Compare product fit and check retailer availability
A microwave and an air fryer can crowd a kitchen bench before the kettle and toaster arrive. A convection microwave with an air-fry mode offers another approach: reheating, baking, grilling and crisping in one appliance. Whether that improves your kitchen depends on the meals you cook and the space the appliance needs while operating.
A combination appliance may replace two machines, but it still has one cooking cavity. If you often microwave vegetables while an air fryer cooks the main course, combining those jobs can introduce a queue. If you mainly reheat lunch and occasionally bake or roast a small meal, the same trade-off may be worthwhile.
Choose around the meal you cook most often
- Replace the microwave and cook in stages. Compare the 27 L Panasonic and 34 L Panasonic. Measure your widest dish as well as the bench space for the door and ventilation.
- Keep the microwave and crisp a side. The Philips 4.2 L single drawer lets you cook a small batch while the microwave reheats the rest of dinner.
- Cook a main and a side at different settings. The Philips 6 L + 3 L dual drawer gives each food its own space. Check whether the smaller drawer fits your usual side.
If your current setup already handles these meals, start by clearing the prep space before replacing either appliance.
Compare combination microwaves and basket air fryers
First decide which foods need to cook at the same time. Compare a combination oven for meals cooked in stages, or a separate drawer for use alongside your microwave. Check your own dish or portion size before ordering.
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Compare the fit, main drawback and retailer availability for each option.
| Option | May suit | Check first | Retailer prices and availability |
|---|---|---|---|
 Panasonic NN-CD88QSQPQ 34L 4-in-1 Convection Microwave Combination microwave with air-fry mode | You want a larger single cavity for sequential cooking. | 34 L cavity · 560 mm wide Check your roasting dish, room to open the door and the model-specific ventilation requirements. | |
 Panasonic NN-CD58RSQPQ 27 L combination microwave 27 L combination microwave | One permanent benchtop position for reheating and occasional air frying in sequence. | 27 L cavity · 340 mm turntable Compare your largest dish with the 340 mm turntable. Panasonic specifies countertop use only. | |
 Philips NA220/00 4.2 L single-basket air fryer 4.2 L single-basket air fryer | Small portions cooked alongside a dish heating in the microwave. | One 4.2 L drawer There is one cooking zone. Check the usable basket area for your usual portion and allow space to pull the drawer forward. | |
 Philips NA352/00 6 L + 3 L dual-basket air fryer 6 L + 3 L dual-basket air fryer | A main and a smaller side cooked separately while the microwave stays free. | Separate 6 L and 3 L drawers The 9 L total is split across unequal drawers. Check whether your side fits the 3 L drawer and allow room to pull both drawers out. |
More about each option
Combination microwave with air-fry mode
Panasonic NN-CD88QSQPQ 34L 4-in-1 Convection Microwave
A 34 L microwave, convection oven, grill and air-fry combination for households that can use one cavity for several sequential cooking tasks.
Good fit for
households replacing a microwave and regularly using occasional baking, grilling or air frying
Check before buying
Its 560 x 343 x 450 mm body needs additional ventilation and door space; at 18 kg it is awkward to move daily.
Research-supported option
More suitability and drawbacks
May suit: households replacing a microwave and regularly using occasional baking, grilling or air frying; cooks with a permanent ventilated position who can sequence meals through one cavity.
May not suit: households needing independent microwave and air-fryer cooking at the same time; tight cupboards or benches that cannot meet the exact installation requirements; buyers whose existing air fryer already handles their meals satisfactorily.
Drawbacks to consider:
- Its 560 x 343 x 450 mm body needs additional ventilation and door space; at 18 kg it is awkward to move daily.
- One cavity cannot independently microwave a separate dish while air frying another.
- Air-fry settings and accessories take learning; UK family-model testing found variable crisping, so familiar basket-air-fryer recipes may need adjustment.
- Retailer owner feedback may be incentivised and does not establish long-term reliability.
Evidence confidence: moderate. Last reviewed 14 October 2026. Research-based assessment; we have not tested this product firsthand.
