Weber Master-Touch 26 vs Weber Spirit E-325
Quick take: The Weber Master-Touch 26 offers more cooking space (508 vs 360 sq in).
| Spec | Weber Master-Touch 26 | Weber Spirit E-325 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$499 | ~$499 |
| Rating | — | 4.5★ (4,144) |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Gas Grill |
| Cooking Area | 508 sq in | 360 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Propane/Natural Gas |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel with Stainless Steel Grate | Porcelain-Enameled Cast Iron Grates / Porcelain-Enameled Steel Lid |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | 3 |
| 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 | 48.3 x 26.6 x 46.2 in |
| Weight | 54 lbs | 98 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years bowl and lid, 5 years One-Touch system, 2 years remaining parts | 10 years |
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
Weber Spirit E-325
- ✓Sear Zone gives a genuinely hotter strip of grate without stepping up to the Genesis line
- ✓Porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates hold heat far better than the wire grates on sub-$400 grills
- ✓10-year warranty across cookbox, burners, grates and Flavorizer bars, not just the cookbox
- ✓4.5 stars across 4,144 reviews on Weber's own store is the deepest review sample of any grill in this batch
- ✓Compatible with the Weber Crafted frame kit, so it can take a griddle or pizza insert later
- ✗31,000 BTU total is modest for three burners — a full grate of food recovers heat slowly
- ✗No side burner, so sauces and sides need a second appliance
- ✗Open-cart design with an exposed tank rather than an enclosed cabinet
- ✗No thermometer beyond the analog lid gauge, which reads dome temperature not grate temperature