{"slug":"best-microwave-under-80","title":"Best microwave under $80?","question":"What is the best microwave you can buy for under $80?","verdict":"As of 2026-07-07, ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini collectively rank BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 #1 for microwave under $80 on ModelsAgree by aggregate score. The models' case: Best overall under-$80 bet: compact 0.7 cu ft size, 700W power, 10 power levels, useful presets, tested even heating, good controls, broad availability. The models' main caveat: Add 900W power while staying under $80. The strongest alternative is Farberware FMO07AHTBKJ — Delivers a durable build, an easy-to-clean stainless steel interior, and a space-saving compact footprint. Not unanimous: Claude picks Toshiba EM925A5A-BS. Source: https://modelsagree.com/best/best-microwave-under-80 (modelsagree.com, CC BY 4.0).","category":"Consumer","url":"https://modelsagree.com/best/best-microwave-under-80","updated":"2026-07-07","models":["ChatGPT","Claude","Gemini"],"consensus":"2 of 3 models rank BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 the top pick","disagreement":"Claude picks Toshiba EM925A5A-BS","combined":[{"rank":1,"product":"BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7","domain":"blackanddecker.com","score":13,"appearances":3,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":1,"Claude":3,"Gemini":1},"reason":"Best overall under-$80 bet: compact 0.7 cu ft size, 700W power, 10 power levels, useful presets, tested even heating, good controls, broad availability"},{"rank":2,"product":"Farberware FMO07AHTBKJ","domain":"farberwareproducts.com","score":6,"appearances":3,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":4,"Claude":5,"Gemini":3},"reason":"Delivers a durable build, an easy-to-clean stainless steel interior, and a space-saving compact footprint."},{"rank":3,"product":"Hamilton Beach 0.9 Cu Ft Digital Microwave","domain":"hamiltonbeach.com","score":6,"appearances":2,"modelRanks":{"Claude":4,"Gemini":2},"reason":"Provides a larger 0.9 cu. ft. capacity and 900 watts of cooking power, heating food much faster than standard 700-watt budget competitors."},{"rank":4,"product":"Commercial Chef CHM770B","domain":"commercialchef.com","score":5,"appearances":2,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":2,"Gemini":5},"reason":"Simple, durable-feeling 0.7 cu ft microwave with 700W output, easy digital controls, strong value, and fewer gimmicks to fail"},{"rank":5,"product":"Toshiba EM925A5A-BS","domain":"toshiba.com","score":5,"appearances":1,"modelRanks":{"Claude":1},"reason":"0.9 cu ft and 900 watts at ~$75-80 is the best capacity/power combo in the bracket, plus a mute button, 10 power levels, and one-touch presets that actually work — it's the perennial budget pick from Wirecutter-style testing for a reason"},{"rank":6,"product":"COMFEE' EM720CPL-PMB","domain":"midea.com","score":4,"appearances":1,"modelRanks":{"Claude":2},"reason":"Around $60 for 0.7 cu ft/700W with a mute function, energy-saving eco mode, and surprisingly even heating for the price; the compact footprint fits dorms and small kitchens"},{"rank":7,"product":"Magic Chef HMM770B","domain":"magicchef.com","score":3,"appearances":1,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":3},"reason":"Reliable basic 0.7 cu ft, 700W countertop microwave with straightforward controls, compact footprint, and strong big-box-store availability"},{"rank":8,"product":"Magic Chef MCM770W","domain":"magicchef.com","score":2,"appearances":1,"modelRanks":{"Gemini":4},"reason":"Includes an exceptional 8-year warranty on the magnetron alongside lightweight construction and highly customizable power levels."},{"rank":9,"product":"Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07","domain":"galanz.com","score":1,"appearances":1,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":5},"reason":"Stylish 0.7 cu ft retro model with 700W power, simple controls, compact footprint, and better design appeal than most budget microwaves"}],"perModel":{"ChatGPT":[{"rank":1,"product":"BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7","reason":"Best overall under-$80 bet: compact 0.7 cu ft size, 700W power, 10 power levels, useful presets, tested even heating, good controls, broad availability","fix":"Add 900W power while staying under $80"},{"rank":2,"product":"Commercial Chef CHM770B","reason":"Simple, durable-feeling 0.7 cu ft microwave with 700W output, easy digital controls, strong value, and fewer gimmicks to fail","fix":"Improve cooking evenness and finish quality"},{"rank":3,"product":"Magic Chef HMM770B","reason":"Reliable basic 0.7 cu ft, 700W countertop microwave with straightforward controls, compact footprint, and strong big-box-store availability","fix":"Add better presets and a quieter door"},{"rank":4,"product":"Farberware