I’m not sure what you’re referring to ”low profile “? Mine is mounted in the cabinet above my range .... my only complaint is that it’s mounted a little too high. Even though I’m tall , I would prefer it a little lower “chest level”. Because I’m tall , I hate them mounted beneath the countertop ... I just spent a few days at a friends ‘ house, microwave was mounted so low I almost had to get on my knees to use it:) ....

I just wish mine had a vent all the way to the outside of the house - apparently it’s not common to see that here but standard in SoCal where we used to live.

Cabinets have to be functional or it won’t matter if an appliance is low profile, you’ll hate using something that doesn’t fit with the space and setup.

The cons are the same as for any OTR microwave, with the addition of price. Hopefully, if this one is successful, similar ones will become more widely available and less expensive, but they will still be a poor second to a properly vented range hood when you have a choice of which to install.

IMO there are no pros to OTR microwaves. The only time I have had to use one is in condos where there is no proper venting for cooking. Get a nice MW in drwaer if you want to hide it and get a proper hood for the stove.

I don’t mind the OTR, it gives me the counter space for other things that aren’t a microwave. When buying a house that won’t be seeing a full kitchen gut and reno there are things that have to be tolerated and some stuff just isn’t a priority for what the budget allows. Kinda like ‘do I want to replace the laminate countertop or can I live with an OTR micro so I can replace the countertop with granite and still afford new flooring’ type of decision making.

If your microwave is over your cooktop, then you have no vent hood, or it is the special type that comes with that special microwave, and it is vastly inferior.

If all you do is warm up frozen food in a microwave, get a little microwave and sit it on your counter, it won't take up that much space, and get a proper hood over your cooktop and make sure it is vented to the outside.

All cons, as far as I can tell. Firstly, it's a microwave. Hate them, never use one, don't own one. Secondly, they're pretty poor at venting/exhaust.

It really depends on the size of your kitchen and whether you have any other place to put a microwave. With limited counter space, there is often no option - there was no option in my old kitchen layout.

The only pro is that the microwave is off the counter - reducing clutter. If you have sufficient space so this isn't an issue, there is no reason to put the microwave over the cooktop or stove.

To some extent, in my experience, it depends on how you use your kitchen. I never even bothered to turn the vent on with my old microwave/vent because it did nothing but make noise but I also didn't fry a lot so the whole venting thing wasn't a huge factor in my lifestyle.

The cons are all that others have stated on this thread.

The other con of the particular microwave discussed in this thread is that you can't put anything taller than a big latte cup in it. For most people that's totally not an issue, but if you like to put tall casseroles in the micro, it conceivably might be.

I meant to link to this discussion before:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/is-there-a-small-over-the-range-microwave-dsvw-vd~2696070?n=195

There's some hands-on discussion of that model at the very end of the thread.

We're talking about pros and cons of Whirlpool's new "low profile" design relative to standard OTRs rather than pros and cons of OTRs in general, right?

FWIW, we've had discussions of using vented OTRS over even pro-style ranges in small kitchens with some folks reporting acceptable results despite the limitations of OTRs. You might check out the discussion in [this link[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/which-otr-for-an-nxr-range-dsvw-vd~2306961) for an example from several years ago.

But assuming your questions are about low-profile versus standard, then, quite frankly, the only possible con that I see for you is this. Standard OTRs hang down 16 or 17 inches from the cabinets. The new slim WP units only hang down about 11" which means the their oven floors will be about 5 inches or so higher up. You will have to lift containers, plates, & etc. another five or so inches higher to get them into the low-profile MW.

YMMV on whether that will or will not be an issue in your kitchen.

OTOH, the low-profile WP models have greater depth than standard OTRs. Standard OTRs run roughly 15 inches deep. The new WP units are (IIRC) a bit over 18 inches deep. So, not only does that leave more usable space beneath them, you don't have reach out quite so far without support when putting things in and taking them out.

The extra depth also could -- in theory -- mean a slight improvement in capturing steam and vapors from pans on the front burners of your stove or cooktop if venting to the exterior. This won't matter one way or the other if you run the OTR in recirculating modes as those are all ineffective generally.

If your new OTR will be externally vented, the WP units' 400 CFM vent fan and their extra depth may give you a bit better extraction than with an existing older OTR with fans with much lower CFMs. Standard depth OTRs basically only extend out enough to capture from pans on the rear burners.

Still, the new WP units only extend out 18" which is about the same depth as found with inexpensive hoods. However, many inexpensive vent hoods have actual canopies which assist in collecting cooking vapors. The flat base of the WP OTR units, combined with their elevation means that vapors can fan out more, offsetting some of the slight benefit of their bases' greater surface area.

Have you considered maybe getting a hood for the range and hanging a smaller microwave under a cabinet elsewhere in the kitchen? I did that in my kitchen with one of the slimmer GE under-cabinet MWs. My GE MW is roughly 23" W x 12"D x 11" high. That leaves some usable counter space beneath it (at least for me) and it puts the microwave at a more ergonomic height for putting things in and taking them out. Plus, I don't have to lean over a hot stove when doing so.

Yes, I am referring to the new "low profile" design relative to standard OTRs rather than pros and cons of OTRs in general.

We have limited counter space so I am hesitant to put a stand alone microwave on a counter.

