The Best Microwave Ovens

Wednesday, December 4th

2024 Microwave Oven Reviews

GE

• 140 models of microwave ovens
• User-friendly website
• Limited 1-year warranty
• 7-day return policy
• Thousands of insightful customer reviews
• "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

GE proudly boasts that they build the world's best appliances. For over 100 years, they've been innovating to help customers modernize life and bring convenience to kitchens and homes. The company was founded in 1892 by Thomas Edison himself. Not many companies have a founding story that's this historic. GE has their hands in many industries including aerospace, healthcare, energy sustainability, and home electronics. In addition to microwave ovens, GE has a selection of small appliances, air and water purifiers, laundry machines, refrigerators, and so much more.

Impressive selection

The brands that all fall under the GE umbrella include Cafe, Monogram, Profile, Hotpoint, and Haier. These different brands represent different styles and collections that are sold by GE. For microwave ovens, they have 140 products on their website ranging from $99 to $1,889, all of which fall under either the GE or GE Profile brand. You can sort all these products by category (over-the-range microwave ovens, countertop microwave ovens, microwave oven accessories, or built-in microwave ovens), type, capacity, color, features, special offers, price, rating, cooking technology, control type, cooking mode, venting type, and microwave wattage. This is much more comprehensive than what we've seen through some other companies.

Better color choices

You'll have many more color options from GE than we've seen through other companies. The list includes bisque, black, black slate, black stainless, gray, slate, stainless steel, and white. Obviously there is nothing really unique like red or green or anything out-of-the ordinary, but at least you're not stuck with only plain gray stainless steel.

Quick oven-cooking quality

In addition to microwave ovens from GE that can air fry, they also have a couple with Advantium technology, which allows you to have oven-quality cooking results 2-8x faster than what you'd get with a conventional oven. They have convection microwaves and microwave-only options too.

Easily compare products

Another great feature GE has on their website is the option to compare a few different microwave ovens with each other. You can check the "compare” box on however many products you're interested in and see a simplified side-by-side description of their features and specs. This is an easy way to decide which model would be best for your kitchen.

Limited 1-year warranty

The warranty on microwave ovens from GE is a limited 1-year warranty on labor for the whole appliance and a limited 5-year warranty on the magnetron tube. Once you've purchased and received your microwave oven, you'll want to return to GE's website and register your product so that your warranty goes into effect.

Purchasing options

When you find a microwave oven you're interested in, you can input your zip code for GE to locate stores in your area that sell it or you can add it to your cart straight from their website. You'll get an estimated delivery date, so you can decide the fastest and least expensive way of obtaining your microwave. You'll need to pay shipping from GE which is a $99 flat rate fee for home delivery or $150 if you also want the product installed.

Full refunds within 7 days

If you purchase your microwave from a store outside of GE's website, you'll need to refer to their return policy and shipping information for details about your order. If you order from GE and need to make a return, you have 7 days to initiate it in order to qualify for a refund. If you start your return between 7 and 30 days from the date of delivery, you can still get a refund, but you'll also need to pay a 25% restocking fee. After 30 days, returns aren't allowed at all.

Extremely insightful customer reviews

Each microwave oven from GE has a series of photos you can view along with everything you'd need to know as far as specs, certifications, details, features, and ratings. Many of the microwave ovens have hundreds or even thousands of customer reviews from people who have included photos of the product in their home and left feedback about the quality, ease of installation, performance, appearance, and more. Oftentimes GE will respond to these reviews, which is interesting to read. If people are having troubles with the features or cooking a certain type of food, GE might give tips to make it work better and offer links to helpful articles. Overall, we couldn't be happier with the customer reviews and the information they provide. On top of this, they receive an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is fantastic.

Pleased with GE

We're pleased with what we see from GE. They offer a fantastic selection of microwave functions, features, and styles for customers to choose from. Their website is user-friendly and makes it a breeze to narrow down the options that would work best for you. We like that you can purchase microwave ovens from their website or easily get redirected to local retailers that carry their products. They have great, useful customer ratings and a high Better Business Bureau score, so GE has earned our highest ranking among microwave brands.

Whirlpool

• 25 models of microwave ovens
• Free delivery on orders over $399
• 1-year warranty
• 15-day return policy
• Unfiltered customer reviews
• "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Whirlpool's history dates back to 1911 when they started out as a small business in Benton Harbor, Michigan. We have them to thank for introducing the first automatic washing machines in 1948. Since that time, they've won over 20 CES Innovation Awards. In their domestic U.S. market, Whirlpool has 11 manufacturing facilities and employs about 15,000 workers where they work to distribute washers and dryers as well as refrigerators, cooking appliances, dishwashers, hoods, ice makers, compactors, and more.

25 choices

We had some déjà vu when shopping at Whirlpool since their website is nearly a cookie cutter copy of their sister companies, KitchenAid and Maytag. Their 4 categories of microwaves include over-the-range microwaves, countertop microwaves, low profile over-the-range microwaves, and built-in microwaves. In total there are 25 microwaves here, which is a decent selection compared to many other retailers who only had a handful for us to explore. You can sort them by type, category, price, hood width, range height, depth, color, customer rating, and features.

