Char-Griller Akorn Kamado vs Char-Griller Gravity Fed 980

Char-Griller

Char-Griller Akorn Kamado

~$399

4.7★ (761)

Char-Griller

~$799

3.7★ (13)

Quick take: The Char-Griller Akorn Kamado costs $400 less; the Char-Griller Gravity Fed 980 offers more cooking space (980 vs 314 sq in).

✓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

✓Real charcoal flavor with pellet-grill convenience - the fan and controller hold your set temp automatically while gravity feeds the fire
✓The 200-700°F range out-sears any pellet grill and reaches temp in about 20 minutes from lighting one fire starter
✓980 sq in total (680 primary) is enormous for the price - multiple briskets and rib racks fit at once
✓The triple-insulated lid and body hold temps steadier in wind and cold than the thin-walled Masterbuilt 800
✓A 16 lb hopper of briquettes runs 8+ hours unattended - genuine overnight-cook capability on charcoal
✓At ~$600 it undercuts the Masterbuilt 1050 while r/grilling threads frequently rate its body construction higher
✓WiFi/Bluetooth app control with included probes covers remote monitoring and temp changes from the couch
✓Porcelain-coated cast iron grates put real sear marks on steaks and clean up easily

✗Like all gravity smokers, the fan, controller, and temp sensors are electronic failure points, and the 1-year warranty is short
✗The Char-Griller app is the weakest link per owners - laggy connections and occasional dropped sessions mid-cook
✗The hopper and ash areas need diligent cleaning; grease and moisture buildup can jam the charcoal feed or corrode the switches
✗It needs a powered outlet for the fan, so it's not a true off-grid charcoal cooker
✗The powder-coated steel will rust at hinge points and the firebox without a cover and touch-up paint
✗At 200 lbs with a wide 65-inch footprint it's a beast to position and not remotely portable
✗Smoke flavor runs lighter than an offset unless you layer wood chunks into the hopper
✗QC is hit-or-miss - misaligned doors and leaky gaskets show up in owner threads, usually fixed with lava lock tape