PIT BOSS 1600 Navigator Series WiFi & Bluetooth Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, Flame Broiler and Touchscreen Controller, 1,593-Sq. in. Cook Space, 180°F to 500°F Temp Range, Meat Probe, 30 lb. Hopper

Why it's worth it

The Pit Boss 1600 Navigator gives you 1,593 square inches, a flame broiler for direct-heat searing and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, for a lot less than the recteq. It's the large-capacity pick if a 500°F ceiling is enough for you.

The capacity story is almost identical to our top pick. You're giving up about 74 square inches — a rounding error when you're already loading multiple racks of ribs. What you save is substantial. For most people who host big cookouts a few times a summer, that trade lands in this grill's favor.

The flame broiler is what makes this more than a smoker. It's a sliding plate that opens a slot over the firepot so flames hit the food directly. You still top out at 500°F, so it won't match the recteq's ceiling. But for burger char and a decent steak crust, direct flame does more than a high number on a dial. Smoke low, slide the plate, finish hot.

From our review of 8 pellet grills, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +The capacity story is almost identical to our top pick
• +The flame broiler is what makes this more than a smoker
• +The 30-pound hopper has a viewing window, which sounds like a gimmick until you're four hours into a cook and want to know if…
• +A five-year warranty is the longest coverage in this guide, and it's not a small thing on an appliance that lives outdoors…

What to know

• –The app is the weak spot
• –There's a scattering of auger failures in owner feedback — pellets stop feeding, and the grill stops working