Side by Side Comparison of: Panasonic vs Westinghouse

Very happy with this purchase and the speedy delivery. I was looking for a compact microwave that fit our space, was functional and didn't look tinny/plastic. Having owned a full size Panasonic microwave previously, which worked perfectly for 3 years, I decided to stick with the brand. At 0.8 cu this was as compact as Panasonic seem to go, and is marginally smaller than the product dimensions specified. For reference in the photos, my kitchen cut-out/space is around H 15.5 inches x W 22.5 inches x D 15 inches - and I have room left on my shelf in terms of height and width. It's a perfect-fit fit in terms of depth, allowing just enough room for the power cord at the back. Construction feels solid and overall this microwave meets all expectations. So glad that I didn't go with a cheaper, lower wattage unit - e.g. LG 0.7 cu compact or a Bella!

I am really glad to have gotten this microwave. It is big enough for our needs, it is quiet and it does its job perfectly. We use it to cook and also defrost foods and, so far, we have not gotten a single problem. Since it has a lot more functionalities than our previous microwave, we keep the manual handy and, thus, it will take us some other time to exploit the microwave at a 100%. Nonetheless, I would buy this oven again.

So far so good. I wanted to write a quick review and update later so I can provide photos for everyone. So I hope this pics help someone...

We have had it for a few months. It works well, it is quite and it does not spark (unlike our previous one) if we use our plates with gold details. If you wonder, yes we are one of those family that uses fine china and crystals for every day use (life is too short to keep them for special occasions) and do not care to pop everything in the microwave and dishwasher. Also the defrost function works great.

I highly recommend this product

I used to always get microwaves that were more than 1000 watts, but I found I was always using them on a lower power setting to get them to cook evenly. This time I thought I'd go for a little less than 1000 watts so I don't have to fiddle with power settings every time I use it.

I also wanted to get a slightly smaller microwave than the ones I've had in the past. We don't use a microwave all that often, so it doesn't make sense to have it take up so much counter space. This one fits our big plates and mixing bowls, so we wouldn't need anything bigger.

Lastly, I think it's a great looking appliance, and it matches our stainless steel fridge and stove very nicely.

Great Deal. I got this in Open Box for about $28.00. Cosmetic problems to the box but not the product.Small. Great size for me. Does not take up a lot of space. Does everything that I need in a microwave. Works just fine.

Nice and compact. Perfect for small space

very very pleased. for a single person that doesn't cook in the microwave oven. doesn't take up a lot of room. got all the extras that a larger one has. nice buy.

The little guy is great. Not room for a built-in at the new place so I had to buy a counter top. We only use a microwave for warm ups so we wanted it small. Dinner plate is tight, but works on the turntable just fine without hitting the inside walls. Inside is certainly tall enough for a oversized coffee mug. The unit has a very easy to use timer function. Only complaint is that it does not have 30 second function button. Plenty of wattage to warm up items quickly or defrost.

I had this little guy for two months now with no complaints at all! I am in a small apartment with very limited kitchen space and this fits the bill nicely. It is not as powerful as larger microwaves but I have not found that to be a real issue yet. In fact, I'd say I've had worse instances where I have used a more powerful microwave in the past and overdone it; whereas this needs just a little more time but seems to heat more thoroughly.

Very happy with this purchase! This microwave is the perfect size, looks and works great. I like the simple controls, because I only use it to heat things up. I much prefer the push button door to a handle you must open, as the microwave stays put when you push the button and door opens easily. I highly recommend it!

Very pleased. The size is perfect. Was afraid it might be too small, but the turntable is very large and fits my large size dinner plate just fine. It seems to be a higher quality microwave. Some of the other microwaves have doors that sound like a tin can when you open and close them. This door has a quality too it. I was expecting a better knob though...something like a stereo knob, this one is not smooth and feels cheap.
Overall, I really like it. The stainless look is very nice although fingerprints are a daily chore. The fan will continue to run for a minute or two after you remove an item, but this is normal. Various heating and defrosting options are all covered and easy to use.

Bought mine just over a year ago. Up until today it worked fine. It stopped working, deader than a door nail. Now, do I go through the trouble of mailing it somewhere or try to find a local certified repair shop. I'll have to pay for labor (How much?). Labor could end up costing more than the initial purchase price. I'm pretty disappointed. It was working fine, then. Kaput.