FMO07AHTBKJ","reason":"Good-looking 0.7 cu ft stainless-style compact with 700W power, memory function, child lock, multi-stage cooking, and useful one-touch controls","fix":"Make the interior large enough for more full-size dinner plates"},{"rank":5,"product":"Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07","reason":"Stylish 0.7 cu ft retro model with 700W power, simple controls, compact footprint, and better design appeal than most budget microwaves","fix":"Lower the price more consistently below $80"}],"Claude":[{"rank":1,"product":"Toshiba EM925A5A-BS","reason":"0.9 cu ft and 900 watts at ~$75-80 is the best capacity/power combo in the bracket, plus a mute button, 10 power levels, and one-touch presets that actually work — it's the perennial budget pick from Wirecutter-style testing for a reason","fix":"Street price frequently drifts just above $80, so holding a firm sub-$80 MSRP would lock in the top spot without caveats"},{"rank":2,"product":"COMFEE' EM720CPL-PMB","reason":"Around $60 for 0.7 cu ft/700W with a mute function, energy-saving eco mode, and surprisingly even heating for the price; the compact footprint fits dorms and small kitchens","fix":"Bump the cavity and wattage to 0.9/900 — the 700W output means noticeably longer, less even cooks on real meals"},{"rank":3,"product":"BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7","reason":"Reliable ~$70 0.7 cu ft/700W unit with 30-second express cooking, child lock, and one of the more legible control panels in the class; wide retail availability means easy returns","fix":"Reduce quality-control variance — reported unit-to-unit inconsistency in door latches and turntable motors keeps it out of the top two"},{"rank":4,"product":"Hamilton Beach 0.9 Cu Ft Digital Microwave","reason":"Often $60-70 for a 900W, 0.9 cu ft stainless-front unit — the raw specs-per-dollar leader in the bracket","fix":"Being effectively a Walmart-exclusive house brand with thin warranty support and no consistent model continuity hurts trust; a standardized, broadly stocked SKU would move it up"},{"rank":5,"product":"Farberware FMO07AHTBKJ","reason":"~$60 0.7 cu ft/700W with LED interior lighting, memory function, and a cleaner design than most sub-$70 boxes; solid presets and a child lock","fix":"Its keypad and door feel flimsy versus Toshiba/Black+Decker — better build materials would justify a higher rank at the same price"}],"Gemini":[{"rank":1,"product":"BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7","reason":"Offers the best layout of quick-start express cook controls (1-6 minutes), a clean stainless steel aesthetic, and a highly reliable child safety lock.","fix":"Add a dedicated mute button to silence the loud end-of-cycle beeps."},{"rank":2,"product":"Hamilton Beach 0.9 Cu Ft Digital Microwave","reason":"Provides a larger 0.9 cu. ft. capacity and 900 watts of cooking power, heating food much faster than standard 700-watt budget competitors.","fix":"Improve control panel and button durability to prevent them from becoming unresponsive over time."},{"rank":3,"product":"Farberware FMO07AHTBKJ","reason":"Delivers a durable build, an easy-to-clean stainless steel interior, and a space-saving compact footprint.","fix":"Expand the interior capacity slightly to fit standard-sized dinner plates."},{"rank":4,"product":"Magic Chef MCM770W","reason":"Includes an exceptional 8-year warranty on the magnetron alongside lightweight construction and highly customizable power levels.","fix":"Reduce the loud operational fan and magnetron noise during heating."},{"rank":5,"product":"Commercial Chef CHM770B","reason":"Features straightforward digital controls, a very lightweight design ideal for portability, and a highly accessible price point.","fix":"Add non-slip grips to the bottom feet to prevent the unit from sliding when the door button is pressed."}]},"missedByModel":{"ChatGPT":[{"product":"BLACK+DECKER EM925AB9","reason":"better 0.9 cu ft/900W performance but usually above the $80 ceiling"},{"product":"Mainstays 0.7 Cu ft 700W Microwave","reason":"very cheap and available, but build quality and long-term reliability are less convincing"}],"Claude":[{"product":"Magic Chef HMM770B","reason":"spec-competitive at ~$65 but louder operation and dimmer display than the picks above"},{"product":"Amazon Basics 0.7 Cu Ft Microwave","reason":"the Alexa integration was novel, but inconsistent stock and Amazon's wavering commitment to the line make it hard to recommend as a durable pick"}],"Gemini":[{"product":"Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07","reason":"gorgeous retro look but holds poor defrost performance and uneven heat distribution"},{"product":"Mainstays 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave","reason":"extremely low price under $50 but has subpar build quality and cheap internal parts"}]}}