Important details are obvious

When you're scrolling a list of model images and names, you can also see the colors they come in (mostly variations of black, gray, and white stainless steel), the overall customer rating, dimensions, price, and any promotions that you might be able to take advantage of. We like that Whirlpool doesn't waste your time with having to read through endless information and dive into each model just to get the basic information you need to narrow down your best choices.

Reasonable price ranges

The price ranges you're looking at when shopping at Whirlpool for a microwave start at $99 for a 0.9 cu. ft. countertop microwave with 900 watt cooking power to $944 for an air-fry over-the-range oven with advanced sensing technology. The relevant offers available from Whirlpool when we were shopping at their site were a 10% savings when you open a new account, free delivery on all appliances on orders over $399, and free haul-away and install on appliances over $1,000.

1-year warranty

A limited warranty is included with each microwave. It's a standard 1-year warranty that starts the day of purchase. A full warranty manual is accessible for download with each product listing. If you want to upgrade your warranty, you have the option to pay extra (around $100 or so) for either 3 or 5 years.

15-day returns for a full refund

The return policy from Whirlpool gives customers 15 days to request a return from the date of delivery for a full refund. A phone number is provided for customers to call with their order number and serial number to initiate this process. Delivery, shipping, and service fees won't be refunded, but Whirlpool does say that they won't charge any restocking fees, which is a relief. However, if you make a return between day 16 and 30 from delivery, you can still get your money back, but you'll pay a 15% restocking fee with a $50 minimum.

Honest reviews

The Better Business Bureau gives Whirlpool an "A+” rating, and thankfully Whirlpool makes it easy to see what other customers really think of their microwaves straight from their website. You could quickly search just by 4- or 5-star reviews if you want to stick with a selection that people really recommend. Otherwise, be sure to read favorable and critical reviews of each product to gauge the pros and cons. People will leave explanations about how their microwave oven performed over the months or years, issues they had with it, and features they really like. Some people also leave photos so you can see what the microwave model would look like installed.

Worth your time

Whirlpool is a trustworthy brand with a solid selection of microwaves. None of them are crazy expensive, so if you find one that's highly rated, it's a win-win. You should have no issues gathering all the details necessary to make an educated decision about your purchase. Their models and warranty are similar to what you might find at some other retailers, so your best bet is to find something here that you like the look of and is highly rated by customers. It's definitely worth your time to look through Whirlpool's selection, so we've given them one of our highest ratings.

KitchenAid

• 65 microwave oven options
• Free delivery, install, and haul away with account
• 60-day return policy
• Price-match guarantee
• 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor
• "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

KitchenAid was established in 1919. They sell everything from cutlery to cooktops to coffee makers. They are sister companies with Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, and Gladiator. Most companies seem to be known for a few of their products in particular and if we had to guess what most of you connect with KitchenAid it would be their stand mixers. They are some of the best on the market. But KitchenAid offers so much more than just appliances to help with baking cookies and making bread, and their selection of microwaves is a testament to this.

Variations of stainless

The three main types of microwave ovens from KitchenAid include microwave hood combinations, built-ins, and countertop microwaves. In total there are 65 microwave ovens to choose from here. You can sort these options by what's in-stock, on sale, price (most between $100 and $200), width, color, and customer reviews. Although you can't sort by the cooking method that the microwave is capable of, you'll find convection and air frying options as well as normal microwaving. Most microwave ovens from KitchenAid are stainless steel, but their other choices are black, black stainless, black stainless steel with PrintShield finish, black-on stainless, fingerprint resistant stainless, and white.

Frequent sales and discounts

When you reach KitchenAid's website, they'll show you a list of sales they have going on at the time. For us, we were able to save 10% on our order if we opened a new account and made our first purchase. They had an $80 off code for certain countertop appliances, a code for an extra 10% off our purchase, free install and haul away on all cooking and refrigerator appliances, and more. These offers don't necessarily always stack, but be sure to pay attention to the deals they have since you're more than likely to save some money from them.

Detailed warranty manual

With your zip code you'll get an estimated delivery date if you order straight from KitchenAid's website. Sometimes there are local sellers for the product you're interested in, and KitchenAid will provide this information for you. No matter who you buy from, the warranty on your KitchenAid microwave oven will be a limited 1-year warranty on parts and labor and an extended warranty up to 10 years on specific components of the microwave. You can download an extensive warranty manual for each microwave oven from KitchenAid's website.

KitchenAid account with perks

If you create an account through KitchenAid, you'll get access to exclusive offers, free returns for 60 days, free delivery, install and haul-away, and be able to take advantage of their price-match guarantee. To create an account, you'll simply need to provide your name, email address, and create a password. It's so easy and comes with so many perks, so there's no reason not to.

Sort by ratings

KitchenAid is a pretty popular place to shop, so it's not surprising that their microwave ovens have hundreds or even thousands of reviews from buyers. Only 7 of them have a full 5-star rating, whereas 22 of them have 4-stars, 3 have 3-stars, and the rest have just 2-stars. Customers can leave their own feedback about the microwave and rate its features, innovation, sound levels, and capacity. They can also leave photos of the microwave ovens in their own homes, which can be really useful to see.

