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Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ review

No. 1 of 10 in our microwaves ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The best microwave in 2026 is the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ. It tops our ranking with 8.7 out of 10.

Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ

8.7/10Best Choice

The Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ is a large 32L, 1000W solo microwave in black, built for households that reheat dinner plates and big bowls. It reheats and defrosts only, with no grill.

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Why it's here

  • 1000W inverter with steady output on defrost and gentle heating
  • 32L cavity and a 340mm turntable take large plates
  • 21 auto programmes and a Genius Sensor
  • Seven power levels with a glass turntable that lifts out to wash

Keep in mind

  • Big and heavy, at about 52cm wide and 11.5kg
  • No grill or crisping function
  • Sensor and auto programmes take some learning for plain reheating

Why the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ scores 8.7

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 microwaves in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are1st of 10
  • How many rated it2nd of 10
  • How new it is8th of 10

Why No. 1 beats No. 2

The Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ (8.7) beats the Sharp YC-MG02U-S (8.6) because it leaves owners a little happier.

About the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ

The NN-ST46KBBPQ is a freestanding, microwave-only oven with touch controls and a rotating turntable. The cavity holds 32 litres and the turntable is 34cm across, which is wider than the 25 to 28cm plates many compact microwaves manage. Cooking power is 1000W, set across seven power levels.

Cooking is mostly automatic if you want it to be. John Lewis lists auto cook, auto reheat, an auto sensor, defrost, a programmable timer, a clock and a child lock. Which? describes a Genius sensor that works out time and power for you. The interior has a light and the lining is acrylic.

It takes up a lot of worktop: about 31cm high, 52.5cm wide and 40cm deep, and it weighs 11.5kg. The mains cable is 1m long. John Lewis gives the clearance it needs as 5cm at one side with the other side open, 15cm above and 10cm behind, so it does not suit a tight alcove.

What owners report about the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ

Owner feedback we could read for this exact model is limited to a small number of short written reviews, so this is a thin picture.

Those owners say it is easy to use, cooks well and is easy to clean. One mentions the range of features and another likes how it looks. One owner felt it was expensive for what it offers. None of the reviews we read describe a fault or a breakdown, but they are too few and too brief to say how it lasts over years.

Who the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ suits

It suits families and anyone who regularly heats large plates, wide bowls or shallow dishes, and who has the worktop space for a 52cm-wide, 11.5kg oven. It also suits people who like the sensor and auto programmes to do the guesswork, and those who only need plain microwaving.

Look elsewhere if space is tight: the Panasonic NN-E27JWMBBQ is a compact 20L solo. If you want to brown toast or cheese, the Sharp YC-MG02U-S has a grill. For baking or air frying as well, look at the Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQ or the Sage the Combi Wave 3 in 1 SMO870.

Questions about the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ

How big is the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ?

It measures about 31cm high, 52.5cm wide and 40.1cm deep, and weighs 11.5kg. The cavity holds 32 litres.

Does the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ have a grill?

No. It is a solo microwave, so it heats, reheats and defrosts but does not grill or crisp.

How much space does the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ need around it?

John Lewis lists 5cm clear at one side, with the other side open, 15cm above and 10cm behind. Leave those gaps for airflow.

How big a plate fits in the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ?

The turntable is 34cm across, so large dinner plates fit. Which? gives the maximum plate size as 35cm.

Does the Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ have a child lock?

Yes. John Lewis lists a child lock, along with a programmable timer, a clock and an internal light.

Other microwave picks

The other badge winners in our microwaves ranking.

All 10 microwaves, compared

  1. 1 Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQThis reviewBest Choice 8.7 Check Price
  2. 2 Sharp YC-MG02U-SBest Budget 8.6 Check Price
  3. 3 Panasonic NN-CF87LBBPQBest Premium 8.6 Check Price
  4. 4 Tower T24021W 8.6 Check Price
  5. 5 Salter DuoWave 2-in-1 Air Fryer & Microwave EK5817 8.5 Check Price
  6. 6 Panasonic NN-E27JWMBBQ 8.3 Check Price
  7. 7 Swan Nordic Digital Microwave SM22036LWHTN 8.2 Check Price
  8. 8 Morphy Richards Digital Microwave with Mirror Door 511442 8.1 Check Price
  9. 9 Morphy Richards Cassini 20L Digital Microwave Olivine 511422 8.0 Check Price
  10. 10 Sage the Combi Wave™ 3 in 1 Microwave SMO870 7.9 Check Price
See the full microwaves ranking

The Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ on Amazon

Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ

The Panasonic NN-ST46KBBPQ is a large 32L, 1000W solo microwave in black, built for households that reheat dinner plates and big bowls. 8.7 out of 10.

Check Price on Amazon

How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 27 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from