Which smoker should you buy? Choose the Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT if you want a premium charcoal grill and smoker for frequent backyard cooking. Choose the Gravity Series 1150 if large cooking capacity matters more than stepping up to the XT’s construction. Choose the 710 WiFi Electric Smoker if your priority is dedicated smoking at a lower purchase price. This smoker buying guide explains the differences that matter before you commit: fuel, useful cooking space, low-temperature capability, smoke flavor and ownership costs.
In this guide: Choose a smoker · Compare models · Low temperatures · Capacity · Buyer questions
Performance Highlights
1,260 sq. in. of total cooking area with a three-year limited warranty.
1,150 sq. in. of total cooking area at a lower price than the XT.
A published 100–275°F control range and four smoking racks.
Buy for the meals you want to make
Picture your usual weekend: ribs for the family, a pork shoulder for friends, or a full spread with vegetables cooking alongside the main dish. The right smoker makes those meals easier to repeat. Start with what you cook most often, how much tending you enjoy and whether the same appliance needs to grill steaks during the week.
Our premium recommendation is the Gravity Series XT. Its appeal is the combination of charcoal cooking and digital temperature management, with an upgraded body and sealing design. It makes sense for a cook who expects to use the smoker regularly and values the equipment as part of a long-term backyard setup.
How to Choose a Smoker: Five Decisions
- Choose the fuel experience. Charcoal gives you a live-fire cooking routine; electric heat removes the charcoal-lighting step. Both require smoke management and cleaning.
- Decide whether you need a grill too. A dedicated electric smoker is different from a charcoal grill that also smokes and sears.
- Plan the food layout. Consider the length of ribs, the width of a brisket and the height of a turkey, not just the advertised square inches.
- Budget for ownership. Include fuel, a suitable cover, a thermometer and any optional cooking attachments you will actually use.
- Check your location. Allow for manufacturer-required clearances, lid and hopper access, power and a practical route from delivery to the cooking area.
Fuel Details: Charcoal, Electric, Pellet or Propane?
| Smoker type | What it brings to your cooking | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Gravity-fed charcoal | Charcoal heat with a fan regulating airflow. Add suitable smoking wood as directed in the manual. | You still light the fuel and remove cold ash; electrical power runs the controls and fan. |
| Electric cabinet | Electricity heats the cabinet; wood chips provide smoke. | Convenient temperature control for smoking, but the 710 is not a high-temperature searing grill. |
| Pellet | Wood pellets feed a controlled fire. | Compare the exact model’s searing capability, pellet consumption and maintenance. Pellet and gravity-fed charcoal are different fuel systems. |
| Propane cabinet | A gas burner supplies heat with wood used for smoke. | Plan for propane supply and the controls on the particular model. A cabinet layout does not imply grill-like searing. |
For shoppers who want both charcoal barbecue and weeknight grilling, the XT and 1150 are the strongest starting points in this guide. If you already own a grill and want an affordable dedicated smoker alongside it, the 710 WiFi deserves a closer look.
Masterbuilt Smoker Comparison: Our Three Main Picks
| Model | Current price | Total cooking area | Published US temperature range | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity Series XT | $1,799.99 | 1,260 sq. in. | 225–700°F | Frequent cooks seeking the premium charcoal option |
| Gravity Series 1150 | $1,099.99 | 1,150 sq. in. | 225–700°F | Entertaining with a lower initial outlay |
| 710 WiFi Electric | $349.99 | 710 sq. in. | 100–275°F | Dedicated electric smoking |
Prices checked September 29, 2026; product pages and checkout show current prices and availability. Total cooking area includes multiple cooking levels and is not the size of a single grate.
Why Step Up to the Gravity Series XT?
The XT deserves consideration when you care about the body, seals and cooking workflow as much as headline capacity. Masterbuilt identifies a FuelSaver single-piece body, dual-wall insulation and a fiberglass-mesh gasket. Those features are intended to retain heat and smoke; real fuel consumption still depends on weather, temperature and how often you open the lid.
The upgrade should earn its place in your routine. If you cook often, appreciate the larger workspace and expect to maintain the grill carefully, this is the model to shortlist first. If you mainly smoke for occasional gatherings, the 1150 may free up budget for fuel and the rest of your patio.
Gravity Series XT: $1,799.99
The Gravity Series 1150: Capacity Without the XT Price
The 1150 gives shoppers a middle path between a smaller grill and the premium XT. Its closed cart provides storage, while the charcoal hopper and digital fan handle the fuel-feed and airflow side of the cook. At the prices checked for this guide, it costs $700 less than the XT.
That difference matters if you want a substantial smoking setup while keeping money available for a cover, charcoal and the ingredients for your first several cooks. Choose it because the layout fits your food and your budget, rather than because its model number is close to the XT’s total cooking area.
Gravity Series 1150: $1,099.99
The 710 WiFi: A Simpler Route Into Dedicated Smoking
The 710 WiFi has four chrome-coated racks, a side woodchip loader and a removable water bowl. One meat probe is included, with support for up to four. The app can help you monitor the cook while you prepare the rest of the meal.
Choose this model when you want a separate smoking appliance and do not need it to sear steaks. Its vertical format is useful for arranging several trays, but check the size of your favorite cuts before buying. A tall cabinet’s total area is distributed across its racks; removing a rack for a tall item reduces the space available for other food.
710 WiFi: $349.99
How Low Can These Masterbuilt Smokers Go?
Masterbuilt’s current US specifications list 225–700°F for the XT and 1150, and 100–275°F for the 710 WiFi. We use those published ranges here rather than presenting an unverified 150°F claim as a guaranteed minimum for the Gravity models.