I am considering the low profile microwave to replace a standard inexpensive range hood. I currently use a counter top microwave (actually on a stand just outside my galley kitchen). I don't want to replace the cabinets and the OTR cabinet is too low to use a standard OTR microwave. The stated concerns of the microwave being too high won't apply since it will be mounted lower due to the cabinet. In my opinion, this is the only advantage of the low profile design--that it can be mounted in situations that don't allow a standard OTR microwave to fit. The compromises are: reduced interior height, increased price, and increased extension beyond the cabinet. But, I am not sure I want to deal with the aesthetics of the microwave sticking out 6". I know that the current range hood sticks out that far, but I'm used to that. I may just do what jwvideo suggested and mount a small microwave under the cabinet and keep a standard hood. I'm also going to see if I can find someplace that actually has one of the low profile microwaves installed with 12" depth cabinets so I can make an informed decision. I'm thinking of selling in about a year and I will let the new owners deal with a big remodel. I could also just put a small microwave on the counter or remove it entirely when I am selling.

While I definitely see the pros of this kind of OTR in situations where that's the only solution, an OTR where you can have an actual hood is a major downgrade. They are all much worse at removing vapors than the crummiest hood is.

There are hundreds of reviews for the Whirlpool low-profile microwaves at Home Depot (e.g., this in stainless steel on sale for $300).

Thanks. I guess if it doesn't stick out any farther than the existing hood it should be OK. I would just have to get used to the different look. It looks great in your kitchen.

I also should have mentioned that I do not have any venting to the exterior so that any range hood I install would be recirculating just like the one I already have. I want to change that out anyway since it doesn't match my other appliances. None of the recirculating hoods do much so I probably won't be losing anything with the microwave.

I have an OTC microwave because I had no other choice. My one con is the venting. The low profile touts "Remove smoke, odor and moisture with high performance venting”.

Can’t imagine how that would work differently than the Whirlpool I have now…

And, the low profile is small, so I guess it depends on how it is used.

We chose the low profile microwave by Whirlpool just to give us a little more space over the range. It won't be installed until 2019 so no knowledge on the pros and cons. It was a compromise between my husband and I on having a range hood or a base cabinet microwave.

We purchased the Kitchenaid low profile microwave range hood with an exceptional 900 cfm compared to the Whirlpool which was 400cfm. It's been about a year now and it works very well in removing the odors and yes it vents outside. We chose the this option cause it takes care of two issues at once.

I was interested in the low profile over the range microwave but have read recently in Houzz that it is much better to get a range hood (not a microwave range hood) since they have higher CFM.

I want something quiet and am considering the Zephyr Typhoon 30" Stainless Steel Quiet Under-Cabinet Range Wall Hood AK2100BS (the word "quiet" is part of the description).

Reviewers state that it does an excellent job of moving cooking odors out of the house and the first two speeds are very quiet (the third, and highest, speed is noisier).

@Rockit Levy: "We purchased the Kitchenaid low profile microwave range hood with an exceptional 900 cfm compared to the Whirlpool which was 400cfm."

The KitchenAid is 500 cfm and the Whirlpool is 400 cfm. Otherwise they're nearly identical and the KitchenAid costs 55% more.

HI -- All I am going to say is ... don't get one ...look at the drawer microwave instead !

Following this discussion even tho original post is older. I have been waiting for the right appliance sale to get the Whirlpool low profile over the range MR.
I don’t have the luxury of space for a drawer style MW though I would happily take one if my small, island-less kitchen would accommodate it. The lower cabinets in this kitchen are almost all doors, with just a few drawers above some of them. So my choices are either over the range (to replace the black behemoth installed now) or countertop style. I’d gain a full 6” of space between stove top and bottom of vent/microwave with the OTR low profile, and keep my not too abundant counter space.
Though not an ideal choice, there is a market for these things and I appreciate the reviews of people who have them.

Is it true Whirlpool makes most of these which are then rebranded and re-priced?

Scroll down the Whirlpool corporate page to see all the Whirlpool brands of which KitchenAid is just one.

It's common for appliance manufacturers to have brands for various markets. Haier, for example, sells products under Haier, Hotpoint, GE, Profile, Cafe, and Monogram brands but some products are very similar across brands but have very different prices. You really have to review product specs, photos, and user guides to make sure you're not just paying an upcharge for the label on the door.

Sharp makes all those expensive microwave drawers.

This is for "wdccruise" you are totally correct that the Kitchenaid is 500cfm, however those results are based on the installation. You have better performance of the dual fans with venting outside and removing the charcoal filters. I could only find this information listed on the box which is bizarre. Thanks for pointing this out.

I’m thinking of getting the KitchenAid 500 cfm model. Was wondering if you have feedback about these:

1. How is the noise level of the fan. The specs says whisper quiet - is it really so and quieter compared to the whirlpool version?
2. How do you find the ability of the fan to extract odor for outside vented installation? Is it effective ?

I did end up purchasing the Kitchenaid Low Profile microwave. I originally wanted the Zephyr Typhoon 30" Stainless Steel Quiet Under-Cabinet Range Wall Hood AK2100BS. I could have done without a microwave (I never use it) but another family member uses one daily and we have limited counter space to accommodate a microwave on the counter.

I like the KitchenAid Low Profile microwave very much. It is very stylish and streamlined, creating a much less bulky appearance than our former standard size OTR microwave. There is a two setting option for the lights and they are very bright. There is a four speed fan and it is somewhat noisy on the highest speed, which I expected. The fan does a fairly good job at removing smoke / odors and I can actually see the cooking smoke / fumes going upwards into the exhaust fan but I still do smell some small residual cooking odors in the home. We have outside venting.

I don't do wok cooking or anything extreme so it works for my needs at this time. If I can answer any further questions regarding this item, please let me know.

Architectural Notice how is the Kitchenaid Low Profile microwave at removing moisture from cooking soup etc.?