Best Microwaves Under £100 UK 2026: 6 Honest Picks
BBy Bikram Nath·Researched from UK Amazon listings·Updated 2026-07-22·6 products compared
The short answer
Our top pick for Microwaves Under £100 in the UK is the Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20 Litre 800 W Black Digital Solo Microwave with 5 Power Levels, Automatic Defrost, 8 Auto Cook Menus, Clock and Timer, Easy Clean.
A sensible 800 W, 20-litre digital microwave with 8 auto-cook presets that covers everyday UK kitchen jobs without overpaying.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This guide contains Amazon affiliate links, and we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you — but it never changes our rankings.
Under £100 buys a genuinely capable countertop microwave in the UK — you don't need to spend more for everyday reheating and defrosting. At this price the choice comes down to capacity (most are 20 litres), wattage (700–900 W), and whether you prefer simple dials or digital auto-cook menus. We compared six freestanding solo and grill models from Russell Hobbs, Toshiba, Hisense, Hyundai and COMFEE' on the specs that actually change day-to-day cooking.
Buying guide
What to look for in Microwaves Under £100
1Wattage sets reheating speed: Most microwaves under £100 land between 700 W and 900 W. Higher wattage heats a plate faster, so 800–900 W suits busy kitchens while 700 W is fine for one or two people.
2Capacity decides what fits: A 20-litre cavity holds a standard dinner plate, while 23 litres gives room for larger bowls or a 10-inch pizza. Measure your counter first, as external widths here hover around 44 cm.
3Dials versus digital: Manual dial models are cheaper and simpler with nothing to reset, while digital models add clocks, timers and auto-cook presets. Choose dials for ease of use and digital for one-touch convenience.
4Inverter versus conventional: Some budget models now use inverter technology, which holds a steadier power output for more even defrosting and reheating. It is a nice-to-have rather than essential at this price.
5Solo, grill or combi: A solo microwave only reheats and defrosts, while a grill or combi model adds a heating element to crisp and brown food. Combi units cost a little more and need extra cleaning.
6Turntable and easy-clean: A removable glass turntable (often dishwasher safe) and a stainless steel or matte interior make cleaning quicker. Check the turntable diameter if you reheat wide plates.
7Warranty matters at this price: Guarantees range from one to three years. A longer warranty, like Hyundai's three-year home cover, adds peace of mind on an affordable appliance.
Our process
How we choose our picks
We don’t lab-test products ourselves. Instead we synthesise the strongest independent evidence — current Amazon UK listings, verified-buyer feedback, published specs and UK pricing — into clear, honest recommendations. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, but that never changes which products we rank.
Current UK availability
We only shortlist products actively listed and in stock on Amazon UK, checked against live catalogue data — not last year’s models.
Publicly visible buyer feedback
We look at how each product is received by UK shoppers — its overall rating standing and the praise or complaints that recur in public reviews — rather than relying on a single reviewer’s opinion.
Published specs & value
We compare manufacturer specifications, typical UK price bands, warranty and running costs so each pick is right for a real budget and use-case.
UK-specific fit
We factor in UK voltage, plug/fitting standards, CE/UKCA marking and Consumer Rights Act cover — details that generic global lists miss.
Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20 Litre 800 W Black Digital Solo Microwave with 5 Power Levels, Automatic Defrost, 8 Auto Cook Menus, Clock and Timer, Easy Clean
A sensible 800 W, 20-litre digital microwave with 8 auto-cook presets that covers everyday UK kitchen jobs without overpaying.
Capacity
20 litres
Power
800 W
Power Levels
5
Auto Cook
8 auto-cook menus
Defrost
Automatic defrost
Controls
Digital with clock and 95-minute timer
Guarantee
1-year guarantee
What we like
+800 W with 5 power levels plus a dedicated defrost setting for cooking from frozen
+8 auto-cook presets with a clock and 95-minute timer for hands-off reheating
+Compact 20 L cavity that fits a standard dinner plate on most countertops
+Backed by a 1-year guarantee from a widely stocked UK brand
Worth noting
–At 800 W it reheats large portions a little slower than the 900 W picks here
–The listing does not state a noise level, so quietness is unconfirmed
Toshiba Black Mirror Microwave 900w 23L Microwave Oven with Digital Display, Solo, Auto Defrost, One-Touch Express Cook with 11 Power Levels, 7 Auto Menus, Perfect for 10'' Pizza, MW3-EM23PF(MB)
The largest and most powerful pick, with 23 litres, 900 W and 11 power levels ideal for families reheating full plates.