High BBB rating

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives KitchenAid an "A+” rating. They have a lot of mixed feedback from customers on third-party sites, but it's hard to hone in on the ones that are really relevant since people are describing their frustrations with all sorts of appliances and products from this store. As in most scenarios, your best bet is to just rely on the product reviews for the microwave oven you're most interested in.

Good choice

Overall KitchenAid has a reasonable selection of microwave ovens. It falls somewhere in the middle as far as options customers can choose from when compared with other microwave oven retailers. Their policies are quite generous if you create an account here, so at the very least we recommend doing this. You'll likely get a microwave oven on sale or at a discounted price with the use of a code provided by the company, so KitchenAid has earned a good rating from us.

Samsung

• 10 models of microwave ovens
• 1-year warranty
• Next-day delivery on some models
• Free shipping
• `15-day return policy
• "A+” Better Business Bureau

Samsung Electronics Co., is a South Korean company that specializes in major appliances and consumer electronics. The company has assembly plants in 74 countries and employs over 270,000 people. In 2019, Samsung was the world's second-largest technology company by revenue. They've been a leading manufacturer of smartphones since 2011, but their selection of products goes way beyond that. In regards to home appliances, Samsung supplies ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwave ovens just for starters.

10 models available

The types of microwave ovens you'll find at Samsung include bespoke (smart cooking), over-the-range, countertop, and built-ins. This sounds like a good selection, but these categories only come together to make up 10 microwaves in total. They range in price from $299 for a 2.1 cu. ft. over-the-range microwave with Wi-Fi to $599 for a 1.2 cu. ft. countertop microwave with power convection and air frying capability (the only microwave here that can air fry).

Easiest, most informative website

We like the way that microwave ovens are displayed on Samsung's website because you don't have to work too hard to see the major differences between the models and the highlighted features. You'll see how many colors a model comes in (fingerprint resistant black stainless steel, stainless steel, black, and white glass), the size and name of the product, how high it is rated by customers, icon photos of the major features, an estimated delivery date, and price. This is our favorite website for browsing microwaves since they make information bite-sized and easy to quickly understand.

Fast, free shipping

Quite a few of the microwave ovens are eligible for next-day delivery if you order by 3 pm EDT. If there's a Samsung store near you that stocks the microwave oven you want, you can order online and pick it up, which is as quick as it gets. If you don't qualify for either of these options based on your zip code, your order could still arrive as fast as 3 days after you place it. Microwaves qualify for free shipping, which we love.

15 days to initiate a return

As we've seen with nearly every other microwave oven retailer, the warranty on Samsung's models is 1 year on parts and labor. You can upgrade this for an added cost if you like. Returns are accepted within 15 days of delivery. You can request a return authorization from their website and once it has been initiated, you have an additional 15 days to return the product to Samsung.

Let reviews be your guide

When you look at the customer reviews left by other buyers, you can see a total rating out of 5 stars that the group has collectively given. You'll also be shown the most positive and most critical review right upfront, which is helpful. Customers can rank the features, performance, design, and value of the microwave as well as leave comments and add photos. Most of the microwave ovens have up to 100 customer reviews, so pay close attention to these when considering your options. The Better Business Bureau gives Samsung an "A+” rating, so this is one area you don't need to be concerned about.

Redeeming factors

If it weren't for their small inventory, Samsung would actually get a top rating from us. The layout of their website and informative way their microwave ovens are displayed is one of our favorite things about shopping here. We love when a company gives us the important details right upfront and saves us time by not having to navigate all over to find what we need. They're a company with good ratings and overall high buyer ratings on their microwave ovens, so if you find something you like here, go for it. Plus, it will get to your house speedy quick.

LG

• 25 microwave ovens
• Free shipping
• 1-year warranty
• 14-day return policy
• "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

LG is a South Korean multinational conglomerate that began in 1958. Most people have used something made by LG and maybe haven't even realized it. For example, you might enjoy kicking back to watch your favorite sports team play from your living room on your big LG tv. And while you're at it, you could grab a cold drink out of your LG fridge and throw some pizza pockets in your LG microwave to heat up real fast. And if you spill your snack between the couch cushions and all over the floor somewhere along the way, whip out your LG vacuum and get it taken care of. You get the idea - LG makes a lot of products that could simplify nearly every aspect of your life at home.

Sleek designs, sparse selection

LG is known for their innovative and sleek product designs. Some of their microwaves in the LG Studio line have an entirely flat surface, and truth be told, it took us a minute to figure out how they even open since there is no apparent handle. Some of their other microwave ovens are more standard looking and all of them come in either black or stainless steel, with the exception of one single white option. There are just 25 microwaves highlighted in LG's website, so it's not like you'll feel overwhelmed or bombarded with selections to be made here.

Decent filtering

To quickly see if LG even has what you might be looking for, you can use their filter features to choose between built-in, countertop, or over-the range microwaves, choose features (ADA compliant, convection, EasyClean interior, ThinQ UP, or ThinQ Smart Technology), pick your color, and view by rating. Even though these filters can be useful, they could cause you to overlook options here with air frying capabilities and other features, so it's still useful to look through each product and its specifications.

