Kamado Joe Classic III vs Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One
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Quick take: The Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One costs $100 less; the Kamado Joe Classic III offers more cooking space (510 vs 210 sq in); the Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One reaches a higher max temp (850 vs 750°F).
| Spec | Kamado Joe Classic III | Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,799 | ~$1,699 |
| Rating | 5★ (628) | — |
| Type | Kamado | Kamado |
| Cooking Area | 510 sq in | 210 sq in |
| Max Temp | 750°F | 850°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 | — |
| Weight | 282 lbs | 100 lbs |
| Warranty | Lifetime (ceramic) | Lifetime (ceramic, to original owner) |
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
Primo Oval JR 200 All-In-One
- ✓Keeps the oval firebox, so it does two-zone cooking the Big Green Egg Small and MiniMax cannot
- ✓100 lbs is the lightest full ceramic kamado that still holds a whole chicken and a rack of ribs
- ✓Optional 150 sq in rack takes it to 360 sq in for a holiday cook
- ✓Primo's GO cradle and base turn it into a transportable kamado — nothing else ceramic at this size does
- ✓Lifetime ceramic warranty, same as the larger Primos, not a reduced term for the small model
- ✗$1,699 for 210 sq in is expensive per square inch — a Big Green Egg Medium is 262 sq in for $900
- ✗Dealer-only pricing with no manufacturer list price, so the number above is one authorized dealer's
- ✗100 lbs is 'portable' only in the sense that two people can lift it into a truck
- ✗No maker-side or dealer-side review base to cite; Primo's small models sell in low volume
- ✗Oval accessories only — the aftermarket that exists for 18-inch round kamados does not apply