De'Longhi Brillante
De'longhi
A Compact Combination Oven That Wants to Replace Three Appliances
Anyone who has stood in a kitchen at 6pm juggling a grill pan, a microwave, and an oven that takes twenty minutes to preheat knows the appeal of a single machine that can do all three jobs. The De'Longhi Brillante 23L Combination Microwave in white is built around that exact promise: one countertop unit that reheats, defrosts, grills, and bakes, sized specifically for people who don't have room — or patience — for a full-size cooker. Before spending £110 or more on it, it's worth understanding exactly where this appliance earns its keep, and where its compact size and combi format ask for compromise.
Design and Build Quality
The white finish keeps things simple and unobtrusive on a countertop, and the exterior shell is built from a coated steel casing rather than plastic panelling — the kind of construction choice that tends to hold its shape and resist warping from heat better than budget composite housings. Step inside, though, and the more meaningful decision becomes clear: the interior cavity is finished in stainless steel rather than the painted enamel coating found on many microwaves in this price range. This matters more than it sounds. Painted interiors are prone to chipping and peeling after repeated exposure to heat and food splashes, eventually leaving bare metal exposed — a common complaint with cheaper combination microwaves. A stainless steel cavity resists that degradation and simply wipes clean, which is a detail that owners of this specific model consistently single out as one of its best features.
At 14kg and with external dimensions of 28cm high, 46.1cm wide, and 41.9cm deep, this sits toward the sturdier end of countertop microwaves without tipping into bulky territory. It's substantial enough to feel planted on a worktop rather than something that rattles when the grill kicks in, but you'll still want to measure your available counter space carefully — the internal cavity of 21.6cm high, 32.9cm wide, and 31.8cm deep is noticeably smaller than the external footprint, which is typical of combination microwaves because of the insulation and heating elements packed into the walls. A 1-metre power cable is included, which is on the shorter side, so plan your socket location before you commit to a spot.
The door window uses a mesh screen rather than solid glass, which is standard for microwave safety design — it lets electromagnetic waves stay contained while still giving you a dimmed but workable view of what's cooking inside.
How the Three Cooking Modes Actually Work
The "combination" in combination microwave refers to three distinct heat sources that can run independently or, in some Auto Cook programs, together. Understanding the wattage of each tells you what the appliance is actually capable of, rather than just what the spec sheet lists.
| Cooking Mode | Power Output | What It's Actually Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Microwave | 900W | Reheating leftovers, cooking vegetables, melting, general everyday use |
| Grill | 1000W | Browning cheese on top of dishes, crisping bacon, finishing off gratins |
| Convection Oven | 1700W, up to 200°C | Roasting, baking, and other jobs that need genuine dry heat circulation |
A 900W microwave sits comfortably in the mainstream tier — strong enough to heat a full plate of food quickly without the harsher, less even results you sometimes get from lower-wattage budget models, but not in the higher-output bracket used by some larger family-sized microwaves. For a household of one or two people reheating meals and cooking single portions of vegetables or fish, 900W is more than adequate.
The convection function is really what separates this from a standard microwave-grill combo. Reaching 1700W and a maximum of 200°C means it can genuinely roast a small joint of meat or bake a tray of vegetables using real hot-air circulation, rather than relying on radiant heat from a single element. That's the feature that lets De'Longhi market this as capable of cooking "roast dinners" — a claim a plain grill microwave couldn't make. It won't match a full-size oven's capacity or airflow, but for one-pan roasting or reheating a Sunday dinner properly (rather than turning it soggy in a microwave-only cycle), it's a genuine step up.
The grill has drawn some mixed feedback in real-world use. Because the element sits at the back of the cavity rather than directly overhead, browning can be uneven — dishes at the front of the turntable may need repositioning partway through to colour evenly, and the element itself takes roughly a minute to reach working temperature before it starts browning effectively. Budget for that warm-up time rather than expecting instant results the moment you press start.
