Best Microwave ovens 2026: 13 Compared (28 Sources)

What are the best microwave ovens in 2026?

Summary

Eight testing outlets disagree more than usual here. Wirecutter's top pick is the Panasonic NN-SN686S, which "cooked better and more evenly than any other model we tested"; RTINGS' is the Breville Smooth Wave; America's Test Kitchen's is the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close; CNN Underscored's is the GE GCST10A1WSS; Tom's Guide's is the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS; TechGearLab's and Business Insider's are models not on this card; and Consumer Reports lists its picks alphabetically. RTINGS measured 26 microwaves and found their heating evenness remarkably similar, the food deciding the result more than the oven, while Wirecutter, TechGearLab, CNN Underscored and Business Insider still find differences in their marshmallow and frozen-food tests. [src24, src1, src10, src11, src16, src12, src15, src13, src6]

How we rank: a product holds a named role when at least two outlets that tested it pick it, or test it well, for that job; where they split, the outlets that tested both products decide. The Breville Compact Wave Soft Close (BMO650SIL) is the top pick because America's Test Kitchen made it its winner and Business Insider its best small microwave, and both tested the larger Breville Smooth Wave and picked the Compact Wave ahead of it. The Panasonic NN-SN686S has one such pick, Wirecutter's; TechGearLab, the other outlet we read that tested it, scored it 58 of 100, eighth of 12, so it stays on the card as Wirecutter's pick rather than the top pick. The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is the best value, picked by RTINGS, which tested this black finish, TechGearLab, which links it, and Tom's Guide; Wirecutter's budget pick is the same model in the stainless EM131A5C-SS finish. The Breville Smooth Wave (BMO850BSS) is the best upgrade: RTINGS' best and Highly Recommended by America's Test Kitchen, though Wirecutter and Business Insider found it expensive for what it does. The GE GCST10A1WSS is the pick if you want the microwave to air-fry: CNN Underscored's top pick and TechGearLab's best convection microwave for most. [src10, src15, src24, src12, src1, src16, src11]

What changed in this refresh: the Panasonic NN-SN686S is no longer the top pick, for the evidence reason above; the GE GCST10A1WSS moves from best value to best with air fry; the Commercial Chef CHM990B, which only Consumer Reports among the outlets we read tested, is no longer the named budget pick and stays as an alternative; the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close and the over-the-range GE JVM6175SKSS are new; and the BLACK+DECKER EM925AB9, which no outlet we read tested, is off the card. [src24, src12, src14, src10, src15, src25, src4, src16]

Top 13 Models Compared

Power and capacity are as the named outlet or maker states them, with RTINGS' measured capacity where it has one [src7, src8, src9, src27, src28]. A price is the Amazon price from our US price check for the listing we link, updated daily; a dash means our check has no current Amazon offer to show, the link goes to the maker's store, or the link is new to this card and not yet checked.

Best for Each Use Case

Top Pick: Breville Compact Wave Soft Close (BMO650SIL) — Check price

America's Test Kitchen's winner, rated Highly Recommended with full marks for performance, ease of use and cleanup: "Operating this microwave felt remarkably nice", its buttons and dial give reassuring feedback, it melted butter and chocolate smoothly, its brushed finish showed no fingerprints, and its door clears the counter by nearly 1¼ inches; it has no separate timer [src10]. Business Insider's best small microwave: "The marshmallows and mac and cheese were evenly cooked, with no cold spots or burned edges", though reheating and defrosting take a little longer at 900 watts, and it has no smart sensor reheat [src15]. Both outlets also tested the larger Breville Smooth Wave: America's Test Kitchen ranks it below this one, and Business Insider did not pick it [src10, src15]. Wirecutter tested it too and found it "isn't as pleasurable to use as the larger versions, but it's still very handsome"; it prefers the Panasonic NN-SN686S, saying Breville microwaves cost significantly more and "fail to match its performance" [src24]. Breville lists it at 0.9 cu ft and 900 W with a one-year warranty, and its own US store had it at $249.95, available to add to cart, when we checked on 2026-10-15 [src19].

