Best Smart Kamado and Gravity-Fed Grills 2026
The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 wins — the only ceramic kamado that automates push-button ignition AND a 225-700°F fan band on real charcoal, where the cheaper gravity grills still make you hand-light the fire.
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Featured in this Guide
Kamado
Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
- •Only ceramic kamado that automates ignition AND a 225-700°F fan band at $1
- •899
Masterbuilt
Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
- •1
- •050 sq in and a 225°F-in-8-min fan-controlled hopper for $999.99
Kamado
Joe Big Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
- •Top 8.7 composite on the biggest 24-in ceramic body with full Konnected automation
Masterbuilt
Gravity Series 800
- •Longest documented hopper runway at 10 hours plus a sear-capable griddle insert
Masterbuilt
AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo
- •Push-button ignition and 4-probe app monitoring for $407.88
The Short Answer
The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 wins because automatic ignition plus fan-controlled temperature regulation manage the live-fire operation on ceramic. For set-and-forget value the Gravity Series 1050 delivers 1,050 sq in, operating 8 hours unattended at $999.99. The $407.88 AutoIgnite 545 is the cheapest alternative.
You want authentic charcoal flavor with pellet-grill convenience. The decision splits into two engineering formats. Fan-controlled ceramic kamados hold any temperature continuously from 225-700°F on a thermal-mass body. Gravity-fed grills regulate airflow automatically for 10 hours unattended on a single load. The compact AutoIgnite reaches smoking temperature within 5 mins, the Gravity 1050 within 8 mins. Engadget reviewed the Kamado Joe Konnected platform; Tom's Guide reviewed the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite.
In this roundup we aggregated expert evaluations and manufacturer specifications, then scored five cookers on one weighted composite, the SHE Charcoal Automation Score. The normalized formula weights five factors, and fan-control precision is the dominant coefficient. Ignition is the field's defining split: the Kamado Joes ignite automatically in about 15 mins via a push-button electric element, while the Gravity grills require a hand-lit fire starter before the DigitalFan takes over. Top Ten Reviews independently corroborates the versatile Konnected platform.
Head-to-Head: Ignition, Runway, and SHE Score
Kitchen
Chart
Smarthomeexplorer.comBest Overall: Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
(Current price, subject to change)
The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker earns a composite of 8.45 on the SHE Charcoal Automation Score, the second-highest mark and our best overall. What that number means for your weekend is concrete: this is the only cooker here that automates both ignition and temperature on a ceramic body. The push-button Automatic Fire Starter lights coals within mins, and the Kontrol Fan then holds any setpoint across the full 225-700°F band continuously. Engadget calls it a highly versatile smart grill, and Engadget notes it pairs ceramic versatility with authentic charcoal flavor.
The high-thermal-mass ceramic damps temperature swings, which is why the fan-control factor scores 9 — the body itself stabilizes the cook. There is no gravity hopper, so a long overnight burn lives on the single firebox load, but ceramic efficiency stretches that load further than thin steel. Top Ten Reviews scored the Konnected Joe 4 out of 5, and Top Ten Reviews called it expensive but with the features to justify the spend.
Compared to the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker, the Konnected Joe trades roughly 2 hours of documented hopper runway for push-button ignition, ceramic versatility, and an unplugged manual mode. Engadget rates that versatility highly.
What We Love
- Only format here that automates ignition AND temperature on ceramic
- Kontrol Fan holds any temp across the full 225-700°F band
- Automatic Fire Starter lights coals in roughly 15 min per the expert review
- Degrades gracefully to a fully manual ceramic kamado without power
What Could Be Better
- At $1,899 it is a $899 jump over the Gravity 1050
- Single-load firebox — no gravity hopper for mid-cook refeed
- Engadget found the companion app needs expansion and refinement
The Verdict
If you want real charcoal but you are done babysitting vents, the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker fits the brief without compromise. The 8.45 reflects what matters: push-button ignition and a 225-700°F fan band mean the machine manages the fire, not you, and it still runs as a manual kamado unplugged. The Gravity grills feed fuel longer, but you hand-light them every cook.