27 L combination microwave
Panasonic NN-CD58RSQPQ 27 L combination microwave
Replace a microwave and air fry in the same cavity. The 27 L Panasonic includes an air-fry basket, wire rack and enamel tray. Its turntable is 340 mm across.
Good fit for
one permanent benchtop position for reheating and occasional air frying in sequence
Check before buying
Compare your largest dish with the 340 mm turntable. Panasonic specifies countertop use only.
Research-supported option
More suitability and drawbacks
May suit: one permanent benchtop position for reheating and occasional air frying in sequence.
May not suit: a built-in cavity or meals that need the microwave and a separate air fryer at the same time.
Drawbacks to consider:
- Compare your largest dish with the 340 mm turntable. Panasonic specifies countertop use only.
Evidence confidence: moderate. Last reviewed 6 November 2026. Research-based assessment; we have not tested this product firsthand.
4.2 L single-basket air fryer
Philips NA220/00 4.2 L single-basket air fryer
Keep your working microwave and use a separate 4.2 L drawer for chips or a side dish. A window lets you check browning without pulling the drawer out.
Good fit for
small portions cooked alongside a dish heating in the microwave
Check before buying
There is one cooking zone. Check the usable basket area for your usual portion and allow space to pull the drawer forward.
Research-supported option
More suitability and drawbacks
May suit: small portions cooked alongside a dish heating in the microwave.
May not suit: two foods that need different temperatures in the air fryer at the same time.
Drawbacks to consider:
- There is one cooking zone. Check the usable basket area for your usual portion and allow space to pull the drawer forward.
Evidence confidence: moderate. Last reviewed 6 November 2026. Research-based assessment; we have not tested this product firsthand.
6 L + 3 L dual-basket air fryer
Philips NA352/00 6 L + 3 L dual-basket air fryer
The 6 L drawer can cook a main while the 3 L drawer handles a side at a different setting. SyncFinish lets the two drawers finish together.
Good fit for
a main and a smaller side cooked separately while the microwave stays free
Check before buying
The 9 L total is split across unequal drawers. Check whether your side fits the 3 L drawer and allow room to pull both drawers out.
Research-supported option
More suitability and drawbacks
May suit: a main and a smaller side cooked separately while the microwave stays free.
May not suit: two equally large portions or one wide dish that needs a single cooking surface.
Drawbacks to consider:
- The 9 L total is split across unequal drawers. Check whether your side fits the 3 L drawer and allow room to pull both drawers out.
Evidence confidence: moderate. Last reviewed 6 November 2026. Research-based assessment; we have not tested this product firsthand.
What the cooking modes actually mean
- Microwave: useful for reheating, defrosting and cooking with microwave energy. It does not provide the same dry surface browning as an oven or grill.
- Convection: fan-assisted oven heating for suitable baking and roasting tasks. This label alone does not establish an air-fry function.
- Grill: radiant heat for browning suitable food near the heating element, using the prescribed rack or tray.
- Air fry: a model-specific hot-air programme and accessory arrangement. Check its temperature range, food quantities and turning instructions.
- Combination: selected modes working together or in a programmed sequence on the same food. This is different from two independently controlled cooking compartments.
A basket air fryer offers a pull-out drawer for loading and shaking food. A microwave-style oven normally involves opening a door and handling a hot basket, rack or tray. Try those movements in a showroom if grip, reach or lifting is a concern.
Measure tray space, not just litres
A 34-litre oven cavity and a basket air fryer's advertised capacity are different shapes. Neither figure tells you how many pieces can sit in a useful single layer. Measure your dinner plate, roasting dish and handles; check that the dish can rotate where required. Rack height and clearance above the food matter too.
Check the recipe's stated food weight and arrangement. A deeper pile may need turning, shaking or several batches. Include preheating, loading, turning, standing time and washing up when comparing the two routines. We have not measured comparative cooking times or electricity consumption, so this guide makes no blanket speed or energy-saving claim.
Ventilation can decide whether it fits
The Panasonic NN-CD88QSQPQ measures 560 mm wide, 343 mm high and 450 mm deep before operating clearances. It weighs 18 kg, making a permanent position more practical than daily lifting. Those are appliance dimensions, not a cabinet opening specification.
