Char-Griller Smokin' Champ vs Char-Griller Super Pro Charcoal Grill
vs
Quick take: The Char-Griller Super Pro Charcoal Grill costs $99 less; the Char-Griller Smokin' Champ offers more cooking space (680 vs 580 sq in).
| Spec | Char-Griller Smokin' Champ | Char-Griller Super Pro Charcoal Grill |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$329 | ~$230 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (1,882) | — |
| Type | Offset Smoker | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 680 sq in | 580 sq in |
| Max Temp | 400°F | 400°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood/Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Powder-Coated Steel with Cast Iron Grates |
| 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 | 63 x 30 x 50 in | 43.7 x 31.5 x 50.4 in |
| Weight | 146 lbs | 77.4 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Char-Griller Smokin' Champ
- ✓It's a budget powerhouse - around $350 gets you a big barrel charcoal grill plus an offset firebox for real smoking
- ✓Huge total cooking capacity (over 800 sq in with the warming rack) handles big cookouts and multiple racks
- ✓The barrel can be used as a straightforward charcoal grill or paired with the side firebox for Texas-style offset smoking
- ✓The easy-dump ash pan makes cleanup far simpler than digging ash out of a fixed-bottom smoker
- ✓Cast-iron cooking grates retain heat well and give good sear marks for grilling
- ✓Dual damper controls let you manage airflow and learn fire control without a big investment
- ✓A 5-year warranty is generous for a budget charcoal unit
- ✓It responds well to the same cheap mods (sealing, baffle plates) that the pricier offsets use to even out heat
- ✗Thin powder-coated steel leaks smoke and heat from the factory, so sealing mods are basically required for steady temps
- ✗Heat is uneven, running much hotter near the firebox without a tuning plate to balance the chamber
- ✗Thin metal means big temperature swings with wind and weather, demanding more babysitting
- ✗Like any offset it requires constant fire-tending and isn't remotely set-and-forget
- ✗Durability is budget-grade - the steel can rust and the firebox warps with repeated use
- ✗Assembly is fiddly and QC is inconsistent, with reports of misaligned doors and panels
- ✗It burns through charcoal and wood, so per-cook fuel cost and prep add up
- ✗The lid thermometer is approximate and serious cooks add their own probe at grate level
Char-Griller Super Pro Charcoal Grill
- ✓850 sq in total cooking area at $230 — nothing else in the US market comes close on surface per dollar
- ✓The side firebox port means a $230 grill becomes an offset smoker for about $330 all in
- ✓Cast iron grates rather than plated wire, unusual below $250
- ✓Crank-adjustable charcoal pan gives real sear-height control at a price where most grills have a fixed grate
- ✓EasyDump ash pan pulls out the front instead of requiring the grill to be tipped
- ✗Rated to 400°F only — this grills and smokes but it does not sear
- ✗77 lbs of thin steel over 850 sq in; it loses heat in wind and cold and eats charcoal doing it
- ✗2 lb charcoal capacity against 580 sq in of primary grate means refueling on anything long
- ✗Assembly is long and the panel fit is loose; sealing the lid and doors is part of the job
- ✗No side shelf and no usable thermometer as shipped