Free shipping on in-stock products

We noticed that some of the microwave ovens were on sale when we were shopping. There was also a bundling deal going on where you would save $200 if you paired your microwave with select LG ranges. All in all, we felt like prices here were similar to what we've seen elsewhere, ranging from $229 to $699. Not every microwave oven is available to purchase through LG. Some you'll need to use the "find a retailer” tool to locate the model you're looking for elsewhere. For microwaves that LG stocks, they'll provide you with free shipping.

14-day returns and 1-year warranty

LG offers free returns within 14 days of delivery, which is pretty generous. Most appliance retailers have short return windows, and almost all of the time you'll be responsible for the cost of sending back your products. Unless you want to pay for an extended warranty, microwave ovens from LG come with a standard 1-year warranty for parts and labor.

Find the best ratings

It's always reassuring when the Better Business Bureau gives a company a high rating and LG has earned an "A+” in this case. We're also thrilled that so many appliance retailers let customers leave reviews on their products. LG is one of those places where you'll find up to hundreds of informative reviews from people who have purchased a specific type of microwave oven. They can give an overall rating out of 5 stars on the product and also give a rating for quality, features, and value. Along with this, they'll write an honest description of their experience with LG and the product they have and even add photos if they choose. If you're like us and care a lot about what other buyers have to say about a product, you could sort through microwaves specifically by rating to make sure you see the best ones.

Not a favorite, but still good

We generally really like the LG brand, but when it comes to microwave ovens, this might not be their bread and butter. They don't have a very big selection of products, let alone ones that are in-stock. Most of them are simple and similar to what you might find anywhere else. It's nice that they have a 14-day return policy though, so we feel better knowing that it's not hard to change your mind about a purchase you make here. And on top of this, their prices aren't super expensive, so it wouldn't be the end of the world to need to buy a replacement down the road. Although it's not our top brand for microwave ovens, LG has earned a good rating from us.

Frigidaire

• 14 microwave ovens
• Trim kit options
• 1-year manufacturer's warranty
• Free shipping on orders over $399
• 10-day return policy
• "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Frigidaire is an American commercial home appliance brand owned by Electrolux, a Swedish home appliance manufacturer based out of Stockholm. Frigidaire was originally named Guardian Frigerator Company and started in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They developed the first self-contained refrigerator in 1916. In 1918, a founder of General Motors personally invested in the company and by 1919 they changed the name to Frigidaire. In addition to appliances like microwave ovens, Frigidaire sells air conditioners, laundry machines, dishwashers, air fryers, ice makers, refrigerators, cooktops, and much more.

Simple website, similar to competitor brands

Right off the bat we noticed that Frigidaire's website is nearly identical to those of other companies like Bosch. They have two main categories of microwave ovens you can choose to browse: built-in microwaves and over-the-range microwaves. In total, there are only 14 microwave ovens you can look at (5 built-ins and 9 over-the-range). You can easily view an overview of each product's features (things like LED lighting, smudge-proof stainless steel, zero-clearance door, 3-speed ventilation fan), view the dimensions, and read unfiltered reviews from customers.

Low-profile microwaves

Some of the unique features and designs you'll find at Frigidaire are things like a low-profile microwave. This easily slides into your existing under-cabinet hood space to give you the benefits of a countertop microwave with the filtered air circulation of a ventilation hood. They can be as small as 1.2 cubic feet to keep a low profile. Other microwaves feature air frying capabilities and sensor cooking to take the guesswork out of cooking. These can also be found through other companies as well, so it's a matter of seeing if Frigidaire has styles and sizes that you like better than what's available from rival brands.

Trim kits

You can look at the microwave accessories from Frigidaire to get replacement filters if you need them or even a replacement turntable or a splatter cover to minimize messes. We were most interested in their microwave oven trim kits since we noticed that all the products from their website are mostly the same stainless steel color. These trim kits that allow you to transform the look of your microwave to either a white, black, or dark color may or may not be a cheaper option depending on your microwave. Since brand new microwaves start at $298, it might be better to just get a new one. However, if you find a trim kit for the 30” built-in convection microwave that costs $1,798, it's more worth it.

Buy straight from Frigidaire

Frigidaire stocks many of their own products, so you can buy them straight from their website if you want to. Shipping is free over $399, so you won't need to pay delivery for your microwave if it meets this mark. There are a few microwaves under $300 - really affordable, but you will need to pay a small shipping fee. If you input your zip code, you can see how soon your microwave oven would arrive at your home. It will come with installation instructions and a 1-year manufacturer's warranty.

10-day return policy

If you need to return your microwave oven to Frigidaire, you have a 10-day window to do so. However, a 10% restocking fee will likely apply. If you're going to buy a Frigidaire appliance through another company, pay close attention to their return policy since it may be different from what Frigidaire offers.

Read product reviews

Frigidaire has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. Their parent company, Electrolux, has an "A+” rating as well. However, if you go off of third-party reviews from customers leaving feedback about Frigidaire as a whole, you might get frightened. Issues with customer service, poor quality of products, and warranty issues are a common problem for people. Still, if you want more direct information relating to a specific type of microwave oven, read through the reviews on each product listed. This will be your most useful resource. The ratings for their microwaves are actually quite positive overall.

