Best Smart Grill 2026: Pellet, Gas, Electric and Griddle Compared

In 2026, the best smart grill for most backyards is the Weber Searwood 600: a Wi-Fi-controlled pellet grill that handles low-and-slow smoking as well as high-heat searing. For a balcony or small patio, the compact electric Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is the most sensible choice, while the Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart suits people who prefer the speed of gas.

This comparison focuses on the grills themselves, not on thermometers. It draws on manufacturer specifications, independent reviews published in Europe and verified buyer feedback. If all you want is to make a grill you already own "smart", a wireless probe is often enough: our smart meat thermometer guide covers that option.

What exactly is a smart grill?

A smart grill has an electronic controller that links to a phone app over Wi-Fi, and sometimes Bluetooth as well. What the app can do depends on the type of grill:

• Pellet grill: an auger feeds wood pellets into a fire pot and a fan controls combustion. The app can set the temperature remotely and start a cooking program or a smoke mode. This is the most complete form of control.
• Fan-assisted charcoal grill (such as the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite): charcoal drops from a hopper and a digital fan holds the set temperature. Here too, you adjust the temperature from your phone.
• Smart electric grill (such as the Ninja Woodfire): an electric element, temperature and cooking modes set in the app, and a built-in probe.
• Smart gas grill: the app shows the cook box and probe temperatures and sends alerts, but you still adjust the burners by hand with the knobs. It's monitoring rather than control.

How to choose

Fuel and where you'll cook

This comes first, before connectivity. Pellets and charcoal give the strongest smoky flavour, but they produce smoke and need a proper outdoor space. Gas heats up quickly and cleanly but means storing a propane tank. Electric is the easiest option for apartments and condos, as long as your building allows it (see below). Note that pellet grills also need an outlet: the auger, fan and controller all run on electricity.

Temperature range

A good smart grill should handle low temperatures for smoking, around 80°C to 110°C (175°F to 230°F), and high heat for searing. Traditional pellet grills often top out at about 260°C (500°F); the Weber Searwood reaches 315°C (600°F) and the Masterbuilt 545 goes up to 340°C (645°F), which makes a real difference when you grill.

Built-in probes

Check how many probes come in the box and how many ports are available. One probe is enough for a roast; two or more help as soon as you cook several cuts at once.

App and connectivity

Wi-Fi lets you check on your cook from anywhere, provided your home network reaches the backyard. Bluetooth, where available, is a short-range fallback. Also look at the everyday features: live temperature graphs, doneness alerts, timers, guided recipes and pellet-level alerts.

Size and footprint

A family of four doesn't need an XL model. Large pellet grills are often more than 1.2 m (about 4 ft) wide once you count the side shelves, so measure your deck or patio before you buy.

The 6 best smart grills in 2026

1. Weber Searwood 600 — best overall

The Weber Searwood 600 fixes the main complaint about pellet grills: weak searing. Its temperature range runs from 80°C to 315°C (175°F to 600°F), and the DirectFlame system exposes food to the flame for proper grill marks. According to Weber, it comes up to temperature in 15 minutes at most.

It combines Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and is controlled through the Weber Connect app, with live graphs, doneness alerts and guided recipes. Two probes are included and plug into two built-in ports. The grease and ash tray empties from the front. A griddle insert (sold separately) turns it into a flat-top.

• Strengths: genuine searing ability, dual connectivity, two probes included, griddle insert available.
• Limitations: full-size backyard footprint, needs an outdoor outlet, premium tier.
• Best for: anyone who wants one appliance for weekend smoking and everyday grilling.

2. Traeger Woodridge Pro — the easiest pellet grill to live with

Launched in 2024, the Woodridge lineup is Traeger's entry point to smart grilling. The Traeger Woodridge Pro covers 74°C to 260°C (165°F to 500°F) and has two grate levels, a Super Smoke mode for extra smoky flavour and a Keep Warm mode. The colour-screen WiFIRE controller works with the Traeger app, which includes a pellet-level sensor.

One wired probe is included. The hopper holds about 11 kg (24 lb) of pellets, and a clean-out door makes switching wood flavours quick. The EZ-Clean system collects grease and ash in a single bin.

• Strengths: very easy to use, app packed with recipes, pellet sensor, large cooking area.
• Limitations: tops out at 260°C (500°F), so it doesn't sear as well as the Searwood; only one probe included.
• Best for: smoking and slow-cooking fans who want an appliance that's ready to go.

3. Traeger Ironwood XL — for big gatherings

The Traeger Ironwood XL is built for big crowds. Its insulated construction and Smart Combustion technology keep the temperature very stable, even in cool weather. The adjustable two-tier grate gives roughly 0.6 m² (about 930 sq. in.) of cooking space, enough for several roasts or plenty of racks of ribs.

The WiFIRE controller lets you set the temperature, monitor probes, set timers and browse the recipe library in the Traeger app.

• Strengths: stable temperatures, very large capacity, wide range of accessories.
• Limitations: very bulky and heavy, high-end, oversized for a couple.
• Best for: large families and people who entertain often.

4. Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart — smart gas

The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart is a three-burner gas grill with a built-in Wi-Fi digital thermometer. It shows the cook box and probe temperatures, and the Weber Connect app sends real-time alerts. A powerful sear burner, an extra-large sear zone, a side burner and LED handle lights round out the package.

Keep in mind that the app monitors, but you still control the flame by hand with the knobs. That makes sense for a gas appliance, and it's perfectly adequate for grilling, which needs someone standing by the grill anyway.

• Strengths: fast heat-up, searing power, build quality and a long warranty.
• Limitations: no remote temperature control, one probe included, limited smoky flavour.
• Best for: gas fans who want cooking alerts without changing their habits.

5. Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 — controlled charcoal

The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 brings digital convenience to charcoal. QuickStart automatic ignition lights the fire starter at the push of a button, then the DigitalFan holds your chosen temperature anywhere between 120°C and 340°C (250°F and 645°F). Its MiniHopper takes about 3 kg (6.6 lb) of briquettes for up to 8 hours of cooking without a refill.

Over Wi-Fi, the Masterbuilt app lets you set the temperature, monitor up to four probes and run timers. The cooking area is around 0.35 m² (about 540 sq. in.), with cast-iron grates and a warming rack.

• Strengths: real charcoal flavour, high heat, mid-size format, remote control.
• Limitations: charcoal smoke and ash, not suitable for most balconies.
• Best for: charcoal purists who want the consistency of an electronic controller.

6. Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL — the compact electric

The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is a tabletop electric outdoor grill with seven functions: grill, smoker, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate and reheat. A small scoop of pellets in the dedicated smoke box adds smoky flavour without a fire pot.

The Ninja Pro Connect app lets you set the temperature between 65°C and 260°C (150°F and 500°F), follow your cook and get notifications. One probe is built in, and a second one is available as an accessory. The cooking plate measures about 45 × 29 cm (18 × 11½ in.).

• Strengths: compact, versatile, electric, simple app, the most affordable tier in this lineup.
• Limitations: cooking area sized for 4 to 6 people, less intense searing than a flame grill, light but noticeable smoke in smoker mode.
• Best for: balconies, small patios and households that want one versatile appliance.

Comparison table

Browse every model in our smart grills and griddles category.

What about a smart griddle?

An app-controlled flat-top griddle (plancha) is still rare. Electric and gas griddles from the mainstream brands are set with a thermostat or knobs, with no app. Weber Slate griddles show the surface temperature on a digital display, but you can't control them from a phone. If you want to cook on a flat-top with remote control, you have two realistic options: the Weber Searwood griddle insert, whose temperature you set through Weber Connect, or a regular griddle paired with a smart wireless probe for thicker cuts.

Pellet, gas or electric: what works on a balcony?

On a balcony, electric is almost always the safest and most widely accepted option. But several sets of rules may apply, and they vary from one municipality and building to the next:

• Your lease or condo bylaws may ban grills altogether, or only charcoal and gas models. Read them before you buy.
• Local rules (municipal bylaws, fire safety rules, building policies) may restrict smoke and fire risks.
• Neighbours: even where grills are allowed, one that regularly sends smoke into neighbouring windows can count as a nuisance. Smoker mode produces smoke, even on an electric unit.

If in doubt, check with your landlord, property manager or condo board. Avoid charcoal and pellets on a covered or narrow balcony.

Installation and safety

• Only use the grill outdoors, never under a closed awning or in a garage.
• Keep the clearances stated in the manual from walls, hedges, patio umbrellas and awnings.
• Plug electric and pellet models into a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet; if in doubt, have the wiring checked by a licensed electrician. Avoid extension cords that aren't rated for outdoor use.
• For gas, check the regulator and hose, leak-test the connections with soapy water and store the propane tank as the manual and your building's rules require.
• Remote monitoring is no substitute for supervision: stay close during high-heat cooking and keep children and pets away.
• Empty the grease and ash trays regularly to limit the risk of flare-ups.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying too big: an XL grill uses more fuel and takes longer to heat up.
• Forgetting about Wi-Fi in the backyard: check the signal where the grill will stand; you may need a range extender.
• Confusing monitoring with control: on a smart gas grill, the app alerts you but doesn't adjust the flame.
• Using heating pellets: pellets made for pellet stoves don't belong in a grill; for cooking, use food-grade pellets only.
• Skipping maintenance: a full ash pan disrupts combustion and temperature control.

Our verdict

The Weber Searwood 600 is the most complete smart grill in 2026: it smokes, it sears, it connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and it comes with two probes. The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is the best solution for a balcony or a tighter budget, as long as you can live with a smaller cooking area. The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart suits those who stay loyal to gas. Smoking enthusiasts will prefer the Traeger Woodridge Pro, people who host big crowds the Ironwood XL, and charcoal purists the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545. To equip the rest of your outdoor space, see our smart backyard guide.