Best Value: Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
(Current price, subject to change)
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker earns a composite of 7.6 on the SHE Charcoal Automation Score, and for the buyer counting dollars it is the value pick of this guide. What the number means: the gravity hopper holds 10 lbs of lump or 16 lbs of briquettes and feeds the firebox automatically while the DigitalFan regulates airflow, documented at 8 hours per load. Masterbuilt clocks the fan reaching 225°F in 8 mins and 700°F in 15 mins, so it covers low-and-slow through searing.
The normalized fan-control factor scores 8 rather than 9 because a steel cart lacks ceramic mass, but the documented time-to-temp is genuinely fast. Ignition is the un-automated step that costs it weighted points — there is no electric element, so you light one fire starter through the hopper door yourself. You can refeed fuel mid-cook without opening the chamber, which produces a steadier long-burn than a single-load firebox.
Compared to the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800, the 1050 buys 250 more square inches but yields 2 hours of documented runway — the smaller chamber sips fuel and runs longer per load.
What We Love
- 1,050 sq in for $999.99 — the most cooking area per dollar here
- DigitalFan documented at 225°F in 8 min and 700°F in 15 min
- Gravity hopper feeds the cook unattended for up to 8 hours
- Top up the hopper mid-cook without opening the cooking chamber
What Could Be Better
- No electric ignition — you hand-light a fire starter in the hopper
- Steel cart lacks the ceramic mass that damps temp swings
- Needs an outlet for the fan; no unplugged manual mode
The Verdict
If you want set-and-forget charcoal and the most grill for the money, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker lines up with what you actually need. The 7.6 reflects a bargain: 1,050 sq in, a DigitalFan that hits 225°F in 8 mins, and an 8-hour gravity hopper for $999.99. The honest catch is ignition — you hand-light the starter — but once lit, the fan and hopper run the cook.
Premium Pick: Kamado Joe Big Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Kamado Joe Big Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
(Current price, subject to change)
The Kamado Joe Big Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker earns the top composite of 8.7 on the SHE Charcoal Automation Score. For the big-batch entertainer that translates into the most cooking area in the field paired with the most complete automation stack. It runs the same Konnected platform as the 18-in model — push-button Automatic Fire Starter plus a 225-700°F Kontrol Fan — on a 24-in-class Big Joe ceramic body. Engadget rates that platform a highly versatile smart grill, and Top Ten Reviews scored the Konnected family 4 out of 5.
The larger Big Joe firebox basket holds more lump, so a single load stretches further on long low-and-slow cooks even without a gravity refeed. Its fuel-runway factor scores 8 on that basket capacity. The trade is real: at $2,999.97 it is the priciest cooker here, and the 24-in ceramic body is the heaviest assembly, but the redundancy of full automation on a big body is exactly what the formula rewards. Engadget notes the companion app still needs refinement.
Compared to the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker, the Big Joe adds cooking area and firebox capacity for $1,100 more, with the identical Konnected stack on both.
What We Love
- Top 8.7 composite — the most automated cooker in this field
- Big Joe 24-in body is the largest ceramic cooking area here
- Push-button Automatic Fire Starter, no hand-lighting required
- Kontrol Fan holds 225-700°F on the biggest thermal-mass body
What Could Be Better
- At $2,999.97 it is the most expensive pick in this roundup
- Heaviest assembly — a 24-in ceramic body is a two-person lift
- Same app Engadget flagged as needing expansion and refinement
The Verdict
If you entertain big crowds and want the most automated ceramic cooker made, the Kamado Joe Big Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker is a sensible pick for that setup. The top 8.7 composite reflects push-button ignition, a 225-700°F fan band, and the largest ceramic body here. You pay flagship money and lift a heavy build, but nothing else automates this much fire on this much area.
Best for Long Cooks: Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800
(Current price, subject to change)
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 earns a composite of 7.85 on the SHE Charcoal Automation Score, ranking third and standing as the long-cook specialist. The factor that lifts it is fuel runway, where it scores a maximum 10: Masterbuilt documents 10 hours per hopper load, the longest in this field, because the smaller 800 sq in chamber sips fuel slower than the bigger 1050. Smoked BBQ Source's gravity-fed roundup confirms the Gravity 800 as the long-cook benchmark in the format.
