Pit Boss 42-Inch Digital Vertical Smoker with Wi-Fi vs Pit Boss 30-Inch Gas Vertical Smoker
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Quick take: The Pit Boss 30-Inch Gas Vertical Smoker costs $100 less; the Pit Boss 42-Inch Digital Vertical Smoker with Wi-Fi offers more cooking space (1,320 vs 983 sq in); the Pit Boss 30-Inch Gas Vertical Smoker reaches a higher max temp (320 vs 300°F).
| Spec | Pit Boss 42-Inch Digital Vertical Smoker with Wi-Fi | Pit Boss 30-Inch Gas Vertical Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$400 | ~$300 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Electric Smoker | Propane Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 1320 sq in | 983 sq in |
| Max Temp | 300°F | 320°F |
| Fuel Type | Electric | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Steel with Porcelain-Coated Racks | Steel with Porcelain-Coated Racks |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | 2 |
| WiFi / App | Yes | No |
| App control | Yes | No |
| Meat probe | Yes | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | — | — |
| Weight | — | — |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
Pros & cons
Pit Boss 42-Inch Digital Vertical Smoker with Wi-Fi
- ✓1,320 sq in for $400 is the best capacity-per-dollar of any electric cabinet in this set
- ✓300°F ceiling is above Masterbuilt's 275°F, which makes poultry noticeably less rubbery
- ✓The 100°F floor covers cold-ish work — jerky, sausage, nuts, cheese in cool weather
- ✓WiFi plus Bluetooth with an included probe at a price where most competitors are still analog
- ✓3-year warranty is triple Masterbuilt's 1-year on comparable cabinets
- ✓1,650-watt element recovers cabinet temperature faster after a door opening than lower-wattage rivals
- ✗Pit Boss's own page is inconsistent about rack count — the spec block says four, the feature copy says six; confirm before buying for a specific load
- ✗Still an electric element, so the smoke ring and bark are lighter than charcoal or pellets produce
- ✗No searing and no high-heat finish at 300°F
- ✗Chip tray needs topping up through the smoke phase; there is no automated fuel feed
- ✗Dimensions and weight are unpublished and a 42-inch cabinet is tall — check clearance under a patio cover
Pit Boss 30-Inch Gas Vertical Smoker
- ✓983 sq in for $300 is the cheapest large cabinet capacity in this comparison set
- ✓Dual-burner 12,500 BTU system recovers heat far faster than an electric element after the door opens
- ✓No electricity needed — works at a campsite, a deer camp or during an outage
- ✓320°F ceiling beats every electric cabinet here, enough for edible poultry skin
- ✓Four porcelain-coated racks and a 2-year warranty at a price where most rivals give one year
- ✗Manual gas valve, not a thermostat — temperature drifts with wind and ambient cold and needs babysitting
- ✗The built-in door dial is the only readout and dial thermometers at this price are routinely 20–30°F out
- ✗Thin, uninsulated body makes winter cooking a fight
- ✗No probes, no app, no digital anything — budget for a separate dual-probe thermometer
- ✗Wind sensitivity of an exposed burner means a sheltered location is close to mandatory