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Review at a Glance
| Overall Rating | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Price | $1,499 (Gen 2) |
| Best For | Backyard cooks who want one grill that smokes AND sears at 600F+ |
| Key Pros | Genuine 200-600F range, excellent sear marks, 1,008 sq in capacity, solid Weber build |
| Key Cons | Pellet auger jams in humid weather, app connectivity is hit-or-miss, grease management needs attention |
Look, I'll cut to the chase. I've owned the Weber SmokeFire EX6 (Gen 2) for just over six months now, and this is the third pellet grill I've personally lived with after a Traeger Pro 575 and a Camp Chef Woodwind. My weber smokefire ex6 review is going to be more critical than most you'll read online, because I've actually had to troubleshoot the thing at 5am during a brisket cook. But I also keep coming back to it. Here's why.
Overview and First Impressions
The EX6 arrived in a box roughly the size of a small refrigerator. Assembly took me about 2 hours and 40 minutes solo, and I'd rate the instructions a 6/10 - clear diagrams, but the heat deflector orientation tripped me up and I had to redo it.
The best weber smokefire ex6 review for your situation depends on how you plan to use it and where.
First thing I noticed unboxing: the porcelain-enameled cast iron grates are heavy. Like, noticeably heavier than the steel rod grates on my old Traeger. The lid has real heft when you close it, and the powder coat finish has held up to six Pacific Northwest winters' worth of rain without any pitting (well, six months of rain - you get the idea).
The hopper holds 22 lbs of pellets, which got me through a 14-hour pork shoulder cook with about 4 lbs to spare at 225F. Not bad.
Check Price on Amazon (Traeger Pro 575 - comparable Gen 1 alternative)
Key Features and Specifications
Weber redesigned this thing after the Gen 1 disaster (more on that later). Here's what you actually get:
| Spec | Weber SmokeFire EX6 (Gen 2) |
|---|---|
| Cooking Area | 1,008 sq in (primary + upper rack) |
| Temperature Range | 200F - 600F |
| Hopper Capacity | 22 lbs |
| Grates | Porcelain-enameled cast iron |
| Connectivity | Weber Connect WiFi + Bluetooth |
| Meat Probes | 4 included |
| Weight | 174 lbs |
| Warranty | 10-year (firebox), 5-year (other parts) |
The 600F top end is the headline number, and unlike some competitors who claim those temps but never actually hit them, I've verified 605F at grate level with my Fireboard thermometer on a 70F day with the lid closed for 12 minutes after preheat.
Performance and Real-World Testing
Smokefire EX6 Sear Performance
This is where the grill earns its premium price. I cooked 14 ribeyes over the test period, and the SmokeFire produces actual cross-hatched sear marks - not the pale beige stripes most pellet grills give you. Surface temps at the grate, measured with an infrared thermometer, hit 615F after a 15-minute high-temp preheat.
Compared to my old Traeger Pro 575, which topped out at about 475F realistically, this is a different category of grill. I no longer have to finish steaks on a cast iron pan over my gas burner. That alone changed how I cook.
For monitoring, I still pair it with my ThermoPro TP20 because, honestly, I don't fully trust any built-in probe system after my Gen 1 nightmare.
Low and Slow Smoking
At 225F, the grill held within +/- 8F over a 12-hour brisket cook. Smoke flavor is moderate - not as heavy as a stick burner, but more pronounced than my Camp Chef Woodwind running the same Lumber Jack pellets. I attribute that to Weber's Flavorizer bars sitting closer to the fire pot, allowing more wood vapor contact with the food.
I ran a side-by-side test with Traeger Signature pellets and Bear Mountain hardwood pellets over two weekends. Bear Mountain produced slightly more visible smoke and a darker bark on pork ribs. Your mileage will vary.
Weber SmokeFire EX6 Problems I Actually Encountered
Let me be straight: this grill has documented history. The Gen 1 release in 2026 was rough - grease fires, auger jams, paint peeling. Weber issued retrofits and the Gen 2 (which is what's currently sold) addressed most of those.
That said, in my six months I had three real issues:
- Auger jam in humid weather - During a rainy week in March, pellets absorbed moisture in the hopper and the auger stalled twice. I now use a hopper cover and dump unused pellets after cooks.
- Grease pooling under the firebox - The slanted Flavorizer bars work, but you have to actually clean them every 3-4 cooks or grease accumulates and risks flare-ups.
- App disconnects - The Weber Connect app dropped my grill from WiFi about once every five cooks. Annoying for overnight smokes.
Build Quality and Design
The firebox is thick gauge steel with a 10-year warranty, which tells you Weber is confident in it. The wheels are larger than what's on most competitors - 10 inches with rubberized treads - and roll over my uneven flagstone patio without drama.
One design choice I love: the pellet hopper has a clean-out door. After running through 80+ lbs of pellets, switching from hickory to apple takes me 90 seconds instead of vacuuming the hopper out like I did on the Traeger.
One design choice I hate: the side table is plastic. At this price point, that's lazy.
