Panasonic NN-SN643S Stainless 1200W 1.2 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology

Our work office ordered the Panasonic NN-SN643S Stainless 1200W 1.2 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology by Panasonic for our breakroom. The overall look is very nice and sleek. Our office seemed to easily adapt to the functions and settings. I will note that there is no “quick start” button to heat up food, which I found odd since most new models have that option now. It does have the “30 second” option though but you do have the hit the start button (which is kind of a bummer). We haven’t used the popcorn button yet, so no report on whether it gets the job done right or not. The heat and power are great and don’t seem to overcook / over heat our food. My only complaint is the interior light, it only seems to light up while you’re warming something up or is “on”. As soon as you open the door, the light shuts off. It should at the very least stay on when you open and close the door. This aspect makes it a little challenging to really clean it well. I hope there is a setting that can change that function. Overall, we are glad we chose this model for our work office for the mean time but we will most likely search for another microwave in the near future that does light up when you open and close the door. (I know, it’s such a small thing that we didn’t realize would bother us that much).

This unit works really well. Programming the time and power levels takes a couple tries to get used to -- if you select them in the wrong order, you'll create a multi-stage heating process instead of the one step you're looking for. I fried some leftovers that I was trying to heat at 50% power because it heated it for the requested time at full power plus the requested time again at 50% power.I haven't had the noise problems that I've seen referenced in other reviews. The only drawback that I've experienced is the lack of the light when the door is open. I saw this issue in a number of reviews and figured my kitchen is bright enough that it wouldn't be a problem for me. Turns out, I really do miss having the light. Since there's a light that comes on when it's in operation, it's really a mystery as to why Panasonic didn't build it so the light also came on when the door opened.

It's ok, but just OK. There is not a quick start button. You always wind up pressing start, then 30 second, and then start again. If you stop the microwave with time on it, the 30 second button does not work. If you stop the microwave with no time left, the the 30 second quick start works. The problem is that I don't want to stand there every time trying to figure out whether the microwave was previously stopped with time or not. So, basically, your muscle memory will constantly be thrown off and you just stand there pressing 30 seconds, then start, then 30 seconds again until the thing starts moving. Also like when I reheat beans, I see the liquid boiling around the perimeter of the glass bowl, but the center is cold, so I need to keep removing the food and stirring it. Our previous microwave was not like that. So, yes, it does heat your food, but you could probably do better. We bought it because it has the appearance of a real kitchen appliance, rather than a kids toy with all the plastic popcorn buttons.

I purchased this when my current microwave started making funny noises. I do like this appliance. It heats up food quickly (I had to get used to it - I accidentally overheated a couple of things in the beginning). There is average size interior room which is fine for us - I use it mainly to reheat food.Some people have said they miss having a light come on when the door opens. That has not been an issue for me. What I DO wish is that there was a handle on the door. Because there isn't a handle, the door gets smudged with fingerprints a lot. I would have paid an extra $5 for a handle.That is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

Overall a good appliance. The build quality is good, sensor reheat is good, etc... BUT WHY, WHY DOESN'T THE LIGHT COME ON WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR??? This seems like such a stupid thing to complain about but it's seriously annoying. My microwave sits on a cart and is around waist height and it's difficult to see what you are doing down there with your shadow in the way. Never have I seen a microwave that doesn't do this. I thought it was just some sort of unwritten microwave manufacturer law. I actually considered returning it because of this (yes I'm serious) but decided I'd keep it because it matches my panny infrared toaster oven (which by the way is THE bomb).

I like just about everything. Exceptions: the buttons are a little hard to push. Definitely not a "touch" pad. More like a "push" pad. Also wish the quick 30 sec button would just automatically start the microwave instead of having to push Start after.Inverter works great. Like the true variable power. Haven't had much luck with the sensor cooking features. They never seem to work and this one is no exception.Looks good. Cleans up nicely. Plenty of power when you want it. Almost there, just a few tweaks and it would be great.