Its included cold-rolled-steel griddle insert is unique in the lineup and adds a flat sear surface for smash burgers and breakfast, though The Barbecue Lab measured the griddle topping out around 500°F lid-open — the practical ceiling for that mode. The DigitalFan still reaches 700°F in 14 mins for grate searing. Ignition is the same un-automated step as the 1050, so its ignition factor scores 4, which is what keeps a 10-hour-runway machine out of the top two.
Compared to the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo, the 800 yields push-button ignition but delivers vastly more cooking area, a higher 700°F ceiling, and roughly 5 extra hours of documented runway. Smoked BBQ Source rates the gravity-fed runway as the format's defining advantage.
What We Love
- Longest documented runway in the field at up to 10 hours
- Included griddle insert — unique sear surface in this lineup
- Refeed the hopper mid-cook without opening the chamber
- DigitalFan reaches 700°F in 14 min for fast searing
What Could Be Better
- No electric ignition — hand-light the fire starter first
- Griddle sessions top out near 500°F lid-open per testing
- Needs an outlet for the fan; no unplugged manual mode
The Verdict
If you run overnight briskets and want the longest runway plus a griddle, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 checks the boxes that matter for long-cook weekends. The 7.85 reflects the field's longest hopper at 10 hours and a griddle nothing else offers. The gap is ignition — you hand-light the starter — and griddle sessions cap near 500°F, but the runway is unmatched.
Budget Smart-Charcoal: Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo
Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo
(Current price, subject to change)
The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo earns a composite of 7.05 on the SHE Charcoal Automation Score, the entry point of this guide and the budget smart-charcoal pick. For the first-time buyer that means genuine automation without a four-figure price: it pairs push-button auto-ignition with a mini gravity hopper, reaching a 225°F smoke in about 5 mins and its 650°F ceiling in roughly 7 mins. Tom's Guide ran a full hands-on review, and Tom's Guide covered its push-button charcoal ignition and app-monitored cooking.
The Masterbuilt app monitors up to 4 meat probes, so its app-depth factor matches the bigger Gravity grills. The compromises are scale and ceiling: the DigitalFan band is a narrower 250-650°F, and the 5 lbs MiniHopper is documented at 8 hours at smoking temps but reviewer-reported under 2 hours at 650°F. That makes it a smoking hopper, not a searing one, which is why its fuel-runway factor scores 6.
Compared to the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker, the AutoIgnite adds push-button ignition the 1050 lacks but gives up cooking area, the 700°F ceiling, and hours of high-heat runway. Tom's Guide notes the compact form factor.
What We Love
- Push-button ignition AND a gravity hopper for $407.88
- Reaches a 225°F smoke in about 5 min from cold
- Masterbuilt app supports up to 4 meat probes
- Lightest, most compact build — easiest to move and store
What Could Be Better
- Narrower 250-650°F band than the 700°F picks
- 5 lb MiniHopper drains in under 2 hours at 650°F per reviewers
- Lighter-gauge body without ceramic or full-size thermal mass
The Verdict
If you want your first smart-charcoal cooker under $500, the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo is the path of least friction — no need to overthink it. The 7.05 reflects a budget bridge: push-button ignition AND a mini gravity hopper with 4-probe app monitoring for $407.88. Accept the 650°F ceiling and a hopper that drains fast at sear temps, and you get real automation cheap.
How We Score: SHE Charcoal Automation Score
SHE Charcoal Automation Score
Score Formula
(Fan Control Precision × 0.25) + (Fuel Runway × 0.25) + (Ignition Automation × 0.15) + (App Cook Depth × 0.20) + (Sear Ceiling × 0.15)Score Factors
- Fan Control Precision (25%)Width of the fan-managed temperature band plus thermal-stability assist. A full 225-700°F fan band on high-thermal-mass ceramic (Kamado Joe Kontrol Fan, where ceramic damps swings per Engadget-verified holds) scores 9; a full up-to-700°F DigitalFan band with documented fast time-to-temp on a steel cart (Gravity 1050: 225°F in 8 min / 700°F in 15 min) scores 8; the narrower 250-650°F band on a lighter body (AutoIgnite 545) scores 7.