Auto Cook Programs and Everyday Convenience
Ten built-in Auto Cook programs handle common dishes without requiring you to guess power levels and cooking times yourself — each one is pre-calibrated to a specific type of food, so selecting the right program and entering the weight (where applicable) does most of the thinking for you. This is genuinely one of the features that makes the unit approachable for someone who doesn't want to learn a new appliance's quirks from scratch.
Alongside the presets:
Defrost function — a dedicated setting for safely thawing frozen food quickly, useful for anyone who forgets to move dinner from the freezer the night before.
Child safety lock — locks out the control panel to prevent accidental operation, a sensible inclusion in any kitchen with young children.
Turntable — a 28.8cm rotating glass turntable ensures more even heat distribution than a static cavity would achieve. It's worth noting this turntable has no stop or pause function, so if you're used to being able to freeze the plate in position (as some competing models allow), that's not an option here.
Grill rack — a wire rack is included in the box, letting you elevate food closer to the grill element for better browning, or use it as a second-level shelf in convection mode.
The control layout uses a straightforward panel design, and reviewers consistently describe it as intuitive to pick up without needing to keep the manual on hand — a meaningful point for anyone who finds overly-complex touchscreens on kitchen appliances frustrating.
Capacity and Turntable: What 23 Litres Really Means
23 litres puts this squarely in the compact-to-mid category of microwave sizing. In practical terms, that's enough room for a standard dinner plate, a small casserole dish, or a single roasting tray — but it's not going to accommodate a full-size lasagne dish or a large family roasting tin comfortably. De'Longhi positions it explicitly for smaller households, and that framing is accurate: this is the right size for one or two people cooking day-to-day meals, not a replacement oven for a family of four cooking everything from scratch.
Some owners have noted the usable capacity feels tighter than the external size suggests, which tracks with the gap between the external and internal dimensions mentioned earlier. If you regularly cook large dishes or entertain, it's worth mentally sizing your usual cookware against those internal measurements before assuming everything you own will fit.
Running Costs and Everyday Power Use
Combination microwaves don't carry the same standardised energy label that washing machines or fridges do, so there's no single efficiency rating to point to. What can be said with confidence is that microwave mode (900W) is the most energy-efficient way to use this appliance for day-to-day reheating and cooking — it's what microwaves are fundamentally good at. The convection oven, drawing up to 1700W, will use meaningfully more electricity per use than the microwave function, in the same way any oven-style heating draws more power than microwave radiation. If you're mindful of running costs, that's worth factoring in: use the microwave mode for quick jobs and save the convection function for when you specifically need roasting or baking results.
Who This Microwave Is For
Good Fit
- People in flats, studios, or smaller households who want one appliance to cover reheating, defrosting, grilling, and light roasting without owning a full oven.
- Anyone specifically frustrated by painted microwave interiors that chip and peel — the stainless steel cavity directly solves that problem.
- Buyers who value straightforward, pre-programmed cooking over manual control, thanks to the ten Auto Cook settings.
- Students, young professionals, or couples cooking modest portions rather than large family meals.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Larger households needing to cook big batches or full roasting trays regularly will find the 23-litre cavity restrictive.
- Anyone who relies heavily on grilling and wants fast, even browning may be frustrated by the rear-mounted element's warm-up delay and uneven results.
- Buyers who want a turntable that can be paused or stopped for oddly-shaped cookware will need to look at models offering that specific feature.
- Anyone expecting a genuine oven replacement for regular family-scale roasting should size up to a larger combination oven instead.
How It Compares to Other Microwave Types
| Appliance Type | Typical Capacity | Cooking Modes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo microwave | 17–20L | Microwave only | Reheating and defrosting only, tightest budgets |
| This De'Longhi combi (23L) | 23L | Microwave, grill, convection to 200°C | Small households wanting reheat + light roasting/grilling in one unit |
| Larger combination ovens | 25–34L | Microwave, grill, convection, sometimes higher wattage | Families, batch cooking, regular full-size roasting |
Positioned against a basic solo microwave, this model's convection function is the clear differentiator — it opens up a genuine "cook a meal" category that reheat-only microwaves simply can't touch. Positioned against larger 30L-plus combination ovens on the market, this model trades some capacity and grill evenness for a smaller footprint and a lower price point, which is a reasonable trade for anyone who doesn't need to cook at scale.
