Breville has created three toaster ovens, what they call smart ovens. I want to be honest right here and now and tell you that I will not say that the BOV800XL is better than the BOV650XL or BOV450XL. Nor will I say that the BOV650XL is better than the BOV450XL. All three of these toaster ovens are excellent products, and each model will appeal to different people for different reasons.
There are enough differences amongst the three models that I decided to do a comparison of them. They vary in more than just size and price, as you will see below.
First I will start with a comparison chart to make it easy to see the differences, as well as similarities. But I realize that some people will want even more information so I will also discuss how they differ. It is my goal to make it as easy as possible for you to understand what each model can and can’t do, so you can choose the machine that is best for your needs.
| Breville BOV800XL | Breville BOV650XL | Breville BOV450XL | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
|
| Watts | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 |
| External Size | L = 18.5″ W = 16.2″ H = 11.2″ | L = 15.5″ W = 16.25″ H = 10.25″ | L = 15.5″ W = 14″ H = 8.75″ |
| Internal Capacity | 6 toast slices 13” x 11” baking dish 13" pizza Whole chicken | 4 toast slices 10” x 10” baking dish 12” pizza Small chicken | 4 toast slices 10” x 10” baking dish 11" pizza Whole chicken (cut in half) |
| Preset Functions | Nine Functions: BAGEL BAKE BROIL COOKIES PIZZA REHEAT ROAST TOAST WARM | Eight Functions: BAGEL BAKE BROIL COOKIES PIZZA REHEAT ROAST TOAST | Eight Functions: BAGEL BAKE BROIL COOKIES PIZZA REHEAT ROAST TOAST |
| Convection Cooking |  |  | |
| Frozen Food Function | | | |
| "Element IQ" Technology | | | |
| Heating Elements | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Heating Element Shields | | | |
| Rack Positions | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Auto-Eject Rack | | | |
| Wire Rack Stopper | | | |
| Controls |  |  |  |
| Interior Light | | | |
| Accessories | 3 Accessories: Baking pan Broil rack Pizza pan | 2 Accessories: Baking pan Broil rack | 1 Accessory: Baking pan |
| Weight | 20 pounds | 17 pounds (approximately) | 10.6 pounds |
| Link To My Review | Read Review of the BOV800XL | Read Review of the BOV650XL | Read Review of the BOV450XL |
| Price * | Check Current Price | Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Appearance
At the risk of sounding superficial, I am starting with looks. Other than size, all three models look pretty much the same. The bodies are all made of stainless steel that have a brushed look to them, making it easy to keep the exteriors clean. Although the handles vary in length, they all are very thick and do an excellent job of protecting hands from getting burned when opening the doors. They all look sleek and modern.
Size
These three Breville toaster ovens are all different sizes. The BOV800XL is pretty large. This is the model that I have myself and I can attest to the fact that it takes up a lot of counter space.The BOV450XL, in contrast, is very small, but only in comparison to the BOV800XL. As far as toaster ovens go, it is larger than most.Then there is the BOV650XL, which I’m sure you can guess is smaller than the BOV800XL and larger than the BOV450XL.
Convection
Convection cooking is a deal breaker for some people. Cooking with convection lowers cooking temperatures and shortens cooking time. Convection cooking almost always helps save electricity because of the shorter cooking time.
Of the three Breville smart ovens, only the BOV800XL has convection cooking. It doesn’t surprise me that the highest end model is the one that has a convection fan. This is also the most expensive model, and I’m sure that the convection fan is a big part of the higher price tag.
Some of you may be torn on this feature. You might want the convenience of convection cooking but don’t like the high price of the BOV800XL. If that is you, then consider this. If you plan on doing a lot of cooking in your toaster oven, then it is very possible that you can end up saving more money on electricity in the long run by getting the BOV800XL and using the convection fan than you will save if you buy one of the other lesser priced models.
Control Panels
It doesn’t matter how well a toaster oven cooks if you can’t figure out how to use the controls. Fortunately, the controls for all three of these toaster ovens are intuitive and easy to use.
The controls for each machine is just different enough from the other two to be unique. I suggest that you look at the pictures of the control panels in the comparison chart above to see if one type of panel is more in line with what you like than the other. If, however, you have no preferences then I can say that you will probably be just fine with any of these.
Rack Stoppers
Rack stoppers are little metal bars above one or more rack position slots that prevent the wire rack from being pulled completely out of the machine. I consider rack stoppers a must-have safety feature because they prevent hot food from spilling onto the counter and you by not allowing the rack to be pulled out all the way.
The only Breville smart oven that has a rack stopper is the BOV800XL. I honestly don’t understand why Breville didn’t include rack stoppers on all three models.
