Smart charcoal grills are having a real moment, and for once it does not feel like gadget creep for the sake of gadget creep. The appeal is simple: keep the charcoal flavor, cut down the fire babysitting, and make outdoor cooking more repeatable.
Inside the Article:
Recent coverage from The Manual, Gear Patrol, and Men’s Journal points to two clear products that are actually worth serious consideration before backyard season gets crowded: the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe and Weber’s 22-inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill.
That is the lane right now for smart charcoal grills. One is a loaded ceramic kamado with a lot of tech and a lot of mass. The other keeps the familiar Weber kettle format and adds digital temperature management, app pairing, and startup assistance. Retrofit options may end up mattering later, but based on the supplied reporting, these are the two fully sourced choices with enough detail to discuss like grown-ups around a grill instead of guessing in the group chat.
Why smart charcoal is finally getting traction
According to The Manual, smart charcoal grills are gaining attention because temperature control, automation, connectivity, and cook-session data make charcoal easier to approach and easier to repeat. The same piece says these grills can hold low-and-slow smoking temperatures for hours and also get hot enough for searing, which is the kind of range that keeps a cooker useful past one-trick weekend duty.
That matters because charcoal has always asked for a little more attention than gas. Gear Patrol’s charcoal grill buying guide makes that point directly and also highlights airflow control as a major factor in charcoal grill quality. Smart charcoal grill systems lean hard into that exact issue. They use fans and controllers to manage airflow, which means less fiddling with vents and fewer mystery temperature swings after the second beer.
The pitch is convenience, but the better way to read the category is consistency. If a grill can help light the fire, hold a target temperature, and track probe readings from an app, it is removing the annoying parts of charcoal cooking without replacing the part everybody actually likes, which is the flavor.
1. Kamado Joe Konnected Joe
If the goal is the most fully realized smart charcoal grill in this small field, the Konnected Joe has the stronger case.
Gear Patrol’s review, based on about three months of backyard use, describes it as feature-rich with precise temperature regulation and app integration. That same review calls out an auto-start button to light coals as one of the major advantages, which gets right to the point for anyone who has ever stood outside with a chimney starter wondering why dinner now starts in 45 minutes.
The Manual’s hands-on article fills in the practical details. The Konnected Joe includes a digital control panel, an Automatic Fire Starter button, app pairing, and ports for three temperature probes, with one probe included. The same source says the app can monitor and control cooking temperature and check probe temperatures.
There is also a useful backup plan built in. The Manual reports that the grill uses AC power for smart features but can run in Classic Mode without AC power. That matters because a kamado should still be usable as a kamado, even if the smart side is taking a day off or the outlet situation in the backyard is less than ideal.
What it does well
- Precise temperature regulation, according to Gear Patrol
- Automatic fire-start help
- App control and probe monitoring
- Kamado versatility for smoking, roasting, and high-heat cooking
- Fallback Classic Mode when AC power is not in play, according to The Manual
What gives me pause
The drawbacks are not subtle. Gear Patrol says it is very expensive for a charcoal grill, heavy to set up, and dependent on nearby power and Wi-Fi. Those are real ownership issues, not spec-sheet nitpicks.
That last part is especially worth paying attention to. Smart features sound great in product coverage, but once a cooker needs a plug and a reliable signal, placement becomes part of the buying decision. A smart charcoal grill that works beautifully but only in one corner of the patio is still a compromise.
Who it makes sense for
The Konnected Joe fits the buyer who already likes kamado cooking and wants the tech layer without giving up the ceramic format. It also makes sense for somebody building out a serious backyard living or outdoor cooking setup where power access is already sorted and the higher price is part of the plan.
It makes less sense for anyone who just wants occasional weeknight burgers with fewer hassles. Buying a ceramic tank with digital controls for that job is a little like bringing a full rolling toolbox to tighten one bolt. Impressive, sure. Necessary, not always.
2. Weber 22-inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill
If the Kamado Joe is the loaded, expensive option, Weber’s new Performer Smart looks like the smarter mainstream play based on the available reporting.
Gear Patrol’s launch coverage says Weber keeps the classic 22-inch kettle cooking area and adds a digitally controlled fan to regulate heat, an attached LCD Wi-Fi-enabled controller, Rapidfire startup assistance, and mobile app pairing for remote control and monitoring. That is a pretty clean brief for anyone who already trusts the kettle format and wants modern convenience without switching to pellets or giving up charcoal entirely.
Men’s Journal adds a few important buying details. The outlet says the 22-inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill was slated to go on sale in spring 2026 at $600, and describes it as a classic kettle on a cart with a digital thermostat, built-in fan, and Rapidfire assist for faster startup. Men’s Journal also notes that it can still be used conventionally for open-lid grilling.