- Fuel Runway (25%)How long the cooker runs unattended per fuel load and whether fuel refeeds mid-cook without disturbing the chamber. A gravity hopper documented at 10 hours with mid-cook top-up (Gravity 800) scores 10; the same hopper documented at 8 hours (Gravity 1050) scores 9; a large single-load Big Joe ceramic firebox scores 8; a standard 18-in single-load firebox scores 7; a 5 lb MiniHopper documented at 8 hours smoking but under 2 hours at 650°F scores 6.
- Ignition Automation (15%)Whether starting the fire is automated. A built-in electric Automatic Fire Starter element with coals lit in about 15 min per the expert review (both Kamado Joes) scores 10; push-button auto-ignition with fast documented time-to-temp (AutoIgnite 545: 225°F in 5 min) scores 9; a manual fire starter hand-lit through the hopper door before the fan takes over (both Gravity grills) scores 4.
- App Cook Depth (20%)Connected-cook feature depth: remote temp adjustment, probe monitoring, alerts, session graphing, and Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth fallback. The Kamado Joe app with remote temp adjust, probes, timers, and full-session graphing scores 8, docked one point because Engadget found the app needs refinement; the Masterbuilt app with remote temp/time set, alerts, and up-to-4-probe monitoring scores 7 across the Gravity and AutoIgnite models.
- Sear Ceiling (15%)Maximum fan-controlled temperature plus sear hardware. A 700°F ceiling (Kamado Joe Kontrol Fan max; Gravity 1050 in 15 min; Gravity 800 in 14 min plus the included cold-rolled-steel griddle insert) scores 9; a 650°F ceiling reached in 7 min (AutoIgnite 545) scores 7.
SHE Charcoal Automation Score — Ranked
Kamado Joe Big Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
8.7/10$2,999.97 — most automated cooker here; push-button ignition + 225-700°F fan on the biggest ceramic body
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
8.4/10$1,899 — only ceramic kamado automating both ignition and a 225-700°F fan band; manual fallback
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800
7.8/10$899.99 — longest documented 10-hour hopper plus a griddle insert; hand-lit ignition costs it points
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
7.6/10$999.99 — largest 1,050 sq in fan-controlled grill with 8-hour hopper; no push-button ignition
Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo
7.0/10$407.88 — budget push-button charcoal with 4-probe app; 650°F ceiling and small 5 lb hopper
Kamado vs Gravity-Fed: Which Automation to Buy
The single most useful thing to understand before buying is that these two formats automate different parts of the live-fire job. A fan-controlled ceramic kamado automates the fire — push-button ignition plus a 225-700°F Kontrol Fan — but not the fuel. There is no hopper, so a long cook lives on the single firebox load you started with. Ceramic thermal mass mitigates this: the body holds heat efficiently, so one load stretches further than it would on a thin steel cart. Engadget confirms the Konnected platform pairs ceramic versatility with real charcoal flavor, and the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker uniquely degrades to a fully manual kamado when unplugged.
A gravity-fed grill automates the fuel — load 10 lb of lump, and the DigitalFan feeds the firebox for 8-10 hours documented, with mid-cook top-up — but not the ignition. You hand-light one fire starter through the hopper door before the fan takes over, which is the blind spot on the $900-$1,000 Masterbuilt grills. The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 runs the longest at up to 10 hours because its smaller chamber sips fuel, while the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker trades two hours of runway for 250 more square inches. Both reach 700°F on the DigitalFan, with the 1050 documented at 225°F in 8 min.
