Prices checked September 27, 2026. I’ll update this post when the sale starts on October 6.
I went through 15 countertop microwaves on Amazon this week, and exactly one of them carries a genuine early Prime badge.
One. Out of fifteen.
The rest are wearing the same red “Limited time deal” tag that Amazon slaps on things year-round. That doesn’t make them bad microwaves, but it does mean the urgency is manufactured. And when you dig into the numbers, a few of these “discounts” are considerably less generous than they look.
So here’s what you’ll find below: all 15 sorted by size, from dorm-room compacts to a 1.6 cubic foot family unit, plus four microwave and air fryer combos. For each one, I’ll tell you what the badge actually means, what the discount is worth, and whether I’d buy it today or wait for October 6.
Let’s start with the good news, because there’s genuinely one deal here I’d buy this afternoon.
October Prime Day 2026 at a Glance
Amazon’s fall sale, Prime Big Deal Days, runs October 6 at 12 a.m. PT through October 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT. That’s 48 hours, kicking off at 3 a.m. for East Coast readers.
You’ll need Prime for most of the discounts, which runs $14.99 a month or $139 a year. New members usually get a free trial.
Deals don’t all land at once. Amazon releases fresh ones throughout the event, so a microwave that’s full price on Tuesday morning might not be by the afternoon. What you’re seeing right now is the warm-up act, and only part of it is the real thing.
The One Genuine Deal on This Page
Let me get straight to it. The Chefman 0.7 cubic foot countertop microwave is the only product on this page carrying an “Early Prime Big Deal” badge, and it’s discounted 34%.
Here’s why that matters more than the badge alone. DealNews reported during June’s Prime Day that a Chefman microwave was $33 off its regular $100 price, and noted it was the lowest that model had been in more than a year. Today’s Chefman, at 34% off a $99.99 list, lands in essentially the same spot.
In other words, the one honest badge on this page is already offering June Prime Day pricing, three weeks before the sale even starts.
It also happens to be an Overall Pick with more than 10,000 sold in the past month, which tells you it isn’t some obscure listing nobody wants.
When the badge, the discount, and the sales history all point the same direction, that’s what a real deal looks like. Keep that pattern in mind, because you’ll notice how few of the others manage it.
How to Read a Microwave Listing
Microwave listings are a minefield of crossed-out numbers and recycled review counts. Here’s what I check before believing any of it.
Start with the badge. “Early Prime Big Deal” is Amazon’s official pre-sale tag, and only one microwave here has it. “30-day low price” is based on Amazon’s own recent pricing data, and one product has that. Everything else says “Limited time deal,” which is a routine promotion that runs all year, or carries no badge at all.
Prefer a typical price to a list price. The COMFEE’ listing shows a typical price rather than a crossed-out list price. That’s a real figure based on what the microwave usually sells for, not a number someone typed into a field. Wherever you see one, trust it more.
Watch out for pooled review counts. This one surprises people. Two completely different BLACK+DECKER microwaves on my list, a 1.1 cubic foot standard model and a 0.9 cubic foot air fryer combo, both display the identical 22,942 reviews. Two different Chefman models both show 5,044. Amazon groups reviews across product variations, so that impressive number may describe a different machine than the one in your cart. Read a few actual reviews and check which model they mention.
Notice when the same product has different ratings. The Farberware 1.1 cubic foot comes in two colors at the same price and the same discount. One shows 4.4 stars from 3,544 reviews, the other 4.6 from 5,186. Identical microwave, different review pools.
Wattage beats preset count. Every listing brags about auto menus and one-touch buttons. What actually determines whether your dinner reheats evenly is the wattage. A 700W unit will feel like watching a pot boil if you’re cooking for a family.
What Size Microwave Do You Actually Need?
Get this right and everything else falls into place.
0.7 cubic feet, 700W suits dorms, offices, small apartments, and households of one or two. It handles reheating, popcorn, and ready meals. It will not fit a large dinner plate comfortably, and it’s slow for anything substantial.
0.9 to 1.2 cubic feet, 900 to 1,000W is the sweet spot for most homes. Plates fit properly, cooking times drop noticeably, and you’re not paying for space you don’t need. If you’re replacing a family microwave, start here.
1.6 cubic feet, 1,150W is for big households, large casserole dishes, and anyone who regularly reheats family-size portions. It’s also a serious chunk of counter.