A decent choice

We wish there were more types of microwave ovens to browse at Frigidaire. However, it's nice that you can purchase their products straight from their website. We like how many customer reviews there are for any given product, since this is an insightful shopping tool for potential buyers. The trim kits here are a good option for anyone wanting to slightly change the exterior look of the microwave oven they have, so we wouldn't hesitate to check these out. Frigidaire hasn't really "dazzled” us in any way, but they are a good option for microwave ovens, so they've earned an average rating.

Sharp

• 62 microwave models
• 1-year warranty on parts and labor
• Free shipping on some models
• 30-day return policy
• "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Sharp Electronics Corporation operates in the U.S. and Latin America and is part of the global technology company Sharp Corporation. Sharp is a Japanese electronics company that was founded in Tokyo in 1912 and started out as a metal workshop. Over the years the company continued to innovate and adapt to new technologies, which has landed their brand a place in many households on products like televisions, mobile phones, air conditioners, microwave ovens, solar panels, printing devices, calculators, and so much more.

Impressive selection

Sharp actually has a decent selection of microwaves. Here you'll have the option of choosing between 43 countertop models, 8 drawer microwaves, 3 over-the-counter microwaves, and 8 over-the-range microwaves. That makes 62 in total which is quite a bit more than can be said for their competitors. There are no fanciful colors of microwaves here since that's not what most people go for, so you can choose between black, black stainless steel, stainless steel, and white. In addition, you could filter by wattage, price, and features.

Wide price range

The prices of microwave ovens from Sharp range from $84.99 (one of the cheapest we've found) for a very basic looking carousel countertop microwave in black to $2,199 for a 24 in. built-in smart convection microwave drawer oven. This shows us that there is a good range of products and features here to meet anyone's needs and budget. 22 of the microwaves from Sharp qualify for free shipping.

Helpful Q&A section

For any given microwave oven you're considering, Sharp will provide a series of photos from all angles. You'll also be able to read bullet points that highlight the main features of the microwave, view a comparison table that shows the differences between similar models, go through the detailed specs, and refer to the customer Q&A section for additional information. Others who have questions that weren't directly addressed on the website can leave questions and get answers either from Sharp or from others who have purchased the microwave. This is a great resource for additional details about the microwave that you may not have found answers to elsewhere.

Standard warranty and 30-day returns

The warranty on microwaves sold by Sharp is 1 year for parts and labor and 5 years for the magnetron tube. We've come to expect this exact warranty from most companies since many of them work through the same manufacturer. Return policies, on the other hand, vary quite a bit. At Sharp you can request a return authorization by email and qualify for a refund if your microwave oven was delivered within the last 30 days. If there was nothing wrong with your microwave, Sharp says they have the right to deduct a 15% restocking fee from your refund and whatever the cost of the shipping label was, so be prepared for that.

No specific customer reviews

Most of the microwave ovens sold through Sharp (and even those that they don't stock) have customer reviews that you can peruse. Some only have a few and others have nearly a hundred. What totally frustrated us is that although you can see overall ratings out of 5 stars and how many people left 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5-star ratings, you can't read any of them specifically. There are no customer comments, photos, or additional details. This is a drawback for us because the ratings leave us more confused, wondering why people gave the feedback they did. It's worth noting that Sharp has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, but sometimes that doesn't carry as much weight for us as do customer reviews.

Average company

We were on a roller coaster when we shopped at Sharp. At first we were thrilled that they had such a good selection of microwave ovens, but they don't stock all of them so you'd have to buy them from a third-party retailer. You may have to pay restocking fees on your returns, so you're not really getting a risk-free shopping experience here. Most of all we are disappointed that you can't read the honest commentary from other customers and learn what they have to say about the different models of microwave ovens. Our mixed feelings over Sharp have landed them an average rating.

Maytag

• 6 microwave ovens
• 1-year warranty
• Price-match promise
• 15-day return policy
• Multiple discounts to choose from
• "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

If you thought Maytag only makes washers, dryers, and refrigerators, you'll be surprised to find out that their website hosts a whole lot of other products as well. They also sell dishwashers, wall ovens, ranges, hoods, central heating and cooling, water treatment systems, and central vacuums, among other products. The company got its start in Newton, Iowa back in 1893 and has been a subsidiary of Whirlpool since 2006. They're known for making durable machines that are simpler and less stacked with fancy features than you might find through another store.

Tiny inventory

It's no surprise that Maytag's website is essentially identical to KitchenAid's since they are sister companies. Although, that seems kind of lazy, right? So we can only imagine that everything you order from these companies is nearly interchangeable except for the differing logos. The two types of microwaves featured at Maytag are over-the-range and countertop microwaves. Between these two categories there are only 6 microwaves in total (1 countertop and 5 over-the-counter), so it's nothing to be impressed by.

