Altimo vs Sage 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. Sage counters with Sage the Combi Wave 3 in 1 Microwave (£349), alongside the SMO650SIL4GUE1 at £179 and SMO870BSS4GEU1 at £350. 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. Sage the Combi Wave 3 in 1 Microwave brings a 3-in-1 approach on the Combi Wave, backed by step-up models around £179 to £350, so the focus is not just reheating but combining microwave, grill and oven-style functions on the worktop. 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. Sage suits food-focused households, people without space for a built-in appliance and buyers who want a smarter countertop machine for crisping, reheating and compact cooking. It costs more than basic solo units, but may justify itself if it replaces frequent use of a full-size oven for snacks and smaller meals. 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 Sage if you want a premium countertop 3-in-1 microwave rather than a simple solo box"