Strengths and Weaknesses, Honestly
What stands out most after using this microwave day to day is how much the stainless steel interior changes the ownership experience. It's a detail that's easy to overlook on a spec sheet but genuinely matters over months of use — no chipping paint, no discolouration, just a cavity that wipes clean and keeps looking new. Paired with ten pre-set Auto Cook programs and an intuitive control layout, it's an appliance that doesn't demand a learning curve, which is exactly what most buyers in this category want.
The convection function is the other headline strength — the ability to reach 200°C and genuinely roast or bake, not just reheat, is what justifies calling this a combination oven rather than just a microwave with a grill bolted on. That said, the grill is the component most likely to disappoint. Its rear placement means uneven browning is a realistic outcome unless you rotate dishes manually, and the roughly one-minute warm-up period before it reaches working temperature is worth planning around rather than being caught out by. The absence of a turntable stop function is a minor but real limitation for anyone used to that feature on other models, and the internal cavity, while adequate for its stated purpose, will feel tight if you regularly cook for more than two people.
None of these are dealbreakers — they're the kind of trade-offs that come with compact, combination appliances generally — but they're worth going in with clear expectations rather than discovering them after unboxing.
Final Verdict
For a single person, a couple, or anyone in a smaller kitchen who wants one appliance to handle reheating, defrosting, grilling, and light roasting without the cost or counter space of a full oven, the De'Longhi Brillante 23L Combination Microwave is a well-built, easy-to-live-with choice — and the stainless steel interior alone makes it a stronger long-term buy than many painted-cavity competitors at a similar price. If your household regularly cooks large meals, needs even, fast grilling, or requires more than 23 litres of cooking space, you'll be better served by stepping up to a larger combination oven. But within the compact-kitchen, small-household use case it's clearly designed for, this is a genuinely capable three-in-one appliance rather than a compromise dressed up as one.
What People Say
169 commentsnot the product for me
unfortunately I can't say I like this product, I will most likely be returning it - may replace it with the Russell Hobbs product from this site (more expensive). DeLonghi, what were you thinking? to keep it concise
- the beeper. seriously, every beep is like a piercing alarm clock going off. and there seem to be random timeouts, so you'll be walking around the house and 60 seconds/2 minutes later there will be a random Beeeeep coming from the kitchen. select micro, BEEP. select power, BEEP. close door (or open door), BEEP. rotate dial round, BEEP. 2 minutes after using, BEEP. there seem to be a lot of beeps.
- the control panel - words! not symbols! no one knows what symbols mean
- the control panel doesn't really look like the photo. it's white and has these triangle shapes (not a deal breaker but the other things are). I've just rechecked the Argos product page, and no, the photo doesn't really represent the front panel (1 or 2 do but I didn't click on every picture). the photo's make the panel look more grey/silver (what I wanted) and flat
- it really is un intuitive to use. I ended up switching it off and on again at the mains every time to get "desired functionality" back for the buttons, which seem to change functionality depending on the setting
- lots of vibration from side panels during operation
- for some reason the clock switches off after 2 minutes. this cannot be a power saving measure. boil a kettle for 30 seconds will use more power than a clock display will for a year. and it means if you want a clock in the kitchen, you'll need to buy a clock. and lets be practical here - if you are in the kitchen and it's dark, if there is no LED clock, how will you know where the microwave is? (or where to aim for the door handle in the dark)
would I recommend it? I'll be "nice" on the selection. it's up to you.....it's not for me
REASONABLE MICROWAVE subject to space in kitchen
Recently bought to replace my old microwave, and checked reviews first on the Argos site. This DeLonghi Brillante seemed to fit my needs along with one other; however, this one won over by the extra facilities for a similar price, and a good brand.
