Weber vs. Char Broil Grills – A Head To Head Comparison

  • By: Brendan

I’ve always believed that the best grilling experience starts with the best grill, and two of the biggest names in this segment are Weber and Char Broil.

Weber vs Char Broil Grills

Both brands manufacture a massive lineup of grills, all that come with a long list of innovative features.

So, I‘m curious to find out how the two brands stack up against each other in terms of quality, performance, and service life. Here’s a head-to-head comparison on Weber vs. Char Broil grills!


Table of Contents

Weber vs. Char Broil Grills

Brands Comparison

Founded in 1893, Weber is an all-American brand and a highly reputed manufacturer of a wide range of grills and accessories. The company is noted for the inception of the kettle grill in 1951, which is still one of its bestselling models.

A subsidiary of the W.C. Bradley Co., Char Broil was conceived in 1948 and is a privately-held manufacturer of charcoal, gas, and electric outdoor grills, and related accessories.

Manufacturing Locations

Weber grills are made in the United States, more specifically in Palatine, Illinois. Char Broil grills are manufactured and assembled in China, making it one of the many companies to jump on the outsourcing bandwagon.

Types of Grills Manufactured

Weber and Char Broil specialize in manufacturing different types of grills, starting from portable models to top-of-the-line backyard grill models.

After taking a closer look at the Weber portfolio, the company manufactures several lineups of charcoal grills, gas grills, electric grills, portable grills and related accessories.

Char Broil manufactures charcoal grills, gas grills, portable grills, outdoor kitchens, smokers, fryers and accessories.

After Sales Service

Weber and Char Broil offer after-sales service via several channels including phone, email, and social media platforms.

Warranty

The warranty offered by Weber and Char Broil varies across models, but you can expect a minimum of 5 years on most models.


Weber vs. Char Broil Charcoal Grills

Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill and Charbroil Kettleman TRU-Infrared Charcoal Grill

The Weber Master-Touch and Char Broil Kettleman are kettle-style grills that come loaded with great features.

Main Grilling Features and Functionality

The Weber Master-Touch charcoal grill can cook up to 13 burgers at a time, and comes with a Char-Basket fuel holder to accommodate charcoal for direct and indirect grilling.

Adding to this, it comes with a built-in thermometer, and tool hooks to hang your grilling tools like a spatula and tongs.

The Char-Broil Kettleman charcoal grill offers a moderately sized 360 square inch cooking area (16 burgers), and is equipped with a large air damper for easy and efficient temperature control.

One of the noteworthy features of the Char Broil Kettleman grill that sets it apart from the Weber Master-Touch model is its TRU-infrared cooking system, which cooks food evenly without any flare-ups.

Quality of Construction and Build

The Weber Master-Touch and Char Broil Kettleman grill boast solid build quality, so you can rest they will last for several years to come with proper care.

The lid of the Char Broil Kettleman grill is made from black porcelain-coated steel, and the Weber Master-Touch comes with glass-reinforced nylon handles.

The finish of the Weber Master-Touch can withstand high temperatures and prevents rusting, cracking, and peeling.

Ease of Use

Both the Weber Master-Touch and Char Broil are charcoal grills, so they are a little challenging to use than gas grills.

However, they do come with lid-mounted handles, and a lid-mounted thermometer to avoid the guesswork on when you’ve reached the right temperature.

The Weber Master-Touch charcoal grill does come with a Char-Basket, which makes it easy to organize your charcoal when grilling. Further, it comes with tool hooks and a hinged cooking grate to easily add charcoal when grilling.

The Char Broil Kettleman is topped with a hinged lid for easy access to your food, and a slide-out ash tray for easy cleanup. The Weber comes with a one-touch cleaning system for hassle-free cleanup of charcoal ash and debris.

Grill Space Available

The Weber Master-Touch offers 363 square inches of primary cooking area, which is enough to cook 13 burgers at a time. The total cooking area of the Master-Touch grill is 443 square inches.

The Char Broil Kettleman charcoal grill allows you to cook on 360 square inches of cooking space, which is enough for 16 burgers, 10 chicken breasts or 8 steaks.

Grate Quality

The cooking grate of the Weber Master-Touch grill features a hinged design and is compatible with GBS inserts.

The Char Broil Kettleman grill features a porcelain-coated steel cooking grate, which provides a more even cooking surface.