The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo is the bridge: push-button ignition AND a mini gravity hopper, for $407.88. The trade is a narrower 250-650°F band and a 5 lb MiniHopper that drains in under 2 hours at sear temps per reviewers. Every cooker here needs an outlet for the fan and controller. Match the format to your cook: choose ceramic-kamado automation and unplugged fallback for versatility and push-button ease over a 5-yr ownership window, or gravity-fed runway when overnight unattended burns matter more than how the fire gets lit.
| Product | Push-Button Ignition | Gravity Hopper | 700°F Sear | Manual Mode | Wi-Fi | Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kamado-joe-big-joe-konnected-joe | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| kamado-joe-konnected-joe-18 | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| masterbuilt-gravity-series-800 | – | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| masterbuilt-gravity-series-1050 | – | ✓ | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| masterbuilt-autoignite-545 | ✓ | ✓ | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
When NOT to Buy
Smart charcoal is not automatically the correct decision. If you actually like managing vents and watching the fire, the fan controller is a feature you will fight rather than use, and a manual kamado or kettle costs far less. If you grill mainly hot-and-fast burgers and never run long low-and-slow cooks, the gravity hopper and 8-10 hour runway are headroom you pay for and never touch. And if mild smoke is fine with you, a pellet grill from our Best Smart Outdoor Grills and Connected Smokers 2026 hub set-and-forgets with even less hands-on work than any of these. Match the automation tier to how you actually cook, not the spec sheet's maximum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a gravity-fed smoker better than a smart kamado?
Neither is universally better — they automate different parts of the cook. A gravity-fed grill like the Masterbuilt Gravity 800 automates fuel feed for up to 10 hours unattended but still needs you to hand-light a fire starter. A smart kamado like the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 automates ignition with a push button and holds 225-700°F on the Kontrol Fan, but has no hopper, so a long cook lives on a single firebox load. Buy gravity for the longest unattended runway; buy the kamado for push-button ease, ceramic versatility, and an unplugged manual fallback.
Do smart charcoal grills still taste like real charcoal?
Yes. Every cooker in this roundup burns real lump charcoal or briquettes — the fan only manages airflow to hold your set temperature. The kamados and gravity grills are not pellet grills; the smoke and sear come from actual charcoal combustion. The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe and Masterbuilt Gravity series both deliver genuine charcoal flavor while automating the temperature management that used to require constant vent adjustment, which is the whole point of the format.
How long does a gravity-fed charcoal hopper last?
It depends on the model and your cooking temperature. Masterbuilt documents up to 8 hours per hopper load on the Gravity Series 1050 (10 lb lump / 16 lb briquettes) and up to 10 hours on the smaller Gravity Series 800, because the smaller chamber burns fuel slower. The compact AutoIgnite 545's 5 lb MiniHopper is documented up to 8 hours at smoking temps but reviewers report it drains in under 2 hours at a 650°F sear — high heat empties any hopper several times faster than low-and-slow.
Can the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe work without power or the app?
Yes — that is one of its advantages. The Konnected Joe and Big Joe Konnected run as fully manual ceramic kamados when unplugged; you operate the vents by hand the way you would on any traditional kamado. The Kontrol Fan and the electric Automatic Fire Starter need an outlet to automate ignition and temperature, but if the power is out or you simply prefer manual cooking, the grill still works. The gravity-fed Masterbuilt grills do not offer this fallback — they need the fan running.
Can you sear a steak on these smart charcoal grills?
Yes, on most of them. The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe and Big Joe Konnected reach 700°F on the Kontrol Fan, and the Masterbuilt Gravity 1050 (700°F in 15 min) and Gravity 800 (700°F in 14 min) match that ceiling — the Gravity 800 also includes a griddle insert, though griddle sessions top out near 500°F lid-open. The compact AutoIgnite 545 has a narrower 650°F ceiling reached in about 7 min, which still sears well but is the lowest top end in this field.
Bottom Line
Get the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker if you want one ceramic kamado that automates push-button ignition AND a 225-700°F fan band, with manual fallback.
Get the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker if you want the most fan-controlled charcoal grill per dollar and do not mind hand-lighting the starter.
Get the Kamado Joe Big Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker if you entertain crowds and want the largest ceramic body with the most complete automation stack.
Get the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 if you run overnight low-and-slow cooks and want the longest documented hopper runway plus a griddle.
Get the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo if you want your first push-button smart-charcoal grill with app probes under $500.
