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Title: Weber Smoque review: A simplified smart grill thatΓÇÖs still a
workhorse

Date: Wed, 28 May 2025 16:00:23 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/we...

Simple devices can be a blessing or a curse. Sometimes companies streamline
entry-level products to offer the best core features at a lower price. Other
times they pair down the experience so much that it becomes a hindrance. With
the Smoque (pronounced "smoke", Weber wants to give prospective pellet
grillers access to reliable performance and basic smart features for less
money than its more versatile Searwood series. In the end, the company offers
enough capabilities to appeal to beginners and expert backyard pitmasters
alike, although the Smoque isnΓÇÖt as much of a value as it was a few months
ago.

Basic, functional design

The Smoque may look like a smaller Searwood on the outside, but there are a
few noteworthy differences. First, this model has a simplified controller
that, like its predecessor, is only operated with a single knob. The smaller
LCD panel is easily read from a distance, and it can show grill temperature,
food probe temperature and timer info. The catch is the limited real estate
can only display one of those stats at a time.

This isnΓÇÖt a problem if youΓÇÖve got the Weber Connect app handy, but
youΓÇÖll want to be mindful of which item you leave on the screen if youΓÇÖre
planning to glance at the progress from across the deck. The company is
actually hoping the limited onboard controls will encourage grillers to use
the app on their phone more during the process. This isnΓÇÖt a far-fetched
scenario since the Smoque is more for smoking and roasting than high-heat
cooking, but IΓÇÖll get to that in a bit.

The other main difference between the Smoque and the Searwood is underneath
the cooking grates inside. Weber replaced its trademark Flavorizer bars with
a grease sheet thatΓÇÖs typical in most pellet grills. The Searwood has one
large bar stretching from side to side, while WeberΓÇÖs gas grills and the
SmokeFire have several of them going front to back. The company opted for
vents instead of a solid sheet of metal, and their covers are basically mini
Flavorizer bars. This means you still get the effect of infusing flavor back
into foods when grease and juices hit the hot metal and sizzle, albeit on a
smaller scale. And those vents facilitate better airflow around the cook
chamber, which means efficient smoke circulation.

Smart grilling features Billy Steele for Engadget

Weber Connect, a trademark feature of WeberΓÇÖs smart pellet grills, is
available on the Smoque via Wi-Fi. Once your grill syncs with your home
network, the mobile software can be used to monitor ambient and food
temperatures from anywhere. This is handy if you run out of pellets before
your brisket is done or when itΓÇÖs time to hit the school carpool line. You
can set timers, activate SmokeBoost mode, add a temperature alert and
initiate the shutdown process from the app, too.

For beginners, or for cooks just looking for inspiration, the Weber Connect
app also provides a wealth of recipes. Those come with step-by-step
instructions, and the software offers readiness alerts so you donΓÇÖt
overcook those pricey cuts of meat. All of these software features have been
a staple of WeberΓÇÖs smart grilling lineup since the debut of the platform
in 2020. The company has greatly refined them in the years since, and Weber
Connect is now just as handy and reliable as TraegerΓÇÖs WiFire tech, which I
previously considered the gold standard.

Cooking with Smoque

Speaking of reliability, the Smoque is a barbeque workhorse in the backyard.
Weber promises preheat times of under 15 minutes on the grill, and that holds
true. In fact, most of the time the Smoque will arrive at the desired
temperature well before that. Every time I use it, IΓÇÖm shocked by how
quickly it preheats, recovers from the lid being open and adjusts to a higher
temperature. This is all thanks to the Rapid React tech in the controller, an
upgrade that first appeared on the Searwood.

During cooking sessions, the Smoque held its temperature reliability, too.
The Weber Connect app has graphs for the various temperatures, and the
ambient grill temperature trajectory is almost always a straight line. Sure,
youΓÇÖll see the dips any time you open the lid, but youΓÇÖll also see the
sharp incline that indicates how quickly the grill returned to the set
temperature.

Like the Searwood, the SmokeBoost feature thatΓÇÖs designed to add more smoky
flavor to your food only works at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. This is lower than
youΓÇÖd want to cook things like brisket or pork shoulders, so you have to
plan additional cook time for the 1-2 hours at the lower setting. However,
you donΓÇÖt really need to use it all. The Smoque imparts plenty of wood-
fired flavor from the pellets at the appropriate cooking temperatures. Ribs,
pork butts, wings and chicken kabobs all had ample smokiness during my tests
ΓÇö even though the latter two items cooked at higher temperatures without
using SmokeBoost first.

A useful feature youΓÇÖll need to decide if you can live without on the
Smoque is manual mode. Weber introduced this on the Searwood and the tool
allows you to cook with the lid open for things like direct-flame searing and
flat-top griddling. It makes that pellet grill more versatile, undoubtedly,
but weΓÇÖre talking about a more affordable, more streamlined model with the
Smoque. As a result, thatΓÇÖs not available here.

The competition

Both Weber and Trager have taken an interesting approach to their new smart
grills in 2025. The companies have built options that are more affordable
than previous devices, and the cheapest models from both of them start at
$800. The Smoque was initially announced at $699, and Traeger now lists the
Woodridge for $900 when itΓÇÖs not on sale (it currently is). Given the
current global economic predicament, itΓÇÖs no surprise both companies have
raised their prices since their January announcements.

TraegerΓÇÖs Woodridge also excels at the basics and will help you churn out
some deliciously smoked meats. However, the temperature fluctuates during
cooking on that grill, so I give a slight edge to Weber in a head-to-head
matchup for its rock-solid consistency. And given the fact that the Smoque is
now $100 cheaper at full price, those savings could go towards additional
accessories.

Wrap-up

With the Smoque, Weber proves that a basic grill doesnΓÇÖt have to offer a
subpar experience. This model offers reliable smoking and roasting
performance with smart features in the companyΓÇÖs app for less than its more
robust Searwood model. The Smoque is even available in two sizes, so
thereΓÇÖs an option if you need more than the 594 square inches of cooking
space on the unit I tested. Weber really hit its stride with pellet grills
last year with the Searwood, and Smoque is proof the company has more
compelling ideas in the hopper. Thankfully, this one saves you some money
without sacrificing any of the culinary results.

Weber says the 22-inch Smoque is headed to retailers now and will be
available on its website in early June for $799. The larger, 36-inch model is
coming mid-summer for $999.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/we...
smart-grill-thats-still-a-workhorse-160023349.html?src=rss

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