Weber SmokeFire EX6 vs Weber Searwood 600

Weber

Weber SmokeFire EX6

$1,399

4★ (1,900)

Weber

$899

4.6★ (1,100)

Quick take: The Weber Searwood 600 costs $500 less; the Weber SmokeFire EX6 offers more cooking space (1,008 vs 648 sq in).

✓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

✓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