Auto-Eject Rack
An auto-eject rack is a rack that is automatically pulled out when the door of a toaster oven is opened. Unlike the above feature, this is not for safety. Instead, it is a convenience. Again, as with the above feature, the BOV800XL is the only model that has an auto-eject rack.
Fortunately, this is a minor issue if the model you want doesn’t include it. You can get around this by using a hot pad or a toaster oven pull tool, which is a plastic device (metal poses a shock risk) that pulls out a wire rack with ease.
Preset Cooking Functions and Element IQ
Preset cooking functions are default settings for some of the most common foods or methods of cooking used in a toaster oven. Many toaster ovens come with preset cooking functions but none of them work the way the ones in each Breville smart oven work. The reason I say this is because Breville uses what they call Element IQ technology.
In a nutshell, Element IQ technology controls the heat in all of the heating elements to ensure that foods are cooked properly and as quickly as possible. This is where Breville toaster ovens really shine. The selected preset cooking function “tells” the heating elements the best way to heat up. There is more to the Element IQ technology, and if you are interested in learning more you can read my article, Is Breville’s “Element IQ” Truly Smart?
All three of the Breville toaster ovens include cooking functions. Of course, the BOV800XL has one more than the other two. It includes the WARM setting, which you can use to keep foods warm after they are done cooking. This is a nice benefit, but I also know something about the other two models that will allow you to create your own WARM setting in either of them.
Both the BOV650XL and BOV450XL have a minimum temperature of 120° F. It just so happens that the temperature for the WARM setting is 120° F! That means you can keep food warm in all three machines, even though only one of them has a WARM setting.
As for the other eight preset cooking functions, they work wonderfully! Breville truly did an incredible job at making sure all the preset cooking functions work well. That being said, it is important that you use the proper setting for the food you cook, as well as the right rack position, for the best results.
For example, I’ve cooked many chickens in my BOV800XL. I learned quickly that I need to choose the ROAST setting when cooking chicken, not BAKE. Why? Because of how the heating elements heat up. There is enough of a difference that it takes a very long time to cook a chicken on the BAKE setting instead of the ROAST setting.
Cooking Capacity
Before you decide which Breville toaster oven is right for you, think about what you want to cook in it. This is important because all three models are pricey, and you won’t want to find out after you choose one that it isn’t large enough for your cooking needs.
Do you often cook whole chickens or large roasts? Then go with the BOV650XL or the BOV800XL. Both are large enough for an entire chicken. If you like to roast chicken in a covered roasting pan, then go with the BOV800XL, which is large enough for a chicken inside of a covered roasting pan (this is my favorite way to cook chicken in my Breville).
Do you like to make frozen pizzas? Then take a moment to look at the size of the pizzas you buy most often. All three of these toaster ovens will cook pizza, but each can cook a different size (see the comparison chart above for the maximum pizza size for each model). If you are a frozen pizza lover then make sure the toaster oven you buy will fit your favorite pizzas.
Included Accessories
Manufacturers include accessories with their toaster ovens to make cooking in them easier. But, I’m going to be honest with you. The accessories included in the Breville models are cheap and I hate them. They are all coated in a nonstick material that starts to stick after just one or two uses. Plus, I don’t like nonstick cooking surfaces because I don’t want to accidentally swallow any of it after the surface starts to get scratches on it.
The BOV800XL comes with three accessories, and I don’t use any of them. I replaced them with a variety of accessories that I bought from Amazon that work MUCH better.
My point in sharing this is that I wouldn’t let the accessories for any of these models sway you one way or the other. Chances are, you won’t like them any more than I did, or the people on Amazon who complained about them, too.
Consumer Ratings
The BOV800XL is the #1 selling convection toaster oven on Amazon. However, it doesn’t matter which of the three Breville models you look at because The BOV450XL, BOV650XL, and the BOV800XL all have glowing reviews and ratings from owners. The vast majority of people who own each of the three models are incredibly happy with their purchases, so much so that many of them say they would buy their particular toaster ovens again if they stop working.
Price
Price is where you will see the biggest differences between the BOV450XL, BOV650XL, and the BOV800XL smart ovens. There can be as much as a $100 difference in price, depending on which models you look at. The good news, though, is that the quality is the same regardless of which of these three toaster oven you buy.
Final Thoughts
Only you can decide whether the Breville BOV450XL, BOV650XL, or the BOV800XL toaster oven is right for your needs. Any one of these machines is fully capable of making excellent toast, as well as cooking casseroles, pizzas, chickens, and frozen dinners. I hope that the information provided here will help you pick the right model for you.
Thank you, Amy, for the great review and buying tips! you helped me to make my decision!
Julia,
I’m so glad this was helpful to you!
