Weber SmokeFire EX6 vs Traeger Tailgater

Weber

Weber SmokeFire EX6

~$500

Traeger

~$500

3.8★ (268)

Quick take: The Weber SmokeFire EX6 offers more cooking space (1,008 vs 300 sq in); the Weber SmokeFire EX6 reaches a higher max temp (600 vs 450°F).

✓It reaches a genuine 600°F, the highest of the mainstream pellet grills, so you can actually sear steaks and burgers on the main grates
✓The Weber Connect app with step-by-step guidance and probe alerts is well-designed and popular with new users
✓1008 sq in over two large levels gives serious capacity for big cooks and multiple proteins
✓The porcelain-enameled lid carries Weber's reputation for durable, rust-resistant finishes
✓The 2nd-gen redesign with a DC motor, shorter auger, and updated firmware fixed most of the auger-jamming and grease-fire problems of the original
✓It's a true do-it-all grill - low-and-slow smoking plus high-heat searing in one unit, reducing the need for a second grill
✓Weber's 5-year warranty and broad dealer/service network give buyers solid support
✓The ash and grease funnel down into a removable drawer, simplifying cleanup after high-heat cooks

✗The original EX6 was plagued by grease fires and auger jams, and that reputation still scares off many buyers even after the Gen-2 fixes
✗It runs hot and burns through pellets faster than rivals, so fuel costs are higher per cook
✗At 600°F the firebox produces a lot of grease and smoke, so you must keep it scrupulously clean to avoid flare-ups
✗Smoke flavor at low temps is on the lighter side - some owners feel it doesn't smoke as heavily as a Traeger in Super Smoke
✗WiFi can be finicky and the app occasionally loses the connection mid-cook like other pellet grills
✗At ~$1,400 it competes with Recteq and Traeger flagships while using painted/enameled steel rather than full stainless
✗Temperature can swing during the transition between low smoking and high searing modes
✗The tall, steep firebox design means the lower rack runs hotter, requiring you to manage two-zone placement carefully

✓300 sq in is roughly double what most portable pellet grills offer
✓EZ-Fold legs collapse without tools and the body is one-person liftable at 62 lbs
✓Covered by Traeger's 7-year non-connected grill warranty, not a short portable-only term
✓Uses the same Traeger pellets and porcelain grates as the full-size line
✓Simpler controller means fewer of the firmware complaints that dog the WiFIRE models

✗Digital Arc controller swings wider than the WiFIRE boards and has no app, alarms or remote monitoring
✗8 lb hopper is roughly four hours at smoking temperatures, so it needs babysitting
✗Needs a 120V outlet or an inverter — not a charcoal-style grill you can run anywhere
✗450°F ceiling and no sear zone
✗3.8 out of 5 across 268 reviews on Traeger's store, with auger and igniter complaints recurring