Combo units add air frying, convection, or broiling. They make sense when you want one appliance doing the work of two, which is handy in small kitchens and RVs. Just know you’ll pay a premium and give up some microwave capacity.
Two practical checks before you buy anything. Measure your counter depth and leave a few inches of clearance for venting, because most of these units breathe out the back or sides. And if you’re going for a 1,000W or higher model, think about what else shares that circuit. Running a big microwave alongside a kettle and a toaster is a good way to meet your breaker box.
The Microwaves I’m Tracking
Here’s the full list, grouped by size. For each one you’ll get the discount, the badge, what I like, the catch, and whether I’d buy now or wait for October 6.
Compact Microwaves Under 1 Cu Ft
Five of these are 0.7 cubic feet at 700W, which makes them nearly identical on paper. What separates them is the badge, the discount, and how honest the pricing looks.
1. Chefman Countertop Microwave 0.7 Cu Ft, 700W (Black)
Discount: 34% off | Badge: Early Prime Big Deal
Rating: 4.3 stars (5,044 reviews), Overall Pick, 10K+ bought in the past month
This is the one I’d buy today, and I’ve already explained why. It’s the only microwave here with a genuine early Prime badge, it’s an Overall Pick, and more than 10,000 people bought one last month. The 34% discount lands at roughly the same price DealNews flagged during June’s Prime Day, when a Chefman microwave was $33 off its regular $100 and hadn’t been cheaper in over a year.
The microwave itself is straightforward and well-specified for the size: 700W, 10 power levels, six cooking presets with one-touch express cook, eco mode, a child safety lock, and a mute button. That last one deserves more credit than it gets if you’ve ever reheated something at midnight.
The catch is what every 0.7 model shares. It’s 700W, so it’s slow, and a full dinner plate is a tight squeeze.
My take: Buy now. The badge, the discount, and the sales history all agree, which is rare on this page.
2. COMFEE’ Countertop Microwave 0.7 Cu Ft, 700W (Pearl White)
Discount: 34% off | Badge: Limited time deal
Rating: 4.4 stars (25,087 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 2K+ bought in the past month
If the Chefman sells out, this is where I’d go next. It matches that 34% discount and has by far the most reviews of anything on this page at just over 25,000, with a solid 4.4-star average.
Better still, look at how it’s priced. Instead of a crossed-out list price, the listing shows a typical price. That’s a figure based on what the microwave actually sells for, which makes the 34% far more believable than a percentage carved off a number nobody has ever paid.
Specs are dorm-and-apartment standard: 700W, eco mode, sound on/off, one-touch buttons, and a child lock. The pearl white finish is a nice change from endless black and stainless.
The catch is the badge. It’s a routine “Limited time deal,” so this price could be around next month too.
My take: Buy now if you want compact. With that review count and honest pricing, it’s the safest bet here after the Chefman.
3. Chefman Compact Countertop Microwave 0.7 Cu Ft, 700W (Stainless)
Discount: 32% off | Badge: None
Rating: 4.3 stars (5,044 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 2K+ bought in the past month
Same Chefman family as number one, dressed in stainless steel instead of black. You get 700W, 10 power levels, three one-touch presets, a +30 second button, time and weight defrost, a mute option, a child safety lock, and a digital timer.
Two things to notice. The discount is slightly smaller than the black model’s, and there’s no early Prime badge at all. You’ll also spot that 5,044 review count, the same figure shown on the black version, which is Amazon pooling reviews across variations rather than 5,044 people rating this exact finish.
My take: Only if you specifically want stainless. Otherwise the black model at number one is the better deal, with a real badge behind it.
4. Farberware Countertop Microwave 0.7 Cu Ft, 700W (Black)
Discount: 22% off | Badge: 30-day low price
Rating: 4.1 stars (6,958 reviews), 500+ bought in the past month
This is the only microwave on the page carrying a “30-day low price” badge, which means Amazon’s own data says it hasn’t been cheaper in a month. That’s worth something on a page full of unverifiable list prices.
It’s a simple machine: 700W, auto cook settings, defrost, an easy-clean interior, and a child safety lock. Farberware has been making kitchen gear for a long time, and this is a no-nonsense example.
The catch is the rating. At 4.1 stars, it’s among the lower scores here, and the 22% discount sits well below the 34% on offer from Chefman and COMFEE’.
My take: Decent, but outgunned. The badge is real, though, so if the two above sell out, this is a reasonable fallback.
