Comparison: Best 800W Microwave Oven (Updated | Jun 10th)

If you are looking to break away from the sea of boring stainless steel boxes, this Nostalgia Retro Red microwave is a visual treat. It stands out immediately with its vibrant cherry finish and those distinctive chrome accents that feel like they belong in a 1950s diner. In a real-world kitchen, it acts as a conversation piece rather than just a tool. The 0.9 Cu. Ft. size is surprisingly efficient, and the 800-watt power level is perfect for standard reheating tasks without hogging too much counter space.

I’d recommend this specifically for students in dorm rooms or anyone decorating a small apartment with a vintage aesthetic. It’s for the person who cares as much about how their kitchen looks as how it functions. The 12 pre-programmed settings handle the basics like popcorn and pizza quite well, making it a solid choice for quick snacks.

The trade-off here is the control scheme. Instead of a traditional number pad, you use a turn-and-push program dial. While it looks cool and fits the retro vibe, it can feel a bit fiddly and less intuitive if you are used to just punching in “3-0-Start.” You might find yourself spinning the knob more than you’d like for precise timing.

This Nostalgia Retro Aqua model is essentially the cooler, calmer sibling of the red version. What really makes it pop in a modern home is that soft pastel “seafoam” hue, which can soften the look of a kitchen filled with dark appliances. It delivers 800 watts of power, which is the sweet spot for a compact 0.9 Cu. Ft. unit—it’s powerful enough to heat a bowl of soup evenly but won’t trip the breakers in older buildings or RVs.

This is a fantastic pick for a vacation cottage, a themed office breakroom, or a “she-shed.” It’s designed for light-to-medium use where style is a priority. The LED digital display is surprisingly crisp despite the old-school exterior, so you aren’t sacrificing modern visibility for that vintage charm.

One honest downside is the 800W power limit compared to larger units. If you are trying to cook a dense frozen meal that usually calls for a 1100W oven, you’ll need to add significantly more time and perhaps stir more often to avoid cold spots. It’s a “patience-required” appliance for heavy-duty cooking, better suited for reheating than from-scratch culinary feats.

The GE Profile PCHK11S1WBB is a total departure from the “basic” microwave. It stands out because of its high-tech brain; it features WiFi Connect and Scan-to-Cook technology. Imagine scanning the barcode of a frozen burrito with your phone and having the microwave automatically set the exact time and power level. It takes the guesswork out of the 800W output, ensuring you don’t end up with a lava-hot exterior and a frozen center.

This is the ideal choice for the tech-savvy professional or a family that relies heavily on frozen convenience meals. It’s also uniquely versatile because it is built-in capable. If you want to clear your counters and install this into cabinetry with a trim kit, it’s one of the few 800-watt units designed to handle that transition gracefully.

However, the trade-off is the price and complexity. You are paying a premium for the GE Profile name and the smart features. If you just want to heat up coffee and don’t care about syncing your microwave to an app, all this extra tech might feel like overkill and a bit of a headache to set up initially.

This Yellow Nostalgia Retro microwave is like a burst of sunshine for a dark kitchen corner. While the specs match its siblings—800 watts and 0.9 Cu. Ft.—the color is the real differentiator here. It’s a bold, buttery yellow that stands out in a way most appliances simply can’t. The sleek chrome door handle feels sturdy in the hand, giving it a bit more of a premium feel than the price tag might suggest.

I see this being a hit in a retro-themed kitchen or even a nursery/playroom area for warming up bottles or snacks. It’s a great “starter” microwave for someone moving into their first studio apartment who wants their personality to show through their appliances. The express cooking and delay timer features are nice touches that add genuine utility to the fun design.

The main drawback is that the 0.9 Cu. Ft. interior is somewhat tight. While it fits a standard dinner plate, you might struggle with larger rectangular Tupperware or oversized popcorn bags. You really have to be mindful of your dish sizes to ensure the rotating glass carousel can actually spin without getting stuck against the walls.

The Emerson MWRG0901W is a bit of a sleeper hit because it hides a 1,000W Grill Function inside a retro 800W microwave body. This is a game-changer for a small appliance. In real life, it means you can actually get a bit of “crisp” on a slice of pizza or a brown top on a macaroni and cheese dish, something a standard microwave just can’t do. The white finish with chrome accents gives it a clean, medical-chic vintage look that’s very sharp.

This is the best option for someone in a dorm or a small studio who doesn’t have a full oven or a toaster oven. Since it combines 800W microwave power with that grill element, it’s a multi-tasker that saves you from buying two separate machines. The 8 auto menus are also quite helpful for those who don’t want to think about power levels.

