Kamado Joe Joe Jr vs Char-Griller AKORN Jr.
Joe Jr or AKORN Jr.: ceramic against insulated steel, 150 against 155 sq in, 82.5 against 35.7 lbs. The small kamado choice, answered.
No single winner. Here is how to choose.
It comes down to ceramic against steel, and to weight. The Joe Jr is real Kamado Joe ceramic on a cast iron stand, with a lifetime warranty on the ceramic and a 225 to 750 F range, at around $429 and 82.5 lbs. The AKORN Jr. is triple walled steel with a 200 to 700 F range, a 5 year burn and rust-through warranty, at $199.99 and 35.7 lbs. Cooking space is about the same, 150 against 155 sq in. If it lives on a patio and you want it to last for years, the Joe Jr is the better grill and scores 8.14 to 7.87. If it travels often or the budget is tight, the AKORN Jr. is lighter, cheaper and the better value.
What actually differs
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Ceramic or steel
Ceramic holds heat longer and does not rust, but it can crack if dropped. Steel survives knocks, but its coating needs a cover and touch ups, and surface rust is not under warranty.
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82.5 or 35.7 pounds
One person carries the AKORN Jr. by its handles. The Joe Jr on its stand is a two person lift.
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Built for one fire
Both are small kamados sized for a single cook rather than an all day smoke, and both need a heat deflector for indirect cooking. The Joe Jr includes one; the AKORN Jr.'s stone is $49.99 extra.
How they score, category by category
The Kamado Joe Joe Jr scores higher in 3 categories, the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. in 3 categories.
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Heat Performance
Counts for 25% of the scoreKamado Joe Joe Jr 8.6 Better by 0.8Char-Griller AKORN Jr. 7.8Why the Kamado Joe Joe Jr scores 8.6Ceramic holds a 225 to 750°F range steadily on little fuel, but one 13.5 inch grate makes a true two-zone fire cramped.
Why the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. scores 7.8
Insulated steel reaches the full 200 to 700 F range, but indirect cooking needs a $49.99 stone and the small firebox limits long cooks.
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Long-term Reliability
Counts for 20% of the scoreKamado Joe Joe Jr 8.3 Better by 1.2Char-Griller AKORN Jr. 7.1Why the Kamado Joe Joe Jr scores 8.3Lifetime cover on the ceramic and five years on cast iron, though the gasket and gauge get only two years.
Why the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. scores 7.1
A painted steel kamado lives or dies by its finish, and the 5-year warranty covers burn and rust-through while excluding surface rust.
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Build Quality
Counts for 18% of the scoreKamado Joe Joe Jr 8.8 Better by 1.2Char-Griller AKORN Jr. 7.6Why the Kamado Joe Joe Jr scores 8.8Glazed ceramic body, cast iron top vent and cast iron stand; no plastic carries load anywhere on this grill.
Why the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. scores 7.6
Triple-walled steel and two-piece cast iron grates are solid at this price, though steel never matches ceramic for mass or heat soak.
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Ease of Use
Counts for 15% of the scoreKamado Joe Joe Jr 7.1Char-Griller AKORN Jr. 8.4 Better by 1.3Why the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. scores 8.4Side handles, a locking lid and dampers indexed 0 to 5 make it easy to carry, set and repeat a fire.
Why the Kamado Joe Joe Jr scores 7.1
Sold as portable at 82.5 lbs, a two-person lift with nowhere to set tools, and the deflector must come out to sear.
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Value
Counts for 12% of the scoreKamado Joe Joe Jr 7.6Char-Griller AKORN Jr. 8.7 Better by 1.1Why the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. scores 8.7At $199.99 it costs half the $399.99 full-size AKORN, and that gap pays for the stone, charcoal and a cover.
Why the Kamado Joe Joe Jr scores 7.6
Around $429 buys a complete small kamado with deflector, but $2.86 per square inch is steep for one burger batch.
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Maintenance
Counts for 10% of the scoreKamado Joe Joe Jr 7.7Char-Griller AKORN Jr. 8.3 Better by 0.6Why the Char-Griller AKORN Jr. scores 8.3The EasyDump ash pan pulls out from below, and replacement grates run $12.99 and $24.99, so worn parts get swapped, not the grill.
Why the Kamado Joe Joe Jr scores 7.7
No ash drawer is confirmed on the maker page, so cleanout means a hand tool through the lower vent.
See all six scores in one table
| Category | Kamado Joe Joe Jr | Char-Griller AKORN Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Performance (25%) | 8.6 Better | 7.8 |
| Long-term Reliability (20%) | 8.3 Better | 7.1 |
| Build Quality (18%) | 8.8 Better | 7.6 |
| Ease of Use (15%) | 7.1 | 8.4 Better |
| Value (12%) | 7.6 | 8.7 Better |
| Maintenance (10%) | 7.7 | 8.3 Better |
| Avid Griller Score | 8.1 | 7.9 |
Both reviews are scored on the same six weighted categories, on the same 0 to 10 scale, and each reason is the one that review gave. A category is marked better only where the two differ by a tenth or more. How we score →
Where the spec sheets differ
Quoted from each maker's own specifications, as each review records them. Figures the two products publish identically are left out, so only the differences are listed.
Which one is for you
You want ceramic that will outlast the steel, and the grill mostly stays put.
Check price →You want the lightest, cheapest small kamado, and will move it often.
Check price →More head-to-heads
Every score and figure on this page comes from our own reviews of these two products, linked above. We have not tested them side by side in one place; the comparison is between two full reviews, each built from the maker's published specifications and documentation. Prices move, and the ones quoted are the ones each review checked on its own date.