Best Microwaves (2026)

Key takeaways

• Lowest price: Nostalgia RMO770 Retro Countertop Microwave at $89.99 (Best Buy list price (black RMO770BLK); other colors vary).
• Typical price: from $89.99, median $199.99, up to $499.95 — across 11 priced.
• Tracked: 11 products across 8 brands, current through 2026-06-19.
• Compared on: capacity cu ft, wattage w, type, width in, inverter, sensor cooking.

Best by the numbers

Objective winners — each is the leader on one measured spec, with the figure. No subjective ranking.

• Lowest price: Nostalgia RMO770 Retro Countertop Microwave ($89.99)
• Newest: Galanz GLCMKZ11 Retro Countertop Microwave (2021)
• Highest capacity cu ft: Panasonic NN-SD975S Cyclonic Wave Inverter Microwave (2.2 capacity cu ft)
• Highest wattage w: Toshiba ML-EM45PIT(SS) Inverter Countertop Microwave (1250 wattage w)

Comparison

Specs are as published by the manufacturer (or a reputable spec source where the official page was unavailable); prices are US launch MSRP. Full per-product records and all spec columns are in our open dataset.

Popular comparisons

• Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave vs Panasonic NN-SN686S Inverter Countertop Microwave
• Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave vs GE JES1095SMSS 0.9 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave
• Panasonic NN-SN686S Inverter Countertop Microwave vs GE JES1095SMSS 0.9 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave

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How we compiled this

Adversarially re-verified against manufacturer pages (GE Appliances, Panasonic shop, Whirlpool, Breville) and major retailers (Amazon, Walmart, Lowe's, Best Buy, Home Depot, Abt) plus appliances.techreviewer.com. All 11 models are real and verifiable; no products were removed. The COSORI microwave was correctly excluded by the writer (COSORI markets air fryers/toaster ovens, no microwave SKU exists). Corrections applied: (1) Toshiba EM131A5C-BS rated output is 1000W, not 1100W — manufacturer Amazon/Walmart/Lowe's listings and rtings all state 1000W; techreviewer's 1100W appears to be an input/output mix-up. (2) Breville Combi Wave BMO870BSS DOES have a glass turntable (12.4 in, replacement part SP0027406; manual states the turntable must be installed for operation) — the draft's turntable:false / 'flat interior with wire racks' was a fabrication (that describes Breville's Smart Oven Air Fryer, not the Combi Wave microwave). (3) Toshiba ML-EM45PIT sensor-menu count is reported as both 5 and 6 across sources, so preset_count set to null rather than guess. (4) Galanz GLCMKZ11BKR10 list price updated to Best Buy's $139.99 (DealNews has shown ~$120-134 on deal). The 'GLCMKZ11S' and 'ML-EM45P(SS)' draft SKUs do not exist; documented representatives BKR10 (black) and ML-EM45PIT(SS) (stainless inverter) are used. wattage_w = rated output power. booleans true when confirmed, false when denied, null when unconfirmed. Prices are typical current US retail or published MSRP. accessedAt 2026-06-19.

Last verified 2026-06-19. We re-check published specs and prices on a recurring cadence and update this page when they change.

Open data & methodology → · Queryable via MCP

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