The Breville Smooth Wave Microwave and the Quick Touch Microwave are both premium options from Breville, but they prioritize different features. The Smooth Wave focuses on a sleek, minimalist aesthetic with advanced sensor technology and a quiet soft-close door, while the Quick Touch offers a larger capacity, faster one-touch operation, and a slightly more utilitarian design for busy households.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which Breville microwave is the right choice for your kitchen.
Breville Smooth Wave Microwave
The Smooth Wave is Breville's design-forward microwave, created for modern kitchens where aesthetics and quiet performance are paramount. It features sophisticated sensor technology that automatically adjusts cooking time and power, paired with Inverter technology for remarkably even heating. Its most recognized feature is the signature soft-close door, which eliminates slamming and adds a touch of refinement to the kitchen experience.
- What it is: A premium 1.2 cubic foot microwave focused on precise cooking, quiet operation, and sleek design.
- Key features: 1100 watts of power, advanced auto-cooking sensors, Inverter technology for even heat distribution, and a soft-close door.
- Price: Around $250 - $300
- Style: Minimalist and modern with a smooth, rounded exterior and a streamlined touch control panel.
- Materials/Construction: High-quality construction with durable, easy-to-clean surfaces.
- Pros: Elegant and stylish design fits well in contemporary kitchens. Soft-close door is very quiet. Sensor and Inverter technology provide excellent, consistent cooking results. User-friendly interface.
- Cons: Smaller 1.2 cu. ft. capacity may not be enough for large families. Generally costs more than the Quick Touch. Fewer one-touch preset buttons for immediate tasks.
The Smooth Wave is ideal for those who value sophisticated design and precise, even cooking over sheer capacity and speed.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/microwaves/smooth-wave.html
Breville Quick Touch Microwave
The Breville Quick Touch is engineered for speed, convenience, and versatility. It boasts a larger capacity and a straightforward interface with a wide array of one-touch presets for common tasks like reheating popcorn or defrosting meat. While it shares many of the same core technologies as the Smooth Wave, like sensor cooking and Inverter heating, its primary focus is on making daily microwave use as fast and simple as possible.
- What it is: A high-performance 1.4 cubic foot microwave designed for fast, convenient, and versatile use in busy households.
- Key features: 1000 watts of power, larger capacity, numerous one-touch preset buttons, sensor cooking, and Inverter technology.
- Price: Around $200 - $250
- Style: Sleek but more functional, with a slightly more traditional boxy shape and a large, clear digital display.
- Materials/Construction: Durable build with easy-to-clean surfaces, designed to withstand heavy daily use.
- Pros: Larger capacity is great for bigger dishes and families. A wide range of one-touch presets for ultimate convenience. Sensor and Inverter tech ensures good cooking performance. More budget-friendly than the Smooth Wave.
- Cons: Lower wattage at 1000 watts compared to the Smooth Wave's 1100. Lacks the premium soft-close door feature. Its design is more functional than it is style-focused.
This microwave is perfect for families or individuals who need a larger, versatile appliance that prioritizes speed and ease of use.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/microwaves/quick-touch.html
Breville Smooth Wave vs. Breville Quick Touch Comparison
Dimensions & Capacity
The most significant physical difference between these two microwaves is their internal capacity. The Quick Touch offers a more generous 1.4 cubic feet of space, making it a better choice for large dinner plates, bigger casserole dishes, and households that frequently cook or reheat full meals for multiple people. In contrast, the Smooth Wave has a 1.2 cubic foot capacity, which is ample for most standard tasks but might feel limiting if you're working with oversized dishes.
This difference also affects their external footprint. The larger Quick Touch will require slightly more counter space, so be sure to measure your intended location. The Smooth Wave, with its more compact size, is a great fit for smaller kitchens or those who want to preserve as much counter real estate as possible.
Performance & Technology
Both microwaves are built with Breville's high-performance technology. They both feature Sensor IQ, which automatically detects humidity from food and adjusts cooking time and power level for optimal reheating. Both also use Inverter technology, which delivers a continuous, even flow of power to prevent the overcooked edges and cold spots common in traditional microwaves.
The key performance difference lies in their power and intended use. The Smooth Wave has slightly higher wattage at 1100 watts, which can contribute to faster cooking times in certain scenarios. The Quick Touch operates at 1000 watts, but its main advantage is the sheer number of quick-start buttons that make everyday tasks feel faster and more efficient without needing to navigate menus.
