Broil King and Weber BBQ Brands

Broil King vs Weber

As we get closer to this year’s summer, barbecuing is becoming trending and also most people’s hobbies. This is because you get to interact and share sumptuous meals with your family and close friends. During such times, the grill is the most common and used tool, thus the focal point.

While most eyeballs will be resting on the grill, its performance is what carries the day. On that note, can the grill deliver on serving your number of guests with tasty food and on time? Whatever you choose when you next go shopping should answer the above questions first before others that shall be raised below.

If you ask around when looking for a grill, chances are that you will hear Broil King and Weber brands get mentioned more often. This is because, over the years, these American brands have manufactured high-quality grills and captured both the hearts and stomachs of their millions of customers. When combined, these two hold an incredible piece of the market share and thus deserve a detailed review of the best seller outdoor grills.

With decades of research and releases, you are likely to get your perfect match amongst the two brand’s products, no matter what your budget is. Their product catalog features various kinds of grills, including gas, charcoal, pellet, and portable ones.

A Brief History of Weber

Founded in 1893 by George A. Stephen, Weber has immensely contributed to the BBQ space by consistently manufacturing grills and related accessories that are customer-centric. To follow through, they have also published numerous cookbooks to keep their customers engaged in preparing their food. This privately-held company is headquartered in Illinois in the United States of America.

Weber’s Product Line

To appeal to the various market segments and client profiles, Weber has released various grill products that lie across various budget classes. Most of their products feature in the following series:

1. a) Spirit

This forms the entry-level for people with limited needs and budgets. While this series houses high-quality products, as is the case for most Weber products, do not expect over-the-top features on them. Their general build quality and the design feels great and come with a 10-year warranty. Their size is certainly the first noticeable drawback and is the smallest compared to products in the other Weber series.

1. b) Genesis II

This line greatly borrows from Spirit’s features and adds other key ones such as sleek exterior colors and finish and infra-red burners, among others. This mid-range line houses about 40 different models for you to choose from, and all come with a 10-year warranty.

1. c) Summit

This line houses the premium models manufactured by Weber and comes either as gas or charcoal-fueled. Their features are thoughtful and offer luxury and added uses for these outdoor grills. While their cost may be high, their features make up for it alongside the full 10-year warranty.

Brief History of the Broil King

Founded in 1906 by the Onward Manufacturing Company, Broil King has been in the grilling game long enough to leave lasting marks and gain a remarkable reputation. Like Weber, this family-run company has its footings in categories such as the pellet, gas, charcoal, and portable grills. Broil King manufactures its products in Dickinson, Tennessee, Huntington, Indiana, and Waterloo, Ontario in Canada.

Among others, here are some of the most popular Broil King products lines to consider:

1. a) Signet

This introductory line is comparable to Weber’s Spirit series. It features simple designs and easy-to-use controls and dials. These standard-sized grills come with a full 10-year warranty to ensure you get the most out of your life.

1. b) Baron

This mid-range line houses large grills as compared to the entry-level Signet. They include additional features to offer you more freedom and functionality when grilling. Some of these remarkable features are visible in the build material, overall design, cooking space capacity, and infra-red burners.

Their full 15-year warranty makes them a key consideration to many potential customers.

1. c) Regal

With this line, you get premium and exclusive features like this among Broil King’s flagship series. Its prominent features include the numerous illuminated dials and controls, exquisite finishes, heavy material, stainless steel with closed shelves, rotisserie kits, and a 9 mm stainless cooking grid. All these options and the full 15-year warranty make this line very lucrative.

The below comparisons feature the best sellers in each category from the two manufacturers. This choice of comparison is intended to provide objectivity in each class.

1. i) Beginner Line:

Weber Spirit E-310 vs. Broil King Signet 320

Technical Specifications	Weber Spirit E-310	Broil King Signet 320
British Thermal Units (BTU)	32,000	40,000
Dimensions (Closed)	45.5Hx52Wx24D	48.8Hx23.2Wx56.5L
Cooking Space	529 square inches	635 square inches
Warranty	10 Years	10 Years
Thermometer	Built into Lid	Built into Lid
Build Material	Stainless steel with cast iron grates	Stainless steel with cast iron grates
Hooks/Shelves	Stainless steel side tables, 6 hooks	Stainless steel side tables
Weight	130 lbs (LP). 110 lbs (NP)	134 lbs (LP), 134 lbs (NP)
Fuel Type	Propane or Natural Gas	Propane or Natural Gas
Side Tables	2	2

 

1. Weber Spirit E-310

Pros

• 3 stainless steel burners to cook your meal in one go.
• 529 square inches of cooking space
• Large with a sleek design
• Push-button start makes it simple to use.
• Durable and has a weather-proof build.
• Has tool hooks to keep your cooking tools handy on the grill.

