6 Best Smart Grills and Smokers, According to Testing
The future of grilling is here.
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"Smart" devices refer to products that connect to the Internet for remote monitoring and management, often via voice commands or an app on your phone. Now you can enjoy that technology in your own backyard with a smart grill.
These souped-up grills can track the internal temperature of your food, send alerts when food is cooked to your desired level of doneness, display the temperature of the grill, track gas tank levels and more. All of these features can vastly improve user experience if they make grilling easier, faster or more precise — so we put them to the test.
We've been testing grills for decades, including gas grills, charcoal grills, kamado grills, pellet grills, portable grills and more. Since 2011, we've tested more than 80 outdoor grills, and more than 40 of those were tested in just the past few years. Of those, about 10 have been smart. When testing, we evaluate each grill's performance and ease-of-use features, plus the added benefit of its smart features. We've also tested other smart appliances like coffee and espresso machines, toaster ovens and smart refrigerators.
After you learn a little more about each pick, read on for information on how we tested and what to look for when buying a smart grill.
Weber Genesis Smart SX-335 LP SS
Pros
- Loaded with smart features that can easily be accessed on the grill itself or in the connected app
- High-quality grill with many features like oversized side shelves and plenty of storage room
Cons
- Takes a long time to put together
This grill offers bonus features like oversized side shelves and extra storage space. It took a long time to assemble, but it was easy to fire up with the simple press of a button.
Our heat distribution test proved that the heat was a little more concentrated in the center versus the outer edges, but it created nice thick grill marks on both steak and chicken, and we didn't experience any flare-ups. Results were juicy and we can't wait to continue cooking on this model and trying all of the different accessories from the Weber Crafted Collection, like a griddle and pizza stone.
This top-of-the-line smart gas grill is equipped with Weber Connect technology, which allows you to use the grill's smart features directly from the control panel on the grill's side shelf or by connecting it to your smart device through the Weber Connect app. It comes with one temperature probe but can be used with two to monitor the internal temperature of your food. You can set an alarm directly from the control panel to alert you when your food has reached your desired temperature or you can monitor it yourself.
The control panel displays the temperature of the grill and features a gas tank indicator so you can keep track of that as well. All of these numbers can also be monitored from your smart device when connected to Wi-Fi.
Pros
- Offers many of the same smart perks as our best overall smart gas grill at a more affordable price
- This line of grills performed well in our cooking tests and scored highly for ease of use
Cons
- Takes a long time to assemble
For a more affordable smart grill option that doesn't skimp on quality, consider Weber's Spirit line. The (not smart) Spirit II E-310 is one of our top-tested backyard grills that offers top performance and a competitive price point.
This model, the EX-325, features the same build as the E-310 with added storage and the option to connect to the Weber Connect App. It has porcelain-enameled cast iron grates, a warming tray, sturdy side shelves and tool holders like many of Weber's grills. In our E-310 tests, the grill started up quickly and food always got beautiful char marks with minimal, if any at all, flare-ups.
Similar to our best overall pick, this model took a while to set up but ran smoothly once it was put together. It allows you to operate the smart functions right from the grill or through the Weber Connect app. The control panel also features a gas level indicator, which makes grilling that much easier.
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Pros
- Large temperature range of 250°-700°F, which allows for both smoking and grilling
- Thick ceramic walls provide great insulation
Cons
- Temperature range is not as broad as the classic, non-smart model
This type of grill, called a kamato grill, features thick ceramic walls for insulation and a tall, dome-like lid for airflow. The egg-shaped grill can hold both high and low temps while retaining moisture — making it perfect for grilling, smoking and even baking (according to the brand, you can bake anything you'd put in an oven, from fresh bread to berry cobblers).
Unlike their classic model, this smart version has a digital control panel that allows you to set and monitor the air temperature (you can also do this via a connected app on your phone), which ranges from 250° to 700°F, and comes with a probe for food. The classic pick has a slightly broader temperature range of 225° to 750°F.