Best Value: Toshiba EM131A5C-BS — Check price

RTINGS' best cheap microwave on its best-microwaves, countertop and budget lists, tested in this black EM131A5C-BS finish: "with 1,100 watts of power, it cooks food very fast", it has a steam sensor and a dedicated mute button, and it fits most dinner plates or an average-sized container of leftovers but not an entire casserole; its membrane panel makes changing the power level take many presses [src1, src2, src3, src27]. TechGearLab, whose link goes to this black finish, scored it 70 of 100, second of the 12 microwaves it tested, and named it its best large-capacity microwave: it thawed 93.75% of a pound of frozen meat, but its heat-map test showed "a troubling pattern of concentrated hot spots in the center" [src12]. Tom's Guide has made it its top pick "for some time" [src16]. Wirecutter's budget pick is the same model in the stainless EM131A5C-SS finish: a 1,100-watt, 1.2 cu ft model with instant-start buttons, a +30 Sec. button, mute and sensor reheat that "performs about as well as other microwaves you can find for a similar price" but is not as accurate, fast or even as Wirecutter's Panasonic top pick [src24]. Business Insider's best value is also the stainless EM131A5C-SS, which it found "cooked quickly, but a bit unevenly" [src15]. RTINGS prefers the EM131A5C-BS to the IKEA GÅTEBO for most people [src9].

Best Upgrade: Breville Smooth Wave (BMO850BSS) — Check price

RTINGS calls it "the best microwave we've tested": it heats food very quickly, its dial and physical buttons set even a power level in a few presses, it is very quiet, its soft-close door noticeably reduces closing noise, and its turntable can be switched off for large square dishes; RTINGS measured 1.10 cu ft inside, on the small side for its price, and it is also RTINGS' best small microwave [src1, src7, src23]. America's Test Kitchen rates it Highly Recommended, "the higher-end version of our winning microwave": its sensor modes made crisp bacon and fluffy baked potato and its defrost thawed ground beef evenly from edge to edge, but it needs considerably more counter space, its controls were more complicated, and "the extra features were not significant improvements over other models" [src10]. Wirecutter found its control panel "the easiest to use of any microwave we tested" but says Breville microwaves "cost significantly more than our top pick but fail to match its performance" [src24]. Business Insider found it "performed well in all of our tests, but it's significantly more expensive than other microwaves with similar features" [src15]. CNN Underscored found its interior light made food easier to check than on any other microwave it tested, and says it "could live up to its price tag if you need at least 1,200 watts" [src11]. Breville lists it at 1.2 cu ft and 1,250 W with a one-year warranty; its US store had it at $399.95, available to add to cart, when we checked on 2026-10-15 [src18].

Best With Air Fry: GE GCST10A1WSS — Check price

CNN Underscored's top pick of the seven countertop microwaves it tested, "the best one for your money": at 1,050 watts "It crushed most of my heating and cooking tests", browned a plate of marshmallows evenly, melted a stick of butter in under 40 seconds, and with convection and a broiler crisped chicken tenders as well as CNN's Ninja AF-101 air fryer; in a later round the Ninja Crispi Microwave air-fried only marginally better at nearly double the price. GE's warranty is one year [src11]. TechGearLab's best convection microwave for most, 69 of 100: "The defrost setting is nearly flawless", but its frozen-food results were inconsistent [src12]. Wirecutter tested the GE GCST10A1 as a smaller, less expensive alternative to its convection pick, but found "the microwave wasn't nearly as good as that of the Panasonic HomeChef Connect" [src24]. GE's own store listed it at $259.00 when we checked on 2026-10-15 [src20].

Wirecutter's Top Pick: Panasonic NN-SN686S — Check price

Wirecutter's top pick, a Panasonic line it has recommended since 2020: the NN-SN686S "cooked better and more evenly than any other model we tested", brought a bowl of soup to 147 °F in 2 minutes, had the fewest hot and cold points, defrosted chicken breasts better, and its sensor reheat brought everything to between 170 °F and 180 °F; Wirecutter notes it has no instant-start buttons and is "often sold out", and also recommends the similar NN-SN65QSD at Target, NN-SN68QB at Costco and NN-SN67KS [src24]. TechGearLab disagrees: it scored the NN-SN686S 58 of 100, eighth of 12, "A loud, powerful unit that quickly heats deliciously hot leftovers but tends to overcook frozen meals", with poor defrosting [src12]. Panasonic's own US store, searched for the NN-SN686S, showed the NN-SN686SR, with a mandatory child lock, at $294.95 with an add-to-cart button when we checked on 2026-10-15 [src21].

