Head-to-head · Best Convection Microwaves

Breville Combi Wave BMO870 3-in-1 vs Toshiba EC042A5C-BS 1.5 cu ft Convection

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

Breville Combi Wave BMO870 3-in-1 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Apartment dwellers and small-kitchen owners who want premium materials, a soft-close door, and a 1.1 cu ft footprint that does not dominate a 24-inch counter. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #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 →

Ranked #5 in Best Convection Microwaves

Toshiba EC042A5C-BS 1.5 cu ft Convection

4.3

$329

Toshiba's EC042A5C-BS delivers the 1.5 cu ft convection cavity and 1000W microwave at roughly half the price of the Sharp SMC1585BS, with a wider 170-425 degrees Fahrenheit convection range that supports yeast-dough proofing. Consumer Reports rated it 'very good' on heating and 'excellent' on defrost, and the Smart Sensor handles common reheat tasks without manual entry. Skip it only if you need dedicated air-fry — convection alone handles browning competently.

Strengths

— 1.5 cu ft cavity at half the price of competing 1.5 cu ft convection units — best capacity-per-dollar in the category
— Convection range from 170 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit covers proofing through full roasts
— 1000W microwave is competitive with mid-tier dedicated countertop microwaves

Watch-outs

— No dedicated air-fry mode — convection element handles browning but lacks the high-velocity airflow of dedicated air fryers
— Cooling fan runs after convection cycles, adding to ambient kitchen noise
— Stainless interior reflects light into the cavity in a way that makes visual monitoring of dark foods harder

$329 · 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.

Toshiba EC042A5C-BS 1.5 cu ft Convection

The EC042A5C-BS matches the Sharp SMC1585BS on cavity volume (1.5 cu ft) at roughly $220 less, and it pushes 100W more microwave power. It cannot match the Sharp's built-in trim-kit installability or the Panasonic NN-CD87KS's mode depth, but it covers the convection-and-microwave-in-one-box use case at the lowest price in this guide.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Breville Combi Wave BMO870 3-in-1	Toshiba EC042A5C-BS 1.5 cu ft Convection
Capacity	1.1 cu ft	1.5 cu ft
Wattage	1200W microwave / convection	1000W microwave / 1400W convection
Type	Countertop	Countertop
Power Levels	10	10
Preset Cooking Programs	19 smart presets including Fast Combi, From Frozen, Air Fry, Oven, Microwave	Auto Bake, Auto Roast, Auto Defrost, Sensor Cook (9 foods)
Air Fryer Mode	Yes	—
Sensor Cooking	Yes	Yes
Turntable Diameter	13.5 inches	13.6 inches
Color Options	Brushed Stainless Steel	Black Stainless Steel
Warranty	1-year limited	1-year limited
Convection Temperature Range	—	170-425 degrees Fahrenheit

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