Toast Xbox One Review: Give Your Console That Premium Wood Grain Look

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We’ve reviewed a few Toast products here on Techaeris, and the company has recently released its wood veneer covers for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles. Read on to find out how the installation went and finished product turned out in our Toast Xbox One review!

Design

Before I get too much into design, I want to say that Toast does a great job in making sure your package arrives safely and without damage. The envelope it was contained in was a thicker cardboard, and the actual Toast cover package was placed on top of a thicker piece of cardboard to help prevent bending during shipping.

We received the Ebony version, you can also get Walnut, Ash, and Bamboo if you wish. The Ebony cover is pretty dark, the pictures in the galleries below do make it look a bit lighter but that’s due to the fact I was working in a very well lit area for the installation.

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A bit about Toast covers. Each one is made from real wood veneer, and is laser cut from a single piece so the grains line up once it’s fully applied. The back of each piece uses high quality 3M adhesive, and the average thickness of their covers is 0.9mm (1/32″) thin so you’re not adding much in the way of bulk when using them. The Ebony veneer, which we used, is made from wood fibers and then stained to mimic real Ebony as Toast is not cool with cutting down rainforests (and neither are we)!

Even in the package the Toast cover pieces look fantastic. When applied to the Xbox One, it simply looks outstanding. Even my wife commented on how nice it looked once it was finished, and she’s not usually one to comment on how an electronic device looks. The quality is top notch, and the pieces fit together very well and the only gaps that you see are the same gaps you see between the individual pieces of the Xbox One.

The only complaint I have is that it would be nice if the front piece had of included a full strip that folds over for right hand side, instead the front plate has the bottom half of the strip, while the top have is part of the right hand piece. It’s not noticeable unless you really look at it, but I think it would have look better having the strip fold over from the front so the scored portion is consistent all the way up when viewed from the front.

But hey, it looks absolutely fantastic, and if you have your console on a shelf in your living room or other common area, it’s sure to blend in a bit better and not look like a hunk of plastic sitting on a nice dark, or light, shelf. Each of the four available colours are sure to match almost any decor.

As well, you can get a custom engraving on the top panel if you want to pay a little extra.

Installation

Installation of the Toast wood cover was surprisingly easy and straightforward. Check out the video below for an overview of the process, or skip past it for a brief overview of the process.

If you decide to pass on the above video, installation is quite easy. The package came with detailed instructions and everything necessary to Toast your Xbox One. A couple tips that should help you get the best result. First, make sure you know how and where the piece is going to go on before you peel off the backing. Second, once the back is peeled off, gently place the piece in the required position, make sure it’s aligned and then start pressing down to make the adhesive stick. If you misalign it, you can gently peel it off but you should do so quickly as the adhesive gets stronger the longer it is on your console.

  1. First, for best results you should unplug and disconnect your Xbox One – kind of a no brainer here.
  2. Clean your Xbox One with the included alcohol wipes and dry off with a clean cloth. Because mine was already fairly clean, I just wiped and it dried pretty quick. I had no issues with the wood cover sticking to the console at all.
  3. Some of the panels are scored to fold around the edges and corners. These scores are also a great way to make sure you have it aligned properly.
  4. Remove the paper backing from the piece you are applying, some of the larger pieces will have circles that remain on the wood piece which help make it easier to remove at a later time if you so desire.
  5. Complete step 4 for all remaining large pieces, the instructions outline the best order to apply them – top, front, just below the front, right side, and then all the remaining small edge pieces.
  6. And that’s it! It took less than 15 minutes from start to finish.

If you wish to remove the cover, heat the wood gently with a hair dryer to release the adhesive and gently peel it off. You won’t be able to reuse your cover once you do, so be sure that you really want to remove it before doing so. As well, Toast strongly recommends that you do not use tools or solvents to remove your cover.

Protection

While you’re probably not going to be carting your Xbox One around wherever you go, it may still get minor scratches from laying things on top of it. I’ve had mine for two years now and there were a few barely visible scratches on the glossier areas of the console. Not only does the Toast cover look great, but it does offer additional protection from scratches and I feel less hesitant to place my controllers or headphones on the console when not in use.

Price/Value

At $59USD for a cover, it’s not exactly cheap but for the quality of the materials — it is real wood after all, it’s a good value for your dollar. The attention to detail and the exact fit of each piece can’t be beat, and if you are so inclined you can personalize it with a custom engraving for another $30USD.

Wrap-up

If you’re looking to skin your Xbox One, you will definitely want to check out the Toast Xbox One cover. The real wood finish looks sharp, installation was easy, and the added layer of protection without the added bulk on your console is well worth the money. We haven’t tested removal, but Toast indicates that it is easy to remove and won’t leave any residue on your console, and given the quality of the product, ease of installation, and attention to detail, I don’t see any reason to doubt their claims.

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*We were sent a review sample of the Toast Xbox One cover for the purposes of this review.

Last Updated on November 27, 2018.

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