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.

The short answer

Panasonic NN-SN966S comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.5). 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

4.6

$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 deliver the even heating that traditional microwaves lack. Designer Appliances praises its gentle, uniform heat distribution, and it is the long-standing popular choice for big-dish households. The trade-offs are size, price, and some reliability complaints, but 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 #2 in Best Countertop Microwaves

Toshiba EM131A5C-BS

4.5

$148.99as of Jun 7

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 its 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 →

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
Extras	—	Mute function, ECO mode
Finish	—	Black stainless

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