Amy
Nice work on the comparison and reviews that you have. I have been trying to decide on a new toaster oven and your information has been very valuable and thorough. I believe I can now finally come to a conclusion as your reviews cover most of the units I have been interested in. Thanks!
Wow, I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough comparison! It really helps, especially since Breville doesn’t offer a comparison between its oven line. Thanks
You’re welcome! I’m glad this has been helpful to you.
Can you list the accessories you purchased to use in your toaster oven?
I wrote a post of accessories that will fit in the BOV800XL, which is the model I have, and you can see it here. I own four of the accessories listed there: the baking pan, the broiler pan, the stainless steel pizza pan, and the roaster. They are all excellent items that have stood up to a lot of use, almost daily in a few cases.
Thanks for the comparison and sharing your experience Amy.
Do you mind sharing which accessories would you recommend for the Breville especially the 650XK?
You are very welcome!
I haven’t looked for accessories specific to the BOV650XL but I would be willing to bet that several of the ones I wrote about for the 800XL would also fit in this one. The baking pan and broiler pan would definitely would fit.You can see them here.
I just did a quick search on Amazon and see that Breville has three accessories that they made specifically for the BOV650XL. You can see them here.
Going to order one tomorrow. After I take back the uneven cooking monster I just bought. Tried toast and cookies.
You mention above the aftermarket accessories you have obtained. How about a list of your favorites? Cost? Utility, etc…
Thanks much for the write up!
I feel dumb, now that I have looked on the accessories page……
No worries! I’m glad you found the page of accessories. 🙂
I was so torn between the 800 and the 650 and stumbled across your review. Thank you so much! Amazing, thorough that helped me decide on the 650 (since it’s just me and my boyfriend). Thanks for taking your time out helping people like myself!
Great reviews and very helpful. I was all set to just get the 450 but it looks like most of the accessory pans won’t fit in it. I might be able to order the ones to go with the 650 but am concerned about their quality. Guess I will bite the bullet and go for the 800 even though it is bigger than I really need.
I apologize for not responding sooner and I realize that you might have already made your decision. If you want to use quality accessories and you have the counter space for it then the 800 is your best bet. We have had our 800 for over a year now, use it at least once a day, and we love it! I also use the accessories that I bought for it almost every day. One of the best aspects of the 800 is that it is large enough for me to cook an entire chicken in that turns out beautifully!
If you already bought a toaster oven, which one did you buy? How do you like it?
I loved your comparison of these models. Great job. A million thank you’s. I will be buying the middle version. Amy, I have to ask ….. the music, the happy whistling music on the comparison , who is it, what is the name of it? I played the u tube video over and over. I absolutely love it. I can’t be the only one who has asked.
Actually, you are the first person to ask about the music, but I agree with you that it is very catchy!
The music used in that video was from an online video game called “Glitch”. The game has long since been canceled and the creators released everything to the public domain, meaning that anyone can use anything from the game for any purpose.
This particular tune is called “Groddle Forest Theme”. You’ll probably also like “Groddle Theme Snappy Mix” from “Glitch”. You can download their music by going to http://www.glitchthegame.com/downloads/ and clicking on the “Music” tab.
exactly what I was looking for–thank you for a great review! 650 for me! =)
This is such a great and thorough comparison. I’ve been racking my brain for weeks over which to buy the 800XL or 650XL and now I have a definitive choice based largely on your information. I appreciate what you do and did here. It was very helpful. Thank you very much! My mission has been accomplished!
Thank you Amy! This is the best review I have read, ever, and by far! Thanks to you my decision is now very easy. I was trying to go back and forth on the models and various web sites to put this together. So glad I found your review before spending too much wasted effort trying to do it myself. Loved the pictures too.
Will all of these ovens be able to be used on a wheeled utility/microwave stand? i do not have any counter space-teeny tiny apt.
I can’t think of any reason why you couldn’t do what you are asking. In fact, it would probably be good for the toaster oven because being on a stand will prevent any of the sides from being blocked, which will help prevent it from overheating. You would just want to make sure that the toaster oven doesn’t put out too much heat on the bottom, which could potentially damage the surface of your stand, though this is extremely unlikely.
Very helpful! Esp the comments on the convection oven feature. I was set to pay the big bucks for the 800 and have decided the 450 is perfect for my needs. You just saved me 100 bucks. Thank you
Thanks Amy, I’ve been dithering for a while on the model and you’ve helped me sort out what I’m going to do. I’m going with the 845 (Canada) with an interior light and the slow cook function.
Thank you so much for writing this comparison. Breville should post a link to your site! The comparison was exactly what I was looking for and you did an excellent job calling out the features of each.
I have a very badly designed kitchen and in order to create storage space, I plan to replace my range with a stove top and toaster oven. My plan is to put the toaster oven in the niche designed for the microwave. I am so happy to have found your website where I read your comparison of Breville models and “under counter mounting” articles.
