The Breville Combi Wave and Smooth Wave are both high-quality microwaves, but they serve different purposes. The Combi Wave is a versatile 3-in-1 countertop appliance that combines a microwave with a convection oven and air fryer, designed for those who want an all-in-one cooking station. In contrast, the Smooth Wave is a specialized high-performance microwave focused on simplicity and precision, featuring a minimalist design, a soft-close door, and sensor-based cooking for everyday tasks.
Here’s what you need to know to decide which Breville microwave oven is the right fit for your kitchen.
Breville Combi Wave
The Combi Wave is Breville's multifunctional powerhouse, engineered to deliver versatility without cluttering your countertop. It acts as a microwave, convection oven, and air fryer, making it possible to defrost, reheat, air fry crispy snacks, bake cookies, or roast a small chicken all in one unit. Its smart cooking technology and multiple presets make it a workhorse for busy home cooks who need to do more than just reheat leftovers.
- What it is: A versatile 3-in-1 multi-cooker that functions as a microwave, convection oven, and air fryer.
- Key features: Element iQ system for smart, even heating, multiple preset programs like Smart Cook, Reheat, &, Defrost, quiet operation with a soft-close door, air fry and convection cooking functions.
- Price: Around $300 to $400.
- Style: Modern and functional with a brushed stainless steel finish, digital display, and a more comprehensive control panel featuring numerous buttons and dials for its different modes.
- Dimensions: Approximately 20" W x 14" D x 12" H with a 1.5 - 1.8 cubic foot capacity, making it suitable for larger plates and family-sized portions.
- Pros: Replaces three appliances, saving significant counter space. Fulfills a wide range of cooking tasks from air frying to baking. Larger capacity is great for bigger households. Element iQ ensures food is cooked evenly.
- Cons: More expensive than a standard microwave. Larger footprint might not suit very small kitchens. Can have a slight learning curve due to its extensive functions.
The Combi Wave is ideal for the home cook looking for a single appliance that can handle daily reheating duties as well as more complex cooking tasks like baking and air frying.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/microwaves/bmo870.html
Breville Smooth Wave
The Breville Smooth Wave is designed for those who admire minimalist style without compromising on performance. It focuses on executing core microwave functions perfectly, using Sensor iQ technology to automatically adjust cooking times and power levels for a variety of foods. Key details like its whisper-quiet operation, soft-close door, and Power Smoothing Inverter technology set it apart from typical microwaves, delivering even results without the usual noise and clatter.
- What it is: A premium, user-friendly microwave designed for precise reheating and cooking through smart sensor technology.
- Key features: Sensor iQ technology for intuitive cooking, 15 smart presets, Power Smoothing Inverter delivers even power, very quiet operation, signature soft-close door to minimize noise.
- Price: Around $200-$300.
- Style: Sleek and minimalist with a rounded, seamless exterior and a simplified control panel. It's designed to blend into clean, modern kitchen aesthetics.
- Dimensions: More compact at around 17" W x 13" D x 10" H with a 1.2 cubic foot capacity, perfect for everyday plates and bowls.
- Pros: Elegant, minimalist design complements modern kitchens. Extremely quiet operation and soft-close door add a premium feel. Sensor cooking is precise and easy to use. More affordable than the Combi Wave.
- Cons: Strictly a microwave - lacks convection and air fryer functions. Smaller capacity is less suitable for large families or oversized dinnerware.
This microwave excels for users who prioritize streamlined aesthetics, quiet performance, and a simple, high-quality appliance for daily defrosting and reheating tasks.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/microwaves/bmo735.html
Combi Wave vs. Smooth Wave Comparison
Functionality & Features
The biggest distinction is in functionality. The Combi Wave is a multi-cooker. It goes far beyond microwaving, with dedicated settings for air frying (using high heat and powerful airflow) and convection baking (using a fan to circulate heat for even results). It’s designed as a genuine oven and air fryer replacement for smaller-scale cooking.
The Smooth Wave sticks to what a microwave does best but refines the experience. Its Sensor iQ technology takes the guesswork out of reheating by sensing humidity in food to adjust time automatically. The key technical advantage is the Power Smoothing Inverter, which delivers consistent power instead of the start-stop blasts of a traditional microwave, preventing hotspots and leathery edges on food.
Dimensions & Capacity
The Combi Wave is the larger of the two, with an internal capacity hovering around 1.5 to 1.8 cubic feet. This makes it more suitable for larger households or those who want to roast a whole chicken or bake a pizza. Consequently, its exterior dimensions are larger, requiring more countertop space.
