Microwave Ovens · Comparison
Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG vs Samsung MG23A3515AK: 23L Microwaves
Which should you buy?
Choose the Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG if you want to bake cakes as well as grill and reheat, and value 5 years of magnetron cover. Choose the Samsung MG23A3515AK if you only reheat and grill starters and want to spend less on an oven with an easy-clean ceramic cavity.
Choose the Panasonic 23L Convection Microwave Oven NN-CT353BFDG if
- You want to bake cakes and cookies
- You want Indian auto-cook menus that work without fiddling
- You want 5 years of cover on the magnetron
- You want a stainless cavity with Vapor Clean
Choose the Samsung 23L Grill Microwave Oven MG23A3515AK if
- You mainly reheat and grill, and never bake
- You want to pay close to the price of a solo oven
- You want a ceramic cavity with a 10-year cavity warranty
- You want a quieter oven
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Panasonic 23L Convection Microwave Oven NN-CT353BFDG vs Samsung 23L Grill Microwave Oven MG23A3515AK: side by side
| Panasonic 23L Convection Microwave Oven NN-CT353BFDG | Samsung 23L Grill Microwave Oven MG23A3515AK | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||
| Our grade | B+ 8.2 (better result) | B 7.7 |
| Test results | ||
| Reheat two cups of cooked rice How we test this : Reheat two cups of cooked rice | 150 s | 140 s (better result) |
| Convection preheat to 180 °C How we test this : Convection preheat to 180 °C | 9 min | Not tested |
| Sponge cake bake How we test this : Sponge cake bake | 32 min | Not tested |
| Paneer tikka on the grill How we test this : Paneer tikka on the grill | 14 min (better result) | 16 min |
| Noise in the loudest mode How we test this : Noise in the loudest mode | 58 dB | Not tested |
| Low-voltage running How we test this : Low-voltage running | Convection preheat about 3 min slower at 190 to 200 V | About 15% slower on the same reheat at 200 V |
| Noise in microwave mode How we test this : Noise in microwave mode | Not tested | 54 dB |
| Key specs | ||
| Price at review | MRP ₹15,350 | MRP ₹11,990 |
| Type | Convection with grill and combination modes | Grill microwave |
| Capacity | 23 L, 28.8 cm turntable | 23 L |
| Power | 800 W microwave, 1,200 W grill, 1,200 W convection | — |
| Auto-cook menus | 61 (Indian, Health, Kids, Express) | — |
| Cavity | Stainless steel | Ceramic enamel |
| Controls | Touch panel, 5 power levels, child lock | — |
| Warranty | 1 year on product, 5 years on magnetron | 1 year on product, 10 years on ceramic enamel cavity |
| Size and weight | 48.6 x 29.2 x 40.5 cm, 13.8 kg | — |
| Modes | — | Microwave, grill, combination, Grill Fry, Browning Plus |
Do you need convection, or is a grill microwave enough?
This is the real choice between these two 23 L ovens. The Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG is a convection microwave, so it bakes sponge cakes and cookies as well as grilling and reheating. The Samsung MG23A3515AK has a grill but no convection heater, so cakes come out raw inside and dark on top. If anyone at home bakes more than twice a month, buy the Panasonic. If your routine is rice, dal, milk, leftovers and the occasional tikka or toast, the Samsung does the job and costs noticeably less.
Which is better for paneer tikka and reheating?
Both grill paneer tikka to charred edges and a soft middle with one flip, the Panasonic slightly faster. The Samsung’s single grill heater means food needs turning, while its Grill Fry mode gives pakoras and cutlets a better crust than plain microwave. For reheating, both handle two cups of rice in under three minutes with a stir; the Samsung’s deep bowls of dal ran hotter at the corners than the centre, so stir halfway.
Which is easier to clean, and which is quieter?
The Samsung’s ceramic enamel cavity wiped clean with a damp cloth and resisted turmeric, and Samsung covers it for ten years. The Panasonic’s stainless cavity also resists turmeric and does not hold curry smells, and its Vapor Clean loosened baked-on splatter in a few minutes. The Samsung is the quieter oven, as it has no convection fan; the Panasonic’s fans are audible from the next room in a small flat.
What about warranty and service?
The Panasonic carries 5 years on the magnetron, the longest in our microwave reviews, with one year on the product. The Samsung carries one year on the product and ten years on the cavity enamel, not the magnetron. Samsung’s service centres reach most tier-two and many tier-three towns; Panasonic covers most tier-two cities, and installation visits may take a day or two after delivery.
Questions buyers ask
Can the Samsung MG23A3515AK bake a cake like the Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG?
No. The Samsung MG23A3515AK is a grill microwave without convection, so it cannot bake cakes or cookies properly. The Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG has convection and baked a 7-inch sponge evenly in our review.
Which grills paneer tikka better, the Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG or the Samsung MG23A3515AK?
Both char paneer tikka well with one flip. The Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG was a little quicker, at about 14 minutes against about 16 minutes for the Samsung MG23A3515AK.
Are the Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG and Samsung MG23A3515AK big enough for a family of four?
Yes, for reheating and grilling. Both have 23 L cavities. The Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG limits cake tins to about 8 inches, and the Samsung MG23A3515AK fits a thali plate and a 1.5-litre casserole.
Read the full reviews
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Microwave Ovens
Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG 23L Convection Microwave Review
The Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG is the convection microwave we would pick for a family of two to four who bake, grill and reheat daily, held back mainly by a 23-litre cavity that cannot take a large cake tin.
Editor’s Choice -
Microwave Ovens
Samsung MG23A3515AK 23L Grill Microwave Review
The Samsung MG23A3515AK is a good-value grill microwave for small families who reheat daily and grill starters, but it cannot bake cakes because it has no convection mode.
Best Value