Traeger Ironwood 885 vs Weber SmokeFire EX6
Quick take: The Weber SmokeFire EX6 costs $1 less; the Weber SmokeFire EX6 offers more cooking space (1,008 vs 885 sq in); the Weber SmokeFire EX6 reaches a higher max temp (600 vs 500°F).
| Spec | Traeger Ironwood 885 | Weber SmokeFire EX6 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,400 | $1,399 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (2,600) | 4★ (1,900) |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 885 sq in | 1008 sq in |
| Max Temp | 500°F | 600°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Porcelain-Enameled Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 20 lb | 22 lb |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | Yes |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 54 x 47 x 27 in | 57 x 33 x 45 in |
| Weight | 175 lbs | 150 lbs |
| Warranty | 3 years | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Traeger Ironwood 885
- ✓The D2 controller holds your set temp within roughly 5-15°F once it settles, which is plenty accurate for ribs, brisket, and pork butt without babysitting
- ✓Super Smoke mode genuinely cranks up smoke output at low temps (under 225°F) and gives noticeably more bark and smoke ring than the old Pro series
- ✓The downdraft exhaust and double-sidewall insulation help it hold heat better than older Traegers, so it recovers faster when you open the lid
- ✓WiFIRE app is the most mature in the category and lets you adjust temp, set probe alarms, and monitor cooks from your phone anywhere
- ✓885 sq in over two racks easily handles two pork butts plus a couple racks of ribs, so it's a real family/party-sized cooker not just a weeknight grill
- ✓The built-in pellet sensor warns you before the hopper runs dry, which saves you from the dreaded stalled-out overnight brisket cook
- ✓TurboTemp gets it up to cooking temp in about 10-15 minutes, faster than many competing pellet grills
- ✓Cleanup is straightforward thanks to the EZ-clean grease and ash keg, and the porcelain grates wipe down easily
- ✗WiFi connectivity is the number-one owner complaint - the grill regularly drops off the network mid-cook and you have to re-pair it through the app
- ✗Like all pellet grills it tops out around 450-500°F, so you won't get a true steakhouse sear without a separate cast-iron skillet or GrillGrates
- ✗At roughly $1,400 it's expensive for powder-coated steel, and many feel Recteq or Camp Chef give you more grill for the money
- ✗Pellet consumption is on the higher side, especially in cold weather where the single-wall areas leak heat despite the marketing about insulation
- ✗Some owners report the auger jamming or the hot rod failing after a year or two, and Traeger service can be slow to ship parts
- ✗The 3-year warranty trails Recteq (6 yr) and Camp Chef, which feels stingy at this price point
- ✗Temperature swings of 20-30°F are common during the initial heat-up and after lid openings before the PID re-stabilizes
- ✗It needs 120V power and the controller electronics are a known failure point, so a true 'set it and forget it' overnight cook is a small gamble
Weber SmokeFire EX6
- ✓It reaches a genuine 600°F, the highest of the mainstream pellet grills, so you can actually sear steaks and burgers on the main grates
- ✓The Weber Connect app with step-by-step guidance and probe alerts is well-designed and popular with new users
- ✓1008 sq in over two large levels gives serious capacity for big cooks and multiple proteins
- ✓The porcelain-enameled lid carries Weber's reputation for durable, rust-resistant finishes
- ✓The 2nd-gen redesign with a DC motor, shorter auger, and updated firmware fixed most of the auger-jamming and grease-fire problems of the original
- ✓It's a true do-it-all grill - low-and-slow smoking plus high-heat searing in one unit, reducing the need for a second grill
- ✓Weber's 5-year warranty and broad dealer/service network give buyers solid support
- ✓The ash and grease funnel down into a removable drawer, simplifying cleanup after high-heat cooks
- ✗The original EX6 was plagued by grease fires and auger jams, and that reputation still scares off many buyers even after the Gen-2 fixes
- ✗It runs hot and burns through pellets faster than rivals, so fuel costs are higher per cook
- ✗At 600°F the firebox produces a lot of grease and smoke, so you must keep it scrupulously clean to avoid flare-ups
- ✗Smoke flavor at low temps is on the lighter side - some owners feel it doesn't smoke as heavily as a Traeger in Super Smoke
- ✗WiFi can be finicky and the app occasionally loses the connection mid-cook like other pellet grills
- ✗At ~$1,400 it competes with Recteq and Traeger flagships while using painted/enameled steel rather than full stainless
- ✗Temperature can swing during the transition between low smoking and high searing modes
- ✗The tall, steep firebox design means the lower rack runs hotter, requiring you to manage two-zone placement carefully