Deals on deals

Some of the deals they had going on at Maytag when we were shopping included saving 10% off when opening a new account, saving 10% with a provided promo code, free delivery on all major appliances over the price of $399, free install and haul away on laundry appliances, and some outlet deals. Sound familiar? Prices on their microwaves range from $289 to $699, not including the potential for extra discounts. Maytag usually ships orders through FedEx or UPS, which takes about 4-10 business days. Shipping costs will be calculated at checkout based on what you're purchasing and what area you live in.

Guaranteed lowest price

Maytag offers a price-match promise, so if you find a better price on an identical product from another retailer, you can reach out and they'll ensure that no one beats their price. This is actually pretty awesome since there are so many competitors in the microwave oven industry and stores all over that sell this brand outside of the company directly.

15-day returns

You can also request a return within 15 days on any Maytag appliance that's in new condition for any reason. A phone number is listed on their website for you to reach customer service and provide your order number and serial number. They don't specify if you'll need to pay return shipping or if you might incur any type of restocking fee.

Standard warranty

Customers can download an extensive warranty manual from Maytag's website to read all the fine print about how it works. Microwave ovens come with a standard 1-year warranty on parts and labor. It has up to a 10-year warranty on the magnetron and cavity for rust and broken welds. As with most other companies, you could pay extra to add to your protection plan for 1, 3, or 5 years if that gives you extra peace of mind.

"A+” BBB rating

There are a few hundred reviews from customers on most microwave ovens at Maytag. They generally get ratings around 4 out of 5 stars, which is pretty good for such a large pool of people leaving reviews. People can add a comment about their product and a photo if they choose to. Aside from this, Maytag earns an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Docked points for small inventory

Maytag is one of those brands that people have come to depend on over the years and that has a pretty good reputation. We can't say we're over the moon about the small selection of 6 microwave ovens they have for us to choose from, but they're rated pretty good and aren't wildly expensive by any means. If Maytag had a bigger inventory, we would give them a higher rating, but we've given them an average one since we can't imagine this will be the most useful company for people to turn to when they're in the market for a microwave.

Panasonic

• 13 in-stock microwaves
• 1-year warranty
• 30-day return policy

Panasonic was founded in 1918 by Matsushita Konosuke in Fukushima, Osaka, Japan. They are a holding company that manufactures and develops electronics for a variety of applications. They are committed to aiding the progress of society by developing products that enhance quality of life. These products include consumer electronics, home appliances, automotive and aviation systems, industrial systems, and more.

Small in-stock collection

Panasonic is most well-known for their hand in the consumer electronics industry, but like many other companies, they've surprised us with a host of other products that we wouldn't have assumed their brand is connected to. In this case, it's microwave ovens. They have over 30 of them on their website, but when we selected to only see in-stock options, we were left with just 13 of them to look at.

Up-to-date technology

Panasonic is up with the times by offering the latest technology in microwave features like air frying and ovens that reheat and prep with voice controls. Some of their microwaves almost look a little outdated, though, just based on their design. Others have a more sleek appearance and feature things like turn dials and wide viewing windows. If you want to, you can sort the microwave ovens by color, if it has a trim kit available, features, capacity, wattage, and control type.

Poor product listings

A huge downside to shopping at Panasonic is that some of their product listings include only the bare bones. On quite a few microwaves, we were able to see the price, read a few bullet points about its main features, and view basic specifications. We could get a link to a user manual, which we found to be extremely long, boring, and tedious as far as extracting any useful information. The main thing we discovered is that the warranty on microwaves is 1 year for parts and labor and up to 5 years for the magnetron tube. Aside from this, we felt like there wasn't much information to go off of when learning about Panasonic's microwave ovens.

Inexpensive options

The prices on microwave ovens from Panasonic range from just $99 for a small 0.9 cu. ft. compact microwave oven to $499 for their HomeCHEF line 4-in-1 multi-oven that is 1.2 cu. ft. When we were shopping here, there were no major sales or discounts that could be stacked on top of these prices, so with Panasonic, it's a "what you see is what you get” situation. You can buy directly from their site or shop from authorized retailers that they'll connect you with. Panasonic doesn't clearly state what their shipping costs are (or if they ship for free) so you'll need to go through the checkout process to see your shipping options and costs.

30-day return policy

Like other areas of their website, Panasonic's return policy is very direct and without a lot of detail. They say they offer full refunds on any order within 30 days of purchase or an exchange within 60 days. There's a link to start a return that you can follow. We aren't sure if you'll need to pay restocking fees or what the cost for return shipping is like, but the 30-day window for refunds is actually quite generous.

Less-than-ideal ratings

Panasonic has far fewer customer reviews on their microwave ovens than what we've seen in other places. Many of them have no customer feedback and others have just a handful. This may mean that microwaves aren't a very popular product here, which we can't say is totally surprising to us. Panasonic only has a "C” rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is lower than many other microwave oven retailers. They don't have accreditation, but usually these lower grades are a reflection of how many customer complaints they've had and how poorly they've responded to them.

Try somewhere else

Panasonic has had its time to shine throughout the years. There are some things they excel in, but we can't say microwave ovens are one of them. Their selection is small and doesn't include a lot of important information we might want to know as a customer before making a purchase. They aren't as transparent about information as we would like to see and their ratings are dismal. Unfortunately, Panasonic has earned a low rating from us in regards to microwave ovens.