Your review forced me to focus on what I really need and I decided that the 650XL will suffice. The microwave niche, which is part of the cabinetry, is quite large relative to the dimensions for the 650XL. I will have more than 3 inches space on either side, 6 inches clearance from the oven’s top and two inches at the back. This seems to me to be pretty satisfactory. I don’t want to put you on the spot, but what do you think?
I have another question. Do you have any thoughts on induction stove tops versus “normal” electric stove tops.? I have had two normal, electric stove tops and for people who like to cook they really underperform ( slow to heat and slow to cool) Induction sounds much better, but it doesn’t seem to be catching on as fast I would have expected. Your comment would be appreciated.
Based on my experience with my BOV800XL model, I think the dimensions you stated would be good. They would provide ample airflow around the toaster oven to keep it from overheating.
As for induction stove tops, I have absolutely no experience with them whatsoever. Having said that, I am currently in the process of upgrading my pots and pans, and almost everything that I am buying can be used on an induction burner. I’m purposely doing this so I can use them if I ever get a stove that has induction burners. I’m also seriously considering buying a stand-alone induction burner, like this one (which, if I end up getting one, this is the model I will buy based on my research), so I can use the induction feature of my pots and pans. Everything I’ve read about induction is swaying me towards that type of cooking. I like that foods would cook faster, but even more than that I like that the burners stay cool when pots are removed from them (at least, that’s what I’ve read).
Hi Amy,
Just found your site this morning.. Thank you for all the information, and tips. I have the large oven. 😀
I use the oven every day. I really love it.
Never thought a “toaster oven” would be so great.
Thanks to you and to Breville.
Judy
Ps I have a stand alone induction burner. It too is terrific. My only complaint is not enough variation in temp. range. Mine is a Salton model. It also was a terrific buy. Use it all the time.
Would love a full size induction stove, but it’s out of the question at this time.
I’m with you on wanting a full size induction oven! I recently upgraded my pots and pans and made sure that the pieces I bought all have the ability to work on an induction burner. Someday…
Can any of the Breville toaster ovens be mounted under cabinet
No. No toaster oven should ever be mounted under a cabinet unless it’s specifically made for this purpose. Doing so is a huge fire risk because all countertop toaster ovens need air circulating on all sides to prevent them from overheating. Mountable toaster ovens are made so that they don’t need air around them and have heat shields. The only one currently made for this purpose is the Black & Decker SpaceMaker.
First Amy, I would like to thank you for your exceptional article regarding this particular product. I have been vacillating about spending this much money on a toaster oven. Your in depth analysis of this product was so very helpful. I realize this article is an older one but if you could help me with some questions.
1. Breville now offers a pro model (BOV845BSS) which is about $20 more than the 800. What do you think of this model? Is it worth the small difference in price.
2. My main reason for my purchase will be that I don’t like microwaves. The main function they perform for me is reheating and I want this product to be able to do this for me.
Keep up the good work and thanks also for your honest opinion of the accessories these units offer as part of their packages. I have had experience with many of these same accessories that ended up in the trash because they were of poor quality. Manufacturers take heed.
I haven’t had a chance to do a thorough review of the new BOV845BSS model but here are the main differences:
The BOV845BSS is slightly larger, has an internal light, and has a “slow cooking” mode that cooks for between two and 10 hours and then automatically switches “warm” for another two hours.
I hope this helps.
Thank you for this article. I have owned two of the 800 Models- one we had fro probably 15 years! The second we ended up giving to a child going to college. I can attest to the fact that it is a great toaster oven. I will only buy the Breville toaster ovens- they are the best- we hardly ever use our oven-which is a Viking! I looked for your article because I was contemplating buying a smaller size and wanted to see what features I would be missing and thought maybe I did not want one that takes as much counter space.
I’m so glad you liked this article! Our BOV800XL is still going strong after at least four years of near-daily use. It’s great to hear that one of your lasted around 15 years. Breville certainly does make a quality product.
WOW! It is 1am and various stores are having a sale on Breville Toaster Ovens and I am exhausted trying to figure out which one to purchase. Then, I found your comparison! I cannot thank you enough! I will probably go with the 800XL. Now, I can finally go to bed! Again, my gratitude and if you are ever in the NW US, come by my house for coffee/tea and some homemade cookies from my new toaster oven!
I stopped using a toaster oven, and bought a toaster, because it took forever toast. Since I will probably never be able to fit or afford a salamander, I need a good broiler. Any experience with that? Thomking of the 659XL. THANKS.
I do not have any experience with the 659XL model. My toaster oven is the BOV800XL and can say that it does a great job at broiling, my husband uses that feature often. I think any of the Breville models that have a broiler feature would be a good choice.