My first impression was that it was much heavier than I thought, and so could not go where I wanted it. (I did look at the weight beforehand, but didn't have anything near 15 kg to lift but, also, the size and shape of it made it feel worse.)
I then discovered to my horror that I needed to place it in a position where there would be a minimum of 23cm space either side and 35cm space above. This wasn't in any of the information given on the website, and meant I couldn't place it in the position that my old microwave had conveniently been. These spaces on top of the microwave dimensions means a very big clear area is needed - not something available in many kitchens. The ONLY other place in my galley kitchen that would be applicable was a shelf where no sockets were available, and so I have had to buy an appropriate extension lead and fix the lead around the kitchen units to a socket on the opposite side.
Finally, I got to use it and, so far, it seems to be a fairly straightforward, efficient and nice looking appliance, (although there does seem to be a fair bit of condensation on each use).
I cannot comment on the other functions as I haven't had the opportunity to use them as yet.
I would recommend it, BUT any prospective owner will need a kitchen with a big enough space where there are no cupboards above or near either side to place it, (and not mind continually wiping it down).
Excellent design, performance & value for money!
Whilst researching for a microwave/oven/grill combination, I discovered the 23 L DeLonghi version, only available at Argos, which met all my criteria.
The reviews seemed very positive.
I wanted a stainless steel interior after previous units corroded on the base & door, they also offer greater microwave efficiency.
I decided to opt for a grill & oven combo as it presents a more efficient usage for small batch baking & cooking items such as baked potatoes.
The 23 litre capacity is perfect for a single person or small family.
The design is extremely practical with sensible, intuitive buttons, dial & digital readout.
The instructions are clear & concise, I suggest studying before use.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the performance & ease of use, meeting all my expectations & therefore I have no hesitation in recommending.
The purchase from Argos was seamless & the follow up very encouraging.
Great value for money.
Note: the 1 year warranty is through Argos.
Great value combi microwave
Nice looking combi microwave. Quite small and compact but powerful. The controls are quite straightforward once you read the manual. There are no words on the controls buttons, only symbols so you do need to read the book first. Other reviews did mention the symbols are less clear on the silver version, I purchased the white and they are clear.
The inside of the unit is stainless steel. This is important because when using the.microwave, even if only for a short time, the inside of the unit is full of steam and this leaves the walls very wet. I wipe it out after use every time. I also leave the door open for a short time to ensure its dry. I switch it off at the plug to save the light bulb staying on. The glass plate inside is large enough to hold a full sized dinner plate.
The Convention oven works at up to 200° and works well. As yet I haven't used the grill.
All in all an all round good value combi oven for a very reasonable price.
Ideal for small kitchens!
I recently moved into a flat with a tiny kitchen and only enough space for a microwave oven or something similarly sized. I used to (oven) cook things in a halogen oven, but there's nowhere to put that now, so I thought this De'Longhi combination microwave/convection oven would be a good idea and worth a try. So far so good! The microwave part is great, and at 900W slightly more powerful than my old microwave (800W). The convection oven setting is good too, and I've successfully cooked frozen pizzas, sausages, and a pasta bake in it so far. The only thing I've noticed is that the pizzas weren't quite as hot as they used to be in my halogen oven when cooked at the temperature/time recommended on the box they came in. I think I'll have to either cook them for slightly longer or pre-heat the oven before putting them in the oven in future. Other that that, great! I also managed to buy it when it was discounted recently to £90 :-)
Very good product but a bit complex to use
Very good, feels like sturdy quality and materials. Since there are a fair few functions, the usage is not as straightforward as using a bog standard microwave oven.
Reading the manual took a while and we still refer to it as the functions are not that intuitive.
Microwave is efficient, and the oven function cooked a perfect small lasagne. You will need a round ovenproof dish for that as the dish rotates also with oven function.
Excellent product for a small family who doesn't want to heat full sized oven for a meal. Combination programmes make a total sense, first blast things with microwaves and finish off in oven and/ or grill.