Price & Value
There is a noticeable price difference between the two models. The Breville Quick Touch is the more affordable option, typically retailing for $50-$100 less than the Smooth Wave. It provides excellent value by offering a larger capacity and the same essential cooking technologies, making it a smart buy for budget-conscious shoppers who care about performance.
The Breville Smooth Wave is positioned as a more premium appliance, and its higher price reflects its design-forward features like the soft-close door and minimalist exterior. The value here is in the user experience and aesthetics. If a quiet, sleek appliance that complements a modern kitchen is your top priority, the extra cost is justified.
Style & Aesthetics
Style is a key differentiator. The Smooth Wave features a refined, rounded exterior and a clean, unobtrusive control panel. Its soft-close door is a luxury feature that underscores its high-end, quiet personality. It looks less like a standard kitchen appliance and more like a carefully considered piece of tech, perfect for contemporary and minimalist kitchen designs.
The Quick Touch has a more conventional, albeit still modern and streamlined, look. Its slightly boxier shape and larger digital display prioritize legibility and ease of use over pure aesthetics. While still a handsome appliance, it doesn't have the same unique design signature as the Smooth Wave. The Quick Touch fits well in any modern kitchen, but the Smooth Wave makes a statement.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both Breville microwaves are strong performers, but they are designed for two different types of users.
Choose the Smooth Wave if:
- A quiet, sleek kitchen environment is important to you.
- You appreciate premium design details like a soft-close door.
- Your kitchen has a modern or minimalist aesthetic.
- You prioritize precise, even cooking and are willing to pay for a better user experience.
Choose the Quick Touch if:
- You have a multi-person household and need a larger capacity.
- You value speed and the convenience of one-touch shortcut buttons.
- Functionality and value are your main priorities over design flourishes.
- You need a versatile, powerful microwave for a busy family kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Breville Smooth Wave and Quick Touch?
The main difference comes down to design, capacity, and user interface. The Smooth Wave offers a premium, minimalist design with a soft-close door and a smaller 1.2 cu. ft. capacity. The Quick Touch provides a larger 1.4 cu. ft. capacity and an interface focused on quick, one-touch presets for speed and convenience.
Does the Breville Smooth Wave's soft-close door make a difference?
Yes, for users sensitive to noise, it makes a significant difference. The soft-close mechanism prevents the loud slam typical of microwave doors, contributing to a quieter and more refined kitchen environment. It's a luxury feature that many users find they can't live without once they have it.
Which Breville microwave is better for a family?
The Breville Quick Touch is generally the better choice for families. Its larger 1.4 cubic foot interior can accommodate bigger portions and dishes, and its abundance of shortcut buttons makes it easy for anyone in the family to quickly heat snacks or leftovers.
What is Inverter technology and do both models have it?
Inverter technology provides a continuous, controlled stream of microwave power for more even cooking results, eliminating uncooked centers and overcooked edges. Yes, both the Smooth Wave and the Quick Touch feature Breville's Inverter technology for precise and consistent reheating and defrosting.
Is the higher price of the Smooth Wave worth it?
Whether the price is worth it depends on your priorities. If you highly value a modern aesthetic, superior build details like the soft-close door, and a quieter appliance, then the extra cost for the Smooth Wave is likely worth it. If you prioritize function and capacity over form, the Quick Touch offers a better value.
How do you clean Breville microwaves?
Both models feature easy-to-clean surfaces. For the interior, wipe with a soft, damp cloth and mild detergent. The glass turntable is typically dishwasher safe. For the exterior, use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the stainless steel and control panel - avoid abrasive cleaners that could scratch the surface.
Are the control panels easy to use?
Yes, both are designed to be intuitive. The Quick Touch favors a large number of clearly labeled "shortcut" buttons for common foods. The Smooth Wave has a cleaner look but still relies on intuitive controls, including a dial, to set time and power levels precisely.
Which model is more powerful?
The Smooth Wave has a slight edge with 1100 watts of power compared to the Quick Touch's 1000 watts. While a 100-watt difference isn't dramatic, the Smooth Wave may cook certain foods marginally faster, though Inverter technology in both ensures that efficiency is high regardless.
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