5. Farberware Countertop Microwave 0.7 Cu Ft, 700W (Stainless)
Discount: 10% off | Badge: None
Rating: 4.3 stars (10,029 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 1K+ bought in the past month
Here’s an odd pairing. It’s the same Farberware 0.7 as above in a stainless finish, with a better rating and 10,000+ reviews behind it, but less than half the discount.
The specs are identical: 700W, auto cook settings, defrost, easy-clean interior, child safety lock.
The catch is that 10% discount, tied for the thinnest on this page. No badge either.
My take: Wait. Paying more for a different color makes no sense when the black version has a verified 30-day low badge and double the discount.
Mid-Size Microwaves, 0.9 to 1.2 Cu Ft
This is the size most households should be shopping in. You get proper plate clearance and 900 to 1,000 watts, which makes a real difference to how fast things actually cook.
6. BLACK+DECKER Countertop Microwave 1.1 Cu Ft, 1000W
Discount: 25% off | Badge: Limited time deal
Rating: 4.2 stars (22,942 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 4K+ bought in the past month
Best discount in this size group, and a sensible machine for the money. At 1.1 cubic feet and 1,000W, it’ll handle family dinners without the glacial pace of the 700W compacts. You get a push-button door, a child safety lock, six auto cook presets, and 10 power levels. More than 4,000 sold last month.
Now for the catch I flagged earlier. That 22,942 review count is the exact same figure shown on the BLACK+DECKER air fryer combo further down this list, which is a completely different appliance. Amazon is pooling reviews across variations. Read a handful and check which model people are actually describing.
My take: Good size, good wattage, good discount. If you need a family microwave today, this is the strongest mid-size option here
7. Farberware Countertop Microwave 1.1 Cu Ft, 1000W (White Platinum or Metallic Red)
Discount: 21% off | Badge: Limited time deal (Metallic Red only)
Rating: 4.4 stars (3,544 reviews) in White Platinum, 4.6 stars (5,186 reviews) in Metallic Red, 500+ bought in the past month
A well-rounded 1.1 cubic foot machine at 1,000W, with auto cook settings, defrost, an easy-clean interior, and a child safety lock. The Metallic Red is a genuinely striking finish if you’re tired of appliances that all look the same.
Here’s the quirk. Both colors carry the same 21% discount, but their ratings differ noticeably: 4.4 stars from 3,544 reviews for White Platinum against 4.6 from 5,186 for Metallic Red. Same microwave, different review pools. The red version also has the “Limited time deal” badge while the white one doesn’t.
The catch is a modest sales rate at 500+ per month, well behind the BLACK+DECKER above.
My take: If you want this one, take the Metallic Red. Better rating, more reviews, same price. Otherwise, number six is the stronger buy.
8. TOSHIBA Countertop Microwave 0.9 Cu Ft, 900W (Black Stainless)
Discount: 19% off | Badge: Limited time deal
Rating: 4.4 stars (379 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 300+ bought in the past month
A tidy middle-ground machine at 0.9 cubic feet and 900W, with six auto menus, a mute function, a child lock, and a 10.6-inch removable turntable. That removable turntable matters more than it sounds, because cleaning around a fixed one is a chore
Here’s the useful bit of history. Slickdeals logged the stainless version of this same Toshiba model at $94.99, 19% off, as a Black Friday deal back in 2025. Your listing today shows the black stainless version at exactly the same price and the same discount. So this is a fair price, though not an exceptional one.
The catch is the review count at just 379, low for a Toshiba.
My take: Fine to buy now. You’re paying last Black Friday’s price, which is a reasonable place to land in September.
9. TOSHIBA Countertop Microwave 1.2 Cu Ft, 1000W (Stainless)
Discount: 10% off | Badge: Limited time deal
Rating: 4.4 stars (21,397 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 5K+ bought in the past month
This is the most popular full-size microwave on my list, with over 21,000 reviews and 5,000+ sold last month. It earns that. A smart humidity sensor adjusts cooking time automatically, which is a genuinely useful feature at this price, plus 12 auto menus, a mute function, eco mode, and an easy-clean interior. At 1.2 cubic feet and 1,000W, it’s a proper family machine.
The catch is the discount. Ten percent is tied for the thinnest on this page, and popular products rarely need deeper cuts to shift units.
My take: Wait. It’s arguably the best microwave in this group, which is exactly why I’d want a better price than 10% before pulling the trigger. This is a strong candidate for a real cut on October 6.
