Consumer Reports' Lowest-Rated Countertop Microwave Comes From An Old-School Company
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Despite some calling the microwave's relevancy in modern kitchens into question, as of now, it is still all but ubiquitous in Americans' home kitchens. The best ones are easy to use, efficient, roomy, and quiet. The worst? That just happens to be the Sharp SMC1452KH 1.4-cubic-foot, 1,100-watt microwave, according to Consumer Reports' testing. Sharp's claim to fame is building the first mass-produced microwave in Japan in 1962, but apparently, that hasn't translated into uniformly great models today.
This microwave looks a lot like others on the market. It's made with a black and stainless steel front and a standard keypad. But the average-looking exterior belies some notable shortcomings, according to the publication's report. While the Sharp microwave works fairly quietly and testers found it easy to use, it fell short in two key categories: heating evenness, where it earned the lowest possible score, and heating time. Among the 20 large countertop microwaves and 32 small to midsize units tested, this Sharp model earned the dubious distinction of being the worst-rated overall.
While the Sharp SMC1452KH is widely well-reviewed by customers online, some did report the same problems Consumer Reports found. "This unit is very weak and seems to take twice as long to cook and defrost as my old 1200 watt microwave," wrote one customer on Amazon, updating a review that was originally positive. "Does not warm up as much as it should," agreed another. Some customers also report durability problems, including the unit dying or experiencing significant problems in as little as three weeks.
Here's how the Sharp model stacks up to its competitors
The Sharp SMC1452KH sells for around $200 from most retailers, such as Amazon or Best Buy. That places it toward the lower end of the price range for microwaves of this size and capacity in terms of microwaves Consumer Reports tested (some can be upward of $800 for higher-end models). It's a fairly common model being sold in local and regional appliance stores as well as some big-box ones. The good news is that you won't have to shell out a lot more money to find a much better-rated, comparably featured microwave.
For example, the LG NeoChef MSER1590S is roughly comparable in terms of heating power and dimensions but ranks near the top of Consumer Reports' list and earns the "CR Recommended" distinction. It sells for around $230 at Best Buy or $239 at The Home Depot, making it around 15% more expensive than the Sharp equivalent. For a lower-priced alternative, consider the Commercial Chef CHM16MW6, slightly larger than the Sharp and higher-rated in Consumer Reports' testing but around $15 cheaper at Amazon.
If price is less of a concern, consider splurging on a Panasonic, which Mashed found was the most reliable microwave brand of 2025. Indeed, Panasonic models took the two top spots on Consumer Reports' ranking of large countertop microwaves (NN-SD77PS, $430 via Walmart and NN-SN74PB, $335 via Walmart). Customers agree: "The controls are simple, the build feels solid, and it runs quieter than my old microwave," wrote one reviewer of the NN-SN74PB. "If you want a powerful, dependable microwave that performs like a high-end appliance, this Panasonic is an excellent choice."