Head-to-head · Best Convection Microwaves

Breville Combi Wave BMO870 3-in-1 vs Panasonic HomeCHEF NN-CD87KS 4-in-1

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Panasonic HomeCHEF NN-CD87KS 4-in-1 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Multi-mode cooks who want microwave, convection, broil, and air fry in one countertop appliance and value inverter-smooth power control. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Convection Microwaves

Breville Combi Wave BMO870 3-in-1

4.5

$499

Breville's Combi Wave BMO870 is the premium-feel option in this category — the soft-close door alone separates it from every other unit here, and the 1200W microwave makes it the fastest reheater in the guide. The 1.1 cu ft cavity and the imperfect air-fry mode are the price of the compact footprint and premium materials, and Top Ten Reviews described it as 'a smart buy' for kitchens where the cooking matters and the budget allows.

Strengths

— Soft-close door is the only one in this guide and dramatically reduces ergonomic friction during heavy use
— Stainless-steel build feels premium — owners and Top Ten Reviews describe it as 'incredibly premium' compared to peers
— 1200W microwave is the highest in this guide and reheats faster than the 900-1000W competitors

Watch-outs

— Air-fry mode 'consistently over-shrank' frozen chicken in Top Ten Reviews testing per Paul Rankin
— 1.1 cu ft cavity is the smallest in this guide and will not accept a 9-by-13 baking pan
— Convection fan produces a 'whooshing air sound' at roughly 56 dB — louder than a magnetron-only microwave

$499 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Convection Microwaves

Panasonic HomeCHEF NN-CD87KS 4-in-1

4.6

$499

Panasonic's HomeCHEF combines an inverter microwave, a true 100-425 degrees Fahrenheit convection oven, a FlashXpress broiler, and an air fryer in a 1.2 cu ft countertop footprint. It is the most mode-rich combination unit on the market at this price, and the inverter element lets it simmer and melt without the on-off cycling that defines lesser microwaves. The fan-noise and learning-curve complaints are real but manageable.

Strengths

— Inverter microwave delivers smooth, low-power simmer that conventional magnetron units cannot replicate at sub-30% settings
— Convection bake range from 100 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit covers proofing dough through full roasts in a 1.2 cu ft cavity
— FlashXpress broiler reaches working heat in seconds without preheat, saving meaningful time over the convection element

Watch-outs

— Cooling fan runs for up to six minutes after a cooking cycle ends and is audible across an open kitchen
— Control panel layout has a real learning curve — first-week users routinely miss the combo-mode entry path
— Heating evenness on plain reheats tested only mediocre at Consumer Reports despite the inverter design

$499 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Breville Combi Wave BMO870 3-in-1

The BMO870 is the premium-build pick — owners describe a quality of fit and finish the Toshiba EC042A5C-BS and Sharp SMC1585BS do not match. It trades 0.4 cu ft of cavity to the Sharp for the smaller apartment-friendly footprint, and 1200W reheats faster than the LG MHEC1737F or Panasonic NN-CD87KS. The air-fry weakness is the documented limit.

Panasonic HomeCHEF NN-CD87KS 4-in-1

The NN-CD87KS is the deepest cooking-mode toolkit in this group — five modes versus the Breville BMO870's three and the Toshiba EC042A5C-BS's two. Where the Sharp SMC1585BS gives you more raw oven volume, the Panasonic gives you the inverter for delicate simmer work the Sharp cannot match. If you cook on multiple modes weekly, this is the pick.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Breville Combi Wave BMO870 3-in-1	Panasonic HomeCHEF NN-CD87KS 4-in-1
Capacity	1.1 cu ft	1.2 cu ft
Wattage	1200W microwave / convection	1000W microwave / convection bake
Type	Countertop	Countertop
Power Levels	10	7
Preset Cooking Programs	19 smart presets including Fast Combi, From Frozen, Air Fry, Oven, Microwave	—
Air Fryer Mode	Yes	Yes
Sensor Cooking	Yes	—
Turntable Diameter	13.5 inches	14.2 inches
Color Options	Brushed Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Warranty	1-year limited	3-year limited
Convection Temperature Range	—	100-425 degrees Fahrenheit
Inverter Technology	—	Yes

← See the full ranking of best convection microwaves