@bmorepanic appreciate the thought but it's a matter of the cost, our budget is $1000 tops and the drawer option is more than double that.

Not particularly relevant to base cabinet installation, but to answer the question: I have a Sharp OTC model. It has a side hinged door. However, in its specific location an oven type drop down door would be more convenient. In my case OTC, I would be equally convenienced with an awing-type overhead hinged door configuration.

"We definitely want a built-in microwave but are stuck between the newer 'drop down door' model...compare to a traditional hinged swinging door model."

Neither is a good idea because the oven will be too low:

• You won't be able to easily operate the control panel which is designed for viewing at roughly eye level.
• You won't be able to easily see the turntable to put food on it or remove cooked food.
• You'll have to get down on your knees to see what's cooking.

Get an over-the-range model, a countertop model, or a built-in model mounted higher.

if your budge is 1K tops, then do the built in version.

When I redid my kitchen I did a lot of research on them. I had an OTR and hated it. Wanted to move one into my island. After tons of reserach on the rough in dimesions, I settled on the GE Profile (make SURE you know what the rough in measurements are. Make sure you get a micro that is OK for built in. some need extra clearance for venting. I didn't have enough depth to put this in my island. Under the oven was perfect because I had the room and it was already wired.

I didn't want the drop down model becasue they were too slow! Who has time to stand there while the door sllloooowwwlllyy opens to warm up my coffee?? not me.

I ended up modifying the area below my wall oven to fit this Profile.

here's the before

It's the 1.5 cub in model with the 27" trim kit.

after

most doors swing open from right to left, so make sure you consider that in your location.

An oven of the design shown above would be a poor choice because the button that opens the door (in the lower right-hand corner) would be inconveniently located less than two feet above the floor.

We inherited a side hinged door model beneath the counter. I am quite short. And I find it very inconvenient to use. I have to get down on my knees to use the controls. A possible consideration is that a drop down door will take up a few less inches of aisle room than a door with a side hinge. If you have a tight aisle, this might be an issue. Do you have adequate space for a counter top model? Or an area in a pantry where a microwave could be placed? A shelf?

@Steph Castonguay Ours is a drop down and we love it. I've only had the chance to use it a few times but it's fairly quiet and quick. I much prefer it over a swing door.

@Lisa: "Ours is a drop down and we love it."

That looks like an expensive Sharp drawer microwave which he wrote he didn't want.

@wdccruise then you know more than me lol. Our builder included the microwave so I have no clue what brand it is. All I know is I couldn't figure out how to open the damn thing and needed a microwave lesson.

Your budget is $1.000? I found a 24" Sharp MW for $97 above that -- would that be OK? Is there something else you can change to gain $100?

It's on both Amazon & AJ Madison. If you wait until Black Friday, they might go down a bit.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sharp-KB-6524PS-24-Inch-Microwave-Stainless/dp/B001QFYDSI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

AJ Madison: https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/KB6524PSY.html

To WDCCruise's comment -- it looks Lisa has a DRAWER that opens out (like a drawer), not a swing down/oven door type.

I agree with her, though -- we also have a Sharp MW drawer and love it! When we build again, it's one of the few things my DH has requested -- a MW drawer!

I have an Advantium speed oven and it has the pull down door. It is great and I would definitely recommend it over a side swing door under a base cabinet. The controls being on top rather than on bottom make a huge difference at that height.

ETA: Frigidaire Galley has a pull down door model for under $1,000 (barely) that I suspect will work fine. It is a pull down door so you don't have to wait for the door to open automatically. I believe there is a cheaper Samsung version but right now I would slam my nuggets in the door a few times before buying a Samsung appliance again.

wdcruise, it's not incovenient for me. It's simple to use. I use the MW to warm up drinks or simple items. And as I've stated, it was the only place in my kitchen where I could retro fit it. Obviously someone building a brand new kitchen won't have to do that.

@bry911: "Frigidaire Galley has a pull down door model for under $1,000 (barely) that I suspect will work fine."

The Frigidaire FGMO3067UF is $1124 at Home Depot.

I am a firm believer in mock ups. Find a box the height of the bottom of the microwave and place your existing microwave on it in the middle of your current kitchen. Use it, everyone in your family who normally uses it, for three or four days. What do you think? We used a Sharp under the CABINET, not over the range. $350 three years ago. It attaches to the wall with a sturdy metal bracket. Because it is deeper than a regular upper cabinet, we had it built out to the front to back measurement of the microwave. We installed it level with the bottom of our upper cabinets. In a perfect world, meaning I would have had the space, I would have installed a microwave drawer because I love the height and the convenience. Our daughter has the drawer and we all love it best. It is considerably more expensive than the $ you want to spend. Otherwise, a microwave beneath the island counter is too low for the two cooks in our family. The under the cabinet MW has all the controls at eye level.

I have a Miele microwave with a drop-down door and I LOVE it. I've had it for about 5 years. They are expensive, however. The Miele website shows one similar to mine for $2000 (mine was $1500 five years ago). It does not do anything besides microwaving -- no browning, convection, steaming, etc. It has a stainless steel interior which I also love -- so easy to clean. I have mine at a level where its lower edge is at the level of my 36-inch high countertop and it is just perfect.

Just to say, there's nothing "newer" about a drop-down door (like a regular oven) on a microwave. Amana produced many models designed as such in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Never heard of an Amana Radarange, the grandaddy of the home microwave oven?

Amana Radarange

I have a Miele speed oven installed undercounter in both of my kitchens so they have drop down doors.. I made sure to get models with knobs that control a bunch of the functions, not completely touchscreen. I am short but everyone else in the family is very tall. No issues. We operate a lot from memory. In the kitchen with the older unit, we know that two knob turns to the left turns on the MW function. In the kitchen with the newer unit, I just press minute plus which is all I ever use anyway. My point is that if your MW is simple enough to operate such that you are not bending down to see the controls all the time, you should be fine.

Pic of the newer unit. Minute plus button is all I ever use when operating as a MW.