Best Microwaves in Australia 2026

Updated 4 comparedBy Bikram Nath

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Quick answer

The LG NeoChef 23L Smart Inverter is the best all-round microwave for most Australian kitchens. Choose the Panasonic 27L flatbed if you reheat oblong dishes, and the Panasonic 32L sensor model for a family. Its Amazon.com.au listing had no buy button on 13 October 2026, so it may be unavailable.

This guide was written from the products’ Amazon.com.au listings as they read on . Listings change, so check the details on Amazon before you buy.

Editor's choice

LG

LG NeoChef 23L Smart Inverter Microwave Oven

A 23-litre microwave with a Smart Inverter Magnetron, which the listing says gives precise power control and more even cooking results.

Check price on Amazon AU

Amazon.com.au listing checked on . It had no buy button that day, so it may be unavailable. The details here were read from it on .

On this page

A microwave is bought on three numbers: capacity in litres, output in watts, and the bench space it actually occupies. Note that a bigger cavity does not automatically mean a bigger footprint: the flatbed Panasonic here is 27L but deeper than the 32L turntable model, so measure your bench before you choose on litres alone.

At a glance

  1. 1
    LG NeoChef 23L Smart Inverter Microwave OvenLG

    Smart Inverter Magnetron, which the listing says gives precise power control and more even cooking results

    Check price on Amazon AU
  2. 2
    Panasonic 32L 1100W Inverter Sensor Microwave Oven (NN-ST665BQPQ)Panasonic

    Largest cavity here at 32L, with the highest output at 1100W

    Check price on Amazon AU
  3. 3
    Panasonic 27L 1000W Flatbed Inverter Microwave Oven (NN-SF564WQPQ)Panasonic

    No turntable means oblong and oversized dishes fit that would jam elsewhere

    Check price on Amazon AU
  4. 4
    Russell Hobbs Compact Black Microwave RHMO10Russell Hobbs

    Smallest footprint here — 44cm wide and 25.8cm tall

    Check price on Amazon AU

Our 4 picks for the best microwaves in Australia

#1Top pick

LG

LG NeoChef 23L Smart Inverter Microwave Oven

Best overall

A 23-litre microwave with a Smart Inverter Magnetron, which the listing says gives precise power control and more even cooking results.

Check price on Amazon AU

Amazon.com.au listing checked on . It had no buy button that day, so it may be unavailable. The details here were read from it on .

Capacity23 litres
TypeSmart Inverter
ControlsTouch control
InteriorAnti-bacterial EasyClean
External dimensions37D x 47.6W x 27.2H cm

Pros

  • Smart Inverter Magnetron, which the listing says gives precise power control and more even cooking results
  • One-piece glass front with touch controls

Cons

  • No grill or convection — this is a solo microwave only
  • Touch panels are less tactile than a dial if you cook by feel
#2

Panasonic

Panasonic 32L 1100W Inverter Sensor Microwave Oven (NN-ST665BQPQ)

Best for families

The family choice. Sensor cooking removes most of the guesswork.

Check price on Amazon AU

Amazon.com.au listing checked on . The details here were read from it on .

Capacity32 litres
Output1100W
TypeInverter with sensor cooking
Auto menus19 presets
External dimensions38.8D x 52.5W x 31H cm

Pros

  • Largest cavity here at 32L, with the highest output at 1100W
  • Sensor cooking adjusts the cycle automatically rather than running a fixed timer
  • 19 preset programmes, plus one-button add-time

Cons

  • 52.5cm wide and 31cm tall — check cabinet clearance before buying
#3

Panasonic

Panasonic 27L 1000W Flatbed Inverter Microwave Oven (NN-SF564WQPQ)

Best flatbed

Buy this one for the shape of the cavity rather than the litres. If your reheating is trays and casserole dishes rather than round plates, the flatbed layout is worth more than the extra litres of the model above.

Check price on Amazon AU

Amazon.com.au listing checked on . It had no buy button that day, so it may be unavailable. The details here were read from it on .