Flavorizer Bars

The Weber Mater-Touch charcoal grill and Char Broil Kettleman do not come with flavorizer bars, given that they are charcoal grills.

Storage Capacity

The Char Broil and Weber Master-Touch are barebones grills, hence you only get a small storage rack at the bottom. The Weber does however come with convenient tool hooks on the side, a feature that’s lacking on the Char Broil charcoal grill.

Colors Available

The Weber Master-Touch charcoal grill can be ordered in a choice of 6 exciting colors including state blue and spring green, whereas the Char Broil Kettleman grill is only available in two colors—red and black.

Weight and Portability

The Weber Master-Touch charcoal grill measures 42″H x 24″W x 29.5″ D, and the Char Broil Kettleman measures 26 x 39 x 26”.

Both models come with two wheels at the bottom to easily move the grills across spaces.

Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance

The Weber Master-Touch and Char Broil Kettleman grills come with easy cleaning ash catchers, making them easy to maintain.

Problems Users are Taking About

Most of the reviews of the Weber Master-Touch grill are good, but there are some that claim the quality of the handles could be improved.

The Char Broil Kettleman grill has also received raving reviews, but some customers say that the quality of the front legs wobble at times, and is not the best quality.

So which grill is better Weber Master-Touch or Char Broil Kettleman TRU‑Infrared Charcoal Grill?

The Weber Master-Touch and Char Broil Kettleman grill offers great value for money, offer great cooking space, and have several features in common.

Both come with a handy cleaning system and a grill thermometer, but the Weber steps it up a notch with a warming rack and handy tool hooks.

Main Pros & Cons of Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill
Pros Cons
Easy cleanup system A little pricey but you get Weber quality
Large cooking area Assembly can be challenging
Built-in thermometer
Char-Baskets included
10-year warranty on bowl and lid
Pros & Cons of Charbroil Kettleman TRU‑Infrared Charcoal Grill
Pros Cons
Large primary cooking area Limited to 2 color options
TRU-infrared cooking system
Large air damper for precise temperature control
Porcelain coated components
Slide out ash tray and hinged lid

 


Weber vs. Char Broil Gas Grills

Weber Spirit E-210 Gas Grill vs. Char Broil Performance 4-Burner Cart Style Liquid Propane Gas Grill

The Weber Spirit E-210 and Char Broil Performance are perhaps the best gas grill under $500, and are a big upgrade to the Weber Master-Touch and Char Broil Kettleman charcoal grills.

Main Grilling Features and Functionality

There’s a lot to love about the Weber Sprit E-210 gas grill, starting with its porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates that are designed to retain even heat.

It offers 360 square inches of grilling space and comes with an easy-to-use grease management system.

This 2-burner gas grill by Weber also comes with a warming rack for indirect heat cooking.

The Char Broil Performance gas grill not only looks good, but comes with an array of great features under its hood like 430 square inches of primary cooking area, and 130 square inches of secondary cooking space.

It comes with rust-resistant, non-stick stainless steel cooking grates, and Gear Trax-enabled shelves for extra workspace.

Burner Count and Quality

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill is fitted with two burners that are crafted from stainless steel. The Char Broil Performance gas grill comes with four burners that are also made from stainless steel.

Ignition Systems

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill comes with a push-button ignition system and two knobs to fire up its two burners.

The Char broil Performance gas grill comes with four stainless steel knobs at the front a separate knob for the side burner and an electronic ignition system.

Cooking Temperature Ranges

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill offers 26,500 BTUs of firepower, and the Char Broil Performance allows you to cook with 37,000 BTUs across the four main burners and 10,000 BTUs for the side burner.

Quality of Construction and Build

The Weber Spirit E-210 and the Char Broil Performance gas grills feature a robust build quality. The cookbox of the Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill prevents rusting and peeling, so your grill will look brand new for years to come.

The heat tent and side shelf of the Char Broil Performance gas grill are stainless and black painted steel respectively.

Ease of Use

Both the Weber Spirit E-210 and Char Broil performance gas grills are a joy to use, thanks to their large control knobs.

They also come with a lid-mounted temperature gauge that allows you to check the temperature of your food without opening the lid or buying a separate grill thermometer.

The Weber gas grill takes things a bit further with 6 tool hooks to conveniently store your grilling tools.

