Head-to-Head · Kitchen Appliances
Convection vs Solo Microwave: Which Should You Buy?
By Bikram Nath · Updated 2026-08-04 · How we pick · Affiliate disclosure: links earn a small commission
The short answer
There is no universal winner — the right microwave depends on what you cook.
Best on features
LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BV, Black, Health Plus Menu, Indian Cuisine, Tandoor Se, Steam Clean & Stainless Steel Cavity)
Best on value
LG 20 L Solo Microwave Oven (MS2043BP, Black, Health plus Menu, I-Wave Technology, Indian Cuisine, Even Reheat & Defrost, Auto Cook Menu, Anti-Bacterial Cavity & Steam Clean)
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, PakkaPick earns from qualifying purchases. This comparison contains Amazon affiliate links — we may earn a commission, but it never changes our verdict and your price is unaffected.
The convection-versus-solo question is really a question about what you want a microwave to do. A solo microwave — here the LG 20 L Solo (MS2043BP) — uses microwaves only: it reheats, defrosts and handles basic cooking, it is the cheapest type at around ₹7,889, but it cannot bake, grill or brown food. A convection microwave — the LG 28 L Convection (MC2846BV) — adds a fan and a heating element on top of the microwave, so the same box also bakes cakes, grills and roasts like a small oven, at around ₹14,490. Both are LG with a Health Plus auto-cook menu, an Indian-cuisine preset set, Steam Clean and a 1-year warranty, so the brand and core microwave function are held constant. What changes is versatility versus price: the solo is the budget pick for reheating and everyday cooking, the convection is the one-appliance choice if you also want to bake and grill.
LG
LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BV, Black, Health Plus Menu, Indian Cuisine, Tandoor Se, Steam Clean & Stainless Steel Cavity)
Check price on Amazon →
LG
LG 20 L Solo Microwave Oven (MS2043BP, Black, Health plus Menu, I-Wave Technology, Indian Cuisine, Even Reheat & Defrost, Auto Cook Menu, Anti-Bacterial Cavity & Steam Clean)
Check price on Amazon →Specs compared
| Spec | LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BV, Black, Health Plus Menu, Indian Cuisine, Tandoor Se, Steam Clean & Stainless Steel Cavity) | LG 20 L Solo Microwave Oven (MS2043BP, Black, Health plus Menu, I-Wave Technology, Indian Cuisine, Even Reheat & Defrost, Auto Cook Menu, Anti-Bacterial Cavity & Steam Clean) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Convection microwave (bakes, grills, reheats, defrosts, cooks)✓ | Solo microwave (reheats, defrosts, cooks) |
| Capacity (L) | 28 L (suits 4-6 members)✓ | 20 L (suits singles, couples & small families) |
| Functions | Reheat, defrost, cook, grill & bake✓ | Reheat, defrost & cook |
| Baking | Yes✓ | No |
| Grilling | Yes✓ | No |
| Auto-cook menus | Health Plus Menu — Low Calorie, Tandoor Se, Kids' Delight, Steam Cook, Indian Cuisine, Ghee/Bakery, Paneer/Curd & more✓ | Health Plus Menu — Indian Rasoi, 24 Hours, Utility Corner |
| Warranty | 1 year on product | 1 year on product |
Pros & cons
LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BV, Black, Health Plus Menu, Indian Cuisine, Tandoor Se, Steam Clean & Stainless Steel Cavity)
Pros
- +Bakes, grills, reheats, defrosts and cooks in one appliance — the most versatile type
- +Large 28 L cavity rated for 4-6 members, with room for a baking tray
- +Wide Health Plus auto-cook menu including Tandoor Se, Indian Cuisine and Ghee/Bakery presets
- +Stainless steel cavity with Steam Clean for easier cleaning
Cons
- −Costs roughly double the solo model at around ₹14,490
- −More functions and a larger 28 L footprint than you need if you only reheat
LG 20 L Solo Microwave Oven (MS2043BP, Black, Health plus Menu, I-Wave Technology, Indian Cuisine, Even Reheat & Defrost, Auto Cook Menu, Anti-Bacterial Cavity & Steam Clean)
Pros
- +Most affordable way to reheat, defrost and cook at around ₹7,889
- +Compact 20 L size suits singles, couples and small families
- +Health Plus auto-cook menu with Indian Rasoi presets for everyday Indian food
- +Anti-bacterial cavity with I-Wave technology and Steam Clean
Cons
- −Cannot bake, grill or brown — reheating and basic cooking only
- −Smaller 20 L cavity is tight for larger families
Our verdict
There is no universal winner — the right microwave depends on what you cook. For reheating, defrosting and basic cooking on a budget, the LG 20 L Solo is the smarter buy at around ₹7,889: it is cheaper, compact and does the core microwave jobs well, but it cannot bake, grill or brown. For a single appliance that also bakes cakes, grills and roasts, the LG 28 L Convection earns its roughly ₹14,490 price — the fan and heating element make it a small oven too, the 28 L cavity suits 4-6 people, and the preset menu leans toward baking and Indian cooking. Both are LG with Steam Clean, an Indian-cuisine menu and a 1-year warranty, so the decision is purely price-and-simplicity (solo) versus versatility (convection).
Best for value
LG 20 L Solo Microwave Oven (MS2043BP, Black, Health plus Menu, I-Wave Technology, Indian Cuisine, Even Reheat & Defrost, Auto Cook Menu, Anti-Bacterial Cavity & Steam Clean)
Best for features
LG 28 L Convection Microwave Oven (MC2846BV, Black, Health Plus Menu, Indian Cuisine, Tandoor Se, Steam Clean & Stainless Steel Cavity)
Prices and availability on Amazon.in change frequently — the price on the Amazon product page at the time of purchase is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate, PakkaPick earns from qualifying purchases; your price is unaffected.
