The Breville Smooth Wave and Quick Touch microwaves are both high-quality appliances from Breville, but they cater to very different kitchen needs. The Smooth Wave focuses on a sleek, minimalist design, advanced features like sensor cooking for even heating, and quiet operation. In contrast, the Quick Touch is built for speed and simplicity, with dedicated quick-start buttons for common tasks and a more functional, straightforward design.
Here's everything you need to know to decide whether the designer-focused Smooth Wave or the speed-oriented Quick Touch is the right microwave for you.
Breville Smooth Wave Microwave
The Breville Smooth Wave is the brand's premium microwave offering, intended for those who appreciate both aesthetics and performance. It stands out with its elegant, rounded stainless steel exterior and a simple dial-and-touch interface. Beyond looks, its sensor cooking technology automatically adjusts power and time for perfectly even results, and it's known for its exceptionally quiet performance.
- What it is: A modern, stylish microwave featuring Sensor iQ technology for even heating and quiet operation.
- Key features: Sensor cook and reheat functions, 15 smart presets, a simple control dial instead of a number pad, and quiet door closure.
- Price: Around $200 - $250.
- Dimensions & Capacity: Ample interior capacity, typically around 1.5 to 1.8 cubic feet, making it suitable for larger families and bigger dishes.
- Materials/Construction: Built with high-quality stainless steel and features a durable coated interior that's easy to clean and resists stains.
- Style: Sleek, minimalist, and modern. Its smooth, rounded appearance helps it blend seamlessly into contemporary kitchens.
- Pros: Elegant and premium design. Sensor cooking provides for extremely even reheating and cooking. Quiet operation is a significant upgrade over standard microwaves. Larger capacity fits family-sized plates.
- Cons: The minimalist control dial can take some getting used to. Typically more expensive than other models. Fewer one-touch buttons for quick tasks like popcorn.
The Smooth Wave is ideal for home cooks who value a modern aesthetic and want consistent, even cooking from a high-performance appliance.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/microwaves/bmo700.html
Breville Quick Touch Microwave
The Breville Quick Touch is engineered for users who prioritize speed, efficiency, and ease of use. This model features a more traditional layout with a full keypad and dedicated buttons for essentials: popcorn, reheating, beverages, and melting chocolate. Its main purpose is to get things done quickly and simply, thanks to powerful heating elements and intuitive controls that remove guesswork.
- What it is: A user-friendly microwave designed for rapid cooking and reheating with straightforward controls.
- Key features: Dedicated one-touch buttons for common foods, powerful wattage for faster cooking, a high-contrast digital display, and sensor technology for automatic adjustments.
- Price: Generally priced slightly lower, from $180 - $220.
- Dimensions & Capacity: Standard capacity around 1.2 to 1.5 cubic feet, which is plenty for most everyday reheating and cooking tasks.
- Materials/Construction: Durable construction with easy-to-clean surfaces. Its utilitarian build is meant to be functional and long-lasting in a busy kitchen.
- Style: Functional and modern but more straightforward than the Smooth Wave, it features a slightly boxier, more traditional microwave look.
- Pros: Very easy and intuitive to use. Quick-start buttons make heating common items fast. High wattage leads to shorter cooking times. Typically more affordable.
- Cons: The design is more functional than high-end aesthetic. Can be louder in operation compared to the Smooth Wave. The interior is slightly smaller on average.
The Quick Touch is a great fit for busy individuals or families who value speed and simple, intuitive controls for their daily reheating needs.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/past-products/microwaves/bmo734.html
Breville Smooth Wave vs. Quick Touch Comparison
Dimensions & Sizing
The most practical difference between these two microwaves is often inside. The Smooth Wave model generally has a larger interior cooking capacity, landing in the 1.5 to 1.8 cubic foot range. This makes it a better option for larger families, people who frequently entertain, or anyone needing to heat larger serving dishes and casserole pans.
The Breville Quick Touch, true to its focus on speed for everyday tasks, usually comes with a slightly smaller capacity of 1.2 to 1.5 cubic feet. While still big enough for most dinner plates and bowls, it is less accommodating for bulky items. Both models are designed to fit standard countertop spaces, but the interior dimensions are a key differentiator for their intended users.
Style & Aesthetics
Design is a major deciding factor between these two. The Breville Smooth Wave is built with aesthetics at its core. Its curved lines, hidden handle, and minimalist dial give it a sleek, integrated look that suits modern and upscale kitchen designs. It's meant to look less like a utility appliance and more like a piece of the kitchen itself.
