Weber SmokeFire EX6 vs Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22

Weber

Weber SmokeFire EX6

~$500

Weber

~$549

Quick take: The Weber SmokeFire EX6 costs $49 less; the Weber SmokeFire EX6 offers more cooking space (1,008 vs 726 sq in).

Spec	Weber SmokeFire EX6	Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 22
Price	~$500	~$549
Rating	—	—
Type	Pellet Grill	Charcoal Smoker
Cooking Area	1008 sq in	726 sq in
Max Temp	600°F	—
Fuel Type	Wood Pellets	Charcoal
Build Material	Porcelain-Enameled Steel	Porcelain-Enameled Steel
Hopper Capacity	22 lb	—
Burners	—	—
WiFi / App	Yes	No
App control	Yes	No
Meat probe	Yes	No
PID controller	Yes	No
Side burner	No	No
Rotisserie	No	No
Searing	Yes	No
Dimensions	57 x 33 x 45 in	23 x 24 x 48.5 in
Weight	150 lbs	68 lbs
Warranty	5 years	10 years on bowl, lid and center ring; 2 years on remaining parts

✓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

✓22.5-inch grates take a full untrimmed packer brisket flat — the single biggest practical gain over the 18-inch
✓726 sq in across two racks handles roughly six pork butts or four slabs of ribs in one load
✓The larger charcoal ring supports 12-plus hour unattended burns at 225–250°F, so overnight cooks do not need a refuel
✓Grates share the 22.5-inch diameter of the Weber kettle line, so kettle accessories and replacement grates drop straight in
✓Porcelain-enameled bowl, lid and center section carry a 10-year no-rust-through warranty
✓Bolt-on temperature controllers from the aftermarket are designed around this exact body, making it the most upgradeable bullet

✗At 68 lbs and 48.5 inches tall it is not something you move alone once it is assembled
✗$549 is $130 over the 18-inch, and the 18 covers most home cooks' volume needs
✗The stock lid thermometer reads the dome, not the grate, and is often 15–25°F off
✗No probe grommets from the factory — wires have to run through the door gap or be drilled for
✗Water pan needs refilling on long cooks and the pan is awkward to reach with both racks loaded