Breville

the Smooth Wave Microwave

Name: the Smooth Wave Microwave
Brand: Breville

top pick

Two physical dials replace the usual button maze, and a soft-close hinge cuts door noise by roughly 80%. Power Smoothing Inverter and RTINGS testing back genuine even heating—premium pricing matches real hardware gains.

$400 typical

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EDITION 01RESEARCHED 2026-07-313 SOURCESREFRESH DUE 2027-01

SUBSTANCE SCORES

substance8.8/ 10

design9.5/ 10

value9.0/ 10

WHY THE PRICE IS JUSTIFIED

It earns premium status through hardware and usability, not prestige: inverter power, a genuinely quieter soft-close door, and two physical dials replacing the usual dense membrane panel. It is the only premium-priced inclusion.

MATERIALS

ExteriorBrushed stainless steel

Substantial, easy-clean surface that looks intentional rather than decorative.

InteriorStainless-steel cavity

Durable, easy-clean cooking space.

Door systemSoft-close hinge hardware

Reduces the habitual door slam—an actual acoustic and tactile improvement.

Power systemPower Smoothing Inverter

Provides continuous variable power for gentler cooking and defrosting.

CRITERIA

9/10

Even Heating

Inverter power and RTINGS-based independent ranking support strong heating performance.

10/10

Power Control

Power Smoothing Inverter delivers continuous variable power.

10/10

Clear Controls

Two dials avoid the usual fifteen-plus-button panel.

8/10

Fit & Capacity

1.2-cu-ft cavity suits most plates, but the body is deep.

7/10

Reliability Access

One-year warranty; soft-close and control electronics add complexity.

10/10

Quiet Operation

Independent reporting cites an 80% quieter soft-close door.

IDEAL FOR

·Open-plan kitchens
·People who value tactile controls
·Frequent, quiet daily use

NOT FOR

·Budget buyers
·Very shallow counters
·Those needing a large family-size cavity

DESIGN & ERGONOMICS

Exceptional ergonomics: direct dials for time and power, soft-close door, clean brushed-stainless form. It is a large, expensive counter object, so its UX benefits must matter to you.

LONGEVITY

Better materials and hinge feel than entry models, but it remains a complex consumer appliance with a one-year warranty; repairability is limited compared with a commercial dial unit.