[Request] Looking for a durable budget microwave

[u/GlompSpark]

I'm not sure if they exist, we have been using Sharp microwaves for the last couple of years and the first one failed after 1-2 years (it simply wouldnt heat up anything) and the second one had the paint inside the microwave corrode and reveal the metallic casing after 1-2 years.

Now my mother wants me to buy a microwave as a spare because we cannot carry the microwave ourselves from the store (physical issues) and it would take several days minimum to get a new one delivered.

I'm looking at budget brands for a 20L, basic digital microwave...and i have no idea if any of these brands are durable...

I live in South East Asia and the main budget brands here are:

• Cornell
• Midea
• Comfee (Seems to be a subsidiary of Midea)
• Europace
• Powerpac
• Mayer
• Electrolux
• Sharp
• Tecno
• Toshiba
• Russel Taylors
• Whirlpool
• Panasonic

They are all about $100 or below, although Panasonic seems to be about $120.

I'm particular impressed by the specs for the Comfee CMO-EM7P012LY, but it's a Chinese brand...and i'm not confident on the durability.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Edit : Probably going to get the Panasonic NN-ST21QWYPQ as i found a great deal for it at Courts, its discounted down to $89.

[u/silicon_insect]

Panasonic with inverter and stainless interior. When the magnetron fails in 10 years its about $40 and 20 minutes to replace,

[u/GlompSpark → u/silicon_insect]

Hmm, so all the other brands on that list are no good? The cheapest panasonic microwave i can find with an inverter seems to be about $220 here which is a LOT more than what i was hoping to spend...

The cheapest Panasonic microwave that i can find seems to be the NN-ST22QBYPQ which is $126 but it doesn't have an inverter.

[u/silicon_insect → u/GlompSpark]

Still good enough. If you've never had an inverter for truly variable power you won't miss it -- it'll be a traditional microwave that pulses for less than full blast.

[u/GlompSpark → u/silicon_insect]

Thanks, i found a good deal for the Panasonic NN-ST21QWYPQ which is a basic non-inverter microwave...i might get that one. Its discounted down to $89 at Courts which seems like a great deal. I cant find any independent reviews for it though.

[u/Jumpy-Expression1293]

Panasonic makes a tank of a microwave for the price. The inverter models are especially nice since they don't just cycle full blast on and off, food actually heats evenly. Had mine for years now without a hiccup. Skip the Comfee, the specs look good on paper but the internals are what you'd expect from a budget Chinese brand.

[u/GlompSpark → u/Jumpy-Expression1293]

Hmm, so all the other brands on that list are no good? The cheapest panasonic microwave i can find with an inverter seems to be about $220 here which is a LOT more than what i was hoping to spend...

The cheapest Panasonic microwave that i can find seems to be the NN-ST22QBYPQ which is $126 but it doesn't have an inverter.

[u/dcheesi → u/GlompSpark]

If you're just going for basic, the non-inverter should be fine.

FWIW, Consumer Reports [an independent (though not infallible) review source in the USA] currently has far more Panasonic microwaves in their Recommended list than any other brand, up and down the price spectrum (though as you said, they don't generally dip below $100).

[EDIT: I don't see your specific model listed, so it may be a non-US model, or they just didn't review it]

[u/GlompSpark → u/dcheesi]

Thanks, i found a good deal for the Panasonic NN-ST21QWYPQ which is a basic non-inverter microwave...i might get that one. Its discounted down to $89 at Courts which seems like a great deal. I cant find any independent reviews for it though.

[u/Legal_Pay7471]

Panasonic and Toshiba are worth comparing for reliability.

[u/nikhitas123]

A few things that tend to matter more than brand at this price point:

• Go for a mechanical dial over digital touch controls. The touch panel and control board are the most common failure points on budget microwaves, so simpler controls usually last longer.
• Look for a stainless steel interior cavity instead of a painted one. The peeling paint you saw is a really common way painted cavities fail, and once it chips, the microwave is basically done.
• Panasonic is generally the most reliable of the brands on your list, and the extra ~$20 is probably worth it. Their basic 20L models (like the NN-ST25) have a good track record.

Midea/Comfee are fine value but more of a “lasts a few years” pick. Also worth comparing warranty length, since some brands offer longer coverage on the magnetron.

[u/GlompSpark → u/nikhitas123]

Hmm...but aren't mechanical dials less accurate than digital ones? I have a conventional oven with a mechanical dial and the timer is not accurate at all, it's several minutes too fast...

I cant tell whether the interior is stainless steel or painted, and its not mentioned in the specs...does the Panasonic NN-ST21QWYPQ have a stainless steel interior?

Edit: Apparently it has a painted interior, the ones with stainless steel are probably much more expensive.