Grilling Space Available

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill allows you to cook on 360 square inches of the primary cooking area plus a 90 square inch warming rack.

The Char Broil Performance gas grill provides you with a 430 square inch primary cooking area and 130-square inches of secondary cooking space.

Fuel Efficiency

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill will consume less fuel given its 2-burner system, and the Char Broil grill will use more fuel with all the burners turned on.

One tank of propane typically lasts 18 – 20 hours when grilling on a medium-sized grill such as the Weber Spirit E-210 and Char Broil Performance.

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill does come with an easy-to-read fuel gauge that lets you see exactly how much gas is left in the propane tank.

Grate Quality

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill is fitted with porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates, which retain even heat, and are easy to clean.

The Char Broil Performance gas grill comes with non-stick, rust-resistant cooking grates that are easy o clean and offer long service life.

Flavorizer Bars

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill and the Char Broil gas grills do not come with flavorizer bars, but you can buy flavorizer bars separately online.

Storage Capacity

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill features a single door, a large storage box at the bottom, and the Char Broil Performance grill features a two-door cabinet to conveniently store your grilling tools and accessories.

Colors Available

Both the Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill and the Char Broil Performance can be had in just one color—black for the Weber and Silver for the Char Broil.

Weight and Portability

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill measures 63″H x 50″W x 32″D inches with the lid open, and 45.5″H x 50″W x 24″D with the lid open.

When fully assembled, the Char Broil Performance gas grill measures 20.1×45.4×50.3 inches and 45.4 inches in height.

Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill is fitted with an easy to clean grease management system, but this feature isn’t mentioned on the Char Broil official website.

Problems Users are Talking About

Users boast about the overall solid construction and performance of the Weber Spirit E-210 grill, but complain about the assembly instructions.

The assembly for the Char Broil gas grill is pretty easy and straightforward, but users say that the quality of the wheels could be improved.

So which grill is better Weber Spirit E-210 or Char Broil Performance Gas Grill?

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill and Char Broil Performance are mid-sized grills that are backed by some excellent features.

However, the Char Broil performance leads the pack with its 4-burner system, and more cooking real estate including a 10,000 BTU side burner.

The Char Broil Performance also costs roughly $150 less than the Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill, so if budget is your concern, then the Performance is an ideal option.

The Weber Spirit E-210 gas grill is backed by a 10-year warranty on the lid and cookbox, and the Char Broil Performance comes with a 5-year warranty on the burners, and a 2-year warranty on the lid and firebox.

Pros & Cons of Weber Spirit E-210 Gas Grill
Pros Cons
Porcelain cast iron cooking grates Lacks side burner
Porcelain enamel finish
36 square inches of grilling space
Easy to clean grease management system
Six tool hooks
Pros & Cons of Char-Broil Performance 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill
Pros Cons
435-square-inches of primary cooking area Lacks tool hooks
Non-stick, rust-resistant stainless-steel grates
Lid-mounted temperature gauge
10,000 BTU side burner
Side shelves are Gear Trax enabled

Weber vs. Char Broil Electric Grills

Weber Q 2400 Electric Grill vs. Char Broil Patio Bistro Tru-Infrared Electric Grill

If you want to avoid the inconvenience of gar or charcoal, the Weber Q 2400 and Char Broil Patio Bistro are two great electric grill options to choose from.

Main Grilling Features and Functionality

Both the Weber Q 2400 and Char Broil Patio Bistro electric grills showcase a compact footprint yet don’t scrimp on key grilling features and functionality.

The Weber Q 2400 electric grill is fitted with a unique heating element that heats up quickly and offers excellent corrosion resistance.

Further, the lid of the Weber Q 2400 grill features a heat retention liner, which retains heat inside the grill for a consistent grilling temperature.

The Char Broil Patio Bistro grill delivers a high-quality electric grilling experience with its TUR-infrared cooking technology. This technology prevents flare-ups, delivers even heat, and allows you to indulge in juicier food.

It also features Amplifire cooking technology, which is the same technology used in restaurants and steakhouses for decades. To lock in flavor and make your food juicier.

Ignition Systems

Being electric grills, the Weber Q 2400 and Char Broil Patio Bistro grills do not come with ignition systems, but the latter does come with an integrated control know to adjust the temperature easily.

