Kamado Joe Classic III vs Kamado Joe Classic Joe II
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Quick take: The Kamado Joe Classic Joe II costs $299 less; the Kamado Joe Classic III offers more cooking space (510 vs 250 sq in).
| Spec | Kamado Joe Classic III | Kamado Joe Classic Joe II |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,799 | ~$1,500 |
| Rating | 5★ (628) | — |
| Type | Kamado | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 510 sq in | 250 sq in |
| Max Temp | 750°F | 750°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| 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 | 48 x 28 x 48 in | 47.6 x 46.2 in |
| Weight | 282 lbs | 228 lbs |
| Warranty | Lifetime (ceramic) | Limited lifetime warranty |
Pros & cons
Kamado Joe Classic III
- ✓The Divide and Conquer 3-tier rack system effectively doubles cooking space and lets you cook different foods at different heights and temps at once
- ✓The SloRoller insert uses cyclonic airflow to distribute smoke and heat evenly, noticeably improving low-and-slow results over a bare kamado
- ✓The Air Lift hinge makes the heavy ceramic dome lift with one finger, a genuine quality-of-life upgrade over the Egg
- ✓Unlike the Big Green Egg, it ships with a rolling cart, fold-down side shelves, and accessories included in the price
- ✓Ceramic construction gives the same incredible fuel efficiency and steady temps as any top kamado
- ✓510 sq in on the main grate (more usable with the tiered system) handles bigger cooks than a Large Egg
- ✓The thick-gauge stainless cooking grates and overall fit-and-finish feel premium and built to last
- ✓It does it all - 225°F brisket, 750°F pizza and searing - with a lifetime ceramic warranty backing it
- ✗At ~$2,000 it's one of the priciest kamados, a significant premium even over the Big Green Egg
- ✗It's extremely heavy at 282 lbs and a real chore to assemble and move once set up
- ✗The many included parts (SloRoller, multi-tier racks, gaskets) mean more components to store, clean, and eventually replace
- ✗The felt or fiber gasket can wear and need replacement after heavy high-heat use
- ✗Like all kamados it's slow to cool down, so overshooting a low target temp is hard to correct
- ✗Charcoal lighting, ash management, and the kamado learning curve all apply
- ✗No built-in smart features or app despite the flagship price
- ✗Some owners report shipping damage to the ceramic given the weight, requiring a warranty claim
Kamado Joe Classic Joe II
- ✓Kontrol Tower top vent stays where it is set and does not need re-dialing after every lid lift
- ✓Air Lift hinge drops the effective dome weight enough to open one-handed
- ✓Double-thick wire-mesh fiberglass gasket seals better and lasts longer than the felt gaskets it replaced
- ✓Two-tier Divide & Conquer, slide-out ash drawer and stainless grates all standard
- ✓A standalone version without the cart sells for $1,399.99 if it is going into a built-in surround
- ✗No more cooking area than the $999.99 Series I — the entire premium is vent, hinge and gasket
- ✗Still the two-tier rack; the three-tier Divide & Conquer needs Series III
- ✗No SloRoller hyperbolic smoke chamber at this tier
- ✗228 lbs, and the folding shelves push it to 46 inches wide in use