The Smooth Wave is noticeably more compact. At about 1.2 cubic feet, it’s closer to a standard microwave size, perfect for everyday use in smaller kitchens or by singles and couples. Always check exact product measurements against your available space before buying either model.
Style & Design
Aesthetics are a clear dividing line. The Smooth Wave champions minimalist design with its seamless, rounded edges, simplified controls, and lack of visual clutter. Its signature soft-close door mechanism is a touch of quiet luxury. It's built to blend in and look elegant on your countertop.
The Combi Wave has a more utilitarian, functional appearance. Its control panel is busier, with more dials and buttons to manage its 3-in-1 capabilities. While still modern and constructed from high-quality stainless steel, its design prioritizes function over form compared to its sleeker sibling.
Price & Value
The Combi Wave typically costs about $100 more than the Smooth Wave, reflecting its added oven and air fryer components. The value here is outstanding if you'll use those extra functions. For the price, you get three separate appliances in one, which can be a better deal than buying them all separately.
The Smooth Wave offers excellent value for someone seeking a premium microwave without extra bells and whistles. Its price is justified by its superior build quality, quiet performance, and advanced sensor cooking features that go beyond what you'd find in a bargain-bin model.
Who Each One Works Best For
The Combi Wave is built for the user who craves versatility. It’s perfect for apartment dwellers who lack a full-sized oven, busy families who want to air fry snacks quickly, or anyone looking to consolidate appliances and save counter space. If you love to cook and experiment but have a small kitchen, this is the machine for you.
The Smooth Wave is tailored for the user who prioritizes simplicity and a refined user experience. It's best for people who primarily use a microwave for reheating, defrosting, and light cooking duties but want a high-quality, quiet, and beautiful appliance that performs these tasks flawlessly. The minimalist who values design and function will gravitate toward this model.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both microwaves are excellent choices, but they cater to very different needs and kitchen styles.
Choose the Combi Wave if:
- You want to replace your microwave, countertop oven, and air fryer with one appliance.
- Saving counter space by combining functions is a top priority.
- You need a larger capacity for baking, roasting, or cooking family-sized meals.
- Versatility is more important to you than a streamlined, minimalist look.
Choose the Smooth Wave if:
- You're looking for a high-performance microwave for everyday heating, cooking, and defrosting.
- You value a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that will elevate your kitchen design.
- Quiet operation and a premium feature like a soft-close door are important to you.
- You have no need for convection oven or air fryer capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the Combi Wave and the Smooth Wave?
The core difference is functionality. The Combi Wave is a 3-in-1 device that microwaves, bakes like a convection oven, and air fries. The Smooth Wave is a dedicated microwave focused on delivering perfect reheating and defrosting results with smart sensor technology.
Can the Combi Wave actually replace an air fryer and oven?
For most daily tasks, yes. It excels at roasting vegetables, air frying snacks like french fries and chicken wings, and baking small batches of cookies or even a small pizza. While it may not completely replace a full-range oven for very large items, it serves as an excellent supplemental or primary oven for smaller households.
Is the Smooth Wave quieter than most microwaves?
Yes. It was engineered for significantly reduced operational noise and includes Breville's signature soft-close door. This combination makes it one of the quietest microwaves on the market, avoiding the loud humming and slamming common with other models.
Which model is easier to use?
The Smooth Wave is more straightforward for simple microwave tasks due to its simplified interface. The Combi Wave is still intuitive but has more settings and modes to learn, which can take a little time to master fully.
Which Breville microwave has a bigger footprint?
The Combi Wave is larger and heavier, measuring roughly 20 inches wide and offering up to a 1.8 cubic foot capacity. The Smooth Wave is more compact, with a width of around 17 inches and a 1.2 cubic foot capacity, fitting more easily into smaller spaces.
Do these models have smart presets?
Yes, both feature smart presets. The Combi Wave has programs like "Smart Cook" that leverage its different heating elements for optimal results. The Smooth Wave uses its Sensor iQ technology across 15 presets to automatically detect when food is perfectly heated or defrosted.
Is the higher price of the Combi Wave justified?
Its price is easily justified if you would otherwise buy a separate air fryer and countertop oven. When you consider you're getting three capable appliances in one sleek package, it offers fantastic value. If you only need a microwave, the Smooth Wave is the more sensible investment.
What is Power Smoothing Inverter technology in the Smooth Wave?
Traditional microwaves cycle power on and off to achieve lower power levels, which can lead to uneven cooking. Inverter technology provides a continuous, steady stream of low power, which reheats food more gently and evenly while preserving texture and flavor. It is especially useful for delicate foods like fish or melting chocolate.
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