Quality of Construction and Build

The Weber Q 2400 and Char Broil Patio Bistro grills feature superior build quality and can handle harsh weather elements. The Weber Q 400 comes with a long six-foot cord, which plugs into any electrical outlet.

Ease of Usage

The Weber Q 2400 and Char Broil Patio Bistro offer a no-frills grilling experience and allow you to cook without a fuss.

Grilling Space Available

Even though these are two compact units, they offer sizable grilling areas, whereas the Weber Q 2400 offers 280 square inches of primary cooking area, which measured by the Weber Burger Press is enough room to cook 12 burgers at one time.

The Char Broil Patio Bistro electric grill offers a primary cooking area that measures 240 square inches, which can accommodate 12 burgers, 8 chicken breasts or 6 steaks.

Grate Quality

The Weber Q 2400 is factory fitted with porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, which provide even heat across the grill’s cooking surface and unmatched heat retention.

The Char Broil Patio Bistro electric grill arrives with a porcelain-coated steel cooking grate, which is also known for its excellent heat retention and even heat distribution capabilities.

Storage Capacity

The Weber Q 2400 electric grill doesn’t offer any storage capacity or storage area, but the Char Broil Patio Bistro grill does provide a small storage rack at the bottom to hold your essential grilling tools.

Colors Available

The Weber Q 2400 electric grill is available in one color option only—dark grey, and the Char Broil Patio Bistro can be ordered in a choice of three colors—graphite, black and red.

Weight and Portability

The Weber Q 2400 grill measures 26″H x 31.5″W x 25.1″D with the lid open and 14.5″H x 31.5″W x 19.5″D inches with the lid closed.

The Char Broil Patio Bistro measures 26×38.5×24.2 inches when assembled, and weighs a bit more than the Q 2400 due to its tripod style legs, wheels, and storage rack.

Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance

The Q 2400 by Weber comes with a removable grease catch pan, making it easy to clean drippings and grease. The Patio Bistro by Char Broil features a pull-out grease tray that collects grease and makes it easy to dispose of properly.

So which grill is better Weber Q 2400 or Char Broil Patio Bistro?

The Weber Q 2400 and the Char Broil Patio Bistro are both compact electric grill models that come with basic features.

Both offer almost the same cooking space and come with removable catch pans. The Weber however comes with a heating element that heats quickly, and the Patio Bistro comes with TRU-infrared technology.

The Weber is more portable, given that you can carry it around in one hand, and the Patio Bistro is equipped with both wheels and a foldable handle to easily move it around.

With regards to which one is better, it boils down to personal choice—if you want an electric grill that you can simply carry in your trunk, the Weber is a good option.

But if you’d like an electric grill that comes with infrared technology and one that can be stored easily in your shed or garage, the Char Broil Patio Bistro is an ideal choice.

The Char Broil Patio Bistro electric grill also comes with a separate warming rack and a lid-mounted temperature gauge—two features that are lacking in the Weber Q 2400 grill.

Pros & Cons of Weber Q 2400
Pros Cons
Porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates Only one color option
Removable catch pan A bit pricier compared to similar models in its segment
Aluminum heat retention liner inside lid
28 square inches cooking area
Six-foot cord
Pros & Cons of Charbroil Patio Bistro
Pros Cons
TRU-Infrared cooking technology Quality of wheels could be improved
Integrated control knob
Durable porcelain-coated grate
Removable warming rack
Lid-mounted temperature gauge

Weber vs. Char Broil Portable Grills

Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill vs. Char Broil GRILL2GO X200 Portable Gas Grill

For highly portable grills that you can literally just pick up and go and grill anywhere you see fit, the Weber Traveler and Char Broil Grill2Go are great options.

Main Grilling Features and Functionality

The Weber Traveler is truly a multifaceted grill, given that it makes a good choice whether you’re camping, picnicking or tailgating.

For it compact size, it surprisingly offers a large grilling area, and is engineered to cook in both low and high temperatures, allowing you to cook pancakes and sear steaks.

It can be fitted with a full-size 20 lbs propane tank and features an automatic lid lock to ensure the grill is ready to transport safely.

The Char Broil Grill2Go X200 features the Amplifire infrared cooking system, which is designed to produce even heat, no flare-ups, and up to 50 percent juicier food.

