Convection Microwave: When It Also Air-Fries and When It Doesn't

The word "convection" on a box tells you there is a heater and a fan. It doesn't tell you what else the machine does, how hot it runs or what you may put inside. Those answers sit in the mode list and the manual.

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Panasonic

Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1

The combo with the clearest manual and a pick from Good Housekeeping.

Why it fits here: Convection, air fry, broil and two combo modes, set out accessory by accessory in the sister model's NN-CD87 manual.

Best for: kitchens with open space above the counter, or no wall cabinet over the spot

Capacity

1.2 cu ft

Microwave watts

1000 W, inverter

Outer size (W × D × H)

22.06 × 17.75 × 13.52 in

Functions

Microwave, air fry, convection bake, broil

True microwave

Yes

Price class

Premium

Size as stated by

Sister model. The listing names the NN-CV87QS. Size matches Panasonic's NN-CD87KS sheet and Abt's NN-CV87QS page; the manual we read is for the NN-CD87.

• Named best overall in Good Housekeeping's April 2026 roundup, which linked this listing
• Inverter microwave at 1000 W, with 1.2 cu ft inside
• The sister model's manual is clear about the space it needs, racks and foil

• 13.5 in tall plus the 6 in top space in the NN-CD87 manual is 19.5 in (computed), more than a common 18 in gap
• That manual asks for its own 15 A or 20 A, 120 V circuit
• Premium price class, and the widest body in this group

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Which convection microwave is for me?

Pick your situation

• If you want convection and air fry with the clearest manual → Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1

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• If you want the widest oven temperature range and a crisp pan in the box → Breville Combi Wave

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• If the spot sits under a low wall cabinet → Toshiba ML2-EC10SA

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• If counter space decides everything → Sharp SMC0985KS

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• If you want a stove-top replacement instead

  See over-the-range models

How is it different from a plain microwave or an air fryer?

The FDA explains that microwaves heat food by being absorbed by it. Convection is a heater and a fan moving hot air. So you are choosing which parts you want in one box.

Every combo has convection hardware of some kind, but not every convection microwave is a combo. Our page on convection versus air fry goes deeper.

Comparison: Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1, Breville Combi Wave, Toshiba ML2-EC10SA, Sharp SMC0985KS, GE 4-in-1 (black)

Comparison	Best if you have height to sparePanasonic HomeChef 4-in-1	Premium pickBreville Combi Wave	Best overallToshiba ML2-EC10SA	Best for small kitchensSharp SMC0985KS	Seller data onlyGE 4-in-1 (black)
Capacity	1.2 cu ft	1.1 cu ft as listed	1.0 cu ft	0.9 cu ft	1.0 cu ft as listed
Microwave watts	1000 W, inverter	1100 W output per an excerpt of Breville's US manual; we could not read the full manual	1000 W	900 W	1050 W as listed
Air fry watts	–	–	–	1450 W	–
Outer size (W × D × H)	22.06 × 17.75 × 13.52 in	20.5 × 20.1 × 12.6 in	20.6 × 18 × 11.8 in	19.6 × 15.77 × 11.38 in	20.59 × 15.59 × 12.52 in
Functions	Microwave, air fry, convection bake, broil	Air fryer, convection oven, inverter microwave	8-in-1 per Toshiba, including air fry and defrost	Microwave, convection, air fry, roast, bake	4-in-1 as listed, including air fry
True microwave	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Price class	Premium	Premium	Mid-range	Budget	Mid-range
Best for	kitchens with open space above the counter, or no wall cabinet over the spot	cooks who will use all three modes and accept a premium price class	most family kitchens with wall cabinets over the counter	apartments and small kitchens where every inch of counter counts	shoppers comparing 1.0 cu ft combos who can check the model number on the listing
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What does each one do?

• Panasonic HomeChef (our pick). The listing names the NN-CV87QS, and the manual we read is for the sister model NN-CD87, so check yours against it. It offers convection at 100°F and from 215°F to 425°F, with preheating advised. Air fry is a separate button with no temperature to set and no preheating. Two combo modes follow: broil plus microwave, and convection plus microwave. An accessory chart tells you which of the glass tray, enamel tray, wire rack and air fry basket belongs in which mode. The weak point is space: 13.5 in tall plus the 6 in top clearance in that manual is 19.5 in, more than a common 18 in gap. It also asks for a separate 15 A or 20 A, 120 V circuit. Premium price class.
• Breville Combi Wave. The BMO870 book describes an oven function from 100°F to 450°F, with preheating, and recommends the trivet so hot air can circulate. Air fry runs from 400°F to 450°F with a 3-minute preheat and the crisp pan in the high position. Microwave output is 1100 W per an excerpt of Breville's US manual. It asks for 12 in above it and 8 in to adjacent walls, and must not go in a cabinet. See our Breville Combi Wave page. Premium price class.
• Toshiba ML2-EC10SA. Toshiba's page lists convection heat, plus 10 air fry presets, a 12.4 in turntable and a 1000 W microwave. At 11.8 in tall it is among the easiest to place under cabinets. We couldn't read Toshiba's manual, so temperatures and rack rules stay open. Mid-range class.
• Sharp SMC0985KS. Sharp's sheet rates convection, air fry, roast and bake all at 1450 W, so don't shop on that number. The inside is 13.39 × 14.17 × 7.76 in, with a basket and a baking pan in the box. Budget class.
• GE 4-in-1. The GE GCST10A1WBB^* is listed with air fry and a 1050 W microwave. We have no convection temperatures for this exact model. Treat it as an option to check.

What should I check before I buy?

• The mode list. Look for a named air fry mode if crisping is the point.
• The accessories. A rack, tray or basket makes each mode work. Our accessories guide lists what to look for.
• The pan you own. A round turntable limits what can spin. Measure your pan's diagonal, not just its width.
• The space around it. Panasonic's manual warns that outer surfaces and vents get hot in convection. See the clearance figures by model.
• The circuit. Sharp's SMC0985KS sheet lists a 20 A source, and Panasonic and Breville both talk about a circuit of its own. Ask an electrician if yours is unclear.

Mistakes to avoid: treating convection as air fry, using the wrong rack in microwave mode (Panasonic's chart says the wire rack, enamel tray and air fry basket stay out of microwave-only cooking), and expecting a full oven. Our size guide shows what these sizes mean. Panasonic also says grease left on the walls can build up and make the oven smoke.

What should I buy?

If you want convection and air fry together and have the headroom, buy the Panasonic HomeChef^*. Under low cabinets, buy the Toshiba ML2-EC10SA^* and accept that fewer details are confirmed. Want a toast setting too? See the microwave toaster oven air fryer combo, or combos with a convection oven. The best combos page has the wider field.