Head-to-head · Best Countertop Microwaves

Panasonic NN-SN966S 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.

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The short answer

Panasonic NN-SN966S comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Large households and anyone who regularly reheats big dishes or casseroles and wants the most even, powerful microwave heating. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Countertop Microwaves

Panasonic NN-SN966S

4.5

3 sources2 derived$289.95as of Jun 7

The Panasonic NN-SN966S is the most capable countertop microwave here: a 2.2 cu ft, 1250W inverter model whose constant-power inverter circuit and Genius Sensor produce the even heating that traditional microwaves lack. Designer Appliances praises its gentle, uniform heat distribution, and it has long been the popular choice for big-dish households. Size, price, and some reliability complaints are the trade-offs. On cooking performance it leads the category.

Strengths

— Inverter technology delivers genuinely even heating without burnt edges or frozen centers
— Huge 2.2 cu ft interior fits large dishes and a dinner plate with room to spare
— Powerful 1250W output cooks and reheats faster than most rivals

Watch-outs

— Large footprint demands significant counter space
— Some owners report premature failures, raising reliability questions
— Membrane control panel feels dated next to dial-based rivals

$289.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Countertop Microwaves

Toshiba EM131A5C-BS

4.3

3 sources1 derived$148.99as of Aug 1

The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is the value all-rounder of the category: a 1.2 cu ft, 1000W 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

— Best-in-class defrosting that thaws meat evenly without cooked edges
— Smart humidity sensor with 12 auto menus for hands-off cooking
— 1.2 cu ft is a practical mid-size that fits most dinner plates

Watch-outs

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

$148.99 · Check Price on Amazon 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

Panasonic NN-SN966S

Shares Panasonic's inverter advantage with the smaller NN-SN686S — both heat more evenly than the conventional Toshiba EM131A5C-BS, Black+Decker EM925AB9, and Galanz GLCMKZ09BKR09 — but the NN-SN966S nearly doubles the NN-SN686S's interior at 2.2 cu ft. It is the largest and most powerful microwave in this roundup; the others are mid-size or compact.

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	Panasonic NN-SN966S	Toshiba EM131A5C-BS
Power	1250W	1000W
Capacity	2.2 cu ft	1.2 cu ft
Technology	Inverter + Genius Sensor	Humidity sensor
Programs	14 sensor presets	12 auto menus
Turntable	16.5 in	12.4 in
Defrost	Turbo Defrost	—
Footprint	23.9 x 19.4 in	—
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Dimensions	19.4"D x 23.9"W x 14"H	16"D x 20.6"W x 11.8"H
Wattage	1250 watts	1000 watts
Material	Aluminum	Stainless Steel
Extras	—	Mute function, ECO mode
Finish	—	Black stainless

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