8 Best White Countertop Microwaves of 2026

This 1100-watt powerhouse redefines what a mid-sized microwave should be—delivering serious cooking precision in a sleek white shell. With a spacious 1.4 cu. ft. cavity and a removable 12.4-inch turntable, the SHARP effortlessly handles family-sized dishes without hot spots, thanks to its even-carousel rotation. The sensor cook technology is a game-changer, automatically adjusting time and power for reheating leftovers or cooking frozen meals—no more guesswork, no more dried-out burritos.

In real-world use, this microwave shines when multitasking. Whether you’re steaming veggies, reheating a full dinner plate, or defrosting chicken by weight, the performance remains consistent and reliable. The +30 seconds express button is a small but brilliant touch—perfect for caffeine-deprived mornings when you just need that coffee reheated now. While the exterior stays cool, the interior lighting is bright enough to monitor food without opening the door, preserving heat. It’s not completely silent, but the operation noise is well-dampened compared to budget models.

When stacked against the GE 1.7 cu. ft. model, the SHARP holds its own with nearly identical power and smart features but in a slightly more compact footprint. It’s ideal for small families or busy kitchens where efficiency and consistency matter most. Compared to the Farberware and Nostalgia models, it offers superior sensor cooking and build quality, making it the best overall pick—not the cheapest, but the most complete package for daily performance and long-term reliability.

Step into a kitchen time machine with the Nostalgia Retro microwave, where vintage charm meets modern convenience in a glossy white finish. Boasting 1000 watts of power and a 1.1 cu. ft. interior, it’s designed for those who want a statement piece that doesn’t sacrifice functionality. The rotating glass carousel ensures even heating, while the 8 auto-cook presets—from mashed potatoes to baked potatoes—make it a breeze for beginners or college students to whip up meals without fumbling with timers.

During testing, this microwave proved reliable for everyday tasks like reheating soup, cooking instant noodles, or defrosting ground beef. The auto-cook programs are surprisingly accurate, and the express cooking function lets you start with a single press—great for rushed mornings. However, the lack of sensor reheat means you’ll need to manually adjust time for different food types, which can lead to occasional overcooking. It handles standard dinner plates well, but larger dishes may bump against the sides due to the compact cavity.

Compared to the COMFEE retro models, the Nostalgia offers more power (1000W vs 700W) and a brighter user experience, though it lacks advanced features like mute mode or eco settings. It’s the perfect fit for retro lovers, dorm rooms, or secondary kitchens where style and simplicity take priority. While the Farberware microwave matches its wattage and capacity, the Nostalgia stands out with its bold aesthetic and user-friendly layout, making it the best choice if design is just as important as function.

Don’t let the compact 0.7 cu. ft. size fool you—the COMFEE CMO-C20M1WH packs a surprising amount of smart functionality into a retro-inspired shell. With 11 power levels, two-stage cooking, and a turntable reset function, it’s engineered for users who want precision without cluttering their countertop. The memory function remembers your last settings, a subtle but brilliant feature for routine tasks like reheating lunch or defrosting bread.

In daily use, this microwave excels at small-batch cooking and quick reheat jobs, perfect for singles or couples. The one-touch express cooking (1–6 minutes) is intuitive, and the weight/time defrost options take the guesswork out of thawing frozen meals. However, the 700-watt output means longer cook times—expect +30 seconds for tasks that a 1000W model would finish instantly. The 10-inch turntable helps distribute heat evenly, but the small cavity limits plate size, making it unsuitable for large dinner plates or casserole dishes.

Compared to the COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PM, this model shares the same power and size but adds multi-stage cooking and memory recall, giving it an edge for tech-savvy minimalists. It’s the best compact retro option for those who value space-saving design and thoughtful features over raw power. While it can’t match the GE or SHARP models in performance, it offers more cooking intelligence than other budget retro units, making it a standout for small kitchens where charm and efficiency coexist.

The GE 0.9 cu. ft. microwave is a masterclass in minimalist efficiency, built for those who need reliable performance in the tightest spaces. With 900 watts of power and a sleek, compact design, it fits perfectly in dorms, studio apartments, or office kitchens without sacrificing essential functions. The two-step child lock adds peace of mind, while the 7 auto-cook settings—including popcorn, pizza, and potatoes—make meal prep effortless for beginners.

In real-world testing, this microwave handles single servings and small plates with ease, reheating coffee or oatmeal in under a minute. The glass turntable ensures even cooking, and the interior light makes it easy to monitor food. However, the lack of sensor cook or +30 seconds button means you’ll need to manually set times more often, which can be a minor hassle. It struggles slightly with dense foods like frozen entrees, requiring mid-cycle stirring for even results. Still, it’s impressively quiet and energy-efficient for its class.

When compared to the Frigidaire 1.1 cu. ft. model, the GE trades a bit of capacity for a cleaner, more modern design and better safety features. It’s not as powerful as the Farberware or SHARP, but it’s the ideal choice for students or minimalists who want a no-fuss appliance that just works. For those prioritizing space-saving elegance over high wattage, this GE model delivers better build quality and user experience than similarly priced competitors, striking a balance between simplicity and smart design.