The right call for most buyers is the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe 18 in. Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker — the only ceramic kamado that automates both ignition and a 225-700°F fan band, and runs manually when unplugged. For set-and-forget value, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker delivers 1,050 sq in and an 8-hour hopper at $999.99. Skip smart charcoal entirely if you enjoy managing the fire by hand, or if mild pellet smoke and the least hands-on work suit you better.
Sources & Methodology
Methodology: SHE Charcoal Automation Score — Formula: (Fan Control Precision × 0.25) + (Fuel Runway × 0.25) + (Ignition Automation × 0.15) + (App Cook Depth × 0.20) + (Sear Ceiling × 0.15). Factors: Fan Control Precision (25%): Width of the fan-managed temperature band plus thermal-stability assist. A full 225-700°F fan band on high-thermal-mass ceramic (Kamado Joe Kontrol Fan, where ceramic damps swings per Engadget-verified holds) scores 9; a full up-to-700°F DigitalFan band with documented fast time-to-temp on a steel cart (Gravity 1050: 225°F in 8 min / 700°F in 15 min) scores 8; the narrower 250-650°F band on a lighter body (AutoIgnite 545) scores 7. | Fuel Runway (25%): How long the cooker runs unattended per fuel load and whether fuel refeeds mid-cook without disturbing the chamber. A gravity hopper documented at 10 hours with mid-cook top-up (Gravity 800) scores 10; the same hopper documented at 8 hours (Gravity 1050) scores 9; a large single-load Big Joe ceramic firebox scores 8; a standard 18-in single-load firebox scores 7; a 5 lb MiniHopper documented at 8 hours smoking but under 2 hours at 650°F scores 6. | Ignition Automation (15%): Whether starting the fire is automated. A built-in electric Automatic Fire Starter element with coals lit in about 15 min per the expert review (both Kamado Joes) scores 10; push-button auto-ignition with fast documented time-to-temp (AutoIgnite 545: 225°F in 5 min) scores 9; a manual fire starter hand-lit through the hopper door before the fan takes over (both Gravity grills) scores 4. | App Cook Depth (20%): Connected-cook feature depth: remote temp adjustment, probe monitoring, alerts, session graphing, and Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth fallback. The Kamado Joe app with remote temp adjust, probes, timers, and full-session graphing scores 8, docked one point because Engadget found the app needs refinement; the Masterbuilt app with remote temp/time set, alerts, and up-to-4-probe monitoring scores 7 across the Gravity and AutoIgnite models. | Sear Ceiling (15%): Maximum fan-controlled temperature plus sear hardware. A 700°F ceiling (Kamado Joe Kontrol Fan max; Gravity 1050 in 15 min; Gravity 800 in 14 min plus the included cold-rolled-steel griddle insert) scores 9; a 650°F ceiling reached in 7 min (AutoIgnite 545) scores 7.
Expert review sources used in this analysis:
- SmartHomeExplorer aggregates expert review data and manufacturer specifications to produce consensus-based buying guidance for this roundup
- We do not perform first-party product testing
- Temperature bands, time-to-temp claims, hopper capacities, and per-load runtime figures are drawn from Kamado Joe and Masterbuilt documentation
- Tested behavior — the Konnected Joe's app refinement, the Automatic Fire Starter light time, the Gravity 800's griddle ceiling, and the AutoIgnite 545's push-button ignition — is attributed to the named outlet that observed it, including Engadget, Tom's Guide, Top Ten Reviews, BBQGuys, and The Barbecue Lab
- Amazon prices and availability verified 2026-06-10
- The SHE Charcoal Automation Score weights fan-control precision, fuel runway, ignition automation, app cook depth, and sear ceiling from aggregated specs and reviewer reports
- No first-party measurements were conducted.
Nicholas Miles is the founder of SmartHomeExplorer and a longtime smart home enthusiast focused on helping everyday homeowners make better technology decisions. He researches, compares, and writes about products across security, climate, lighting, leak prevention, sensors, home energy, and automation, with an emphasis on real-world usefulness, ecosystem compatibility, reliability, privacy, and long-term value.
Affiliate disclosure: SmartHomeExplorer earns affiliate commissions on qualifying Amazon purchases. Our scoring methodology is independent of affiliate relationships.
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