Wirecutter's Air-Fry Pick: Panasonic HomeChef Connect NN-CV87QS — Check price

Wirecutter's pick for convection and air frying: it "heated just as evenly and accurately as our top pick", and it has a concealed bake element, which in Wirecutter's tests broiled and air-fried more quickly and cleaned more easily than an exposed one; it still bakes, broils and air-fries more slowly and less well than a regular oven, and its warranty is three years [src24]. CNN Underscored tested it and did not pick it: it "performed well in nearly all my cooking tests" but "didn't do enough to set itself in a class above the other versatile machines I tested", and its scrolling display frustrated the tester [src11].

Consumer Reports' Large Runner-Up: LG NeoChef MSER1590S — Check price

Consumer Reports' runner-up among large countertop microwaves, behind the Panasonic NN-SD77PS: "excellent ratings across many of our lab tests, including heating and defrosting evenness, heating speed, and microwaving noise", with touchpad controls and a sensor [src14]. Wirecutter suggests it if its Panasonic picks are sold out: it has an inverter and sensor settings that worked well, but "doesn't cook quite as evenly as the top pick, and is less intuitive to use" [src24].

Consumer Reports' Midsized Pick: Commercial Chef CHM990B — Check price

Consumer Reports' midsized countertop pick: "very good scores across the board for heating evenness, defrosting, ease of use, and noise", with heating speed "only passable" and no convection or sensor cooking; Consumer Reports says it and other Commercial Chef microwaves "are unmatched when it comes to reliability" [src13, src14]. Consumer Reports is the only outlet we read that tested it.

Microwave, Air Fryer and Grill: IKEA GÅTEBO — Check price

Tom's Guide's best combi microwave: a 900-watt microwave that also air-fries, grills and cooks by convection. In its hands-on test, tomato soup was hot in 3 minutes 30 seconds, a grilled cheese took six minutes on the grill setting, and frozen fries were "soggy and anaemic" after 10 minutes of air frying but evenly cooked after 21 [src16, src17]. RTINGS tested it and prefers the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS for most people, which is more powerful, quieter and roomier; it measured 0.74 cu ft inside against IKEA's 0.9 [src9]. IKEA sells it itself: its US page listed it at $199.00 with IKEA's 5-year guarantee when we checked on 2026-10-15 [src22].

RTINGS' Budget Pick: Sharp SMC1162HS — Check price

RTINGS' best budget microwave on its best-microwaves and countertop lists: a very fast 1,000-watt model, impressively quiet, without a steam sensor; "Buying a pricier microwave won't help your food cook more evenly" [src1, src2, src8]. RTINGS' cheap-and-budget list replaced it on April 29, 2026 "as the former has been discontinued", its small-microwave list swapped it for "the newer SMC1162KS" on September 16, 2026, and RTINGS' review calls the SMC1162KS, which adds a child-resistant door lock, its updated version [src3, src23, src8]. RTINGS is the only outlet we read that tested it.

Smallest and Slowest: Commercial Chef CHM770B — Check price

Consumer Reports' small countertop pick: "a champ at heating evenly", but one of the slowest microwaves in its ratings and "just so-so at defrosting" [src13, src14]. TechGearLab scored it 58 of 100, seventh of 12: "A small unit that is easy to use, but doesn't do a good job of reheating food" [src12]. The two outlets that tested it disagree.

Over-the-Range: LG MVEM1825F — Check price

RTINGS' best over-the-range microwave: "This feature-rich, high-end model heats food quickly and runs quietly", with a two-level cooktop light, two fan speeds and a fan timer, a very spacious chamber whose turntable can be switched off, and a glass touch panel; you can mute it only through LG's app. RTINGS also tested the GE JVM6175SKSS and names this LG its best over-the-range microwave, the GE its mid-range pick [src4]. RTINGS is the only outlet we read that tested it.

Wirecutter's Over-the-Range Pick: GE JVM6175SKSS — Check price

Wirecutter's over-the-range pick from the six lower-end models it tested is the GE JVM6175, of which the JVM6175SKSS is the stainless finish: "better controls and an easier-to-use interface than most", and it "heats a bit more evenly than most other OTR models we tested", with a mute option, a turntable you can switch off and easier installation; Wirecutter says it is reworking that guide [src25]. RTINGS tested the JVM6175SKSS and makes it its mid-range over-the-range pick: good value, 1,000 watts, quick and quiet, a chamber on the small side for an over-the-range model, and a membrane touch panel [src4]. GE's own store listed the stainless JVM6175SKSS at $288.00 when we checked on 2026-10-15; GE rates it at 1.7 cu ft and 1,000 W with a 300-CFM vent [src26].