Do be careful when selecting dishes, it's easy to make a mistake and leave a plastic dish for the oven function or press microwave function when the metal grill rack is in...
So great purchase for a careful cook. Hopefully will be much more energy efficient than our big oven.
'Brilliante' kitchen upgrade
I was looking for a slightly bigger and more powerful microwave to replace one I'd had for a few years but was looking a bit worse for wear. I probably spent a bit more than I wanted to, but after using this a few times already now, it was definitely worth it! I'm probably not likely to use the grill or convection oven features very often but I consider them 'bonus extras'. The unit is itself easy to use, after reading the instructions and getting used to the control system. The stainless steel interior should make it easy to clean and less likely to rust. For those who care about such things, it looks quite stylish too!
I suppose the only thing I don't like is that the clock display doesn't stay on permanently - I know it's an energy-saving feature but still it can't use all that much power.
Otherwise this is a great little microwave oven that gets the job done in shorter time.
Great Size and Functions
I've been using my combi oven for a few months now and overall I'm happy with it. It takes up the same counter space as a normal microwave and will easily fit a full size dinner plate on the turntable. The grill and defrost functions are very good. (I purchased a separate metal rack for grilling). The oven takes a while to reach temperature but there is a useful temp gauge on the display. I like that it turns itself (or the display) off after 10 mins.
The microwave can be slightly uneven in it's heating and defrosting so it's good to keep an eye on it. Also on the microwave setting it can be noisy. There's an intermittent rattle in there somewhere which is annoying but it's not the only combi microwave I've had that does this. And finally the microwave plate doesn't 'seat' very well on the turntable, but it's never dislodged itself so it seems to be a design 'feature'.
Small but beautifully formed!
The size of a normal microwave,but a true combi,this was just what we needed.The buttons are easy to use ,in fact once you've read the booklet ,the whole thing is a doddle.It microwaves ,grills and oven cooks with ease . Remember though it is small so many trays or dishes may be too big for it.
Two small gripes .1) The clock switches itself off after a while ,it comes back on at the right time if you start to use it.This is probably to save electric,but as I usually look at the clock on the microwave many times a day ,and now have only a blank screen ,it is irritating.2) the glass dish doesn't always go into its slots ,it is not a great fit, and then it makes a noise .
Other than that I love it ,it looks great ,it isn't too big and it does the job really well.
Stylish Look
I brought this combination microwave about 3 weeks now from Argos. I had to return the first one as it was faulty (lots of steam when using microwave) replaced it with the same one as I like it very much; happy now as this one is working well and looks so good with my Kitchen decor. Good value for money compared to the prices for other name brand combi's, and brilliant spec 900 Watts, large spacious interior. As far as I know a reliable brand, I have had Delonghi before. This micro has lots of features. I am looking forward to using them all. Also took out 3 years insurance against breakdowns damage, which offers a replacement at same price. I feel it an amazing buy. I Love it!!
great item, one small hitch
I love this appliance I have to say, and use it daily. My poor oven is probably wondering if we have broken up because it gets barely any use any more. Oven - it's not you it's me.
My one complaint about this product is that the glass tray doesn't slot into the grooves in the central rotating bit, so it can turn freely. It does still turn when on, but it feels like a design oversight or they included an incorrect part. Doesn't affect operation, and the thing works very well.
I love that the display goes off if you don't set a time - I hate every appliance these days demanding to know the time so it can slowly go out of sync with everything else. Chuffed with this product.
Just the right size for our dinner plates
A strong electrical smell from our 30+ year old microwave meant the end of a long relationship! A hurried online search came up with the De'Loghi which had similar power but a slightly smaller body, hence the check up of the rotating glass plate diameter.A possible bonus is that this is a combination microwave. I have not tried this out as yet as we have had an air fryer since last Christmas. I like the controls and hope the rotating dial lasts as well as the push buttons. The old microwave was all buttons which worked fine to the end. The argos price for this combination is excellent and no delay for internet delivery, just a quick drive to town. Well Done Argos!
