Altimo vs Russell Hobbs Microwaves

Altimo is represented by Altimo MMW701S (£54), with the MMW701W white and MMW701B black 700W 20L models, both at £54. It sits as an ultra-budget 20L freestanding line, aimed at very low-cost solo microwaving. Russell Hobbs counters with Russell Hobbs RHM2076B (£89.99), alongside the RHM2076S at £79 and RHMM701B-N at £79.99. The choice is less about one winner than about fit, cooking style and budget.

Technically, Altimo MMW701S brings a 700W, 20L solo format with five cooking power levels, quick defrost and a manual kitchen timer, available in silver, white and black. Russell Hobbs RHM2076B brings a selection around the £79 to £89.99 mark, centred on compact freestanding solo microwaves for reheating, defrosting and simple programme use rather than convection or grill cooking. So compare installation style, litre capacity, wattage and whether the appliance is solo, grill or full combination. Finish matters: a fitted gloss or stainless look feels very different from a plug-in worktop microwave.

Altimo suits students, landlords, spare rooms, offices and anyone needing basic reheating for the smallest outlay. The £54 price is the main value case; it will not replace an oven, but it can handle drinks, ready meals and defrosting cheaply. Russell Hobbs suits first kitchens, offices, holiday lets and buyers who want a recognised British high-street appliance name at a low price. The value is the low replacement cost and easy placement; energy payback is secondary because these models are bought for convenience and affordability. Energy payback is usually modest on microwaves, so value is more about avoiding wasted oven use, saving worktop space or keeping replacement cost low.

Bottom line: "choose Altimo if you need the lowest-cost 20L 700W microwave with manual controls / opt for Russell Hobbs if you want a familiar budget freestanding microwave for everyday reheating"