Home & Kitchen · Head-to-head
Panasonic NN-SN686SR Inverter Microwave vs Toshiba EM131A5C-BS
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Countertop Microwaves: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Panasonic's inverter and reliable sensor make it the most consistent everyday heater at a fair price. The Toshiba is the value runner-up, giving up some evenness but very little else for meaningfully less money.
Panasonic NN-SN686SR Inverter Microwave
Buy itThe most consistent heater of the group, thanks to genuine inverter power and a reliable sensor.
- Inverter delivers steady low power instead of pulsing full-blast, so reviewers report fewer rubbery edges and cold centers
- Genius humidity sensor reheats and defrosts with little guesswork
- Mid-size cavity that reviewers say fits most dinner plates and casserole dishes
- Owner reports skew strongly positive on long-term reliability
- Mirror-finish door and keypad show fingerprints
- Beeps are loud and owners report no full mute
Toshiba EM131A5C-BS
Buy itThe value pick: a well-sized sensor microwave that does the basics well for budget money.
- Humidity sensor and one-touch presets that independent testing found genuinely useful
- Strong defrosting performance in hands-on tests, with evenly thawed edges
- Owners report a mute function for the beeps
- Removable, easy-clean interior and a generous turntable
- Standard magnetron (no inverter), so heating can be less even than the Panasonic
- A minority of owners report an unresponsive touch panel or clock drift over time
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Panasonic NN-SN686SR Inverter Microwave Our pick | Toshiba EM131A5C-BS | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Most households that want the best everyday heating without paying premium money. | Budget shoppers, first apartments, and offices that want sensor cooking without spending much. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Heating evenness | Excellent - steady inverter power | Good - occasional cold spots |
| Inverter technology | Yes | No (standard magnetron) |
| Sensor cooking | Yes - Genius humidity sensor | Yes - humidity sensor |
| Capacity & footprint | Mid-size | Mid-size |
| Controls & display | Clear membrane keypad | Simple keypad, mute option |
| Noise & door | Standard latch, loud beeps | Beeps, mute option |
| Reliability reports | Strong, few complaints | Mostly good; some panel gripes |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Panasonic NN-SN686SR Inverter Microwave if
most households that want the best everyday heating without paying premium money.
Know before buying: mirror-finish door and keypad show fingerprints.
Pick the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS if
budget shoppers, first apartments, and offices that want sensor cooking without spending much.
Know before buying: standard magnetron (no inverter), so heating can be less even than the Panasonic.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Panasonic NN-SN686SR Inverter Microwave - The most consistent heater of the group, thanks to genuine inverter power and a reliable sensor. Choose the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS instead if budget shoppers, first apartments, and offices that want sensor cooking without spending much.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Countertop Microwaves: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).