UPDATE: I bit the bullet and took it apart (I'm a retired electronic tech and licensed electricial supervisor. Don't do it if you're not qualified.) and found a blown fuse. It's been running well ever since. All things considered, I'd buy another if the price was right.

For our needs, this microwave works great. It's small and compact, yet larger on the inside than you would think. We can easily fit whatever we need to heat up inside - we've never come across a plate or item that wouldn't fit. Using the knob for adding time takes a tad bit of getting used to, but once you do you can set times pretty quickly. This unit is quiet compared to our older microwave. As others mentioned, if the unit has run for an extended period (more than a minute or two), or if you run it two or more times consecutively, it will automatically run the fan for about 30 seconds afterwards. It's not a big deal, and is not loud.

If I had to give some constructive feedback - aka, how to earn 5 stars - it would be this:

- It would be helpful if you could add more time via the knob while the microwave was running. Turn the know more to add more time - that sort of thing.

- Add quick buttons for "30 seconds" and "10 seconds". There's one for "1 minute", where you can add a minute each time it's pushed.

Overall, very happy with the microwave. Still going strong.

+ MUCH quieter and lighter than our old small mw of similar size and power. i really like the inverter variable power tech - i rarely use high power when heating food, but low power settings on conventional mw still run on high part of the time -- this unit can warm food with less chance of overheating the outside or edges. a feature we had on a mw years ago let you set it to start cooking at one power level and then switch to another power level part way through. this one has the same ability - for example, you can start heating something on high, and then have it switch to a lower setting automatically to continue heating. a beep as it's running lets you know when it changes the power level. i've never used the extra program settings like reheat, defrost, etc.
- mostly minor negatives: what's the point of the pop out dial? just leave it out. and is there really no 'done' reminder? it just beeps as it shuts off and then displays the clock, no display or beeping reminder. i'll check the manual again and see if it's an option, but i don't think so. i also am not aware of a way to verify your power level once you've started cooking. the stainless steel gets smudges easily and it's not easy to shine it up again.
i've seen some comments about how this oven keeps running with the door open and people think they are getting microwaved! there is a small ventilation fan that continues to run sometimes (though more frequently than i would expect) after the oven stops. it is near the door opening and you can feel a slight breeze from it when you reach in the oven.

i can't comment on durability since we haven't had it for very long, but i consider panasonic to be a reliable brand based on my experience with other products of theirs.

I was looking to replace a small and dependable Sharp Carousel microwave. My small galley kitchen is cramped, and I was having a hard time finding a replacement appliance to fit the same general countertop footprint. I came across this little unit and feel like I hit a home run. It's about the same size as my Carousel (just an inch wider), but packs 150 more watts of nuking power (950 vs. 800), is taller inside (now my plastic travel coffee mug fits!), is scary quiet in comparison, and includes some other nifty features like Inverter Technology, Stand Time and Delay Start timer modes, and a Keep Warm feature that are icing on the cake. Even little things like an LED display (the Carousel's LCD display wasn't lit and a real pain to see in low light) make a big difference.

If you're short on kitchen counter space, this microwave is the ticket,

Love everything but the way the door opens...being lightweight and small I have to secure at the top as I open or the whole microwave will tip.My old one had a "pop open"door.overall it's great for the price.

Built in microwave died unexpectedly; didn't feel like spending the time, money, effort to replace at this point. The Westinhouse does the job. Size is perfect for available space and does what we need - easy to use; basic instructions. Does tend to move but solved by putting a padded dish towel underneath. So far so good and likely would purchase again - can't beat the price.

On the light weight side (but what could you expect at this price, after all?) Sometimes have to hold it in place as it enthusiastically wants to travel with you. Other than that, it does exactly what it's supposed to do. No fuss, no mess...great basic item

A totally sufficient microwave. I had a much more expensive and, admittedly, nicer microwave that died after many years of use, and opted to purchase this much cheaper model as a replacement. Sure, it looks like it belongs in a dorm room, but it gets the job done and takes up less counter space, which is valuable in my apartment.

Works really well, just really really really small. Good for a dorm, apartment, or single person. No "quick cook" 30 second button. You must enter the time of every single cook. Spin table works well, althought the plate gets set off kilter every now & then if you have an unbalanced meal on a plate. Kitchen timer chime is quiet...so when I set it and it goes off, I can't hear it if I'm in the other room. I have to either use the oven timer, or set my cell phone.

