Why do some Belgian waffle makers produce pale, soft waffles?

This is the most common complaint reviewers raise — particularly against the Krups GQ502 on target.com and r/BuyItForLife, where users report waffles staying pale even on the highest browning setting. Reviewers across mainstream tech press note that lower-wattage irons (under ~1000W) and conservative factory browning curves are the usual cause. Look for 1200W+ and a wide browning-shade range if crispness matters to you.