Midea 23L Microwave Oven Review: Digital Convenience for Every Kitchen

Review Summary: The Midea 23L Microwave Oven (M1-L213C) offers a generous 23L cavity, 800W variable microwave power, and 12 auto-cook menus with sleek stainless steel styling at ¥329 (~$46). It takes on the Galanz G90W25MSX (¥299), Xiaomi Mijia Microwave (¥399), and Sharp R-21K (¥599) in the competitive Chinese microwave market. ✅ Worth Buying — a balanced, reliable microwave that covers all the essentials without overcomplicating things.

Specifications

Item	Midea 23L M1-L213C	Galanz G90W25MSX	Xiaomi Mijia 20L	Sharp R-21K
Price	¥329 (~$46)	¥299 (~$42)	¥399 (~$55)	¥599 (~$83)
Capacity	23L	25L	20L	21L
Power	800W	900W	700W	800W
Display	LED Digital	LED Digital	OLED Digital	LED Digital
Auto Menus	12	8	15 (App)	10
Defrost	Weight/Time	Weight/Time	Weight/Time + Smart	Weight/Time
Turntable	315mm glass	340mm glass	270mm glass	315mm glass
Door	Pull handle	Push button	Push button	Pull handle
Interior	Stainless steel	Enamel paint	Stainless steel	Stainless steel

Design and Build Quality

The Midea 23L presents a classic microwave aesthetic with a brushed stainless steel body, dark glass door, and a central LED digital display flanked by membrane touch controls. The stainless steel exterior resists fingerprints better than the glossy white Xiaomi Mijia model. The pull-handle door opens smoothly with a dampened mechanism — no cheap springiness here.

The 23L interior has genuine stainless steel walls that resist staining and odors better than painted interiors found on budget Galanz models. The 315mm glass turntable provides ample space for standard dinner plates and medium-sized casserole dishes. Four height-adjustable feet level the unit on uneven surfaces.

The control panel features a clear LED display showing current time, cooking time, and function mode. The membrane keypad is responsive with satisfying tactile feedback. The 12 auto-cook menus cover common foods: popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverage, rice, pasta, chicken, fish, meat, reheat, and defrost.

JD Verified Buyer ★★★★★: “Solid build quality that feels better than the Galanz model I owned before. The stainless steel interior cleans easily and doesn’t hold odors. The pull handle is much more convenient than the push-button mechanism on some competitors.” 💡 Stainless steel interior and build quality are consistently praised.

Performance

The 800W output power handles standard microwave tasks competently. Reheating a plate of leftovers (rice + stir-fry) takes 2-3 minutes with even heat distribution — no cold spots in the center. The 12 auto-cook menus use pre-programmed power levels and times that work well for their intended foods. The popcorn setting reliably pops a standard 100g bag with minimal unpopped kernels.

The weight defrost function is particularly well-implemented. Enter the food weight (up to 2kg) and the microwave automatically calculates defrost time with intermittent power to prevent cooking edges. A 500g frozen chicken breast defrosts completely in about 8 minutes without any cooked spots.

One limitation: the 800W power is adequate but not speedy. Boiling a cup of water takes 2 minutes, while a 900W Galanz does it in 1:45. For most reheating and defrosting, the difference is negligible. For heavy microwave cooking, the Galanz 900W holds a small advantage.

The timer maxes at 99 minutes 59 seconds for cooking and the clock can be set to 12- or 24-hour format. The child lock (hold Stop for 3 seconds) is a useful safety feature.

JD Verified Buyer ★★★★: “Good reliable microwave. The 12 auto-cook menus are actually useful — I use the reheat, defrost, and popcorn presets regularly. The 23L fits standard dinner plates easily. The only thing I miss compared to my old Sharp is the sensor reheat function.” 💡 Auto-cook menus earn daily use and approval from most buyers.

What Chinese Users Say

Tang Q. — JD Verified Buyer ★★★★★: “Replaced a 10-year-old Galanz microwave with this Midea. The difference is significant — the stainless interior doesn’t stain, the digital controls are more precise, and the auto defrost works much better. The 23L size is perfect for our family of 3.” 💡 Upgrade experience confirms significant improvement over older models.

Lin W. — Tmall Verified Buyer ★★★★: “Good microwave for everyday use. The 12 presets cover what we need. The stainless interior is easy to clean. Touch controls are responsive. Minor issue: the beep sound is quite loud and cannot be adjusted or turned off.” 💡 Non-adjustable beep volume is the most common minor complaint.

Zhu H. — JD Verified Buyer ★★★★★: “Bought this for my parents who wanted something simple and reliable. The auto-cook menus make it easy for them to use without guessing times. The large display with big numbers is easy for aging eyes to read. Good value at ¥329.” 💡 Elderly-friendly interface design is appreciated by family buyers.

Song F. — SMZDM User ★★★★: “Good all-around microwave. The 800W is adequate for our needs. The build is better than the Galanz at the same price point. The auto-cook menu works well for standard items. My main recommendation: get a microwave cover lid to keep the interior clean.” 💡 Build quality edge over Galanz confirmed by comparison shoppers.

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Spacious 23L stainless steel interior
2. 12 auto-cook menus with well-tuned presets
3. Intelligent weight defrost function
4. Stainless steel body resists fingerprints
5. Large LED display with clear readout
6. Child lock safety feature
7. Pull-handle door with smooth mechanism
8. Good value at ¥329 for the feature set

Cons

1. 800W power slightly behind 900W competitors
2. No sensor cooking or inverter technology
3. Loud beep that cannot be silenced
4. Limited to standard microwave functions (no grill/convection)
5. Touch panel requires deliberate press — less tactile than dial controls

FAQ

Q1: Can I use metal containers in this microwave? No. Metal containers, aluminum foil wrap, and any metal-trimmed dishes should not be used in microwave mode. Use microwave-safe glass, ceramic, or labeled plastic containers.

Q2: How does the weight defrost function work? Enter the food weight using the keypad, and the microwave automatically calculates power levels and timing. It uses pulsed low-power cycles to defrost gradually, with audible prompts to turn food over halfway through.

Q3: Does the stainless steel interior scratch easily? The stainless steel is reasonably durable but can scratch from rough metal scouring pads. Use soft sponges or cloths for cleaning. Minor scratches don’t affect performance or hygiene.

Q4: Is this microwave energy-efficient? Standard microwave efficiency applies. The 800W unit draws approximately 1200W from the wall when operating. A typical 3-minute reheating session uses about 0.06 kWh at standard electricity rates.

Q5: How do I clean the interior and remove odors? For general cleaning, wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent. For odors, microwave a bowl of water with lemon juice or vinegar for 2 minutes, then wipe down. The stainless steel interior resists odor absorption better than painted interiors.

Verdict and Rating

The Midea 23L Microwave Oven is a reliable, well-built appliance that handles everyday microwave tasks with competence. It doesn’t have the power of the Galanz 900W or the smart features of the Xiaomi Mijia, but it strikes the best balance of build quality, capacity, and price. The stainless steel interior and exterior give it a premium feel that belies its ¥329 price.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.3/5)

• Heating Performance: 4.2/5
• Build & Design: 4.4/5
• Auto Menus: 4.3/5
• Ease of Use: 4.4/5
• Value for Money: 4.5/5

Recommendation: ✅ Worth Buying — The most balanced standard microwave in the ¥300-400 range. If you want a simple, well-built microwave with useful auto presets, this is the one.