Asahi MW-2002 review: the microwave that looks like furniture

The Asahi MW-2002 Wood Series is our Best-looking pick: a 20L microwave with wood-print trim that reads as furniture rather than appliance, on a simple jog dial.

How well does it reheat?

Exactly as a 20L microwave should. 700W output heats a plate of rice and ulam in about two minutes, the same as the Condura, Midea, Whirlpool, and Hanabishi 20L units. The 1200W on the listing is power input, what it pulls from the wall, so don’t read it as a speed advantage.

The six power levels are the nice touch: Asahi names them (low, defrost, medium-low, medium, medium-high, high) rather than numbering them. On a dial machine that’s genuinely more usable, because you pick the setting by what it does instead of remembering that position 3 is defrost.

The 30-minute timer is the honest cap, and it rules out long low-power defrosting.

Is it worth buying for the looks?

That’s the real question, so let’s take it seriously. Most microwaves are black plastic boxes that look like appliances, and in an open-plan condo kitchen or a dining area that sits in your eyeline all day. The wood-print handle and knobs soften that considerably: the MW-2002 reads more like a piece of furniture than a machine.

Be clear about what it is, though. This is a printed finish, not wood veneer. It won’t chip the way real veneer can, but it also isn’t real wood, and nobody should buy it thinking otherwise.

Beyond the styling it’s a plain mechanical microwave: jog dials, a pull door handle, no child lock, no auto menu, no display.

Is the Asahi MW-2002 sulit?

Around ₱5,900 as of August 26, 2026. Check the latest price on Shopee. Over five years of daily use that’s about ₱3.20 a day.

Straight talk on value: on specs alone it’s beaten. The Condura mechanical costs less and does the same thing with a child lock and a bigger rating sample. The Fujidenzo costs less and gives you 28L and 900W. You’re paying a premium for how it looks, which is a perfectly legitimate reason to buy something that sits on your counter for years, as long as you know that’s what you’re paying for. The 4.9 rating from 339 raters says owners are happy with it.

Who the Asahi MW-2002 suits

Buy this if your microwave lives somewhere visible and you’d rather it didn’t look like a microwave. It’s the right choice for an open kitchen, a studio, or anyone who has already decided the black-plastic look isn’t for them. If you’re buying on specs per peso, there are better deals in this list.

If the Asahi MW-2002 is not right

If looks matter less than value, the Condura Mechanical 20L is our Best Budget pick: the same 700W output and dial simplicity for less, plus a child lock and a PH service network. For a different take on clean design, the Tough Mama NTMWMO-20 is our Best minimalist design pick with a plain white or black face.

See how it ranks in our best microwave ovens in the Philippines roundup, or match a model to your kitchen with our microwave oven buying guide.