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

In 2026, the best smart grill for most gardens 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 you only want 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 linked to a smartphone app over Wi-Fi, sometimes Bluetooth as well. What the app can do depends on the technology:

• Pellet grill: an auger feeds wood pellets into a fire pot and a fan controls combustion. The app can set the temperature remotely, start a programme 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. Again, temperature is adjusted from your phone.
• Smart electric grill (such as the Ninja Woodfire): electric element, temperature and cooking modes set in the app, built-in probe.
• Smart gas grill: the app shows cook box and probe temperatures and sends alerts, but burners are still adjusted by hand on the knobs. It is monitoring rather than control.

How to choose

Fuel and where you will cook

This comes first, before connectivity. Pellets and charcoal give the strongest smoky flavour but produce smoke and need a proper outdoor space. Gas heats up quickly and cleanly but means storing a cylinder. Electric is the easiest option for flats, subject to your building's rules (see below). Note that pellet grills also need a mains socket: the auger, fan and controller are electric.

Temperature range

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

Built-in probes

Check how many probes are included 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 garden. Bluetooth, where available, is a short-range fallback. Also look at everyday features: live temperature graphs, doneness alerts, timers, guided recipes and pellet level alerts.

Size and footprint

A family of four does not need an XL model. Large pellet grills often exceed 1.2 m in width with their side shelves: measure your 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 to 315 °C, and the DirectFlame system exposes food to the flame for proper grill marks. According to Weber, it reaches temperature in 15 minutes at most.

It combines Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and is controlled through the Weber Connect app: live graphs, doneness alerts and guided recipes. Two probes are included, plugged 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 garden footprint, needs an outdoor socket, 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 range is Traeger's entry point to connected grilling. The Traeger Woodridge Pro covers 74 to 260 °C, has two grate levels, a Super Smoke mode for extra smoky flavour and a Keep Warm mode. The colour-screen WiFIRE controller is operated from the Traeger app, which includes a pellet level sensor.

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

• Strengths: very easy to use, recipe-rich app, pellet sensor, large cooking area.
• Limitations: 260 °C maximum, not as good as the Searwood for searing; only one probe included.
• Best for: smoking and slow-cooking fans who want a ready-to-go appliance.

3. Traeger Ironwood XL — for big gatherings

The Traeger Ironwood XL is built for large crowds. Its insulated construction and Smart Combustion technology keep temperatures very stable, even in cool weather. The two-tier adjustable grate gives roughly 0.6 m² 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: thermal stability, very large capacity, wide accessory ecosystem.
• Limitations: very bulky and heavy, high-end, oversized for a couple.
• Best for: large families and frequent hosts.

4. Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart — connected gas

The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart is a three-burner gas grill with a built-in Wi-Fi digital thermometer. It shows 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 lighting round out the package.

Important: the app monitors, but flame control is still done by hand on the knobs. That is logical for a gas appliance and is perfectly adequate for grilling, which needs someone near the grill anyway.

• Strengths: fast heat-up, searing power, build quality and 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 firestarter at the push of a button, then the DigitalFan holds your chosen temperature anywhere between 120 and 340 °C. Its MiniHopper takes about 3 kg of briquettes for up to 8 hours of cooking without refilling.

The Masterbuilt app, over Wi-Fi, lets you set the temperature, monitor up to four probes and run timers. Cooking area is around 0.35 m², with cast-iron grates and a warming rack.

• Strengths: real charcoal flavour, high heat, mid-size format, remote control.
• Limitations: charcoal smoke and ash, unsuitable for most balconies, newer range in Europe.
• 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 combustion fire pot.

The Ninja Pro Connect app lets you set temperatures between 65 and 260 °C, follow your cook and receive notifications. One probe is built in, and a second is available as an accessory. The cooking plate measures about 45 × 29 cm.

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

Comparison table

Browse every model in our smart BBQs and griddles category.

What about a smart griddle?

An app-controlled griddle (plancha) is still very rare in Europe. The electric and gas griddles from the usual brands are set with a thermostat or knobs, with no app. Weber Slate griddles show the surface temperature on a digital display but cannot be controlled from a smartphone. If you want to cook on a flat-top with remote control, there are two realistic options: the Weber Searwood griddle insert, whose temperature is set through Weber Connect, or a standard griddle paired with a connected 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 rules may apply, and they vary by country and building:

• Your lease or building rules may ban grills altogether, or only charcoal and gas. Read them before you buy.
• Local regulations (council bylaws, fire safety guidance, building instructions) may restrict smoke and fire risks.
• Neighbours: even where allowed, a grill 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 or building management. 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, parasols and awnings.
• Plug electric and pellet models into an outdoor socket protected by an RCD; if in doubt, have the installation checked by a qualified electrician. Avoid extension leads not rated for outdoor use.
• For gas, check the regulator and hose, leak-check with soapy water and store the cylinder according to the manual and your building's rules.
• Remote access is no substitute for supervision: stay close during high-heat cooking and keep children and pets away.
• Empty 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.
• Ignoring garden Wi-Fi: 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 does not adjust the flame.
• Using heating pellets: 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 accept a smaller cooking area. The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart suits those who stay loyal to gas. Dedicated smokers will prefer the Traeger Woodridge Pro, big hosts the Ironwood XL, and charcoal purists the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545. To equip the rest of your outdoor space, see our smart garden guide.