There are three different questions behind “low smoke temperature”: the lowest selectable setting, the temperature the cooking chamber actually holds and whether the fuel or wood is producing the smoke you want. They are not interchangeable. Ambient heat, wind, food load and opening the cooker affect the chamber reading. A low setting on an electric smoker also does not promise continuous woodchip smoke throughout the heating cycle.
For conventional barbecue, plan around the recipe’s cooking temperature and verify the food with a probe. If a below-225°F program is essential to your purchase, ask us to confirm the exact Gravity model and controller specification before ordering. None of these published ranges should be read as approval for cold smoking.
Capacity: Buy for Your Menu, Not a Burger Count
The XT offers 110 more total square inches than the 1150—about a 9.6% increase. That alone does not explain the price difference. The XT’s construction and ownership features are a larger part of the decision.
Manufacturer maximum food counts assume particular sizes and arrangements. For a real meal, leave space around food and account for pans, probes and access with tongs. A collection of small items fits differently from several full-length rib racks. Upper racks can help organize sides, but their position and clearance may not suit every large cut.
- Mostly weekday dinners: prioritize access, cleanup and a footprint that fits your patio.
- Regular entertaining: map the main dish and sides across the racks before choosing.
- Large cuts: confirm usable grate dimensions and vertical clearance for your preferred arrangement.
Smoke Quality: Look Beyond the Amount of Smoke
Good barbecue is about balanced flavor and a controlled cook. Charcoal provides the heat source in Gravity Series models, with smoking wood added according to the manual when you want another layer of flavor. The 710 uses an electric element and wood chips. That difference changes the cooking routine, not just the fuel bill.
More visible smoke is not automatically better. Start with a modest amount of the recommended wood, keep the cooker clean and adjust one variable at a time. A useful first-cook routine is to record the wood, temperature, food size and finished result. That gives you a repeatable starting point without guessing why the flavor changed.
Neither a smoke ring nor a dark crust, by itself, measures doneness. Use your food probe and the recipe’s guidance rather than judging the meal by appearance alone.
What Comes With It—and What to Budget For
The XT and 1150 include their grill-and-smoker bodies, charcoal hoppers, digital controls, cooking grates and warming/smoking racks. The XT owner’s parts list specifies two meat probes. The 710 includes its four racks, water bowl, woodchip system and one meat probe.
Fuel, food and patio furnishings are separate purchases. A pizza oven, rotisserie or griddle shown as an accessory should not be assumed to come with the XT or 1150. Confirm compatibility and the exact package on the product page before adding anything. The Gravity Series 800 is a different package that includes a flat-top griddle insert.
For a lower-priced charcoal option, compare the Gravity Series 600. For an included griddle, look at the Gravity Series 800. For another large-capacity choice, see the Gravity Series 1050.
Maintenance, Warranty and the Cost of Owning a Smoker
Choose a smoker you are willing to care for. Charcoal models need cold ash removal and grease management; electric cabinets also need their trays, racks and probes maintained. A cover helps, but it does not replace drying the cooker and storing it as the manual directs.
Masterbuilt lists a three-year limited warranty for the XT and a one-year limited warranty for the 1150 and 710. Warranty coverage is subject to the manufacturer’s conditions and exclusions. It is not a statement that a smoker will last exactly that many years, or a promise that it cannot develop rust.
Think about frequency of use when setting your budget. A smoker used every week may justify a different purchase than one used a few times each summer. The right upgrade is the one whose features you will use—not simply the largest price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Masterbuilt smoker is the premium choice in this guide?
The Gravity Series XT is our premium charcoal recommendation for frequent backyard cooks who value its body and sealing design, 1,260-square-inch total capacity and three-year limited warranty.
Is the Masterbuilt 1150 a good alternative to the XT?
Yes. The 1150 offers 1,150 square inches of total cooking area and digital charcoal control at a lower price. Choose it when capacity and purchase budget matter more than the XT’s construction upgrades.
Can a Masterbuilt Gravity Series smoker sear steaks?
The current XT and 1150 specifications list a maximum temperature of 700°F. They are designed for grilling as well as smoking; the 710 electric smoker tops out at 275°F and is not the same kind of searing appliance.
What is the lowest published smoking temperature?
Current Masterbuilt US specifications list 225°F as the bottom of the XT and 1150 ranges and 100°F for the 710 WiFi. A controller setting is not a guarantee of steady smoke production or a cold-smoking capability.
Is an electric smoker good for a beginner?
The 710 WiFi is a practical option for a beginner who wants dedicated smoking without managing a charcoal fire. You still need to learn woodchip use, probe readings, cleaning and the setup requirements in the manual.
Do I need electricity for a gravity-fed charcoal smoker?
Yes. Charcoal provides cooking heat, while electrical power runs the digital controls and fan. Confirm a suitable outdoor power arrangement before choosing your cooking location.
Read the Owner Documentation
Review the XT owner’s manual and 710 WiFi owner’s manual for assembly, use, care and warranty details. For a deeper charcoal comparison, read our Masterbuilt Gravity Series guide: XT vs. 1150 and the full lineup.
Prepared by The Forge from Masterbuilt US model specifications, owner documentation and care guidance, checked September 29, 2026. Recommendations are editorial buying guidance, not a claim of hands-on testing. Manufacturer images are used without altering the products.
Choose the Smoker You Will Want to Use Next Weekend
Start with the XT for a premium charcoal setup, choose the 1150 to balance entertaining capacity with price, or pick the 710 for dedicated electric smoking. Need help fitting the cooker to your space or menu? Ask Smokeforges before ordering.
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