Bosch

• 4 categories of microwave ovens
• Unfiltered customer reviews
• "A” Better Business Bureau rating

Bosch (also known as Robert Bosch GbmH) is a German engineering and technology company that was founded in 1886. The company's operations are spread across four main sectors including consumer goods (household appliances and power tools), mobility (software and hardware), industrial technology (drive and control), and energy and building technology. A fun fact about Bosch is that they're the largest automotive supplier in the world. They're most commonly known for their kitchen appliances like mixers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and of course, microwave ovens.

4 main categories

There are four main categories of microwave ovens distributed by the Bosch brand. They include speed ovens, built-in microwaves, over-the-range microwaves, and drawer microwaves. If you're unsure of the main differences among these types of microwaves, Bosch gives a quick overview of each of them for you to distinguish them from one another. Built-in microwaves are designed to match the wall ovens sold by Bosch and they're quite a bit bigger than standard over-the-range microwaves that have basic cooking and ventilation technology. Drawer microwaves can be disguised under counters to be flush with cabinets and reheat something as large as a 9x13 baking dish. Speed ovens combine the perks of a standard microwave with cooking modes like convection bake and broil.

Few models listed online

Although Bosch is a well-known brand and they have many models of their products, their website highlights very few of them. For example, they only have 5 over-the-range microwaves you can view, 2 drawer microwaves, 2 built-in microwaves, and 6 speed ovens. You can check a box and quickly compare different models that you're interested in (not that this is totally necessary with such a small selection).

Not the cheapest choice

If you're shopping at Bosch for a microwave oven, plan to spend a bit more than you might somewhere else. For example, their speed microwaves start at $1,949 and go up to $2,599. Built-in microwaves are $1,449, over-the-range models start at $599, and drawer microwaves are listed at $2,049. Usually, these prices reflect the technology that goes into these products, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. But if you need a quick replacement for a basic microwave, you'll definitely overspend here.

Plenty of detail

For any given product you can view photos of the inside and outside of the microwave, what it looks like after installation, and review all the dimensions to make sure it would fit properly. You will see the cavity capacity, microwave modes and power, number of power levels, and more. You can read the whole user manual, product specification sheet, and CAD file. We like the product listings here and see nothing that would make the information confusing for customers.

Register through Bosch

Bosch will provide a recommended retail price to give you an idea of how much you might spend on a particular microwave oven. To purchase the microwave, you can use their "local dealer” function and see what stores carry it and then compare pricing this way. After you purchase a Bosch microwave from a third-party retailer, you can go back to Bosch's website to register your microwave, review the warranty (usually 1 year limited warranty), find a servicer, and review FAQ and cleaning tips.

Mixed BBB ratings

Bosch has two pretty opposite listings with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). As a whole, Robert Bosch LLC has an "A” rating without too many reviews of complaints on the profile . However, BSH Home Appliances Corporation (that takes you to Bosch's website) has a "D-” rating because of a pattern of complaints where customers allege that there are delays in repairs and replacement of their defective appliances. People say technicians cancel appointments or do not fully complete repairs even when they are under warranty. Bosch has failed to respond to the BBB when they have reached out for a response about this issue.

Poor customer reviews

Customers can leave reviews about the microwave ovens on Bosch's website. Some of them have a few hundred, so this is really helpful. We noticed that most of them only have around a 3.5 out of 5 star rating, which isn't super high, so we recommend reading through exactly why people give these microwave ovens the ratings they do. On third-party sites, Bosch has pretty poor ratings overall (relating to a variety of products they sell) mostly regarding warranty issues and problems dealing with customer service.

Underwhelmed

We didn't see a lot of options from Bosch as far as the microwave ovens they have available. All of them are stainless steel, so this is already limiting for people looking for other options. Their customer reviews aren't great and neither is their Better Business Bureau rating, so we can't come up with a good reason to give this company one of our highest ratings.

Thermador

• 5 microwave ovens
• Luxury products
• 730-day warranty

Thermador is a luxury appliance brand that makes ranges, dishwashers, microwaves, ovens, and refrigerators. The company began in 1916 with a passion for everything culinary. Thermador is part of the BSH Home Appliances corporation (Bosch), the sixth largest appliance manufacturer in the world. They boast that they invented the first wall oven and cooktop and brought stainless steel to home appliances. Next, they invented the first self-cleaning oven in 1963 and have been on the move with introducing sleek, classy appliances ever since.

Not many options

The selection at Thermador is divided among microwave drawer ovens, drop-down microwave ovens, and over-the-range microwave ovens. At a glance, some of the top features included in many of their models include sensor cooking, spacious interiors, automatic defrost, and 10 power levels. There are 2 MicroDrawer ovens to choose from, 2 drop-down microwave ovens, and 1 single over-the-range oven. For a high-end appliance brand, this is a pretty dismal selection.

