Traeger Ranger vs Z Grills 450B
Quick take: The Z Grills 450B costs $3 less; the Z Grills 450B offers more cooking space (459 vs 176 sq in).
| Spec | Traeger Ranger | Z Grills 450B |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$480 | ~$477 |
| Rating | 3.9★ (196) | — |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 176 sq in | 459 sq in |
| Max Temp | 450°F | — |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Powder-Coated Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 8 lb | 18 lb |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | No | Yes |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | No |
| Dimensions | — | — |
| Weight | 60 lbs | — |
| Warranty | 7 years | — |
Pros & cons
Traeger Ranger
- ✓Smallest real wood-pellet cooker Traeger makes — fits on a tailgate or a camp table
- ✓Cast iron griddle insert is included, so it doubles as a flat top for breakfast
- ✓Same 7-year warranty as the full-size non-connected grills
- ✓Digital Arc controller with Keep Warm mode, not a simple three-position smoke dial
- ✓Locking lid and a carry handle make it genuinely transportable, unlike cabinet grills with casters
- ✗60 lbs for a 176 sq in tabletop grill — heavier than most two-burner portable gas grills
- ✗176 sq in holds roughly six burgers; it will not cook for a group
- ✗No WiFi, app or wireless probe support
- ✗Requires 120V power, so it is unusable at a campsite without shore power or a generator
- ✗$480 for 176 sq in is the highest price per square inch in the Traeger line
Z Grills 450B
- ✓PID control under $500 — Pit Boss and Traeger do not offer it at any price in their entry tiers
- ✓Two meat probes included, where most grills at this price include one
- ✓Hopper cleanout door lets you swap pellet species without scooping the hopper by hand
- ✓18 lb hopper is large for a 459 sq in grill, so it runs long without refills
- ✓Locking all-terrain casters rather than the two fixed wheels typical at this price
- ✗No WiFi, Bluetooth or app — that starts at Z Grills' 700-series
- ✗Z Grills does not publish a temperature range or weight on the product listing
- ✗459 sq in is a small-family grill, not one to cook for a crowd on
- ✗Direct-to-consumer with a thin dealer network; warranty service means shipping parts
- ✗No sear mode or direct-flame option of any kind