Char-Griller Akorn Kamado vs Char-Griller AKORN Jr.
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Quick take: The Char-Griller AKORN Jr. costs $199 less; the Char-Griller Akorn Kamado offers more cooking space (314 vs 155 sq in).
| Spec | Char-Griller Akorn Kamado | Char-Griller AKORN Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$399 | ~$200 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (761) | — |
| Type | Kamado | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 314 sq in | 155 sq in |
| Max Temp | 700°F | 700°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Triple-Walled Insulated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 31 x 45 x 47 in | 25.2 x 20.5 x 20.1 in |
| Weight | 97 lbs | 36 lbs |
| Warranty | Limited (parts vary) | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado
- ✓At ~$350 it delivers most of the kamado experience for a quarter of a ceramic Egg's price - the best budget on-ramp to kamado cooking
- ✓Triple-wall insulated steel gives surprisingly good heat retention and fuel efficiency, close to ceramic for the money
- ✓Because it's steel, it's far lighter (97 lbs) than ceramic kamados and won't crack if it tips over
- ✓314 sq in of cast-iron grate plus a warming rack gives more usable space than a Large Egg costing three times as much
- ✓It holds low-and-slow temps well once dialed and easily reaches high searing heat too
- ✓The easy-dump ash pan makes cleanup much simpler than scooping ash out of a ceramic kamado
- ✓The locking lid and built-in thermometer add convenience at the budget price
- ✓A huge owner community shares mods (gasket upgrades, etc.) that make it perform even closer to ceramic
- ✗Steel doesn't retain heat as well as ceramic, so it's more sensitive to wind and ambient temperature swings
- ✗The thin steel can rust over time, especially at the bottom and around the firebox, shortening its lifespan versus ceramic
- ✗The stock felt gasket wears out and many owners replace it to fix air leaks and temp control
- ✗It can't hold temps for marathon overnight cooks quite as effortlessly as a thick ceramic kamado
- ✗Build quality and longevity are clearly budget - expect maybe 3-6 years versus a ceramic kamado's lifetime
- ✗The warranty is limited and shorter than the lifetime ceramic coverage of premium kamados
- ✗Paint can chip and the metal can warp with repeated high-heat cooks
- ✗The accessory ecosystem is far smaller than Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe
Char-Griller AKORN Jr.
- ✓36 lbs makes it the only genuinely portable kamado — a ceramic MiniMax is roughly 90 lbs
- ✓Insulated double-wall construction holds low temperatures far better than a tabletop kettle of the same size
- ✓Cast iron grates and a stainless warming rack included at $199.99
- ✓EasyDump ash pan means cleanup without tipping the whole grill out
- ✓155 sq in is slightly more grate than a Weber Smokey Joe at three times the heat retention
- ✗155 sq in feeds two or three people and no more
- ✗Steel body dents and the paint chips; it will not look new after a few seasons of travel
- ✗No thermometer-driven control and no ash catcher beyond the pan — everything is manual damper work
- ✗5-year warranty, and the thin steel firebox is a known long-term wear point on the Akorn line