Large Capacity
Only one microwave here goes properly large, and it’s the most powerful on the list.
10. GE Countertop Microwave 1.6 Cu Ft, 1150W (Stainless)
Discount: 13% off | Badge: None
Rating: 4.2 stars (200 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 1K+ bought in the past month
If you’re feeding a family or regularly reheating large dishes, this is the one that fits. At 1.6 cubic feet and 1,150W, it’s the biggest and fastest microwave on my list, with eight convenience cook settings, one-touch controls, child lock technology, and a glass turntable. GE is a name most people trust for kitchen appliances, and 1,000+ sold last month suggests it’s finding an audience.
Two catches. The review count is just 200, the smallest of any standard microwave here, so there isn’t much long-term feedback yet. And at 13%, the discount is middling.
Before you buy, measure. A 1.6 cubic foot microwave takes up serious counter real estate, and it needs venting clearance on top of that.
My take: Wait. It’s the right machine for a big household, but I’d want more than 13% off and more than 200 reviews before committing.
Microwave and Air Fryer Combos
Four combos here, and they follow a clear pattern: the highest prices on the page paired with the smallest discounts. There’s a reason for that, and June’s sale showed how much room these have to fall.
11. TOSHIBA Air Fryer Combo Microwave 1.0 Cu Ft, 8-in-1
Discount: 15% off | Badge: Limited time deal
Rating: 4.1 stars (1,206 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 1K+ bought in the past month
Best discount of the four combos, and the most sensibly priced. You get eight functions including convection and broil, pro defrost, and a 12.4-inch turntable in a 1.0 cubic foot cavity. For a small kitchen where a separate air fryer and microwave won’t both fit, this is a tidy solution.
Two catches. The 4.1-star rating is on the lower end here, and combo units generally don’t air fry as well as a dedicated basket model. Think of the air frying as a useful bonus rather than the main event.
Worth knowing: DealNews reported a Toshiba 1.0 cubic foot microwave and air fryer combo selling for $115 off its list price during June’s Prime Day. Combos clearly can go much lower than 15%.
My take: Wait. The best combo here, but June proved these drop hard during the actual sale.
12. GE GCST10A1WSS Combo Microwave (Stainless Steel)
Discount: 12% off | Badge: None
Rating: 3.9 stars (1,596 reviews), 500+ bought in the past month
This one combines microwave, air fry, convection, and broil, with child lock technology and four convenience cook settings. GE’s name carries weight, and the stainless finish looks smart. The catch is hard to ignore: at 3.9 stars, this is the lowest-rated product on my entire list, and it’s the only one below 4.0. With nearly 1,600 reviews, that’s not a small-sample fluke either. Read through a page or two before you even consider it
The 12% discount doesn’t do much to sweeten the deal.
My take: Skip. There are better-rated combos here, and a sub-4.0 rating on a pricey appliance is a red flag worth respecting.
13. BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1 Microwave Oven Air Fryer Combo 0.9 Cu Ft, 900W
Discount: 10% off | Badge: Limited time deal
Rating: 4.2 stars (22,942 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 900+ bought in the past month
This is the small-space specialist, marketed for compact kitchens and RVs. At 0.9 cubic feet and 900W, it packs convection bake and roast alongside the microwave and air fryer functions, plus a child lock and 10 power levels
Here’s that pooled review count again. The 22,942 figure is identical to the standard BLACK+DECKER 1.1 at number six, a completely different appliance. Don’t read it as 22,942 people rating this combo.
The other catch is the 10% discount, tied for the thinnest on this page.
My take: Wait. The RV angle is genuinely useful, but 10% off a combo unit three weeks before Prime Day is Amazon barely trying.
14. TOSHIBA Optichef Pro Air Fryer Combo Microwave 1.0 Cu Ft
Discount: 10% off | Badge: Limited time deal
Rating: 4.0 stars (22 reviews), Amazon’s Choice, 50+ bought in the past month
The most expensive product on my list by a comfortable margin, and the one I’d approach most carefully. On paper it’s impressive: Origin Inverter technology for more even cooking, ChefDefrost, 24 auto menus, 10 power levels, 1,000W, in black stainless steel. Inverter tech is genuinely better than standard cycling power, so the premium isn’t baseless
But look at the numbers around it. Twenty-two reviews. A 4.0 rating. Fifty-odd sold last month. And a 10% discount on the priciest item here.