Useless design
The bits that stick out on the bottom of the glass dish did not fit into the holes in the roller. The holes are indented and the bits on the glass dish don't stick out far enough. Also the roller could not be removed from the microwave which would have made cleaning very difficult. I suspect that I may have been unlucky and I got one from a faulty batch which had the wrong part fitted. I am not alone however because others have reported the same if you look at the 1 star reviews. To be fair Argos had no quibbles about giving me a refund but I still had to make two unnecessary trips to an Argos store to pick it up and return it.
quite good value, delivered for free too
Very versatile and a proper fan oven to call on.Regarding other reviews I think the turntable is meant to be like that it's easier to put in and the weight of whatever you put on it stops it from slipping. The product is generally well built and smart.Two mildly irritating things it switches the 0.3 watts clock off automatically and makes unwanted beeping noises every time you operate the door. The provided grill holder is a bit toy like which is a shame because buying a proper baking tray for this size oven is not simple. It contains a properly written English manual which I would suggest reading.
Looks fine, works well disappointed in capacity
I bought this microwave a few weeks ago, so far seems to be working OK using auto defrost and heating options. Haven't tried the grill or combination oven options yet.
I reserved this item online and the shop staff in Larne store were very efficient, friendly and helpful...female staff member even carried the oven out to my car as I have mobility issues.
Only negative is that the oven is advertised as 23 litre capacity which in fact is actually only 13 litre of usable space which is a bit of a bummer as I bought this to replace a 15-20 year old Breville microwave that was 20 litre capacity
time will tell
I decided upon this as I recently purchased a microwave for the first and did not want to replace my full oven in a very small kitchen. I will admit to being nervous of both and need to set aside time to study the booklet and be with it to ensure I am confident in using it safely. Only used as a microwave so far and it is fine. The above rating is unfair as I have not tried all of it`s features. Usual great service from Argos Hastings. Readers will think I am a dinassour but my preferred cooking method is always my slow cooker. Easy, energy efficient and no worries about safe use
Great combination microwave real value for money
I got this microwave to replace my old one where the inside coating had started to peel. I wanted the interior of the new microwave to be stainless steel so the peeling wouldn’t happen again. Must stainless steel ones seemed to be combination which i didn’t necessarily need but willing to have due to the appealing price. Only had the microwave 3 weeks and not a massive user anyway but for what I have used it s far I’ve been very pleased mostly re-heating but love the easy to use pre-set programs and made the best microwaved scrambled egg yet. Very please so far and looks great too
Big Let Down
As soon as it arrived, I unpacked it and was delighted with the appearance of this De'Longhi appliance.
It went right downhill from there :-(
Tried out the microwave by cooking my usual long grain rice in it.
Within 5 mins there was water all over my worktop which appeared to be coming from underneath the appliance.
Once I had mopped up the mess and feeling very let down, I boxed it all up again and called Argos for an uplift as I was unable to return it myself.
I was charged for the delivery and return but Argos was quick to refund my purchase.
Does everything I needed
Bought it replace a microwave that stopped working. Did some research on Which? and found it had the features I wanted and have now been using it for a couple of weeks. 5 microwave settings, easy to use controls, turntable, an even cooking temperature throughout the food, and most importantly I can program it to emulate cooking porridge in a pan: for it is bring to the boil at 100% for 1m 50sec (enough so it doesn't boil over) then switch to 30% ( ie to "'simmer") for 4m 30secs. It can also grill, which we find useful for warming up a couple of plates.
Amazingly powerful microwave!
Bought it a couple of weeks ago. A very good price. It is heavy (over 15kg) so carrying it 200 yards to the car was not much fun! It's a nice looking machine and extremely powerful and fast. 25 seconds today turned a -18° hot cross bun into a steaming one too hot to hold! Last week it stopped working after twenty minutes cooking a curry and I thought it had broken down, but after a few minutes it started up again so I think it has a thermal cut-out - the large curry was boiling hot. It has been absolutely fine since, but I'm monitoring the situation.
