Weber Master-Touch 26 vs SnS Grills MasterKettle 22
vs
Quick take: The SnS Grills MasterKettle 22 costs $49 less; the Weber Master-Touch 26 offers more cooking space (508 vs 363 sq in).
| Spec | Weber Master-Touch 26 | SnS Grills MasterKettle 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$499 | ~$450 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 508 sq in | 363 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel with Stainless Steel Grate | Porcelain-Enameled Steel with 304 Stainless Grate |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 42.9 x 27 x 33 in | 43 x 42 x 25.25 in |
| Weight | 54 lbs | 55 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years bowl and lid, 5 years One-Touch system, 2 years remaining parts | 10 years porcelain enamel on lid and bowl |
Pros & cons
Weber Master-Touch 26
- ✓508 sq in is 40% more grate than the 22-inch Master-Touch for roughly $200 more
- ✓Hinged stainless grate flips on both sides, so coals can be topped up without lifting food off
- ✓Included Char-Rails hold coals in a defined bank, which makes a two-zone fire repeatable rather than eyeballed
- ✓The extra four inches of diameter is what lets a whole turkey or a full packer sit in a true indirect zone
- ✓Built-in lid thermometer and Tuck-Away lid holder, neither of which the Original Kettle line includes
- ✗The 26-inch bowl is off the main accessory standard — most kettle inserts, baskets and rotisserie rings are sized for the 22
- ✗No cart, side table or work surface at $499, which buys a full cart on the Performer
- ✗Burns noticeably more charcoal than a 22 to hold the same temperature, because the larger bowl has more volume to heat
- ✗Smoke Grey finish is a $30 upcharge over black for no functional difference
SnS Grills MasterKettle 22
- ✓Ships with the Slow 'N Sear Deluxe insert, a roughly $115 accessory, so the two-zone setup costs nothing extra
- ✓The insert's water reservoir stabilises low temperatures and adds humidity, which a bare kettle cannot do
- ✓304 stainless cooking grate instead of the plated steel on comparable kettles — it will not flake
- ✓Standard 22-inch bowl, so every other 22-inch kettle accessory still fits
- ✓10-year porcelain enamel warranty on lid and bowl, matching Weber's terms
- ✗$450 is more than a Weber Master-Touch 22 and close to a Performer, for the same 363 sq in
- ✗SnS is a small brand — replacement bowls, lids and hardware are nowhere near as widely stocked as Weber's
- ✗No built-in gas ignition, side table or cart features at a price where the Performer offers all three
- ✗The Slow 'N Sear occupies a large share of the charcoal grate, which cuts usable direct-heat area when searing