What the Other Testers Picked

These are picks at one outlet each, so they hold no slot here. Wirecutter's pick for small spaces is the 700-watt GE GCST07N1 [src24]. RTINGS' mid-range and budget pick is the Sharp SMC2266KS, a 1,200-watt countertop model with more room than many over-the-range microwaves, and its mid-range countertop pick the Toshiba ML-EM45PIT(BS); Wirecutter found the ML-EM45PIT heated a little faster and more evenly than its Toshiba budget pick [src1, src2, src3, src24]. TechGearLab's best overall is the Magic Chef MC110MB, 77 of 100 and the fastest it tested [src12]. CNN Underscored's budget pick is the Chefman 900W Countertop Microwave Oven [src11]. Business Insider's best overall is the Panasonic NN-SN67QS and its best large microwave the Panasonic NN-SD975S [src15]. America's Test Kitchen's Best Buy is the Toshiba ML-EM09PA(SS), and it rates the Panasonic NN-SN67KS, one of Wirecutter's recommended NN-SN686S variants, Not Recommended [src10, src24]. Consumer Reports' top large countertop model is the Panasonic NN-SD77PS, and the LG MVEL2125F tops its over-the-range ratings [src13, src14].

Off the card in this refresh: the BLACK+DECKER EM925AB9, which Tom's Guide picks "thanks to its rave reviews and impressive specs", with no test results on its page, and which no other outlet we read tested [src16].

Key Market Trends (2026)

• Testers disagree on whether microwaves differ in evenness: RTINGS measured 26 models and found them remarkably similar, and calls inverters a marketing feature with no real-world benefit outside extreme edge cases; America's Test Kitchen found no measurable inverter benefit on the Panasonic NN-SN67KS. Wirecutter found inverter models cooked and defrosted more evenly, and TechGearLab says the most evenly heated food it tested, from the Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1, is likely thanks to its inverter technology. [src6, src5, src10, src24, src12]
• Microwaves that air-fry reach the shortlists: CNN Underscored's top pick, the GE GCST10A1WSS, crisped chicken tenders as well as a dedicated Ninja air fryer; Wirecutter has a convection and air-fry pick, the Panasonic HomeChef Connect; Tom's Guide's combi pick is the IKEA GÅTEBO; and RTINGS added the Ninja Crispi MW101 as a notable mention on September 15, 2026. [src11, src24, src16, src1]
• Child locks are now standard: Wirecutter and TechGearLab say UL rules require a two-step child-lock system on certified microwaves made after April 2024; Panasonic's US store, searched for the NN-SN686S, lists the NN-SN686SR with a mandatory child lock; and CNN Underscored found the Chefman's door lock cannot be turned off. [src24, src12, src21, src11]
• Models turn over quickly: RTINGS replaced the discontinued Panasonic NN-SC67NS in May 2026 and says the Sharp SMC1162HS has been discontinued, and Wirecutter says its Panasonic top pick is often sold out. [src1, src3, src24]

Important Caveats

• Prices in the comparison table come from our daily US price check of the Amazon listing we link; a dash means the check has no current offer, or the link goes to a maker's store. Maker-store prices in the text are as listed when we loaded each maker's page on 2026-10-15. [src18, src19, src20, src21, src22, src26]
• The outlets test differently. RTINGS measures power, capacity, noise and controls on a fixed bench; Consumer Reports lab-tests heating, defrosting and noise and adds member-survey reliability, but lists its picks alphabetically and keeps scores for members; TechGearLab and America's Test Kitchen score each model; Wirecutter, CNN Underscored and Business Insider report hands-on kitchen tests; Tom's Guide says its guide favours trusted brands with years of user testimonial, and it tested the IKEA GÅTEBO hands-on. [src1, src13, src12, src10, src24, src11, src15, src16, src17]
• Usable space is about half the label: Consumer Reports finds usable capacities typically slightly above half of what manufacturers claim. [src13]
• Over-the-range microwaves are installed above a range and carry a fan and a cooktop light; Consumer Reports says installation may require an electrician, and Wirecutter notes affordable models move about 300 CFM. They are not interchangeable with countertop models. [src4, src13, src25]
• Commercial Chef countertop microwaves earn Consumer Reports' strongest predicted reliability score of all countertop microwaves it tests, but a dismal owner satisfaction rating; LG countertop models score midrange on both. [src14]