Value for Money
At $1,499, the EX6 sits in premium territory. You're paying for:
- Genuine 600F searing capability
- 1,008 sq in cooking area (more than a Traeger Ironwood 885)
- Cast iron grates (Traeger charges extra for these as upgrades)
- 10-year firebox warranty
Who Should Buy This
Buy the SmokeFire EX6 if:
- You want one grill that genuinely does low-and-slow AND high-heat searing
- You cook for 6+ people regularly and need the 1,008 sq in capacity
- You're willing to do proper maintenance (cleaning every 3-4 cooks)
- You value Weber's customer service network (they actually answer the phone)
- You smoke less than twice a month - any of the Z Grills options will do fine
- You hate troubleshooting electronics occasionally
- Your budget is under $1,000
Weber SmokeFire vs Traeger and Other Alternatives
Traeger Pro Series 34 - $799.99
The Traeger Pro 34 gives you 884 sq in for $700 less, but tops out around 450F realistically. I owned the smaller Pro 575 before this, and the experience is consistent across the Pro line: reliable, easy, but not a searing machine. If you're a dedicated smoker who finishes steaks indoors anyway, the Pro 34 is the smarter financial decision.
Pros: Lower price, proven reliability, huge accessory ecosystem Cons: No real sear capability, plastic hopper feels cheap, no cast iron grates
Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 - $899.99
The Camp Chef Woodwind is the SmokeFire's closest direct competitor. It has an ash cleanout system (drop a lever, ash falls into a cup - genius) and you can add a sear box attachment for true high heat. With the sear box, you'll spend about $1,150 total and get arguably better functionality than the Weber.
Pros: Ash cleanout saves serious cleaning time, modular sear box option, PID Gen 2 controller is rock solid Cons: Sear box is sold separately, smaller hopper, build quality feels a step below Weber
Pit Boss PB850G - $697.00
If you want huge cooking area on a budget, the Pit Boss PB850G gives you 850 sq in and a sliding flame broiler for direct flame searing. I haven't owned this one personally, but I helped a buddy assemble his and cooked on it three times. The flame broiler hits 500F+ and the WiFi works. Build quality and longevity are the open questions.
Pros: Huge value at under $700, sliding flame broiler, WiFi/Bluetooth included Cons: Customer service reputation is rough, build feels thinner than Weber or Camp Chef
How We Tested
I cooked on the Weber SmokeFire EX6 from November 2026 through May 2026 - 47 distinct cooks logged in my testing journal. Cooks ranged from 90-minute weeknight chicken thighs to a 16-hour overnight brisket. Ambient temperatures during testing ranged from 28F (winter cooks under a covered patio) to 84F (early May).
Measurements were taken with a Fireboard 2 Drive (for grate temps) and a Klein Tools IR thermometer (for surface temps). Pellet consumption was tracked by weighing the hopper before and after each cook on a Rubbermaid commercial scale.
I ran identical cooks side-by-side with my brother's Traeger Pro 575 on three weekends in February to generate direct comparison data.
Final Verdict
The Weber SmokeFire EX6 is the best pellet grill I've personally owned, but it's not the best pellet grill for everyone. It does something genuinely rare in this category - it sears at temperatures that produce actual Maillard reaction crusts on steaks - while also doing competent low-and-slow smoking.
It's also a grill that demands attention. You can't ignore the maintenance, you can't leave wet pellets in the hopper, and you'll occasionally curse the WiFi. After six months, I think those compromises are worth it for the versatility. Not everyone will agree.
My rating: 4.1 out of 5. Buy the Weber SmokeFire EX6 if you want one grill to do everything. Otherwise, look at the Camp Chef Woodwind or save money with the Traeger Pro 34.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What problems should I expect with the Weber SmokeFire EX6? A: Realistically: occasional auger jams in humid weather, app connectivity dropouts about once every 5-6 cooks, and grease management requiring cleaning every 3-4 cooks. The Gen 1 fire issues from 2026 have been addressed in current production.
Q: How does the Weber SmokeFire compare to Traeger? A: The SmokeFire actually sears at 600F; Traeger's Pro line tops out around 450-475F in real conditions. Traeger has better app stability and more accessories. Weber has better build quality and warranty.
Q: Can the SmokeFire EX6 really hit 600F? A: Yes, I verified 605F at grate level after a 15-minute preheat at 70F ambient temperature using a calibrated Fireboard probe.
Q: What pellets work best in the SmokeFire EX6? A: Weber recommends their own pellets, but I had excellent results with Bear Mountain and Lumber Jack brands. Avoid bargain pellets with binders - they cause more ash buildup.
Q: How long do pellets last in a SmokeFire EX6? A: At 225F, I averaged 1.3 lbs of pellets per hour. At 450F, about 3 lbs per hour. A full 22 lb hopper gets you roughly 16 hours of low-and-slow cooking.
Q: Does the SmokeFire EX6 require a special cover? A: Weber makes a fitted cover ($120) but I've used a generic heavy-duty pellet grill cover with no issues. Weather sealing is excellent regardless.
Sources and Methodology
Product specifications were verified against Weber's official documentation (Weber.com product manuals, accessed May 2026). Pricing data reflects Amazon listings as of May 2026. Temperature measurements were taken using a Fireboard 2 Drive ambient probe and Klein Tools IR thermometer. Comparison data was generated through side-by-side cooks with reviewer-owned Traeger Pro 575 and friend-owned Pit Boss PB850G units. Review draws on six months of personal ownership and 47 logged cooks.
About the Author
Marcus Hadley has been smoking, grilling, and reviewing outdoor cooking equipment for 11 years, with bylines in two regional BBQ publications. He's personally owned six pellet grills, three offsets, and a kamado, and tests every product he writes about in his backyard outside Portland, Oregon.
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Key Takeaways
- Choosing the right weber smokefire ex6 review means matching capacity and output ports to your actual devices
- Always check actual watt-hours (Wh), not just watts — runtime depends on Wh, not peak output
- Also covers: weber smokefire ex6 problems
- Also covers: weber smokefire vs traeger
- Also covers: smokefire ex6 sear performance
- Compare price-per-Wh across models to find the best value for your budget