A good solid product from Westinghouse. This is the first product of Westinghouse I am using. I selected this after few days of studying reviews and watching videos in YouTube on various low priced microwave because of my transferable job. I did not want to invest on big brands because I know I might need to move on from the place I stay currently in couple of years and the next place I go may have already a microwave installed. This is perfect for a smaller family of 2-4 as well as bachelors. The controls might look bit clumsy and complex in the beginning but you should be good with it within a week or so. Its been just a month and half I have been using it so can't comment on the KWh consumption.

I have the product just over a month and it broke. The dial used to set time or weight stopped working.

As stated above this product broke after 34 days. we all now anything mechanical can break but the aggravating, unacceptable part of the defect is that when you try to reach Panasonic it is nearly impossible because they don't want to talk to you. When you finally get a number, my experience was that they kept me on hold for 46 minutes before I finally hung up realizing that they were never going to pick up. I have purchased many products but have never been treated so shabbily by a company. I would not recommend buying any Panasonic product because of their terrible customer service. I also want to thank Amazon for interceding on my behalf to resolve this defective microwave.
Customers beware...Panasonic's customer service is an oxymoron as they have none.

The oven has some good features, but it has overcooked food like frozen dinners. For 950 watts, it seems more powerful. We actually melted a plastic, microwave safe splatter cover right onto a plate! The stainless steel shows every fingerprint.

This is one of the best-looking small microwaves out there and, had I not used the commercial version (Panasonic NE-1022F Stainless 1000W 0.8 Cu. Ft. Commercial Microwave Oven) I'd not know the difference.
The dial on this thing is clunky and non-intuitive. And, while this microwave is very quiet in operation, it doesn't heat particularly fast or evenly, despite the carousel. Would not have know except that I heated something up in the commercial version and not only was it much faster but the defrost was mcuh more even despite the fact that I was using the version with a single turn-knob and no power settings.
On the other hand, if you use your microwave primarily for heating water, this should be fine.

The current price of $195 + s/h from Electronics Warehouse Outlet is a rip-off. This exceeds the RRP. You can buy it much cheaper direct from Panasonic with free shipping. We had this microwave for 18 months (bought at Amazon for just less than $120), and loved it until it suddenly and inexplicably failed. We've had several microwaves, all have lasted much longer than this one. Would recommend for looks, ease of use, etc - but who cares, if it has such a short useful life? We could have been unlucky, but why risk it?

I bought one of the new/used models that was supposed to be "like new," but it arrived with the door dislocated from its hinge and some metal facade pulling away. And even after I got the door to pop back into place, the button to open the door didn't work. No problem, though. Amazon's return policy makes this sort of gamble pretty worth it.

However, since I could see the potential for problems with the door and the metal decoration, I decided to opt for one without the metal look, and with a handle rather than a button.

I gave it 3 stars to try to stay neutral in the scoring process because I don't really know how it works since the door wouldn't work, nor how a brand new one would have arrived. Hope this still helps.

In hindsight i would have probalby spent a little more to get a 900W

It doesn't do a very good job at hearing food. For instance, frozen vegetables take about 7 minutes to thaw (that's not an exaggeration).

This was purchased to fit in a small apartment, but I just didn't like it due to loudness and shifting around on the countertop. $50, sigh, but I gave it away and got one I do like, more powerful and easier to use, from Good Will for $15!

This is simply just OK. I need to heat up some food longer than expected but its fine. There are a few cons I really have issues with. The beeping is SO loud. I hate using this at nighttime. Even if you stop the count down before the buzzer goes off, just pressing buttons to turn it on are so so loud. Also I have noticed water pools up inside it. The steam has no where to escape & I guess that would be semi normal??? But I need to use paper towels to dry the inside after every use now. I've only had this for a few months and already want to look into a new micro completely. In my opinion, it is not worth the money. I do NOT recommend this product.

This microwave works. Like previous reviews have mentioned, it is very loud! The beeping can be annoying, but for someone like me who has ignored microwaves before, it's actually very useful. It's hard to ignore a microwave beep when it's as loud as this microwave! My one issue that I have with this microwave is that almost everything I use this for takes longer than normal. If I want to microwave a freezer meal, I have to add on a minute. It's really frustrating. I get uncooked popcorn and semi-frozen rice when I microwave both.

