Traeger Timberline XL vs Traeger Timberline
vs
Quick take: The Traeger Timberline costs $499 less; the Traeger Timberline XL offers more cooking space (1,320 vs 880 sq in).
| Spec | Traeger Timberline XL | Traeger Timberline |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$3,999 | ~$3,500 |
| Rating | 4★ (318) | 3.7★ (318) |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 1320 sq in | 880 sq in |
| Max Temp | 500°F | 500°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 22 lb | 22 lb |
| Burners | — | 1 |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | No |
| Side burner | No | Yes |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 62 x 51 x 25 in | — |
| Weight | 289 lbs | 238 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
Pros & cons
Traeger Timberline XL
- ✓Fully double-wall insulated stainless construction holds temperature rock-steady even in freezing weather, making it the most consistent Traeger for winter brisket
- ✓Massive 1320 sq in over three shelves swallows multiple briskets, pork butts, and racks of ribs for catering-level cooks
- ✓The built-in induction cooktop on the side is genuinely useful for searing, finishing sauces, or making sides without a second appliance
- ✓The full-color touchscreen and refreshed app are the most polished controls Traeger has ever shipped, with helpful step-by-step guidance
- ✓Super Smoke mode plus the larger firepot produces strong, clean smoke and excellent bark on low-and-slow cooks
- ✓Pop-and-lock accessory rails and the modular shelf system make it easy to add hooks, shelves, and a roll rack
- ✓A class-leading 10-year warranty backs the big price tag and signals Traeger's confidence in the build
- ✓The downdraft exhaust and sensor suite keep heat even front-to-back and top-to-bottom across that huge cooking area
- ✗At roughly $3,800 it's brutally expensive, and many reviewers feel you're paying a heavy premium for the Traeger badge and touchscreen
- ✗It still maxes out around 500°F, so despite the price you cannot true-sear on the main grates without the side burner or GrillGrates
- ✗Even on this flagship, owners report the WiFi dropping and the app occasionally losing connection mid-cook
- ✗At 289 lbs it's extremely heavy and awkward to move, and assembly is a long two-person job
- ✗Early units shipped with firmware bugs and touchscreen glitches that required updates, frustrating early adopters
- ✗Pellet consumption is high given the size, and you'll feed it a lot of fuel on long all-day cooks
- ✗The induction burner and electronics add more failure points, and out-of-warranty repairs on a grill this complex are costly
- ✗Its sheer footprint (62 in wide) is too big for many patios and it dominates the space
Traeger Timberline
- ✓Induction side cooktop needs no propane and holds real searing heat, unlike a pellet sear zone
- ✓Four thermometer channels out of the box — two wired, two wireless MEATER probes
- ✓Three-rack layout gives more usable tiers than any two-rack grill of similar square inches
- ✓Stainless construction and a gasketed, soft-close lid hold temperature through wind and cold better than painted steel
- ✓Same 10-year warranty as the rest of the current Traeger line
- ✓$500 less than the Timberline XL for the same hardware in a smaller body
- ✗3.7 out of 5 across 318 reviews on Traeger's own store; controller and app reliability are the recurring themes
- ✗500°F ceiling is no higher than an $899 Woodridge — the premium buys build and features, not heat
- ✗22 lb hopper is the same as the Ironwood at nearly double the price
- ✗Induction cooktop is a 120V draw on the same circuit as the grill, which can trip a shared outdoor breaker
- ✗At $3,500 it is squarely in Yoder and MAK welded-steel territory, where the steel is thicker and the electronics simpler