Upscale products and prices

Since you're buying upscale appliances when you shop at Thermador, they will come with a price tag. The MicroDrawer microwaves start at $2,199 for a 24” stainless steel or for a 30” the price is $2,249. The built-in microwave from their Masterpiece line that's 30” costs $2,249 and the 30” option from the Professional line is $2,449. The one over-the-range 30” microwave in stainless steel is $1,099, reaffirming to us that nothing here is cheap. What's crazy is we can't figure out what exactly makes these microwaves so special that they cost hundreds of dollars more than what their competitors sell them for.

No customer reviews

Each microwave oven comes with information online about its features, specifications, manuals, and accessories. The manuals are downloadable and include instructions for use, installation instructions, and a CAD file. There aren't many photos of the actual microwave itself and we would like to see more from the inside out at all angles like most companies offer. Another major thing lacking from Thermador's website is customer reviews. If we're going to spend thousands of dollars on a microwave oven, we want to know what other customers think about it.

Buy from a third-party

Aside from the fact that there are hardly any choices of microwave ovens, you also can't order them straight from Thermador's website since they don't stock them. Instead, you'll need to "contact a dealer” by searching your area and finding if any other retailers sell the Thermador product you're interested in.

2-year warranty

Thermador's warranty information is a little different than what we're used to. It's broad and doesn't mention their products specifically, but overall, their manual, last updated in 2023, says that Thermador products have a 730-day warranty from the date of original delivery. This warrants that the product is free of defects in materials and workmanship. You'll need to register your microwave oven through their website in order for this warranty to take effect.

No return policy

Another interesting thing about Thermador is that they don't mention a return policy anywhere. We can only assume that this is because they don't sell most of their products directly. You'll need to buy your microwave oven through someone else, therefore leaving you subject to the other retailer's return policy instead.

Lousy BBB rating

Thermador doesn't have their own Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile, but their parent company, BSH Home Appliances Corp does. This company has a "D-” rating because of their failure to respond to over 110 complaints. On top of this, there is a pattern of complaints where customers allege that there are delays in the repair or replacement of their defective products. This is, of course, quite concerning and we're not at all happy to see this.

At the bottom of our list

Aside from a warranty that seems to be much better than what's usually offered through other companies, we'd steer clear of Thermador for now. You can't order microwave ovens from their website anyway, but even if you could, we don't see why you'd want to spend so much money on what looks to be pretty typical appliances. Their lack of transparent customer ratings and poor BBB rating are more than enough to prompt us to shop for microwaves elsewhere.

Toshiba

• 14 microwave ovens
• Long-established company history
• "A-” Better Business Bureau rating

Toshiba is a Japanese electronics company that spans Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. The company began in 1875 as a supplier of telegraphy equipment and has created over 500 major technologies. Some noteworthy accomplishments from the company include developing the world's first microcomputer for automobiles, releasing the world's first bulb-type fluorescent lamp, developing Japan's first MRI machine, and more.

Nothing fancy

Toshiba might not be a brand you think of when you are in the market for kitchen appliances, but nevertheless they sell things like toaster ovens, rice cookers, and microwave ovens. Their inventory of microwave ovens includes 14 choices, all of which kind of blend together with similar looks (all gray and black stainless steel) and functionality (basic heating and convection - no air frying). Toshiba doesn't have filters on their website that allow you to narrow down the microwave ovens in any specific way. Rather, you'll need to scroll through each image and click on them one-by-one to read through important details.

Bare bones information

None of Toshiba's product descriptions really specify what type of microwave you're looking at. All of them appear to be types that sit on your counter or could possibly be installed over a range. We wish that Toshiba would break their products into some sort of categories because it's painful trying to figure out which microwave oven will best fit what we are looking for. All you can read about each microwave oven is a basic description of the product with 3 highlighted features (things like 10 power levels, built-in sensors, and eco mode), the color, capacity, turntable diameter, and rated output power. Information is really bare bones here.

No pricing

Since Toshiba doesn't sell any of their microwave ovens from their website, there is no pricing to be seen. This is really annoying since often we like to quickly identify all the options that are in our budget. In this case, we aren't able to do that and you have to find a third-party retailer through Toshiba's site to see what they are pricing that particular model at.

Nothing about a warranty

Oddly, the only warranty information on Toshiba's website is for their toaster ovens. They don't list anything about a warranty on their microwave ovens. This is important information, so at the very least we'd hope you'd be able to get these details from the retailer you purchase the microwave oven from. The same will go for a return policy since you aren't actually buying anything directly from Toshiba. Either way, we are surprised and disappointed by the noticeable lack of transparency here.

Lacking customer ratings

Of course there are no ratings on any of the microwave ovens here, so all we can really go off of is their Better Business Bureau rating, which is an "A-”. We can't imagine that Toshiba is a brand that people are flocking to for kitchen appliances, especially based on the fact that they have such a small selection that has to be sought out.

Major deterrents

There is almost nothing about Toshiba that makes us want to buy a microwave oven from them. Their selection is nothing fancy - just very basic microwaves with bottom of the barrel features that would be enough to simply heat food and that's it. Given that there is no pricing on their website, no easily digestible information for us to compare models, no warranty information, and no reviews on their products, we are really deterred from shopping here. They've earned our lowest rating among microwave oven brands.