That conventional-use point matters. Some smart gear gets awkward when the app is not in the picture. Weber’s approach sounds closer to a normal kettle that just happens to have a digital co-pilot attached, which is a lot easier to live with for people who want flexibility instead of a fully managed cooking experience every single time.
What it does well
- Familiar 22-inch Weber kettle layout
- Digitally controlled fan for heat regulation
- LCD Wi-Fi controller and app pairing
- Rapidfire Assist startup help
- Can still be used conventionally for open-lid grilling, according to Men’s Journal
What to keep in mind
The biggest unknown is simple: most of the reporting is still launch-focused. There is a lot on features and convenience, but not much yet on multi-season durability, long-term app reliability, or broad head-to-head testing against traditional kettles.
That does not mean the grill is a bad bet. It just means the current case is strongest for buyers who like Weber’s platform already and want a more guided charcoal experience, not for somebody chasing years of proven real-world data that has not been written yet.
Who it makes sense for
The Performer Smart looks like the right fit for the broadest group of buyers. It keeps the classic kettle layout, adds startup and temperature-control help, and lands at a lower price than the Konnected Joe based on Men’s Journal’s reported figure. For plenty of households, that is the sweet spot between old-school charcoal flavor and practical convenience.
It also has a strong value case for anyone who wants a smart charcoal grill without committing to a huge ceramic cooker. A 22-inch kettle on a cart is easier to understand, easier to place, and probably easier to justify when the rest of the backyard budget still needs to cover seating, coolers, and maybe a decent speaker that does not sound like a coffee can.
Quick comparison: which one does what better?
For the most complete smart-charcoal experience
Pick: Kamado Joe Konnected Joe
Why: Gear Patrol’s review points to precise temperature regulation and convenient app integration, while The Manual details the digital controls, Automatic Fire Starter, and multi-probe setup. This is the more developed smart-cooking package from the available reporting.
For the most familiar and approachable setup
Pick: Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill
Why: It keeps Weber’s classic 22-inch kettle format while adding fan-driven control, a Wi-Fi controller, and app monitoring, according to Gear Patrol. Men’s Journal also says it can still be used conventionally for open-lid grilling, which makes it easier to fold into normal backyard use.
For buyers worried about power and Wi-Fi dependence
Edge: Weber, with one caveat
Why: The Konnected Joe’s dependence on nearby power and Wi-Fi is specifically called out by Gear Patrol. The Manual says it can fall back to Classic Mode without AC power, which helps, but the smart side still asks more of the setup. Weber’s reporting also centers on connected controls, so this is not an off-grid hero either. Still, the kettle-style format sounds less tied to an all-in smart identity.
For value
Pick: Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill
Why: Men’s Journal reports a $600 price, while Gear Patrol describes the Konnected Joe as very expensive for a charcoal grill. Without inventing numbers that are not in the sources, that is enough to place Weber as the easier value case.
What buyers should actually watch before spending the money
Smart charcoal grills are interesting because they promise fewer hassles, but the basics still matter. Gear Patrol’s buying guide says to pay attention to materials, warranties, grate adjustability, and airflow control. Smart features sit on top of those fundamentals, they do not replace them.
For these two smart charcoal grills specifically, the short checklist is pretty straightforward:
- Power access: The Konnected Joe uses AC power for connected features, according to The Manual
- Wi-Fi reliability: Gear Patrol says the Konnected Joe requires a Wi-Fi signal, and Weber’s controller is also Wi-Fi enabled
- How much tech is actually wanted: Some cooks want full app control, others just want steadier temps
- Cooking style: Kamado flexibility versus kettle familiarity is still a real fork in the road
- Tolerance for unknowns: Weber’s newer smart-charcoal setup still needs more long-term reporting
That last point is where the current market still feels early. TheManual’s category view is convincing on why smart charcoal is catching on, especially for repeatable results and lower barriers to entry. What is still thin across the supplied sources is multi-season ownership reporting, especially around app reliability and durability over time.
So, which one is actually worth buying?
Based on the current reporting, both are worth buying, but for different people.
The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe is the stronger pick for someone who wants the fullest smart-charcoal feature set and already likes the kamado style of outdoor cooking. It offers precise temperature regulation, app control, probe support, and auto-start convenience, but Gear Patrol is clear about the tradeoffs: high price, heavy setup, and dependence on nearby power and Wi-Fi.
The Weber 22-inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill is the more sensible buy for the broader market. It keeps the classic kettle layout, adds fan-driven heat regulation, a Wi-Fi controller, app pairing, and Rapidfire startup help, and Men’s Journal reports a $600 price with a spring 2026 release window. If the smart charcoal grill category is going to move beyond hardcore early adopters, this is the kind of product that probably gets it there.
One specific fact worth watching as the season approaches: Men’s Journal says Weber’s 22-inch Performer Smart Charcoal Grill was slated to go on sale in spring 2026, which makes it the key launch to track if the goal is a smart charcoal cooker in the most familiar backyard format.
