The Four Best Smart Grills and Who They’re For
I love my grill, a 30-year-old Weber model that I constantly repair. It doesn’t have smart features, but it remains the barbecue to which I compare all others, including the four smart barbecues I’ve tested over the last six weeks. While testing out all these fancy new grills, I wanted to see if adding connectivity could significantly improve the grilling experience, rather than just add cost and hype to an already expensive piece of equipment.
I’ve dabbled a little with smart grill features before—like when I tested smart wireless thermometers from Meater and Combustion —so I already had some idea of what to expect. At the very least, I expected these smart grills to allow for lazier cooking by reporting the temperature from afar via an app, eliminating the need to stand over the grill for hours in the heat. While all the grills I tested performed this task admirably, I didn’t expect how effectively these grills provide remote control of temperature and smoke levels, meaning that even experienced grillers can take a more automatic approach without losing detailed control. Some of these grills have performed so well that the only benefit my 30 year old Weber has at this point is purely sentimental. If I were going to buy a grill tomorrow, it would be a smart grill.
Read on to find out my thoughts on each of the four models I tested, which will hopefully narrow down your search for the perfect smart grill.
My favorite of the group: Brisk It Origin 580 Smart Grill with AI, $629.
At a glance
Ideal for : Cooks of all experience levels, including inexperienced BBQ cooks who are intimidated by grilling and smoking.
How it works : The wood pellet grill is fed by an auger.
Does it smoke? Yes.
Is this a flaming grill? Yes.
Active Grill Space : 580 square inches.
pros
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Completely manual preparation.
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Extensive library of recipes.
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Works in lower temperature ranges, allowing for cold smoking.
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Option to add powerful smoke or maintain temperature to retain heat.
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AI is useful for finding recipes.
Minuses
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Some parts of the grill (handles and foam pad) are poorly made, but this does not affect the functionality or taste.
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It is not possible to easily change/mix firewood in the cooker.
Quick thoughts
What Brisk It Grill has going for it is how helpful the app is, allowing the user to interact with the app to find the perfect recipe. This recipe is then sent to the grill and the grill executes the recipe. The auto ignition worked every time and the smart connection never failed, not once.
Wood pellets provide a smokier environment than any other grill tested, but still allow for good-flaming grilling at higher temperatures. But the wood pellet hopper and auger make it difficult to replace pellets mid-cooking, as would be the case with a smaller hopper like the Masterbuilt (described later in this post).
Read my full review. Buy the Brisk It Origin 580 AI Smart Grill ( $899 on Amazon , although it’s currently on sale for $629 if you order directly from Brisk It ).
Current model G Dual Zone Smart Grill, $999.
At a glance
Ideal for : Those who are prohibited from using grills that use real fire.
How it works : Electric grill with the ability to create two temperature zones.
Does it smoke? No.
Is this a flaming grill? No.
Active Grill Space : 330 square inches.
pros
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Possibility to include as much grill space as you need.
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Possibility of creating two different zones.
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Can be used in areas where fire is prohibited.
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Modern appearance, lightweight construction.
Minuses
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It takes a long time to warm up.
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When open, it quickly loses heat.
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Difficult to clean despite the auto cleaning feature.
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Flimsy design.
Quick thoughts
While I didn’t like this grill compared to others, it fills a niche for those who specifically want an electric grill. I liked that you don’t have to preheat the entire grill unless you need the space, and it really does provide a better searing environment than any other – even at very high temperatures (700 F) the food doesn’t get overcooked. I don’t get much stickiness on the grill. The self-cleaning feature was supposed to make cleaning easier, but it made the grill look worse. If you choose this grill, double check the electrical requirements; it’s a beast.
Read my full review. Buy the current model G Dual Zone Smart Grill for $999.
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Charcoal Grill and Smoker, $1,499.
At a glance
Ideal for : Pottery enthusiasts, BBQ enthusiasts and those who want all the power and control.
How it works : Ceramic charcoal grill.
Does it smoke? Yes.
Is this a flaming grill? Yes
Active Grill Space : 250 square inches.
pros
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Get intense all-round heat quickly and easily.
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Extensive ecosystem of accessories.
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Ability to grill, smoke, bake and char.
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Compact size.
Minuses
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Limited space for active grilling.
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Expensive.
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Very limited usefulness of the application.
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It is difficult to add charcoal when the grill is in use.
Quick thoughts
Ceramic grills like the Kamado have a cult following that I didn’t fully understand until I tried one myself. Although the cooking surface is limited, the ceramic body creates all-round heat similar to a pizza oven, which cooks food differently than traditional grills. The crispier crust of bread, meat and vegetables also provided a moister interior.
These grills can be intimidating because of the number of accessories, parts, and options that you can tinker with depending on what you’re cooking, but a smart app can mostly eliminate the learning curve and worry. If I were going to buy a ceramic grill, I would most likely choose it for this reason, although you can of course use a grill without the smart aspects if you want.
It’s hard to say whether I would prefer the Kamado over other grills like the Masterbuilt or the Brisk It, but it’s certainly more flexible. Using a wide range of purchasable accessories, you can grill, smoke, bake, broil, or even use the grill as a pizza oven.
Buy the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Charcoal Grill and Smoker for $1,499.
Masterbuilt Auto Ignite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill, $499
At a glance
Ideal for grillers who need a high level of control and flexibility with smart technology.
How it works : Gravity-fed charcoal grill.
Does it smoke? Yes.
Is this a flaming grill? No.
Active Grill Space : 545 square inches.
pros
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Excellent manual control over the wood throughout the entire cooking process.
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Large space for cooking.
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Ability to control temperature via app.
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Incredibly durable, well built grill and parts.
Minuses
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Limited space for frying.
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It is difficult to get a flame under an active grill.
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Tricky ignition does not always work on the first try.
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It’s really hard to get it together.
Quick thoughts
Gravity-fed grills, in which a hopper of charcoal burns from the bottom to the top and a fan blows heat and smoke throughout the cooking area, require a learning curve. It’s not the same as lighting a fire under a cooking grate, but with a little experience under your belt, Masterbuilt will provide a very enjoyable grilling experience with a lot of control.
You can add food to the hopper throughout the cooking process to supplement your food with hardwood for smoking, while the hopper itself serves as a searing surface. Of all the grills, I found the Masterbuilt to be the most durable, but the assembly process can be frustrating. However, if you want complete control over a large cooking space with the ease of smart technology, this is the grill I would choose.
Read my full review. Buy the Masterbuilt Auto Ignite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill for $499.