Weber Smoque vs Smoque XL
385 sq in of primary grate against 595, 102 lb against 110, $799 against $899. Same 500 ceiling, same controller and probes: the XL is the Smoque with room.
We pick the Weber Smoque XL Pellet Smoker
Take the XL unless its width will not fit. For $100 more it adds 210 sq in of primary grate, 595 against 385, on the same controller, the same two probes and the same 500 ceiling. It weighs 110 pounds to the Smoque's 102. One caution: $899 is a cut from $999. At full price the gap doubles, and the case for the XL rests on whether you fill a grate.
What actually differs
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210 more square inches where the meat sits
Both headlines include a warming rack. Under it, the Smoque gives 385 sq in of main grate and the XL 595. Our XL review calls that room for several racks of ribs at once.
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Twelve inches wider, eight pounds heavier
The XL is 50.75 inches wide against 38.75, yet only 8 pounds heavier. Both stand 44.5 inches closed and need 60 inches of headroom to open, so height rules out the same spots for both.
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Everything else is the same machine
Same PID, same Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app, same enclosed ash system, same five years on the box and three on what burns or moves. Even the extras scale: the bottom shelf is $69.99 on the Smoque and $89.99 on the XL.
How they score, category by category
The Smoque XL scores higher in 1 category. 5 are level.
Level overall: within a tenth of each other.
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Heat Performance
Counts for 25% of the scoreWeber Smoque 8.0Smoque XL 8.0Level: within a tenth of each other.
Why the Weber Smoque scores 8.0A PID controller and fast recovery serve low and slow well, but Weber publishes a 500 ceiling and no sear story.
Why the Smoque XL scores 8.0A Rapid React PID holds a set temperature well, but 500 is the published ceiling and no sear story exists.
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Long-term Reliability
Counts for 20% of the scoreWeber Smoque 7.0Smoque XL 7.0Level: within a tenth of each other.
Why the Weber Smoque scores 7.0The cook box carries 5 years while the burn pot, pellet slide, heat baffle, grates and electronics carry 3.
Why the Smoque XL scores 7.0Three years covers the burn pot, pellet slide, baffle, grates and electrics. Only the box gets five.
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Build Quality
Counts for 18% of the scoreWeber Smoque 8.0Smoque XL 8.0Level: within a tenth of each other.
Why the Weber Smoque scores 8.0102 pounds of enameled steel cabinet feels settled, though the grates are plated steel rather than cast iron.
Why the Smoque XL scores 8.0110 pounds on two all-weather wheels, though the grates are plated steel and no body material is published.
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Ease of Use
Counts for 15% of the scoreWeber Smoque 9.5Smoque XL 9.5Level: within a tenth of each other.
Why the Weber Smoque scores 9.5Two probes, two ports, an LCD controller and app control ship in the box with nothing else to buy.
Why the Smoque XL scores 9.5Both meat probes, the LCD controller and Wi-Fi arrive in the carton, so a first cook needs no extra purchase.
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Value
Counts for 12% of the scoreWeber Smoque 8.0Smoque XL 8.5 Better by 0.5Why the Smoque XL scores 8.5Reduced from $999.00 to $899.00 for 918 square inches, with probes and app control already included.
Why the Weber Smoque scores 8.0
Around $799 buys probes and connectivity outright, but the bottom shelf and the cover are both charged as extras.
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Maintenance
Counts for 10% of the scoreWeber Smoque 9.0Smoque XL 9.0Level: within a tenth of each other.
Why the Weber Smoque scores 9.0The enclosed grease and ash system is aimed squarely at the chore that puts people off pellet cookers.
Why the Smoque XL scores 9.0Grease and ash are enclosed, and Weber says no shop vacuum is needed for either.
See all six scores in one table
| Category | Weber Smoque | Smoque XL |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Performance (25%) | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Long-term Reliability (20%) | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Build Quality (18%) | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Ease of Use (15%) | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Value (12%) | 8.0 | 8.5 Better |
| Maintenance (10%) | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Avid Griller Score | 8.1 | 8.2 |
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 smoke for a household rather than a crowd, and the slot you have is narrower than 50.75 inches.
Check price →You fill the grate on most cooks, or want ribs and a brisket on at once, and can spare the width.
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.