Luckily the other reviews were accurate so I knew what to expect and agree with most of them. Pro: It does a great job of heating for a small oven. It heats quicker (about 30 seconds faster on average) than my previous oven. Price.Cons: It slides around on the countertop when you open or close the door. You need both hands to open the door due to the sliding. The panel background color is not a great match with the rest of the white unit; it's slightly blue-grey vs white. The panel is already beggining to show some warping, almost starting to peel off. The inner plate can slide off the circular track easily and is much smaller than similar units.Bottomline: If you have a small space, this oven is priced low and heats well but there are some inconveniences and design /aesthetic flaws.

I would have given this 5 stars if it would have lasted at least 2 years....it stopped working today....lasted less than 2 years....would not recommend if you can't even get a few years out of it.

This microwave lasted for 2 years and 5 months. Well outside the warranty period, but about 4 years short of the much cheaper one we had prior. It was great while it was working, and it had an efficient compact design. It also had an attractive exterior design. Burned on Panasonic Microwaves.

Worked perfectly for the first six months of its life. For the following year, the microwave would periodically emit a crackling noise upon starting up and would shut itself off after about 5 seconds. This would often happen 2-3 times in a row before the microwave would begin working properly. Seems like if it made it past the initial 5 seconds of crackling, it would then work perfectly for the duration of the cook cycle. Finally, after a year and ten months of use, the microwave finally stopped working entirely, displaying an H97 error code any time I attempt to use it.

Pros: Sleek, modern stainless steel look. Cooks quickly and evenly - when it works.

Cons: Didn't even last through two years of daily use, and apparently mine lasted a good deal longer than a lot of other reviewers' microwaves.

I have to admit that I'm a little baffled here. After using this microwave and the inverter turbo defrost technology, I really can't tell any difference whatsoever with the heating qualities of the food over the "on/off" system of regular microwaves. As a matter of fact, I actually prefer the on/off defrost of my Sharp microwave over this Panasonic Inverter. Most of the time with the Panasonic, I still get very hot food on the outside and cold food in the middle. It's so bad, that I no longer use the turbo defrost inverter opting instead to defrost by running periods of full power. This is much faster and heats the food much better, in my opinion.

I like the design. I like the mostly quiet operation, and the electronics are working fine so far (which has been a problem with my Sharp microwave). However, I am getting a "groaning" sound with the Panasonic on occasion as the carrousel turns the food. It can be really loud, but it's sporadic. I'm not sure what is causing it.

Overall, I have to admit that I've been disappointed. I was hoping for better results from this new technology. I believe it is mostly hype and a sales ploy rather than a useful feature.

I bought this to replace a 20 year old, 600 watt microwave that worked intermittently and often required 15 minutes to heat a frozen dinner meant to cook in 5. I did a lot of research before purchasing and overall this seemed like a great product. But, despite that, I wish I'd have listened to the negative reviews.

One of the claims of this product is that it heats evenly and efficiently due to its "inverter technology." I do not find this to be the case at all. This microwave has very little power. It works no better than the old one I described above. I very often have to heat things 2 or 3 times longer than I should. The cooking is not very even-- the outer edges will be smoking hot, but the inside cold as ice.

It does seem like it heats better once it has "warmed up." That is, if I am microwaving two different frozen meals, it works more efficiently to heat the second one.

I also do not really like the dial setting. It is not that easy to select the right temperature. I'd much rather just punch in the numbers directly instead of fooling with turning the dial and having to adjust it to the exact time I want.

Panasonic has long been one of my favorite brands, but they have not delivered this time.

Gets the job done but plastic covering on number pad has already started to wear off and I've had the microwave for 2 months.

Should have bought a different kind. Low price if too low will get you, even from a great company.

Functionally, its fine. Aesthetically, they have an annoying mismatch of whites between the control panel, door plastic, and metal body paint. Their images on amazon and their packaging are misleading about this. Overall, the color of this "white" microwave reads more of a bisque color. If you're trying to match other white appliances in your kitchen, you may want to consider another product.

This model has a turntable that becomeunits unstable about 80% of he time, causing the item being cooked to become unstable and could lead to undercooked food.I'm very disappointed in this unit. I'll be looking for a better unit in a big block store.

I should have listened to the reviews and spent a little more. It takes longer to heat food and moves all over the counter. You have to have two hands free to open the door. Still operating so guess that is a plus. Would highly recommend you up grade to a better model.

