What Is The Most Reliable Microwave Brand In 2025?

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If your microwave is one of the outdated appliances you're looking to upgrade for better energy efficiency, or you're a first-time homeowner stocking up on the essentials, we've got you. Knowing what type of microwave you need is a good place to start in the selection process. Countertop microwaves, for instance, are the most convenient and easiest to set up. And for reliable everyday performance, brands like Panasonic, GE, and Toshiba consistently rank among the most dependable. 

If you need a smaller-sized and even more budget-friendly option, Commercial Chef is also worth a look. Over-the-range microwaves, on the other hand, tend to be slightly more expensive, but they offer more cooking power. Considering they require installation, they're not quite as plug-and-play as countertop microwaves, though. If that setup works for your kitchen, brands like LG, GE, and Thermador are worth considering.

For today, however, we'll focus on the top brands in the countertop category, ranking them by price and size. Starting with the 700-watt Commercial Chef CHM770B, it's a solid pick for anyone looking for a balance between affordable and portable. It retails for about $91 and is compact enough to fit on crowded countertops, even in RVs. Generally, though, the bigger the microwave, the more powerful it is. If you need a bit more power at a similar price, consider the Commercial Chef CHM990B. It's slightly bigger, bumps up wattage to 900, and retails at around $106.

Moving up the price ladder, we have the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS, which RTINGS named the best countertop microwave for those looking for good value. Amazon reviews back that up as it holds a 4.3-star rating from over 55,000 customers. This 1,000-watt medium-sized option retails for around $150. And one thing that stands out is the smart sensor technology, which automatically adjusts cooking time and power when it detects steam.

CNN Underscored named the GE GCST10A1WSS their best microwave overall, and it's easy to see why. At 1,050 watts, it packs air fry, convection, and broil modes into a compact device, which, when you think about it, is a bargain considering many other all-in-one microwaves run over $500. You can get it directly from GE at $259, but prices vary slightly by retailer. 

For those willing to invest in higher-end performance, the Panasonic NN-SD77PS is worth a look. At around $430, it's a significant step up in price, but owners say the performance justifies it. It delivers 1,250 watts of power and, with its inverter technology, uses even, consistent heat rather than pulsing heat to reduce the likelihood of hot and cold spots in your food. And as Consumer Reports pointed out, the dial and tactile buttons make it easier to control, making it especially handy for vision-impaired users. If you want Panasonic's inverter technology without quite as much sticker shock, the NN-SN686S is a solid middle-ground option that retails for about $295.

To put this guide together, we gathered data from professional testing labs and feedback from people who actually use these products. On the expert side, we mainly looked at Consumer Reports' lab testing, which checks things like how evenly a microwave heats, how well it defrosts, and how fast it works. They got their data from surveys of over 38,000 countertop microwaves bought between 2014 and 2024. We also checked out hands-on testing from sources like RTINGS, TechGearLab, The WireCutter, and CNN Underscored. These places run microwaves through standard tests, from reheating mashed potatoes to defrosting ground beef to popping popcorn.

For what real users thought, we checked out customer reviews on Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Walmart. We made sure to focus on models with at least a few hundred reviews so we weren't just basing our findings on a couple of one-off experiences. We only looked at countertop models because they are the easiest option for most homes. Over-the-range microwaves are a different category entirely, with factors like ventilation and cabinets to consider. Besides, they're part of the kitchen trends going out of style in 2025 and beyond.

While professional tests and user reviews are helpful, your experience at home might vary depending on factors like your altitude, the outlet voltage, and what you're cooking. Our goal is to highlight models that consistently performed well across several sources, not just those with one excellent review or one terrible experience.