The GE Profile PHP9036 is a 36-inch built-in induction cooktop with five elements, the largest an 11-inch zone rated at 3,700 W on boost. Wirecutter picked it as the most feature-rich mid-priced option it has considered, citing 19 power settings, the easiest control panel it tried, an auto-sync bridge and Wi-Fi app control. The Chaos Collective YouTube channel, reviewing it as a first-time induction owner, found it brought water nearly to the boil within two or three minutes and liked its automatic burner shut-off. It suits cooks who want fine heat control and smart features; anyone who wants a larger central element for big pots, or a longer standard warranty, should look elsewhere.
Full review
Nineteen power levels and a 3,700 W boost
Wirecutter's case for the PHP9036 rests on control. It has 19 power settings, the most of any induction cooktop Wirecutter has tested, and keep-warm and melt settings that hold a consistent low temperature. The 11-inch large element can draw 3,700 W on boost, which Wirecutter calls plenty to boil water or preheat a pan speedily. Chaos Collective, a YouTube channel reviewing the cooktop after switching from gas, timed a pot of water and found it almost boiling within two or three minutes, and pointed out that the glass beside a pan stays warm rather than scalding.
An easy control panel with smart extras
Wirecutter rates the control panel as the easiest to use that it tried, with heat adjusted by swiping a finger on a wheel or tapping up and down buttons, and an intuitive timer. A bridge mode syncs the two medium elements for a griddle, which Chaos Collective also demonstrates. The cooktop is Wi-Fi enabled and works with the SmartHQ app for remote access and updates, and it can sync with a GE Profile range hood over Bluetooth. Chaos Collective adds that a burner blinks and then turns itself off if no pan is detected, so one cannot be left on by accident.
The extras cost more, and the cover is basic
Some of the headline features need more spending. Wirecutter notes that setting a precise temperature or following guided recipes requires a Bluetooth-connected sensor pan sold separately, and the standard warranty is one year, with five years on the cooktop glass and extended service available only through a third party. Chaos Collective reminds first-time induction buyers that the cooktop needs magnetic cookware such as cast iron or stainless steel, as aluminium or anodised pans typically will not work. At $2,198 from The Home Depot in Wirecutter's listing, it sits below the Bosch 800 Series and Miele KM 7740 FR.
Strengths
- +19 power settings, the most of any induction cooktop Wirecutter has tested
- +Control panel with a swipe wheel and up/down buttons was the easiest Wirecutter tried
- +11-inch, 3,700 W boost element boils water and preheats pans quickly
- +Auto-sync bridge links two medium elements for a griddle
- +Burner shuts off automatically if no pan is detected for a while
Watch-outs
- −Precise-temperature cooking needs a Bluetooth sensor pan sold separately
- −Standard one-year warranty; extended cover only through a third party
- −Needs magnetic cookware; aluminium and anodised pans typically will not work
How it compares
Wirecutter lists the PHP9036 at $2,198 against $2,999 for both the Bosch 800 Series NIT8661UC and the Miele KM 7740 FR. It has 19 power settings to the Bosch's 17 and an auto-sync bridge rather than a manual one, but its 11-inch, 3,700 W large element is smaller than the Bosch's 13-inch central zone.
Rating sources
Our 4.5 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