This smart grill has the same multilevel grate system for creating different temperature zones that we loved when testing the classic Kamado Joe grill, as well as a special hinge that offsets the weight of the dome, which makes it easy to lift and doesn’t slam down when closed. One tester said the grill was easy to start and they liked how the removable heat deflector shielded food from the flames. Protecting the food from direct heat in this way allows it to cook more evenly without burning or drying out. It made juicy chicken and tender ribs.
GE PROFILE Smart Indoor Smoker
Pros
- SmartHQ app allows for remote control of the machine from your phone
- Smokes food indoors without creating any visible smoke
Cons
- Water tank was a little difficult to pull out of the machine
Add this sleek, innovative smoker to your countertop appliance lineup: It's larger than a toaster oven and requires a bit of real estate, but can easily be stowed away when not in use. In our tests it was intuitive to use with programmed settings, including one for brisket, ribs, pork butt, chicken wings, chicken breast and salmon.
You can also create custom settings. It works by heating pellets in a hopper to create smoke inside the machine. As the pellets burn out, they fall into a water tank that you empty when you're done cooking, which one tester found a bit difficult to pull out. You can control the machine via the control panel or GE's SmartHQ app, which lets you set the smoke mode and monitor the cooking process with your phone from anywhere.
Turning it on with the press of a button, we used it to cook chicken wings at 300°F for two hours, which turned out deliciously juicy and smoky. As the machine cooked the wings, we smelled smoke but couldn't see it and the smell wasn't overpowering.
The inside shelving is all removable for cleaning; even the rack supports on either side of the machine that hold the main wire racks. According to the brand, all of these racks are dishwasher-safe.
Pros
- Air fryer works great
- Large viewing windows allow you to keep an eye on your food without opening the lid
Cons
- Self-regulating temperature feature can create uneven grill marks
Nexgrill's smart grill/air fryer combo is a stunner. The air fryer works great and is comparable in performance to our best overall air fryer toaster oven. In our tests, the Nexgrill turned out crispy, golden brown chicken wings in just 20 minutes and made crisp frozen fries as well.
The grill portion operates a little differently than most gas grills. Instead of knobs, it uses a control panel to turn on the grill and set the temperature, which ranges from 250ºF to 600ºF. In our tests, this made it a little tricky to test the heat distribution since we had a hard determining what the medium temperature setting was. The selector knob was easy to use, however, and you can also control the grill straight from your phone.
Another thing to note about this grill is it self-regulates the temperature, which is not common on gas grills. That means it's designed to be great at maintaining the temperature, which is great for consistency but could be confusing if you're looking for even grill marks across the board. In our chicken test, the two pieces on the right didn't get as crispy as the two pieces on the left because the right burner turned off in the middle of cooking to help maintain the proper ambient temperature.
Overall, the Nexgrill Neevo cooked delicious steak and chicken with no flare-ups. It's loaded with features, too, like a viewing window, ample storage space and a condiment shelf.
Pros
- Smart features make it easy to monitor the cooking process
- Includes a side induction burner for added cooking versatility
Cons
- Firmware requires being connected to Wi-Fi for updates, which may prevent access to grill at times
Traeger's smart pellet grill stands out for its many thoughtful features as well as its side induction burner that allows you to get a beautiful sear on reverse-cooked steaks or cook up some eggs or pancakes alongside your smoked sausage or bacon.
It comes with one temperature probe that you can track on the control panel or the app and two additional Meater+ wireless probes that track the air temperature of the grill and the internal temperature of food. They provide an estimated cooking time based on your desired doneness. The firmware gets regular updates, but you can't use the grill when updating and it must be connected to Wi-Fi.
In our tests, chicken thighs turned out crispy, golden brown and juicy in just 30 minutes, and we loved how tender our chicken breasts turned out with a slightly smoky flavor. Spiced wings also came out tender and this grill quickly became one of our preferred ways to cook them. We also fried eggs on the side burner to see if it could handle low temperatures, and we were happy with how perfectly they turned out.
The side burner has a large selector knob that's nice and responsive, and the unit's control panel is also easy to use. It offers a lot of helpful instructions to get your grill working at its optimal performance. Additional features, like the magnetic cutting board that attaches to the hopper box, extra shelving and enclosed ash collector, make cooking on this pellet grill that much more enjoyable.
