Sharp or Toshiba Microwave? The Real Difference Before You Buy

Who sells and repairs both brands in Egypt?

This is the most important point in the comparison, and it has changed recently. For many years, both Sharp and Toshiba were sold in Egypt through El-Araby Group. In December 2025, El-Araby announced that it ended all its manufacturing and commercial contracts for Toshiba home appliances by the end of 2025, stating that it continues after-sales service for all appliances sold under the El-Araby warranty. Sharp is still an El-Araby partner.

• Sharp: Sold through El-Araby, and some of its models on Amazon state that their country of origin is Egypt with a 2-year comprehensive warranty.
• Toshiba: The official Toshiba Egypt website is now named "Midea Electrics Egypt", and the new model pages on Amazon mention Midea as the manufacturer. Midea is the company that bought Toshiba home appliances back in 2016.

So the two brands are no longer under the same entity in Egypt. If you have an old Toshiba with an El-Araby warranty, El-Araby says it still services it. If you are buying a new Toshiba, read the warranty card to see who the guarantor is and what the customer service number is before you open the box.

Warranty

Sharp writes a 2-year comprehensive warranty on its grill model pages. Toshiba writes 10 years on the magnetron (the part that emits the waves) and 2 years on the remaining electrical parts in its new models. The magnetron is one of the most expensive spare parts, so a long warranty on it is a real advantage, but make sure it is written on the card and not just on the sales page.

Inverter and Specifications

• Toshiba: The new MW3 models feature an inverter, meaning smoother and continuous power instead of the device turning on and off. This makes a difference in defrosting and heating heavy food.
• Sharp: The R-250MGR grill model is non-inverter, but it has an ECO mode and 11 power levels. Inverter technology in Sharp is available in larger models like the R-32CNI.
• Convection: The Sharp R-32CNI is wider (32 liters) and more powerful (1100 watts). The Toshiba MW3-AC26 is smaller (26 liters) but features air frying and steam.

Size, Design, and Sound

In the 25-liter category, both are close in size. The Toshiba MW3-EG25PEI has a turntable of about 28.8 cm according to the sales page, and is available with a black mirror or gray door. The Sharp R-250MGR is available in silver and black with a mirror door. In the air fryer category, the difference is clearer: the Sharp R-32CNI is about 52 cm wide and 51 cm deep, so it needs a wide countertop, and the Toshiba MW3-AC26 is a bit smaller. The Toshiba air fryer lists its sound at 57 decibels, and Sharp does not write a sound figure. Before you choose, ask about the nearest authorized service center for the brand near you, especially if you live outside Cairo and Alexandria.

Common Complaints on Sales Pages

• Conflicting numbers: the number of menus in Sharp, the wattage in Toshiba, and the model number in the Toshiba air fryer. Rely on the box and manual.
• New Toshiba models still have few reviews, making it hard to judge their long-term durability.
• A buyer of an older Toshiba grill model wrote that the grill is not very useful, so do not buy a grill hoping it will do the work of an oven.

How to Choose?

If you want to heat and brown the top of food with a comprehensive warranty and a long-established trusted entity, choose Sharp. If daily defrosting and heating are your top priority and you want an inverter, choose Toshiba. In both cases, measure the appliance space, make sure it is 220 volts, and check who the seller is on Amazon and the type of warranty before hitting buy.