My take: Skip for now. Spending this much on an appliance with 22 reviews and a token discount is asking for trouble. If October brings a serious cut and more reviews land, revisit it then.
What I’d Buy Now vs. Wait For
Buy now: the Chefman 0.7 in black. It’s the only genuine early Prime deal on the page, and at 34% off it’s already matching the price DealNews called a year-long low during June’s Prime Day. When the badge, the discount, and the history all line up, that’s your cue.
Buy now: the COMFEE’ 0.7. Same 34% discount, 25,000+ reviews, and a typical price instead of an inflated list price. It’s the most transparently priced microwave here.
Fine to buy now: the BLACK+DECKER 1.1 and the Toshiba 0.9. The BLACK+DECKER has the best discount of any mid-size unit at 25%, and the Toshiba is sitting at exactly the price Slickdeals logged for it during Black Friday 2025. Neither is a steal, but neither is a rip-off.
Wait: the Toshiba 1.2. It’s probably the best all-round family microwave here, with 21,000+ reviews and 5,000+ sold last month, and it’s only 10% off. Popular products with thin discounts are exactly what Prime Day exists to fix.
Wait: all the combos. The four combo units carry the smallest discounts on the page despite being the priciest items. DealNews saw a Toshiba 1.0 combo at $115 off list during June’s sale, so these can fall a long way. Sitting tight costs you nothing.
Skip: the GE combo and the Toshiba Optichef Pro. A 3.9-star rating with nearly 1,600 reviews tells you something, and so does a premium appliance with 22 reviews and 10% off.
One caveat. The genuine early Prime deals tend to sell out rather than get cheaper, so if the Chefman is what you want, I wouldn’t sleep on it. A bird in the hand and all that.
How to Prep for October 6
Ten minutes now saves a scramble later.
Add your shortlist to your cart or wish list. You’ll spot price changes on the 6th straight away instead of digging through search results.
Screenshot today’s discounts. It’s the simplest way to prove a Prime Day price is actually better than what’s on offer now.
Check the price history. Keepa and CamelCamelCamel are free and show what a microwave has genuinely sold for. Thirty seconds there tells you more than any badge.
Measure your counter first. Depth is what catches people out, and most of these units need a few inches of clearance at the back or sides for venting. A 1.6 cubic foot GE is a very different proposition to a 0.7 compact.
Think about your circuit. A 1,000W or 1,150W microwave pulls serious power. If it shares a circuit with a kettle or toaster, you may be tripping breakers.
Set a deal alert. Amazon says Alexa for Shopping can notify you about deals on specific products or whole categories.
Check your Prime membership is active. Most deals are members-only, and sorting that out at 3 a.m. on the 6th is nobody’s idea of fun.
FAQ
When does October Prime Day 2026 start?
Prime Big Deal Days runs from October 6 at 12 a.m. PT to October 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Will microwaves get cheaper on October 6?
Some will. The units sitting at 10% to 13% have the most room to fall, particularly the Toshiba 1.2 and the combo models. The ones already at 32% to 34% are close to their floor.
What wattage microwave do I need?
For one or two people, 700W is workable. For a household, aim for 900W to 1,000W, and 1,100W or above if you regularly cook family-size portions. Wattage affects speed far more than preset count does.
Why do two different microwaves show the same number of reviews?
Amazon pools reviews across product variations, so a 1.1 cubic foot model and a 0.9 cubic foot combo from the same brand can display an identical review count. Read the actual reviews and check which model people are describing.
Are microwave and air fryer combos worth it?
They’re worth it if counter space is tight and you want one appliance doing two jobs. If you air fry often, a dedicated basket model does that job better. And right now, the combos here have the weakest discounts on the page.
Do I need Prime for these deals?
For most of them, yes. Prime costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year, and new members can usually start with a free trial.
Final Thoughts
Out of 15 microwaves, one carries a genuine early Prime badge, one has a verified 30-day low, and one shows an honest typical price. The other twelve are relying on crossed-out numbers and a red tag that says “Limited time deal” all year long.
My shortlist? The Chefman 0.7 is the deal of the bunch, already at June Prime Day pricing with the badge to back it up. The COMFEE’ is the best alternative if you want compact. The BLACK+DECKER 1.1 is the pick if you need a proper family machine today. And every single combo unit is worth waiting on, because June showed just how far those can drop.
I’ll update this post with live prices when the sale starts on October 6, so check back then.