Capacity27 litres
Output1000W
TypeFlatbed inverter (no turntable)
Auto menus17 including auto reheat in the feature list; 16 programs in the specification table
External dimensions42.2D x 52.9W x 32.6H cm

Pros

  • No turntable means oblong and oversized dishes fit that would jam elsewhere
  • No glass plate to remove and wash
  • Inverter power control with 17 auto menus

Cons

  • The largest exterior in this guide at 42.2cm deep — measure first
#4

Russell Hobbs

Russell Hobbs Compact Black Microwave RHMO10

Best compact

The one to buy when bench space decides the purchase.

Check price on Amazon AU

Amazon.com.au listing checked on . It had no buy button that day, so it may be unavailable. The details here were read from it on .

Capacity20 litres
Output800W
Power levels5
Auto menus8
OtherDigital timer, safety lock
External dimensions35.9D x 44W x 25.8H cm

Pros

  • Smallest footprint here — 44cm wide and 25.8cm tall
  • Safety lock is useful in a household with children
  • Straightforward digital timer and eight auto programmes

Cons

  • 800W, a lower output than either Panasonic model

Specs side by side

Each figure is the one on that product’s card below, taken from its Amazon.com.au listing as it read on . A dash means the card has no figure for that row.

Spec1. LG NeoChef 23L Smart Inverter Microwave Oven2. Panasonic 32L 1100W Inverter Sensor Microwave Oven (NN-ST665BQPQ)3. Panasonic 27L 1000W Flatbed Inverter Microwave Oven (NN-SF564WQPQ)4. Russell Hobbs Compact Black Microwave RHMO10
Capacity23 litres32 litres27 litres20 litres
TypeSmart InverterInverter with sensor cookingFlatbed inverter (no turntable)—
External dimensions37D x 47.6W x 27.2H cm38.8D x 52.5W x 31H cm42.2D x 52.9W x 32.6H cm35.9D x 44W x 25.8H cm
Output—1100W1000W800W
Auto menus—19 presets17 including auto reheat in the feature list; 16 programs in the specification table8

How to choose the best microwaves in Australia

  1. 1Match capacity to household size, not to price.
  2. 2Measure your bench depth AND the space above. The models here range from 25.8cm to 32.6cm tall and 44cm to 52.9cm wide — the largest will not fit under a low wall cabinet.
  3. 3Inverter versus conventional matters most for defrosting.
  4. 4A flatbed model trades the turntable for usable width. Without the rotating plate you can fit an oblong dish that would jam in a turntable cavity, and there is no glass plate to wash.

Editor's note

Two numbers decide most microwave regrets, and neither is the price. The first is external depth: a 27L flatbed is physically larger than a 32L turntable model, so litres are a poor proxy for the space it will take. The second is whether the magnetron is inverter-driven.

Our take

Choose on cavity shape and bench fit first, then on inverter versus conventional, and only then on price. The LG NeoChef 23L is the pick for most Australian kitchens because it gets the first two right. Go to the Panasonic 32L only if you genuinely cook family-sized portions, and to the Russell Hobbs 20L if the bench decides it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a flatbed microwave and is it worth it?

A flatbed model has no rotating turntable, so the full width of the cavity is usable and there is no glass plate to wash. Oblong trays and large casserole dishes fit that would jam against the wall of a turntable cavity. The 27L flatbed here is deeper than the 32L turntable model.

Further reading

Not paid for

No brand pays to appear in a guide or to rank higher in one. Commission rates never decide a ranking.

Desk research, not testing

We do not test products. Check the details on the seller’s listing before you buy.

Aussie availability

Stock on Amazon.com.au moves fast — check availability before you buy.

Affiliate disclosure: AUPicks may earn a commission from links on this page at no extra cost to you. This never influences our rankings. Curated by Bikram Nath · Last updated .

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Top pick

LG NeoChef 23L Smart Inverter Microwave Oven

Check price on Amazon AU →