The Panasonic NN-SN975S is a big countertop microwave. Its cooking chamber is bigger than other microwaves we've tested, including over-the-range models. Its controls include sensor cooking programs and a mute option. It has physical buttons instead of touch-sensitive ones, which you might like but they can also be more difficult to wipe clean.
Our Verdict
- Large cooking chamber.
- Heats food fast.
- Takes up a lot of space.
The Panasonic NN-SN975S is a very fast microwave. It has a high 1250-watt output power and heats food faster than some microwaves with similar power output, like the Breville the Smooth Wave.
- Large cooking chamber.
- Heats food fast.
- Takes up a lot of space.
Changelog
-
Updated Mar 23, 2026:
We mentioned the Panasonic NN-SN68QB in the In-Use Noise box for those who want a quieter option.
- Updated Mar 04, 2026: Version 1.1 of our microwave test bench adds a score for Internal Capacity and adds tests for Ease of Use and In-Use Noise. For a more detailed breakdown of the changes, see our full changelog.
- Updated Jul 10, 2024: Review published.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Panasonic NN-SN975S comes in one stainless steel variant. You can see the label for the unit we tested here.
If you encounter another variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Microwave Comparisons
The Panasonic NN-SN975S is a large countertop microwave. Its cooking chamber can accommodate big dishes, and it reheats food quickly. Unlike most microwaves, it has physical buttons. This microwave has all the usual features, like reheat and defrost modes, sensor cooking options, and a mute function. If you don't need a big microwave, the Panasonic NN-SN77HS is a good mid-sized option with similar features.
If you're still looking for a recommendation, check out the best microwaves and the best over-the-range microwaves.
The Panasonic NN-SN975S is a better microwave than the Panasonic NN-SN68QB for most people. They're both powerful options that cook quickly, and they both include cooking sensors for more hands-off cooking, but the NN-SN975S is easier and more pleasant to use. It has physical buttons, which are more responsive than the NN-SN68QB's membrane touch panel, and it includes buttons to mute or lock the controls. The NN-SN975S also has a larger internal capacity, so you can use it to heat up larger items, like a full casserole, but it takes up more space on your counter, too. The NN-SN68QB is quieter, so you may prefer it if noise is a priority for you or if you're short on space.
Test Results
It has the biggest cooking chamber of all the countertop microwaves we've tested by a pretty significant margin, making it suitable for heating food in casserole dishes or mixing bowls. The light inside makes it decently easy to see into the chamber.
Unlike most other microwaves, this one stands out a bit because it has real buttons instead of touch-sensitive ones. You might like their feel better, although this design makes the control panel a little harder to wipe clean. The button layout is a bit different, but you have most of the same options as other Panasonic microwaves, like the Panasonic NN-SC67NS or the Panasonic NN-SN67HS. There are sensor cooking, reheating, and defrost modes that detect steam and automatically calculate the cooking time. There are also 'Standing Time,' 'Keep Warm,' and 'Delayed Start' modes. Unlike the NN-SC67NS, it doesn't have a dedicated 'Beverage' button; instead, the 'Keep Warm' function has its own button.
This microwave is decently quiet, but if noise is a concern, you might prefer the Panasonic NN-SN68QB, which offers quieter operation.
Microwaves all heat food in shallow dishes quite similarly and evenly. Heating evenness depends on factors like what kind of food you're microwaving, how much of it, and in what container. If you're interested in knowing more about microwave performance, check out our investigation here.
Like with shallow dishes, you won't notice a difference between how different microwaves perform when evenly heating food in deeper dishes. Evenness depends on what you're heating, not what microwave you use. You can read more about our investigation into microwave performance here.