Sharp Smart Microwave SMC1139FS
"The voice command is only useful when you are doing the finishing touches."
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Solid performer
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Makes great popcorn
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Slim design
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Alexa connectivity a hit or miss
The Sharp Smart Microwave is elegant, works well and can take over 70 commands from Alexa. This makes us wonder if all devices need to jump on the voice command cart as our homes get smarter. This isn't the first time we've tested our cooking skills with an attached work tool, but it won't be the last.
A silver lining
As for the microwaves, this sharp model is sharp. The front of the microwave, model SMC1449FS, is dipped in stainless steel, and the black pressure field with white lettering and blue start button adds to its appeal. This model would definitely feel at home in an updated modern kitchen.
At 12 x 20.3 x 14.9 inches in size and weighing a whopping 29.8 pounds, the microwave isn't the largest we've come across. But it's not the smallest either. The 1.4 cubic foot model takes up quite a bit of counter space. So keep this in mind if you don't have a lot of space, but if you put it under cabinets, there should still be plenty of space between the top of the microwave and the bottom of a cabinet.
Alexa, make me popcorn
The intelligent microwave works with Alexa. This is different from a product that Alexa is in. You can tell your Alexa device to tell the microwave to do something. And sometimes it actually does. Sounds like a phone game, doesn't it?
We are ahead of ourselves. Let's start at the beginning. There are three options for pairing Alexa devices (such as the Echo Dot) with the microwave: Zero Touch (Wi-Fi does the job), Barcode (scanning with your phone) or user guidance (manually adding the Steps to follow). Regardless of how you connect, WiFi is essential, which makes sense. How else would Alexa and the microwave communicate?
The chicken wasn't rubbery, parts of it were cooked.
We tried all three options on multiple devices and found that Wi-Fi is easiest for anyone who already has an Alexa network of devices. If you're just starting out with Alexa, the barcode option works fine. A note about Wi-Fi: once you've connected the microwave to your Wi-Fi network, this information will be used to program the clock. For some reason our internet is on the east coast (it has to do with or internet provider) so the clock is ET. We tried to program the clock manually. As long as the WiFi is connected, the clock is by default ET.
You can give 70 commands to the microwave (it doesn't respond to improvisation). Before you can tell him to do something, you need to actually put the food in the microwave, close it, and then ask to carry out a command. The voice command is only useful when you need to add the finishing touches to a dish and heat some vegetables or something else in the microwave to keep everything warm when you serve it.
In our tests, the performance with Alexa was hit or miss and left us more frustrated than anything else. We could get it running maybe half the time, and where we were in the house didn't seem to make a difference. We tried standing right next to the microwave – sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.
The main event
The good news is that the Sharp microwave does everything else really well. We have tested the 1,000 watt microwave for a few months and can see that it is a solid unit. We especially liked the Defrost, Potatoes, and Popcorn settings – three options we don't normally use because we fear they will ruin our food.
We put chicken breasts on the carousel in the microwave to thaw, put in the weight and let the microwave do the rest. When we took it out about nine minutes later, the chicken wasn't gummy, parts of it were cooked. After letting the chicken rest for a few minutes, we were able to cook it without any problems. We were equally pleased with the potato setting. In about eight minutes, a medium-sized spud came out with the perfect softness. We put it in the toaster for that crispy crust and had a delicious potato that took about 15 minutes from start to finish.
Sharp teamed up with Orville Redenbacher on the popcorn setting – and we managed to pop a perfect bag of popcorn. We bought a pack of Orville Redenbachers popcorn, put a bag in the microwave, and hit the popcorn button once. The time changed on the microwave's digital numeric keypad, it popped for about three minutes, and that was it. None of this was burned, and there was minimal grain at the bottom of the bag. The interesting thing is that the popcorn didn't sound like it was popping a lot.
Our opinion
The Sharp Smart Microwave is slightly better than the original Amazon Smart Oven with Alexa commands. However, the technology has not improved much. Don't let the claim “Work with Alexa” make you a reason to purchase this model.
Is there a better alternative?
There are some other microwaves that work with Alexa that are cheaper and smaller. If a microwave that works with Alexa is essential and you want a bigger, more powerful option, get this one. However, if Alexa connectivity isn't a must, there are plenty of microwaves available that don't cost that much.
How long it will take?
Microwaves should last between nine and 10 years. Read our guide to device longevity to learn more.
The Sharp Smart Microwave SMC1449FS comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty. The guarantee covers the magnetron tube for a further four years. As with all warranties, it is important to properly care for your microwave.
Should you buy it?
At around $ 170, the microwave costs more than the same model without the Alexa feature. If you want to buy it as a microwave, let's say do it (or save some batter and get the SMC1442CS version). If you buy it for the Alexa feature, it isn't quite there yet.
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