Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner vs Megamaster 6-Burner with Side Burner
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Quick take: The Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner costs $9 less; the Megamaster 6-Burner with Side Burner offers more cooking space (543.4 vs 435 sq in).
| Spec | Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner | Megamaster 6-Burner with Side Burner |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$300 | ~$309 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Gas Grill | Gas Grill |
| Cooking Area | 435 sq in | 543.4 sq in |
| Max Temp | 550°F | — |
| Fuel Type | Propane/Natural Gas | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel Hood and Control Panel / CR Steel Firebox |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | 4 | 6 |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | Yes | Yes |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | 51 x 23 x 46 in | 59.1 x 24.1 x 45.7 in |
| Weight | 97 lbs | — |
| Warranty | 5 years | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Char-Broil Performance Series 4-Burner
- ✓At around $380 it delivers four main burners plus a side burner, far more grill for the money than a Weber
- ✓The stainless-look finish and lid give it a more upscale appearance than the budget price suggests
- ✓Four independently controlled burners plus 435 sq in handle big family cookouts and lots of burgers at once
- ✓The integrated side burner is genuinely handy for sides and sauces at this price point
- ✓Porcelain-coated grates clean up easily and resist rust reasonably well for the cost
- ✓Electronic push-button ignition lights quickly and the swing-away warming rack adds usable space
- ✓It's lightweight at ~97 lbs and assembles faster than heavier premium grills
- ✓A 5-year warranty is generous for an entry-level grill and beats many rivals in the price class
- ✗Build quality is thin - the lid, firebox, and cart are lightweight steel that can rust and warp within a few seasons
- ✗Heat distribution is uneven, with noticeable hot and cold spots across the cooking surface
- ✗There's no dedicated sear zone, so high-heat steak searing is mediocre
- ✗Long-term durability is the main knock - many owners replace it in 3-5 years versus a decade-plus for Weber
- ✗The burners and ignition can corrode or fail earlier than premium grills, requiring part swaps
- ✗It's all-manual with no probe, app, or smart features
- ✗Side tables and shelving feel flimsy and the cart can wobble when loaded
- ✗Flare-ups are more common since there's no effective grease-vaporizing system like Weber's Flavorizer bars
Megamaster 6-Burner with Side Burner
- ✓Six burners plus a side burner at $309 is the lowest cost per burner of anything in this batch
- ✓Individually controlled burners make it easy to run hot and cool zones across a 32 in firebox
- ✓Stainless hood and control panel wipe clean and do not chip like painted steel
- ✓543.4 sq in handles a full party's worth of food in one pass
- ✓Secure-lock lid and built-in temperature gauge included at a price where both are often skipped
- ✗Cold-rolled steel firebox, not stainless or cast — this is the part that rusts out first
- ✗1-year warranty with no extended burner coverage
- ✗Liquid propane only; there is no natural gas conversion
- ✗9,000 BTU per burner over a 32 in firebox means weak searing anywhere on the grate
- ✗Megamaster publishes no assembled weight for this model, so plan the space from the footprint alone