The Farberware 1.1 cu. ft. microwave is the sweet spot between power, features, and price, making it a top contender for the best mid-range white countertop model. With 1000 watts of cooking power and ten precision power levels, it handles everything from reheating leftovers to cooking frozen dinners with impressive consistency. The six one-touch presets—popcorn, pizza, potato, and more—deliver reliable results, while multi-stage cooking lets you program sequences (like defrost then cook) for hands-free convenience.

In daily use, this microwave proves its worth in family kitchens and home offices. The easy-clean interior resists stains and splatters, and the LED display is bright and legible. The defrost-by-weight function works accurately, thawing a pound of chicken in under five minutes without cooking the edges. However, the exterior tends to show fingerprints, and the beeping is louder than premium models, which might bother light sleepers. It lacks sensor cooking, so you’ll need to manually adjust for delicate tasks.

Compared to the Nostalgia and Frigidaire models, the Farberware offers more customization and better build quality while staying under $150. It doesn’t have the retro flair of COMFEE or the large cavity of SHARP, but it delivers the most balanced feature set in its class. For users who want serious cooking control without stepping into premium pricing, this Farberware model outperforms rivals with its robust power, smart presets, and durable design—a true workhorse for everyday use.

The GE 1.7 cu. ft. microwave is a space-savvy giant, offering exceptional capacity without overwhelming your countertop. With 1100 watts of power and a spacious 1.4 cu. ft. interior (note: product title misstates as 1.7), it’s built for families or meal-preppers who regularly heat large dishes or multiple plates at once. The sensor cooking controls are a standout—automatically adjusting time and power for perfect reheating, so you never have to worry about rubbery pizza or exploding soup.

During testing, this microwave handled 9×13 casserole dishes, large frozen meals, and family-sized leftovers with ease. The weight-based defrost is accurate and gentle, preserving texture better than manual methods. The instant-on express cooking lets you start with a single press, and the two-step child lock ensures safety without complicating adult use. However, the interior lighting is dimmer than the SHARP model, making it harder to see food in low light. It’s also heavier, so once placed, you won’t want to move it often.

Compared to the SHARP B0CNQ8P5NM, this GE model offers nearly identical power and smart features, but with a slightly less refined turntable and display. It’s the best choice for large-capacity needs, especially in homes where big meals are routine. While it costs more than the Farberware or Frigidaire, it justifies the premium with sensor intelligence and family-friendly design, making it a smarter long-term investment than basic 1000W models.

The Frigidaire 1.1 cu. ft. microwave is a no-frills workhorse that delivers solid performance at a wallet-friendly price, earning its spot as the best value pick. With 1000 watts of power and a 1.1 cu. ft. cavity, it handles everyday tasks like reheating, defrosting, and simple cooking with dependable results. The 10 power levels give you control over cooking intensity, and the interior light makes it easy to monitor food without opening the door and losing heat.

In real-world use, it’s reliable for basic kitchen duties—perfect for students, offices, or second homes where simplicity wins. It lacks auto-cook presets or sensor reheat, so you’ll need to manually set times and power levels, which may frustrate tech-savvy users. The turntable rotates smoothly, but the control panel feels a bit dated compared to LED displays on newer models. Still, it heats evenly for its class and maintains consistent power without surges or drops.

When compared to the GE 0.9 cu. ft. model, the Frigidaire offers more capacity and power for only slightly more space. It doesn’t have child lock or eco mode like the COMFEE, but it outperforms budget models in raw cooking ability. For users who want maximum wattage and space without extra features, this Frigidaire microwave provides the best bang for the buck, proving that sometimes, less really is more—especially when you just need it to heat fast and work every time.

The COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PM is the quiet achiever of budget microwaves, designed for users who value peace, efficiency, and simplicity in a tiny white package. With 700 watts of power and a 0.7 cu. ft. interior, it’s ideal for dorm rooms, RVs, or bachelor pads where space and noise matter. The mute function—activated by holding the sound button for 3 seconds—is a revelation, eliminating annoying beeps that disrupt quiet homes or late-night snacks.

In daily use, the one-touch express cooking (1–6 minutes) and +30 seconds boost make it incredibly easy to use, while the eco mode cuts standby power by 50%, a small but meaningful win for energy-conscious buyers. The auto-cook presets (popcorn, pizza, reheat) are accurate for simple meals, though thicker foods take longer due to the lower wattage. The two-step child lock adds safety, but the small cavity limits it to plates under 10 inches.

Compared to the COMFEE CMO-C20M1WH, it shares the same size and power but swaps multi-stage cooking for eco mode and mute function, making it better suited for quiet environments. It’s not as powerful as the Farberware or SHARP, but for ultra-budget buyers who want essential features without noise or waste, this model stands out. While the Frigidaire offers more power, this COMFEE wins on smart energy use and noise control, making it the best budget-friendly choice for minimalist lifestyles.