The Quick Touch is an attractive appliance, but its design is clearly function-first. With a visible bank of buttons, a more traditional handle, and a boxier frame, it looks like a high-quality modern microwave but doesn't aim for the same seamless aesthetic as the Smooth Wave. If style is a main priority, the Smooth Wave easily wins.
Materials & Quality
Both microwaves are built to the high standards expected from Breville. They use durable materials, stainless steel finishes, and easy-to-clean interiors designed to withstand daily use. The overall construction on both feels solid and reliable, delivering on the brand’s reputation for quality.
The fit and finish on the Smooth Wave often feel a bit more premium, particularly with its soft-close door mechanism that contributes to quieter operation. Both models typically come with a standard 1-year warranty provided by the brand.
Price & Value
The Quick Touch usually offers better value for those on a stricter budget, priced between $180 and $220. It delivers powerful, speedy performance and handy shortcut buttons that add real convenience to daily routines. Its value is in its efficiency and straightforward functionality.
The Smooth Wave is more of a premium investment, typically costing between $200 and $250. The higher price pays for its superior design, quieter operation, and more advanced sensor cooking technology for exceptionally even heating. For those who see a microwave as a key part of their kitchen's design and cooking toolkit, the extra cost offers significant value.
Who Each One Works Best For
The ideal microwave really depends on your habits and priorities. The Breville Smooth Wave is designed for the home entertainer and the design-conscious cook. If you appreciate technology that works flawlessly in the background, hate dealing with cold spots in your reheated food, and want an appliance that complements your modern kitchen decor, the Smooth Wave is an excellent choice.
The Breville Quick Touch is built for maximum practicality. If you often find yourself quickly zapping leftovers, snacks, or a cup of morning coffee, you'll love the one-touch buttons and rapid heating. It's the perfect appliance for busy families, students, or anyone who values speed and convenience more than styling or advanced cooking modes.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both are excellent microwave choices, but they are built for different users.
Choose the Breville Smooth Wave if:
- A sleek, minimalist design that blends into your kitchen is important to you.
- You want extremely even cooking and reheating without any "cold spots."
- Quiet operation is a priority to avoid disrupting your home.
- You need a larger interior capacity for big plates and family meals.
Choose the Breville Quick Touch if:
- You want simple, fast operation with dedicated buttons for common tasks.
- Saving time is your top priority when it comes to cooking and reheating.
- You prefer straightforward, classic controls like a full number pad.
- You're looking for great performance at a slightly more budget-friendly price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Breville Smooth Wave and Quick Touch?
The main difference is their focus. The Smooth Wave prioritizes a premium design, quiet operation, and even heating with its sensor cooking technology. The Quick Touch prioritizes speed, convenience, and ease of use with dedicated one-touch buttons and powerful elements for faster cooking.
Which Breville microwave is better for reheating food evenly?
The Smooth Wave is generally better for even reheating. Its Sensor iQ technology detects moisture levels and automatically adjusts the cooking time and power level, which helps eliminate hot and cold spots in food.
Does the Smooth Wave have quick-start buttons?
Instead of multiple dedicated food buttons like the Quick Touch, the Smooth Wave has "A Bit More" and "30 Second" instant start buttons. For specific food presets like popcorn or beverages, you use the smart control dial to navigate a menu of options.
Are Breville microwaves reliable?
Yes, Breville has a strong reputation for making high-quality and durable kitchen appliances. Both the Smooth Wave and the Quick Touch microwaves are well-built and typically come with a 1-year limited product warranty.
Which model is quieter?
The Breville Smooth Wave is intentionally engineered for quiet operation. Features like a soft-closing door and a toned-down alert volume make it significantly quieter in daily use compared to the Quick Touch and most other standard microwaves.
Is the interior of these microwaves easy to clean?
Yes, both models feature coated or stainless steel interiors designed to be easy to wipe down. The surfaces are made to resist stains and odors from food splatters.
Which microwave has a larger capacity?
The Smooth Wave typically has a larger interior of around 1.5 to 1.8 cubic feet, making it better for bigger families. The Quick Touch is slightly more modest at 1.2 to 1.5 cubic feet but is still sufficient for most people's daily needs.
What controls does each one have?
The Smooth Wave uses an intuitive dial to select from smart cooking presets, along with several touch buttons. The Quick Touch uses a more traditional layout with a full keypad and multiple one-touch buttons for specific foods.
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