The downside is that the grill function requires a bit of a learning curve. If you aren’t careful, it’s easy to over-brown things since the interior is compact. Also, the white exterior, while beautiful, shows every single fingerprint and grease splatter, so you’ll be wiping it down more often than a darker model.

The TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS is the “workhorse” of the group. What makes it stand out is the Smart Humidity Sensor. Instead of just running on a timer, it detects the steam coming off your food and adjusts the time automatically. Even though it’s a 1000W unit (stepping up from the 800W class), it handles delicate reheating much better than cheaper models because it doesn’t just blast everything at full force.

This is the microwave for a busy household where the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s for people who actually “cook” in their microwave rather than just reheating coffee. The 1.2 Cu. Ft. capacity is generous enough for family-sized dishes, and the Mute Function is a godsend if you have early risers who don’t want to wake the whole house with loud beeps.

The trade-off is the size. It has a significantly larger footprint than the 0.9 Cu. Ft. models. If you have a tiny “postage stamp” kitchen, this TOSHIBA might swallow up all your usable counter space. It’s a performance-first machine, not a space-saver.

The TOSHIBA ML2-EC10SA(BS) is essentially an entire kitchen in one box. It stands out because it is an 8-in-1 Multifunction beast. It’s a microwave, an air fryer, a convection oven, and a broiler all at once. In a real-life scenario, this means you can air fry crispy fries and then microwave a bowl of chili in the same machine. The black stainless steel finish is also incredibly sleek and resists fingerprints much better than standard chrome.

Who should buy this? Anyone living in a tiny home, an RV, or a studio apartment without a range. It’s the ultimate “space optimizer.” The Position Memory Turntable is a clever touch—it returns your mug handle to the exact spot you started, so you aren’t reaching into the back to grab a hot handle.

The honest trade-off here is that it tries to do everything, which means it isn’t quite as powerful as a dedicated air fryer. The 1000W microwave side is great, but the air frying takes a bit longer than a standalone unit because the heating elements are integrated differently. It’s a compromise of speed for the sake of versatility.

The Nostalgia RMO4RR is the “Large” variant of their retro line, though it stays at 0.9 Cu. Ft. and 800 Watts. What makes this one stand out is the Metallic Red finish. Unlike the flat red of other models, this has a deep, automotive-style luster that looks much more expensive than it is. The simple program dial is the centerpiece here, aiming for a tactile, mechanical feel that mimics mid-century electronics.

This is best for someone who wants the retro look but needs a slightly more “solid” feel. It’s perfect for a basement bar or a man-cave where you’re mostly heating up wings or sliders. The rotating glass carousel is reliable, and the 12 pre-programmed settings take the thought out of late-night snacking.

A notable downside is the 800-watt power rating combined with the dial control. If you are following instructions on a frozen meal that requires specific “50% power for 3 minutes” steps, navigating the dial and the lower wattage can be frustratingly slow. It’s built for style and simple tasks, not for complex multi-stage recipes.

The GE Countertop Microwave is a massive 1200-watt powerhouse with a 2.0 Cubic Ft. capacity. This is the “big brother” that stands out for sheer volume. You can fit a large casserole dish or even a small turkey in here without it touching the sides. The Sensor Cooking is the real highlight; it’s very accurate at preventing that “rubberized” texture you get when over-microwaving leftovers.

This is strictly for large families or office breakrooms where the microwave is in constant use. If you are defrosting large bags of frozen meat or heating up dinner for five, the 1200W output will save you minutes every single time you use it. It’s built for heavy-duty throughput.

The obvious trade-off is that it is huge. It’s not just a countertop appliance; it’s a countertop commitment. It will dominate a small kitchen, and it’s likely too heavy to move around easily. Also, at 1200W, it’s a power hog, so you’ll want to make sure your kitchen wiring is up to the task.

The TOSHIBA ML-EM09PA(BS) is the “smart choice” for someone who wants modern reliability in a small package. It stands out for its 900W output, which is a nice step up from the 800W standard without requiring a massive jump in size. The Black Stainless Steel looks very contemporary, and the Mute Function (accessed by long-pressing the 8 key) is a feature I think every microwave should have.

This is the perfect “apartment” microwave. It’s for the person who wants something that works perfectly every time, is easy to clean, and doesn’t make a ton of noise. The 6 auto menus cover 90% of what most people actually use a microwave for, and the 10.6-inch turntable is well-sized for standard plates.

The trade-off is that it’s a bit “plain vanilla.” It doesn’t have the personality of the retro models or the advanced scanning tech of the GE Profile. It’s a functional, reliable tool, but it won’t be a design highlight of your kitchen. It’s the safe, sensible pick that just gets the job done.