Masterbuilt
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 is a digital, app-controlled charcoal grill, griddle, and smoker that uses a gravity-fed charcoal hopper and a fan-driven digital controller to automate charcoal cooking. It blends real charcoal flavor with set-and-forget convenience.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓It gives you real charcoal flavor with set-and-forget digital convenience - the fan-driven controller holds temp automatically like a pellet grill but burns lump or briquettes
- ✓It's wildly versatile, going from a 225°F low-and-slow smoke to a 700°F sear, and the included griddle insert turns it into a flat-top
- ✓The gravity-fed hopper holds up to ~16 lbs of briquettes for roughly 8+ hours of unattended cooking
- ✓The digital controller and Masterbuilt app let you set and monitor temps and probe alerts from your phone
- ✓It reaches genuine searing temps that pellet grills can't, so steaks and burgers get a real crust
- ✓800 sq in of cooking space plus the griddle option make it a true do-it-all charcoal cooker
- ✓At ~$650 it's a lot of capability and charcoal flavor for the money versus separate grill and smoker
- ✓It heats up fast - charcoal lights and reaches temp quicker than a traditional charcoal smoker
Cons
- ✗Reliability is the big knock - the control board, fan, and temperature sensors are known to fail, sometimes within the first year
- ✗The thin sheet-metal body and gaskets leak and wear, so many owners reseal it to hold temps and protect the electronics
- ✗The 1-year warranty is short for a $650 cooker with so many failure-prone electronic parts
- ✗It still needs power for the fan and controller, so it's not a true off-grid charcoal cooker
- ✗Ash and charcoal management is messier than a pellet grill, and the hopper/firebox area needs regular cleaning to run right
- ✗Smoke flavor, while real charcoal, can be lighter than a traditional offset unless you add wood chunks to the hopper or ash bin
- ✗The app and WiFi can be glitchy, dropping the connection mid-cook like many smart grills
- ✗Rain and moisture can wreak havoc on the electronics and charcoal, so it really needs a cover and dry storage
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