Char-Griller AKORN Auto-Kamado vs Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
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Quick take: The Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker costs $49 less; the Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker offers more cooking space (580 vs 445 sq in); the Char-Griller AKORN Auto-Kamado reaches a higher max temp (700 vs 500°F).
| Spec | Char-Griller AKORN Auto-Kamado | Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$449 | ~$400 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Kamado | Offset Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 445 sq in | 580 sq in |
| Max Temp | 700°F | 500°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Wood/Charcoal |
| Build Material | Triple-Walled Insulated Steel | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | No |
| App control | Yes | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 20-inch kamado body on cart | 60.2 x 31.1 x 52.4 in |
| Weight | 97 lbs | 141.1 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | — |
Pros & cons
Char-Griller AKORN Auto-Kamado
- ✓Automatic fan control holds a set temperature overnight — the Konnected Joe is the nearest equivalent at over four times the price
- ✓Wi-Fi and phone control at $449, which no ceramic kamado approaches
- ✓Insulated steel body weighs about 97 lbs against 228 for a ceramic Classic Joe, so one person can move it
- ✓EasyDump ash pan empties without dismantling the firebox, unlike most ceramic kamados
- ✓445 sq in total cooking area, more than a Big Green Egg Large's 262
- ✗Steel does not hold heat like ceramic — it recovers faster but swings more and is less efficient on a long cook
- ✗The controller and fan are electronics on an outdoor grill, and are the parts most likely to fail first
- ✗Needs a power outlet, so it cannot be used where a plain kamado can
- ✗5-year warranty against the lifetime ceramic warranties from Big Green Egg, Kamado Joe and Primo
- ✗Painted steel exterior chips and rusts in a way glazed ceramic does not
Char-Griller Dakota Offset Smoker
- ✓141 lbs at $400 — noticeably more steel than the $450 Competition Pro, which matters for temperature stability on an offset
- ✓Firebox is sized for wood splits, not just charcoal briquettes, so it can be run as a true stick burner
- ✓580 sq in of main chamber holds two racks of ribs or a packer brisket without hanging
- ✓Rated to 500°F, so it doubles as a direct grill over the firebox
- ✓Sits between the $329 Smokin' Champ and the $729 Grand Champ, a gap the Char-Griller offset line previously had
- ✗Thin-gauge steel by offset standards — this is not a quarter-inch pit and will swing with the weather
- ✗Char-Griller does not publish a warranty term for this model, unlike the rest of the charcoal line's 5 years
- ✗141 lbs on two wheels means moving it is a two-person job
- ✗Stock gaskets and door fit on offsets in this price class leak; sealing it is part of the purchase