The 10 Best Microwaves of 2026, Ranked

For reheating and defrosting, a 20L solo such as the Swan Nordic or Tower T24021W does the job at a budget price, and the Sharp YC-MG02U-S adds a grill. A larger inverter solo such as the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ suits a family. If you want to bake, grill or air fry as well, a combination model such as the Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ or Sage Combi Wave costs more but replaces a small oven. We compared 27 models and ranked these ten from owner ratings.

A little. A 900W machine is roughly 12 per cent more powerful, so packaged food needs slightly less time, and most ready meal instructions are written for 800W or 900W. Cavity design and whether the microwave has an inverter matter as much for evenness. Check the output rating, not the input figure: a model labelled 1150W or 1250W on the back may still only output 800W.

Neither is better outright. A turntable spins food through the beams for more even heating, and the glass plate lifts out for washing. A flatbed such as the Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ has a flat floor, so the whole cavity is usable and a large rectangular dish fits. Flatbeds are usually larger and dearer, and corners are slightly harder to wipe.

A solo microwave reheats, defrosts and cooks with microwaves only. A grill model such as the Sharp YC-MG02U-S adds a heating element to brown the top of food, and a combination model adds convection to bake and roast, with the Salter DuoWave and Sage Combi Wave also air frying. Combination ovens cost several times as much, take more worktop and take some learning. If you mostly reheat, a solo is enough.

A 17L to 20L model suits one or two people and fits a small worktop. 23L to 26L suits a family and fits a standard dinner plate, and 30L or more suits large dishes and batch cooking. Check the turntable too: 245mm to 255mm is tight for dinner plates, 288mm and above is comfortable. Allow a few centimetres of clearance around the case for ventilation, and note that the Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ weighs about 20kg while the Sage SMO870 is about 52cm wide.

Most last around seven to ten years with normal use, though cheap models can fail sooner, often through the door switch or magnetron. A longer warranty, such as the two years with an extra year on registration from Morphy Richards, is a sign of the maker's confidence. Standby draw is small, so unplugging barely saves money. If you want an integrated microwave instead, that is a different category from the freestanding models here.