A sandwich press looks compact when closed, but its useful space is the area between the plates. Compare that area with the bread you buy, including its shape and thickness. Two advertised sandwiches may mean a smaller format than the slices you normally use.
The hinge influences how the top plate meets a filled sandwich. A fixed or adjustable arrangement can behave differently with thicker food. Read the intended use and avoid forcing the lid shut on a stack that is too tall for the design.
Decide what else you expect it to do
Some presses are designed for additional foods or have interchangeable plates. That can broaden their use, but only within the manufacturer's instructions. Do not assume a sandwich appliance is a general griddle or that every plate set fits the same base.
Look at controls and indicators. A light may signal power, heating or readiness depending on the model; it is not automatically a food-doneness indicator. Use appropriate checks for the ingredients rather than relying on the exterior of the sandwich alone.
If you mainly want toasted bread, compare the press with the toaster or pan you already own. It earns its place when the closed cooking arrangement solves a task you perform often enough to justify another appliance.
Follow the grease and crumbs
Fixed plates can be convenient because there are fewer parts to store, but they must be cleaned without immersing the electrical body. Removable plates may be easier to wash while creating extra joints and a need to refit them correctly. Check the actual cleaning directions.
A drip tray needs a stable position and regular emptying after safe cooling. Inspect grooves and edges where food can collect. Use utensils compatible with the plate surface rather than cutting a sandwich directly on a coating that could be damaged.
Measure the open appliance, not just its closed footprint, and leave the clearances required in the manual. Store it only when clean, dry and cool as instructed. A compact press is useful when the entire cycle from filling to cleanup stays compact too.