Weber Genesis E-325s vs Weber Searwood 600

Weber

Weber Genesis E-325s

$899

4.6★ (1,600)

Weber

$899

4.6★ (1,100)

Quick take: The Weber Searwood 600 offers more cooking space (648 vs 513 sq in).

✓Weber's legendary build quality means this grill routinely lasts 10-15+ years, and the 12-year warranty backs every component
✓The dedicated sear zone burner gets hot enough for steakhouse-quality crusts, a real step up from basic 3-burner grills
✓Porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates retain heat beautifully and deliver even, dark sear marks
✓Flavorizer bars vaporize drippings for added flavor and funnel grease away to dramatically reduce flare-ups
✓Even heat distribution across the three burners makes indirect roasting and multi-zone cooking easy and predictable
✓The integrated side burner is genuinely useful for sauces, sides, or boiling without running back to the kitchen
✓Fit, finish, and ignition reliability are top-tier - the burners light first try every time for years
✓Parts availability is excellent, so even a decade in you can easily refresh grates, bars, or igniters

✗At ~$900 it's significantly pricier than comparable Char-Broil or Monument 3-burners, so you pay for the Weber name
✗513 sq in of main cooking space is modest - big parties may want a 4-burner for more real estate
✗It has no WiFi, app, or built-in temperature probe, which feels dated next to smart grills at this price
✗The newer redesign moved from stainless to porcelain-coated steel Flavorizer bars, which some long-time Weber fans see as a downgrade
✗Assembly is lengthy and the grill is heavy at 188 lbs, so plan for two people and a couple hours
✗The open-cart lower shelf offers no enclosed storage to hide the propane tank or accessories
✗It only reaches gas-grill temps, so it's not a smoker - low-and-slow BBQ isn't its strength
✗Some owners note the lid thermometer is imprecise and recommend a separate probe for accuracy

✓The 180-600°F range with DirectFlame grating means it genuinely grills and sears steaks and smash burgers, not just smokes - rare in this class
✓Reviewers and r/pelletgrills owners consistently report some of the best smoke flavor and color of any mainstream pellet grill
✓The Rapid React PID recovers temperature fast after lid openings and holds set points tightly for overnight cooks
✓Unlike the SmokeFire, it runs fully offline with a manual dial mode - no app or WiFi required to cook
✓At $899 it undercuts the Traeger Ironwood while offering higher max heat and a 5-year warranty
✓The removable ash/grease drawer with disposable liners is one of the easiest cleanup systems in the category
✓648 sq in over two grates handles two briskets or several rib racks - real family capacity
✓Weber Connect app guidance, probe alerts, and firmware updates are polished, and Weber's dealer network backs service

✗No side or front shelves come standard - prep space costs extra, which stings at $899
✗Only one meat probe is included even though the controller supports two
✗Grate-level temps run about 15°F below the set point per AmazingRibs testing, so you learn to compensate
✗The porcelain-enameled steel body is single-wall, so cold-weather cooks burn noticeably more pellets
✗At 600°F it generates serious grease vapor - the firepot area needs regular cleaning to avoid flare-ups, a lesson SmokeFire owners know well
✗The SmokeFire's reputation still haunts Weber pellet grills, and long-term reliability of the new platform is unproven
✗No pellet-level sensor, so you check the 20 lb hopper manually on long cooks
✗The lid is light-gauge compared to a Yoder or Recteq, and wind can affect temps more than heavy-bodied rivals