Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 vs Performer 22
Both: 363 sq in, a hinged grate, a lid dial, an enclosed catcher. At $449 against $229, the Performer adds Char-Rails, a painted side table and 40.25 in of width.
We pick the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22
The Premium. Lift the cart off the Performer and what is left is very close to it. Same bowl and grate area, same hinged grate, lid dial and enclosed ash catcher, same 10, 5 and 2 year warranty. At $449.00 against $229.00, the Performer's extra money buys Char-Rails, a lid holder and a painted steel table. Only the rails touch the fire.
What actually differs
-
What the table is actually for
Both kettles have a wire shelf low down for the charcoal bag. Only the Performer has a surface at elbow height for a tray, tongs and sauce. Weber Works clip-ons fasten to its rail at extra cost. Own a patio table already, and this point mostly disappears.
-
A kettle footprint, or a table's
The Premium measures 39.5 x 22.5 x 27 in with the lid shut. The Performer takes 40.25 in by 28, stands 45 in tall, and wants 47.5 in of headroom with the lid up. On a balcony, that is the deciding figure.
-
Rails are the one change at the coals
A bare kettle runs two zones, but it relies on you to herd the coals. The Performer's rails hold the bank in place. The Premium leaves that to you and its hinged flap, which is a skill rather than a part.
How they score, category by category
The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 scores higher in 3 categories, the Performer 22 in one. 2 are level.
Level overall: within a tenth of each other.
-
Heat Performance
Counts for 25% of the scoreWeber Original Kettle Premium 22 8.8Performer 22 8.9Level: within a tenth of each other.
Why the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 scores 8.8The plain kettle's 22 in bowl and dampers, so the same fire, but the hinged grate lets you feed it mid-cook.
Why the Performer 22 scores 8.9The Original Kettle 22's bowl and 363 sq in, plus Char-Rails and a hinged grate that hold two zones and feed a long fire.
-
Long-term Reliability
Counts for 20% of the scoreWeber Original Kettle Premium 22 8.4 Better by 0.5Performer 22 7.9Why the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 scores 8.4Bowl and lid carry 10 years against rust-through, but the hinged grate, the dial and the wheels sit under the 2-year term.
Why the Performer 22 scores 7.9
Bowl and lid carry 10 years like every 22 in kettle, but the painted-steel cart, table and wheels sit in a 2-year bucket.
-
Build Quality
Counts for 18% of the scoreWeber Original Kettle Premium 22 8.3 Better by 0.1Performer 22 8.2Why the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 scores 8.3Fused enamel, aluminium legs and dampers, and nylon handles are sound; Weber states no steel gauge and contradicts itself on area and damper count.
Why the Performer 22 scores 8.2
Hand-applied porcelain enamel on bowl and lid is excellent; the grate is plated steel and the side table is painted steel.
-
Ease of Use
Counts for 15% of the scoreWeber Original Kettle Premium 22 8.6Performer 22 9.1 Better by 0.5Why the Performer 22 scores 9.1Beats the Master-Touch's kit of hinged grate, Char-Rails, Tuck-Away holder and lid dial by adding a side table and a shelf.
Why the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 scores 8.6
A lid dial, a lid hook and flip-up grate sections remove the three chores that slow a plain kettle on a long cook.
-
Value
Counts for 12% of the scoreWeber Original Kettle Premium 22 7.2 Better by 0.3Performer 22 6.9Why the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 scores 7.2$229.00 at Weber buys the $149.00 Original's cooking plus three convenience parts; a burgers-only cook pays $80 for little.
Why the Performer 22 scores 6.9
$449.00 buys the $149.00 Original Kettle 22 cooking hardware plus $300 of cart, which is steep for a table and a shelf.
-
Maintenance
Counts for 10% of the scoreWeber Original Kettle Premium 22 8.9Performer 22 8.9Level: within a tenth of each other.
Why the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 scores 8.9One-Touch blades push ash into an enclosed catcher, warranted five years, so emptying it is one lift and no grey drift on the patio.
Why the Performer 22 scores 8.9The One-Touch sweep drops ash into an enclosed, wind-proof catcher, and Weber warrants that system separately for 5 years.
See all six scores in one table
| Category | Weber Original Kettle Premium 22 | Performer 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Performance (25%) | 8.8 | 8.9 |
| Long-term Reliability (20%) | 8.4 Better | 7.9 |
| Build Quality (18%) | 8.3 Better | 8.2 |
| Ease of Use (15%) | 8.6 | 9.1 Better |
| Value (12%) | 7.2 Better | 6.9 |
| Maintenance (10%) | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Avid Griller Score | 8.4 | 8.4 |
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 →
Which one is for you
You want refuelling and a dial for long cooks, and the kettle will stand beside a table or ledge you already own.
Check price →You want a self-contained charcoal station, with prep space at elbow height and room for the fuel underneath.
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.