Weber Original Kettle 18 vs Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill
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Quick take: The Weber Original Kettle 18 costs $1 less; the Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill offers more cooking space (250 vs 240 sq in).
| Spec | Weber Original Kettle 18 | Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$129 | ~$130 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (945) | — |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 240 sq in | 250 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | 400°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Porcelain-Enameled Steel | Powder-Coated Steel with Cast Iron Grates |
| 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 | No |
| Dimensions | 36 x 18.5 x 23 in | 31.1 x 24 x 41.9 in |
| Weight | 21 lbs | 46.5 lbs |
| Warranty | 10 years bowl and lid, 5 years One-Touch system, 2 years remaining parts | 5 years |
Pros & cons
Weber Original Kettle 18
- ✓240 sq in still holds a two-zone fire, which no tabletop grill under it can do
- ✓Same 10-year no-rust-through warranty on bowl and lid as kettles four times the price
- ✓One-Touch cleaning system and enclosed ash catcher, which the tabletop Smokey Joe below it lacks
- ✓At 21 lbs it can be carried to a truck bed or a campsite, unlike the 22-inch cart models
- ✓Rated 4.7 from 945 reviews on Weber's own store
- ✗240 sq in fills up at roughly six burgers, so it is a two-to-four-person grill
- ✗No lid thermometer, so temperature needs an aftermarket probe
- ✗The 18-inch bowl is outside the accessory ecosystem — most kettle inserts, rotisseries and griddles are built for the 22
- ✗Legs are bare aluminum with no cart, side table or lid holder
Char-Griller Patio Pro Charcoal Grill
- ✓Cast iron grates at $130, which is unusual — most grills at this price ship plated wire
- ✓Crank-adjustable charcoal pan, inherited from the bigger Char-Grillers, gives real sear-height control
- ✓31 inches wide and 24 deep, so it fits a balcony where a 22-inch kettle's 26-inch circle plus handles will not
- ✓EasyDump ash pan empties from the front without tipping the grill
- ✓46 lbs is light enough for one person to reposition but heavy enough not to blow over
- ✗Char-Griller rates it to only 400°F — it will not sear the way the 700°F Classic does
- ✗250 sq in is genuinely small: about four burgers and two pieces of chicken, no indirect zone to speak of
- ✗No side firebox port, so unlike the bigger Char-Grillers it cannot be converted to an offset
- ✗Thin steel body loses heat fast in cold or wind
- ✗No side shelf — there is nowhere to put a platter