 2020 · Verified
This is the first toaster I’ve ever been excited about. It’s well made, has all the features I want and none that I don’t want, and is adorable to look at. I have it in blue and for some rea… Read it on AmazonKay Fiset · December 3, 2021 · Verified
I love the way this looks. I got the blue to add some color to my black and stainless steel appliances. The best part is it actually toast the bread on both sides evenly. I do not even remem… Read it on AmazonSPD · August 5, 2021 · Verified
All of the buttons make sense and work. I really like the warmer gizmo that goes on top. I have a beautiful refurbished 1950's stainless steel toaster (Kenmore) that I spent a LOT of $ on, b… Read it on AmazonGloria North · April 17, 2019 · Verified
We love this little toaster. We've had it several months now and it continues to work well for us. We have warmed up toast to biscuits in it, from fresh to frozen and it works great on every… Read it on AmazonQuilter · July 4, 2019 · Verified
This toaster does a great job on evenly browning toast! I make all of our bread and it toasts it perfectly. The retro look is beautiful to have out on your counter. The warming rack works pe… Read it on AmazonS. Whites · July 11, 2019 · Verified
Remove all packaging, place the toaster on a stable, heat-safe counter away from curtains and overhead cupboards, and make sure the crumb tray is pushed fully home.
As with most new toasters, run one empty cycle on a middle setting in a ventilated room to burn off any manufacturing residue before toasting food.
Start around the middle of the 1 to 6 range with your usual bread, then move one step lighter or darker until it comes out the way you like it.
Set the removable wire rack over the slots only when you want to warm buns, pastries or rolls, and store it separately the rest of the time.
Yes: we score it 4.6 out of 5. The Russell Hobbs TR9150BLR is bought for its looks and kept for its toast.
Rated 4.6 out of 5 across 174 user ratings, with 82% giving it five stars and 3% one star.
Durability is mixed, with some units reported to fail after about two years. Long artisan slices stand above the slots and need flipping partway through.
Unplug the toaster and let it cool fully before cleaning. Wipe the polished body with a soft, damp cloth and dry it to keep the finish shiny.
Slices that stand above the slot will toast unevenly at the top. Use the countdown timer to flip them end over end at the halfway point.
The Russell Hobbs TR9150BLR is bought for its looks and kept for its toast. It browns both sides evenly, its countdown timer and Lift & Look take the guesswork out of each cycle, and the Frozen and Bagel settings plus the warming rack cover most breakfast jobs. The reservations are about longevity and value rather than performance: some units are reported to fail after about two years, and it only takes two slices at a time.
Buy it if you want a toaster you are happy to leave on the counter that also browns evenly and handles frozen bread well. If a long service life or four-slice capacity matters more than the retro look, a plainer model is the safer pick.
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