If you're looking for a small microwave that you won't use often, this would actually be a decent choice - the size is perfect, it seems to heat well, but the plate inside slips off track, the keypad was peeling a little right out of the box, and the on/off function is not intuitive. It's lightweight and slides on the counter a little when you open and close the door. It doesn't have the feel of something that will last if it's used a lot, but I didn't hate it. The search for a well made, small microwave continues....

DO NOT BUY this microwave!!! it will fail. I stupidly bought this POS two times. The first time it lasted 3 months! The second time it lasted 4 months. I use a microwave a few times a day and expected this to last. Both times the clock started to glitch. Both times I reset the clock and both times it just went blank never to work again.

This is a terrible product. The programmed cooking was poor - tried to cook one cup of oatmeal using the programmed setting for 1 C. and it said it would take 5 min! I thought that too long but gave it a try anyway. The bowl wasn't covered. It boiled out all over the oven. Tried setting it for 1/2 C and it said 3 min. If I hadn't been watching it and stopped it at 2 minutes it would have boiled over again. Re: defrosting - the little bell pings softly when you're supposed to stir or turn over the food, but the defrosting process doesn't stop. if you don't hear it or aren't standing over it, it keeps defrosting anyway. The auto defrost setting is inaccurate and you can't get around it by setting the timer and adjusting the power - worked once then not again. The stainless steel leaves finger marks wherever you touch the outside - always looks messy. Now the oven is working erratically. I wouldn't recommend this product at all.

Read some of these reviews on this item before purchase but the good reviews outwayed the bad ones so we decided to purchase this guy. After 4 months it completely shorted out and won't turn on now. What a terrible product. Please heed the negative reviews on this microwave and look to a different manufacturer for better quality product. Given how all of the negative reviews on here also talk about a frustrating and time consuming experience dealing with panasonic's repair services we've decided to just cut our losses now and buy a new one without going through the hassle of sending this in for repair. Ugh.

We are really disappointed that the quality of this little microwave is poor. It's the right size (it doesn't take up a lot of counter space), was powerful enough to reheat/cook what we needed and it's really nice looking. When it worked, it worked great. The first one we bought we returned because the power cord on the back wasn't well attached. If it got bumped it would shut the power off to the unit. The replacement unit did the same thing so we figured it was a design flaw and we could just live with it. We got the new unit in January. It's April and the unit just stopped working. At first I thought the power cord had gotten bumped. So I jiggled it and nothing. I then unplugged and replugged it in. That seemed to work. So I started to heat something up and it started but then stopped a few seconds into the time. I nursed it along like that so that I could finish getting dinner on the table but this was obviously not a good long term solution.
Amazon was great about refunding our money though. Now I need to go find a microwave that will last for more than a couple months.

First time it was broken within 6 months. Got it fixed - changed fuse. No charge because it was within warranty. But still lots of hassle - two weeks no microwave. After one year it was broken again! This time ordered fuse from panasonic parts website - 2$ each. Replaced fuse and it was working again.

If your microwave is broken, don't throw it out yet. Google for "fixing panasonic microwave" for youtube instructions. Likely it is the fuse. Replacing it was very easy but you need a special screw bit to unscrew the frame.

This microwave literally just stopped working after 2 months of owning it - of course, it's past the 30 day return policy so i'm stuck with a broken microwave, lost the money I paid and now have to buy a new one. ugggg... don't bother with this one - how do you know if it's going to just stop? i've never had this problem with a microwave before.

Junk... it worked long enough to pass the return period and then stopped... worked for a 1.5 months... do not buy

After 1 week of use, product defective. Goes on and off unpredictably. *If set for 60 seconds will turn off after 7 seconds or 20 seconds. Numbers on screen flash erratically. Clock will keep time and then flash blank.***** Disappointed in product.

I finally found the email with the invoice and realized I was overcharged by $13.47! AND the unit is horrible, cheap, makes lots of noise, the glass plate won't stay on and I hate it. Could not return as my husband had a stroke and I was with him non-stop and never used the item until a couple months later.

It died inside of one year of minimal use. Would run and not stop, while not heating.The return processIs a joke, you have to cut off the power prong and mail it back to NY.Spend $40 extra and get a decent microwave.

Ordered this oven using Prime to be in time for the weekend to welcome my relatives and cook some food. Got the product broken - could see the wires from inside. Not sure if it is safe to switch it on. Packaging from Amazon was also broken.Will not prefer this item again.