Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill vs Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker
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Quick take: The Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill costs $20 less; the Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker offers more cooking space (363 vs 250 sq in).
| Spec | Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill | Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$130 | ~$150 |
| Rating | — | 4.8★ (56) |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 250 sq in | 363 sq in |
| Max Temp | 400°F | 400°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel with Cast Iron Grates | Porcelain-Coated 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 | No | No |
| Dimensions | 31.1 x 24 x 41.9 in | 23 x 26.2 x 38 in |
| Weight | 46.5 lbs | 23.1 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill
- ✓Cast iron grates at $130, which is unusual — most grills at this price ship plated wire
- ✓Crank-adjustable charcoal pan, inherited from the bigger Char-Grillers, gives real sear-height control
- ✓31 inches wide and 24 deep, so it fits a balcony where a 22-inch kettle's 26-inch circle plus handles will not
- ✓EasyDump ash pan empties from the front without tipping the grill
- ✓46 lbs is light enough for one person to reposition but heavy enough not to blow over
- ✗Char-Griller rates it to only 400°F — it will not sear the way the 700°F Classic does
- ✗250 sq in is genuinely small: about four burgers and two pieces of chicken, no indirect zone to speak of
- ✗No side firebox port, so unlike the bigger Char-Grillers it cannot be converted to an offset
- ✗Thin steel body loses heat fast in cold or wind
- ✗No side shelf — there is nowhere to put a platter
Char-Griller 22-inch Kettle Charcoal Grill and Smoker
- ✓$150 for a 22-inch kettle with a removable ash pan — Weber charges $229 for the equivalent Original Kettle Premium
- ✓363 sq in is the full 22-inch grate, the same class as a Weber Original Kettle 22
- ✓Adjustable vents top and bottom, so proper two-zone and snake-method smoking both work
- ✓Porcelain-coated bowl and lid rather than painted steel, which is what determines whether a kettle rusts out in year three
- ✓At 23 lbs it is genuinely liftable into a truck bed for a tailgate
- ✗23 lbs is light for a 22-inch kettle — the steel is thinner than Weber's and holds heat correspondingly worse
- ✗Rated to 400°F versus the 500°F+ a Weber kettle will reach with the vents open
- ✗Only 56 Walmart reviews, so the 4.8 is not yet a settled number
- ✗No hinged grate, so adding coals mid-cook means lifting the whole grate with food on it
- ✗Char-Griller's kettle accessory ecosystem is nearly empty; Weber's is the reason most people buy a Weber