Capacity
23 litres
Power
900 W
Power Levels
11
Auto Menus
7 preset recipes
Defrost
Auto defrost by weight or time
Controls
Digital touch with LED display and express cook
Fits
10-inch pizza
What we like
+Roomiest and most powerful pick here at 23 litres and 900 W
+11 power levels and 7 auto menus for fine control over cooking
+One-touch express cook with an LED touch display
+Auto defrost by weight or time for even thawing
Worth noting
–Mirror-finish door shows fingerprints more than a matt front
–Touch-panel controls suit some users less than simple dials
Toshiba Black Microwave 20 Liter Digital 800W Microwave Oven with 1000W Grill, Combination compact with 5 Power Levels, 8 Auto Menus, Grill, Combi, Digital Clock, Mirror Door Finish, MW3-AG20PF(MB)
The only pick that browns food, pairing 800 W microwave power with a 1000 W grill and combi cooking in a 20-litre body.
Capacity
20 litres
Microwave Power
800 W
Grill Power
1000 W
Function
Combination (combi) cooking
Power Levels
5
Auto Menus
8
Controls
Digital touch with clock
What we like
+Adds a 1000 W grill to 800 W microwave power for crisping and browning
+Combination (combi) mode for faster roasted results
+8 auto menus, 5 power levels and multi-stage cooking
+Mirror-door digital design with full touch control
Worth noting
–The grill element adds cleaning compared with a solo microwave
–The 20 L cavity is smaller than the 23 L Toshiba pick
COMFEE' 20L Compact Microwave, 700W Black Solo Manual Microwave with Inverter,5 Power Levels,Quick Defrost,Easy Clean,Dial Timer,Small for Kitchen- CMO-MM202NF(BK)
A compact, inverter-equipped dial microwave that keeps things simple for small kitchens and single-person homes.
Capacity
20 litres
Power
700 W
Power Levels
5
Technology
Inverter
Controls
Manual dial timer
Turntable
245 mm
Dimensions
440 x 335.9 x 259 mm
What we like
+Inverter technology for even heating in a 20-litre cavity
+Simple mechanical knob with clear 1-minute timer markings
+Quick-defrost function plus 5 adjustable power levels
+Compact 440 x 335.9 x 259 mm footprint with an easy-clean matte interior
Worth noting
–Manual dial means no digital clock or auto-cook presets
Across these six, wattage and capacity separate them more than price. The Toshiba MW3-EM23PF is the outlier with a 23-litre cavity and 900 W, plus 11 power levels and 7 auto menus — the most flexible for families. The Russell Hobbs RHM2076B and the grill Toshiba both run 800 W with auto-cook presets, while the Hisense and COMFEE' use 700 W inverters aimed at simplicity and value. The Hyundai keeps things dial-only with a stainless steel interior and an unusually long three-year home warranty. Only the Toshiba MW3-AG20PF grill/combi adds a 1000 W element for browning; the rest are solo microwaves.
Our Take
Most microwaves under £100 fail in boring but real ways: thin build, fiddly touch panels, and short one-year guarantees that quietly assume you'll replace them soon. Several here run 700 W, which is genuinely slower for reheating a full plate. The Russell Hobbs RHM2076B earns the top spot because it hits the sensible middle — 800 W, five power levels, eight auto-cook presets, a proper clock and timer, and a compact 20-litre cavity that fits most counters — from a brand with wide UK availability and spares. It isn't the biggest or the cheapest, but it has the fewest compromises for everyday use.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
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Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20 Litre 800 W Black Digital Solo Microwave with 5 Power Levels, Automatic Defrost, 8 Auto Cook Menus, Clock and Timer, Easy Clean