Adding to this, it comes with a cast-aluminum firebox and lid mated with a high-impact frame for top-notch durability.

The Char Broil Grill2Go X200 portable gas grill features a wide temperature range for greater versatility, and comes with a large cooking area that’s enough for up to 8 burgers in one go!

Burner Count and Quality

The Weber Traveler is fitted with one burner that’s crafted from premium quality stainless steel. The Char Broil Grill2Go X200 grill is also equipped with one stainless steel burner.

Ignition Systems

Both the Weber Traveler and Char Broil Grill2Go X200 gas grills are fitted with a push-button ignition system for easy startup.

Cooking Temperature Range

The one-burner Weber Traveler produces 13,000 BTUs of flame power and comes with a low to high adjustable temperature control knob.

The Grill2Go X200 gas grill produces a little less than 9500 BTU firepower and doesn’t come with a temperature control knob.

Quality and Construction and Build

When it comes to quality and construction, both the Weber Traveler and Char Broil Grill2Go X200 score high with their robust grade aluminum construction.

Ease of Use

The term easy to use is synonymous with the Traveler by Weber and Grill2Go X200 by Char Broil gas grills.

Both grills come fully assembled out of the box, so all you’ve got to do is connect your propane tank to get grilling.

The Weber Traveler portable gas grill conveniently lowers down without any effort or assistance and is attached to cart, so you can get grilling asap.

Grilling Space Available

The Weber allows you to cook on a moderately spaced 320 square inch cooking area, which to put in perspective is enough to hold 13 burgers.

The Char Broil Grill2Go X200 grill offers 200 square inches of cooking area, which is enough to accommodate up to 8 burgers.

Fuel Efficiency 

The Weber Traveler and the Char Broil Grill2Go X200 are one-burner grills, therefore are extremely fuel efficient.

A single full tank of propane should last for roughly 24 hours to 36 hours of continuous grilling. However, the Weber Traveler is also purposefully designed to optimize gas usage.

Grate Quality

The Weber Traveler comes with a high quality grate, and the Char Broil Grill2Go X200 features a stainless steel cooking grate.

Storage Capacity

The Weber Traveler comes with a handy side table, but the Char Broil doesn’t come with a side table or any other handy storage area.

Colors Available

The Weber Traveler and the Char Broil Grill2Go X200 portable gas grills are available in one color option only—black.

Weight and Portability

The Weber Traveler measures 37.2” H x 43.6” W x 23” D with the lid closed, and the Char Broil Grill2Go X200 measures 15.7 x 13.6 x 23.7 inches.

Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance

These two compact grills are easy to clean, owing to the fact they don’t have to many parts such as side burners, etc.

Problems Users are Talking About

One of the main issues with the Weber Travel users have issues with is its weight, and that it was larger than expected.

The only major issue with the Char Broil Grill2Go X200 grill is that its temperature may be hard to get below 450* even at the lowest setting.

So which grill is better Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill or Charbroil GRILL2GO X200?

When it comes to ultra-portable gas grills, the Weber Traveler and Char Broil Grill2Go X200 grills are hard to beat.

If you want more cooking area, the Weber Traveler is perhaps a good option, but if you want a briefcase-style portable grill, you can’t go wrong with the Char Broil Grill2Go X200 portable gas grill.

Pros & Cons of Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill
Pros Cons
Large 320 square inch grilling area No side burner
Low to high-temperature range
Automatic lid lock
13,000 BTU
Lid-mounted temperature gauge
Pros & Cons of Charbroil GRILL2GO X200
Pros Cons
Push-button ignition start 200 square inches of cooking space may be less for some users
Cast aluminum firebox and lid
Wide temperature range
Amplifire cooking system
Lid mounted thermometer

What Makes Weber Grill So Much Better?

There are many reasons why Weber grills are so much better than other brands, starting with the company’s use of high quality materials such as stainless steel and cast iron.

Adding to this, Weber offers stellar service and support—two things many companies in this segment fail to provide.

When shopping for the best charcoal grill or best gas grill, you’ll often find that Weber grills are priced higher, so you may be wondering if they’re worth paying for!

Well, the answer is a resounding yes, and if you have the cash to splurge on a grill that will last you a lifetime with proper care, don’t think twice about buying a grill from the Weber portfolio.

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