How we test smart grills
We've tested more than 80 outdoor grills in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. In the past couple of years, we've tested more than 40, including 10 smart grills.
We test smart grills the way we test all outdoor grills. We conduct three cooking tests to evaluate performance and then we assess a slew of ease-of-use features. The best grills cook food quickly and evenly and make nice grill marks without burning anything. They're also loaded with useful features like storage, tool holders and easy access to the gas tank and ashtray.
To evaluate the smart features, we note how the grill can connect to smart devices and if smart features can also be controlled directly from the grill. We note the number of temperature probes that come with the unit as well as how many it can handle in total. We assess the user experience and how much value the smart features add to the unit. Apps that are easy to navigate and offer a lot of useful tips and recipes stand out the most.
What to look for when shopping for the best smart grills
✔️ Type of grill: Before you decide what smart grill you should buy, first settle on whether you want a gas, charcoal or pellet grill. Gas grills require little fuss, heat quickly and are easy to control, while charcoal and Kamado grills require extra work to start and maintain the coals but deliver great flavor. Pellet grills take a long time to heat up but are great for smoking, and some can reach temperatures hot enough to grill traditionally. Once you decide on a type, consider these smart features:
✔️ Type of connection: Most smart appliances connect via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi offers more range than Bluetooth, which means you're more likely to stay connected. One downside is your grill often has to be positioned close to your router to connect, and some require you to log onto a specific bandwidth. Inputting your password can also be a pain if you don't have it handy.
✔️ Accessibility of controls: We think it's important for you to be able to use a grill's smart features even if you're not connected to the app. For example, look for grills that have a screen on the unit that tracks temperatures and allows you to program alarms. All of the grills on this list allow you to do that.
✔️ Accessibility of grill: Smart grills require electricity to work a.k.a. they need to be plugged in. This might feel unnatural to gas and charcoal grill users and may affect where you can set up the grill. The Weber gas grills in our story can still be used if they're not plugged in. All of the others, however, need to be connected to an outlet.
✔️ Number of probes: One of the key selling points of smart grills is being able to track the temperature of your food as it's cooking. More jacks for probes offer more built-in versatility.
✔️ Additional ease-of-use features, like sturdy shelves, storage space, tool holders, warming racks and easy access to fuel sources and drip trays are important, too, but since the smart grill category is pretty slim at the moment, there aren't too many options to choose from.
Smart grills vs. regular grills: What's the difference?
Compared to regular grills, smart grills allow you to keep a closer eye on your food, especially when you're not standing right next to it. They also help limit how many times you need to open the lid to check on your food, which can cause big fluctuations in temperature that affect cook time in some instances.
Grill pros and beginners will appreciate being able to track the internal temperature of food — it helps achieve the perfect doneness and helps prevent overcooking. Connecting to an app also usually means an easy, built-in resource for cooking tips, recipes, troubleshooting help and more.
Unlike regular grills, smart grills typically require a power outlet to work. They're not always super easy to connect and learning how to insert the food thermometer just right takes some practice. (Pro tip: Insert it into the thickest part of the meat away from the bone and try to stay in the center as much as you can.)
We learned the hard way that it's easy to overcook food if the thermometer isn't positioned properly and you just rely on the app to tell you when it's done.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This guide was originally written by Nicole Papantoniou, the director of the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab and our lead outdoor grill tester. She has tested more than 40 outdoor grills since she started working at GH, and that number continues to grow.
In addition to testing grills, she meets with popular grill brands regularly and attends related trade shows where she learns about the latest and greatest models and technology. She's a trained cook and loves to grill, even on her days off.
Samantha MacAvoy is an assistant food editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about top-tested tips for recipe success. When updating this story most recently, she consulted with Nicole on our latest testing data and conducted her own research into the latest benefits and pitfalls of smart grills.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
Samantha (she/her) is the Senior Editor at Delish, where she edits the most-talked-about food news and features on the internet. In her previous role as Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, she taste-tested hundreds of products and recipes (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
