Head-to-head · Best Countertop Microwaves

Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 Retro Microwave vs Toshiba EM131A5C-BS

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

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 Retro Microwave comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.0 vs 3.9). Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 Retro Microwave is best for: Style-conscious buyers with small kitchens or dorms who want a retro statement microwave for light reheating and small dishes. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Countertop Microwaves

Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 Retro Microwave

4.0

1 sourceall derived$154.42as of Oct 14

The Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 is the style pick: a 0.9 cu ft retro-look microwave with a chrome pull handle, rotary dial, and LED display that earns a 4.7-star owner rating largely on its design. It cooks adequately for its size, with seven auto-cook and ten auto-reheat programs, and suits small kitchens, dorms, and anyone who wants their microwave to double as a decor piece. People buy it for looks first, performance second.

Strengths

— Compact 0.9 cu ft footprint ideal for small kitchens and dorms
— Tactile rotary dial plus LED display and pull handle
— Seven auto-cook and ten auto-reheat programs at a budget-friendly price

Watch-outs

— Conventional heating is less even than inverter rivals

$154.42 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Countertop Microwaves

Toshiba EM131A5C-BS

3.9

2 sources$129as of Oct 31

The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is the value all-rounder of the category: a 1.2 cu ft, 1100W microwave with a humidity sensor, 12 auto menus, a mute function, and a black-stainless look that punches above its price. TechGearLab scores it 70/100 and singles out its excellent defrosting, while flagging uneven heating as the main weakness. For most households it is the sensible mid-priced default.

Strengths

— 1.2 cu ft is a practical mid-size that fits most dinner plates
— Mute function and ECO mode are genuinely useful extras
— Black-stainless finish looks more premium than the price suggests

Watch-outs

— Heat distribution is uneven — you may need to stir or rearrange food
— Sensor reheat function underperforms
— Bulky external size relative to its interior

$129 · Buy at appliancerank.com Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 Retro Microwave

The smallest and most design-driven microwave here, sharing the 0.9 cu ft light-duty class with the Black+Decker EM925AB9 — the Galanz trades the Black+Decker's professional-stainless utility for retro styling. Like the Black+Decker, it is a conventional heater without the inverter even-cooking of the Panasonic NN-SN966S and NN-SN686S or the humidity sensor of the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS.

Toshiba EM131A5C-BS

Conventional (non-inverter) like the Black+Decker EM925AB9 and Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09, so it shares their tendency toward uneven heating versus the inverter Panasonic NN-SN966S and NN-SN686S. But its defrosting is the best in this group, its humidity sensor outclasses the budget Black+Decker and Galanz, and its 1.2 cu ft size matches the NN-SN686S while costing less.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 Retro Microwave	Toshiba EM131A5C-BS
Power	900W	1100W
Capacity	0.9 cu ft	1.2 cu ft
Power Levels	11	—
Programs	7 auto-cook, 10 auto-reheat	12 auto menus
Turntable	10.5 in glass	12.4 in
Controls	Rotary dial + LED display	—
Style	Retro with pull handle	—
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Dimensions	14.9"D x 19"W x 10.8"H	16"D x 20.6"W x 11.8"H
Wattage	900 watts	1100 watts
Material	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Technology	—	Humidity sensor
Extras	—	Mute function, ECO mode
Finish	—	Black stainless

← See the full ranking of best countertop microwaves