Prestige PIC 16.5+ Induction Cooktop Review

The Quick Verdict

The Prestige PIC 16.5+ is the brand‑answer at ₹1,799: same price‑class as the Pigeon Rapido it shelves beside, wrapped in Prestige's kitchen‑service envelope and Indian‑menu programming logic (dal, idli‑steam, soup presets timed to local‑cooking). For the significant cohort of buyers whose purchasing‑sentence starts “Prestige, because…” — the answer exists and it’s this.

Who Should Buy?

In short, if you value a familiar brand, want ready‑to‑use Indian‑style presets, and appreciate the assurance of a local service network, this model is worth the extra ₹400. If you are a power‑savvy enthusiast who prefers fine‑grained power steps or you use large skillets regularly, you might find the limitations a bit restrictive.

What's In The Box

• PIC 16.5+ cooktop
• Manual + Indian‑menu guide

There are no extra accessories such as a safety cover or extra cookware; the kit is intentionally lean, keeping the cost down while still delivering the core functionality.

Brand‑Logic Validation

The soup‑preset's timing matched my actual chicken‑soup recipe within 90 seconds — evidence the menu‑logic was developed in Indian kitchens rather than translated into them. Soft‑touch responses consistent. Prestige's 180‑minute timer‑schedule allowed set‑and‑forget dal‑simmering that the Pigeon needed supervision for: brand‑difference visible in the details.

During a trial run, I set the “Dal” preset and left the cooker unattended for 180 minutes. The device automatically reduced the heat to a gentle simmer, keeping the liquid from boiling over while maintaining flavour integrity. This level of automation is rarely found in the sub‑₹2,000 segment.

The Competition

Each competitor offers its own set of strengths. The Pigeon Rapido Slim is a budget favourite but lacks the Indian‑specific presets that come standard on the PIC 16.5+. Usha's CookJoy C2101 brings a quieter operation and a child‑lock feature, useful for households with young children, yet it is priced higher. The PIC 15.0+ shares the same software but sports a larger display and a slightly higher price tag, making the 16.5+ a more cost‑effective choice for most users.

Bottom Line

The PIC 16.5+ is the brand‑service purchase at +₹400 over the price‑leader: that extra money buys local‑menu presets that match local‑recipes and Prestige's service‑trail. For one‑pot‑meal households wanting insider‑knowledge cooking‑logic at budget prices: correctly framed, correctly priced.

Rating: 7.9/10 — The brand‑network difference visible.

Pros

• Presets tuned to real Indian dishes
• 180‑min timer for simmer‑tasks
• Prestige service blanket
• Solid daily heat‑fidelity

Cons

• ₹400 over price‑king Pigeon
• Power‑steps jump coarsely low‑end
• Button‑feel plasticky‑vs‑touch rivals

Verdict

For the brand‑believers and preset‑users: the edges Prestige rounded off this cooktop's price‑class. For manual cooks: the Pigeon saves you ₹400 honestly.

7.9/10