Big Green Egg XLarge vs Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One

Quick take: The Big Green Egg XLarge costs $49 less; the Big Green Egg XLarge offers more cooking space (452 vs 210 sq in); the Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One reaches a higher max temp (850 vs 750°F).

SpecBig Green Egg XLargePrimo Oval JR 200 All-In-One
Price~$1,650~$1,699
Rating5★ (28)—
TypeKamadoKamado
Cooking Area452 sq in210 sq in
Max Temp750°F850°F
Fuel TypeCharcoalCharcoal
Build MaterialCeramicCeramic
Hopper Capacity——
Burners——
WiFi / AppNoNo
App controlNoNo
Meat probeNoNo
PID controllerNoNo
Side burnerNoNo
RotisserieNoNo
SearingYesYes
Dimensions26.5 in wide x 30.7 in tall—
Weight219 lbs100 lbs
WarrantyLifetime (ceramic)Lifetime (ceramic, to original owner)

Pros & cons

Big Green Egg XLarge

  • ✓The 24-inch grate answers the Large's biggest complaint - two packer briskets or four whole chickens fit flat with room for airflow, no folding required
  • ✓Same rock-steady ceramic temperature control as every Egg: dial in 250°F and it holds all night with the vents barely cracked
  • ✓Best price-per-square-inch in the whole Egg lineup - roughly 30% more money than a Large buys nearly double the grate
  • ✓Hits 750°F for pizza and searing just like its smaller siblings, and the wide dome fits vertical rib racks and tall roasts
  • ✓The 5-piece EGGspander system multiplies capacity again, pushing usable space well past 800 sq in for party cooks
  • ✓Thick ceramic is remarkably fuel-efficient for its size - an overnight brisket cook doesn't need a lump refill
  • ✓It's built to outlive you, with the same lifetime ceramic warranty and generational build quality as the rest of the line
  • ✓Owners rate it a perfect 5.0 - the size upgrade gives up nothing the Large does well
  • ✗At $1,650 for the bare egg - no nest, no side shelves - a usable XL setup lands well past $2,000
  • ✗219 lbs of fragile ceramic: moving it is a two-to-three person job, and you'll want the dealer to handle assembly
  • ✗Small weeknight cooks feel wasteful - the big firebox wants a proper lump load, and lighting it for four burgers gets old
  • ✗All that thermal mass moves slowly - heat-up takes longer than the Large, and overshooting a low target is hard to walk back
  • ✗Kamado Joe's Big Joe III costs similar money and includes the rolling cart, side shelves, and multi-level racks the Egg sells separately
  • ✗No app, fan, or automation at any price - long cooks rely on vent skill or an aftermarket controller
  • ✗Ash cleanout is still through the bottom vent door, and the bigger fire bowl makes more of it
  • ✗The XL-size accessories (convEGGtor, pizza stone, EGGspander) cost noticeably more than their Large equivalents

Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One

  • ✓Keeps the oval firebox, so it does two-zone cooking the Big Green Egg Small and MiniMax cannot
  • ✓100 lbs is the lightest full ceramic kamado that still holds a whole chicken and a rack of ribs
  • ✓Optional 150 sq in rack takes it to 360 sq in for a holiday cook
  • ✓Primo's GO cradle and base turn it into a transportable kamado — nothing else ceramic at this size does
  • ✓Lifetime ceramic warranty, same as the larger Primos, not a reduced term for the small model
  • ✗$1,699 for 210 sq in is expensive per square inch — a Big Green Egg Medium is 262 sq in for $900
  • ✗Dealer-only pricing with no manufacturer list price, so the number above is one authorized dealer's
  • ✗100 lbs is 'portable' only in the sense that two people can lift it into a truck
  • ✗No maker-side or dealer-side review base to cite; Primo's small models sell in low volume
  • ✗Oval accessories only — the aftermarket that exists for 18-inch round kamados does not apply