Its Australian manual specifies 150 mm above and 100 mm behind for counter-top placement, with a side-clearance/open-space condition that must also be followed. Do not treat those two measurements as a complete installation plan. Read the full placement instructions on page 10. Built-in installation requires Panasonic's specified trim kit and its separate instructions; a closed cupboard is not a substitute.
For any model, check the open door, plug, vents and a safe landing area for hot dishes. Do not use another model's clearances or block vents with stored accessories.
Use the cookware chart for the selected mode
Microwave-safe plastic is not automatically suitable for oven heat. Likewise, a metal baking tray that works in convection mode may be prohibited when microwaves are active. Supplied metal accessories have their own mode restrictions; their inclusion does not make arbitrary metal cookware safe.
For example, Panasonic's chart on page 13 permits its air-fry basket in grill and convection/air-fry modes, but not microwave or combination modes. Its supplied enamel tray and wire rack have different permissions. Check the exact chart before cooking, use appropriate oven gloves and let hot accessories cool before cleaning. Our cookware materials guide provides broader context, but the appliance and cookware instructions govern compatibility.
Evidence for the Panasonic NN-CD88QSQPQ
Australian purchaser comments at The Good Guys describe useful reheating, baking and roasting versatility. Some reviewers are still learning the functions, and the retailer says reviews may be incentivised. Those reports help identify ownership considerations; they do not prove long-term reliability or performance in your kitchen.
Rachel Ogden's firsthand Tech Advisor review of the UK NN-CD88 family found a large footprint, a learning curve and variable crisping results. That supports caution about transferring air-fryer recipes unchanged. It is not a test of the exact Australian suffix, and we have used the Australian manual—not the review's cooking setup—for accessory and installation instructions.
AHC has not cooked with this model. Our confidence is moderate. We checked Australian specifications, the manual, warranty and support information, owner feedback, the recall register and the exact retailer offer on 14 October 2026. The Good Guys displayed delivery to a Brisbane 4000 test postcode and local stock; this does not establish nationwide stock or a future delivery promise. Panasonic lists a 12-month small-appliance manufacturer warranty; read its terms and keep proof of purchase.
Before you order
- List three meals you cook often and whether their parts need to cook simultaneously.
- Measure the appliance, operating clearances, open door and your largest suitable dish.
- Check the actual air-fry controls, included accessories and storage space.
- Read the cookware and cleaning instructions before assuming existing containers will work.
- Confirm the Australian model, delivery, returns and support route with the retailer.
Sources and review notes
The original NN-CD88QSQPQ review dates from 14 October. On 6 November we checked the three additions against their Australian specifications and retailer listings.
- Panasonic Australia: NN-CD88QSQPQ product information and support.
- Panasonic Australian operating instructions (PDF): placement page 10; cookware chart page 13.
- Panasonic Australia manufacturer warranties.
- Panasonic Australia: 27 L NN-CD58RSQPQ dimensions, accessories and benchtop installation.
- Philips Australia: 4.2 L single drawer and 6 L + 3 L dual drawer.
- Tech Advisor: Rachel Ogden's NN-CD88 review, 21 March 2025; UK model family.
- ACCC Product Safety recall search: no matching NN-CD88 result identified at review; this is not safety certification.
Common Questions
Can a convection microwave replace an air fryer?
It can for some meals, if the exact model has suitable air-fry settings and accessories. Check the foods you cook, usable basket area and cooking instructions. One cavity cannot microwave a separate dish while independently air frying another, and results will not necessarily match your existing air fryer.
Does every convection microwave have an air-fry mode?
No. Convection describes fan-assisted oven heating. Air-fry programmes, baskets and temperature controls are model-specific, so check the exact Australian model, included accessories and its operating manual before assuming it can replace your air fryer.
Can microwave-safe plastic go in a convection microwave?
Microwave-safe does not mean oven-safe. Plastic suitable for microwave reheating may be unsuitable for convection, grill, air-fry or combination cooking. Follow the appliance's mode-specific cookware chart and the container maker's instructions.