Editor's take
Buy the LG 20 L Solo if your list is reheating, defrosting and basic cooking and you want the lowest price and a compact size — at around ₹7,889 it is the sensible budget choice for singles, couples and small families who will never bake in it. Buy the LG 28 L Convection if you want one appliance that also bakes cakes, grills and roasts: the fan and heating element make it a small oven as well as a microwave, the 28 L cavity suits 4-6 people, and the wider preset menu leans toward baking and Indian cooking — worth the roughly ₹14,490 if baking and grilling are real needs, not maybes. There is no single winner here. The solo wins on price and simplicity; the convection wins on versatility. Decide which side of that line you sit on before you look at the price tag.
Editor's read
These two are deliberately the same brand, so the comparison isolates the one variable that matters: microwave type. The LG 20 L Solo does microwaves-only work — reheat, defrost and basic cooking — at around ₹7,889, and it does that well, but it has no heating element, so baking, grilling and browning are simply off the table. The LG 28 L Convection layers a fan and heating element over the same microwave function, which is what lets it bake cakes, grill and roast, and it pairs that with a bigger 28 L cavity for 4-6 people and a wider Health Plus preset set. The cost of that versatility is roughly double the price and a larger footprint. Both share Steam Clean, an Indian-cuisine menu and a 1-year warranty, so neither is compromised on the microwave basics. The honest read: the convection is objectively more capable, but capability you never use is wasted money — the right pick is decided entirely by whether you will bake and grill or only reheat and cook.
— Bikram, editor
How we compared these
This head-to-head is researched from each product's published specifications, manufacturer documentation, expert reviews and the aggregate of genuine Indian buyer feedback — not hands-on lab testing. We weigh the specs that actually matter for Indian conditions (voltage variability, hard water, monsoon humidity, service-network reach) and tell you which contender suits which buyer, rather than claiming to have bench-tested either unit. We do not accept paid placements — our only commercial relationship is the Amazon affiliate link. See our full methodology.
What to look for
- 1Start with what you will actually cook: If you mostly reheat leftovers, warm milk, defrost and do basic cooking, a solo microwave like the LG 20 L does all of that for the lowest price. If you also want to bake cakes, grill paneer or roast, only the convection LG 28 L can do it — a solo physically cannot bake or grill, so no amount of saving justifies it if baking is the goal.
- 2Match the capacity to your household: The solo here is 20 L, which LG rates for singles, couples and small families; the convection is 28 L, rated for 4-6 members. A larger cavity fits bigger dishes and a baking tray but takes more counter space, so size the appliance to the number of people you cook for rather than to the feature list.
- 3Weigh the price gap honestly: The solo is roughly ₹7,889 and the convection roughly ₹14,490 — close to double. If baking and grilling are only a 'maybe someday', the extra spend on a convection may sit unused, and a solo plus a separate small appliance later can make more sense. If you know you will bake, the convection saves you buying a second oven.
- 4Look at the auto-cook menus you will use: Both LG units carry a Health Plus menu with Indian presets — the solo lists Indian Rasoi, 24 Hours and Utility Corner, while the convection adds baking-oriented presets like Ghee/Bakery, Tandoor Se, Steam Cook and Paneer/Curd. More presets only help if they match the dishes you actually make, so read the menu list, not just the count.
- 5Remember what stays the same: Both are LG, both include Steam Clean, both carry a 1-year product warranty, and both do the core microwave jobs of reheating, defrosting and cooking. So this is not a reliability or brand trade-off — it is purely versatility (convection) versus lowest price and compact size (solo).
Also worth a look
Grill microwave (mid-range type)
A grill microwave sits between the two: it adds a heating element for grilling and browning that a solo lacks, but it still cannot bake cakes like a convection. A sensible middle ground if you want crisping and tandoori-style dishes without paying for a full convection oven.
Dedicated OTG (oven-toaster-griller)
If frequent, serious baking is your main goal, a standalone OTG bakes more evenly than any microwave-convection combo, though it cannot reheat food with microwaves. Worth considering as a second appliance alongside a solo microwave if baking is your priority.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy a convection or solo microwave?
It depends on what you want to cook. Buy a solo microwave, like the LG 20 L, if you mainly reheat, defrost and do basic cooking and want the lowest price — around ₹7,889 here. Buy a convection microwave, like the LG 28 L, if you also want to bake cakes, grill and roast, because it adds a fan and heating element that a solo does not have, for roughly ₹14,490. If you will never bake or grill, the solo saves you money; if you will, only the convection can do the job.
Can a solo microwave bake cakes or grill?
No. A solo microwave, such as the LG 20 L Solo, uses microwaves only — it is built for reheating, defrosting and basic cooking, and it has no heating element for browning, grilling or baking. If you want to bake a cake or grill, you need a convection microwave like the LG 28 L, which adds a fan and heating element so the same appliance also works like a small oven.
Is a convection microwave worth the extra money over a solo?
It is worth it only if you will use the extra functions. The LG 28 L Convection costs roughly ₹14,490 versus about ₹7,889 for the LG 20 L Solo — close to double. That premium buys baking, grilling and roasting plus a larger 28 L cavity for 4-6 people. If you regularly bake or grill, the convection replaces a separate oven and earns the cost. If you only ever reheat and cook, the solo is the smarter spend.
What is the main difference between a convection and a solo microwave?
A solo microwave reheats, defrosts and cooks using microwaves only, making it the cheapest and most compact type — but it cannot bake, grill or brown. A convection microwave adds a fan and a heating element on top of the microwave, so it also bakes cakes, grills and roasts like a small oven, which makes it the most versatile type but more expensive. In this pair both are LG with the same core microwave function; the convection simply does more, and costs more.