Cons

• Large and bulky.
• Has fewer BTUs for its large cooking space.

For the visually appealing factor in this introductory line, Weber outshines the Signet model. With the added wheels, you can easily move them to your outdoor area without any help. You can also lock the wheels in place when cooking to prevent tipping.

Its large cooking space is fairly split into the primary and warming rack based on common uses. The 3 stainless steel burners put out about 32,000 BTUs. The grate is made of cast iron, is rust-resistant, and lasts longer.

Additional space is provided by the 2 side shelves.

2. Broil King Signet 320

Pros

• Easy to start due to its sure-lite electronic ignition.
• 3 stainless steel burners.
• 630 square inches of cooking space.
• Sensi-touch control temperature knobs.
• Heavy-duty cast-iron grates.
• Simple to use.
• Large, crack-proof, and rust-resistance wheels for resilience
• Built-in tank storage
• 180-degree knob control

Cons

• Is not as visually appealing as the Spirit.

While the Signet 320 has a larger cooking area at 630 square inches, the primary cooking part is only about 400 square inches and is thus smaller than the Spirit. That said, this space is enough for a small family or crowd.

This Signet model heats faster and retains the heat much better than its counterpart.

1. ii) Mid-Range Line Comparison

Weber Genesis S-435 VS Broil King Baron S-490

Technical Specifications	Weber Genesis S-435	Broil King Baron S-490
British Thermal Units (BTU)	48,000	50,000
Dimensions (Closed)	62Hx65Wx31D	57Hx24Wx45.5L
Cooking Space	844 square inches	695 square inches
Warranty	10 Years	15 Years
Thermometer	Built into lid	Built into lid
Build Material	Stainless steel with cast iron grates	Stainless steel with cast iron grates
Hooks/Shelves	Stainless steel side tables, 6 hooks	Stainless steel side tables, no hooks

 

1. Weber Genesis S-435

Pros

• Is compatible with the iGrill 3 app to provide additional functionality.
• 645 square inches of cooking space.
• Aesthetically appealing.
• Extra side burner.
• For its size, the 48,000 BTUs seem fitting.
• Grease management system.
• 198 square inches of warming area.
• 4 stainless steel burners.
• Stainless steel deflectors
• 6 tool hooks for convenient storage.
• The natural gas grill comes with a 10-foot flexible hose.

Cons

• The cooking space has fewer BTUs than the Baron model.

In terms of cooking space, Genesis is the clear warrior here. The difference is large at 150 square inches. In the kitchen, you can achieve a lot with such space. The additional burner increases the cooking surface to enable two-zone cooking.

Genesis’s exterior stainless steel finish is eye-catching. The extra functionality provided by its compatibility with the iGrill thermometer app gives it an edge over the Baron model. With this feature, you can easily monitor the grill’s temperature without being too close to it.

Its ignition system is responsive when you light it up. This Genesis model comes fitted with a wheeled cart to aid its movement in your backyard when looking for your sweet spot. The 2 side shelves are thick to provide additional stability and make it bulkier than its Baron counterpart.

With the additional burner, you can do more with it when grilling.

Broil King Baron S-490

Pros

• Sleek and visually appealing design.
• A rotisserie kit is included.
• Has higher BTUs at 50,000.
• Nearly 700 square inches of cooking space.
• Higher quality build material than the Genesis.

Cons

• Considerably smaller cooking area than the Genesis model.

This Baron model generally looks more exquisite than the Signet model and also Weber’s Genesis. It packs additional features to bring more functionality to your grilling game. This model also features additional casings to house your seasons or sauces and keep the grill area clean.

Its ignition system is enough to get the job done and is comparable to Weber. Unlike Genesis, this Baron model is not as great as it allows grease to drip out of the trap when removing it. This model also features 4 caster gliding wheel to provide better stability than Weber’s and is also simple to use.

These casters can be locked in to keep the grill steady during windy conditions.

These mid-range products offer more features to improve your grilling experience and save you more time while making your meals tastier. The level of control options is great as compared to the introductory models.

iii) High-End Line

Weber Summit S-670 VS Broil King Regal S 690 Pro

Technical Specifications	Weber Summit S-670	Broil King Regal S 690 Pro
British Thermal Units (BTU)	60,000	60,000
Dimensions (Closed)	57.1Hx74.1Wx30D	49.2Hx24.8Wx76L
Cooking Space	769 square inches	750 square inches
Warranty	10 year	15 year
Thermometer	Built into lid	Built into lid
Build Material	Stainless steel with cast iron grates	Stainless steel with cast iron grates
Hooks/Shelves	Stainless steel side tables, 6 hooks	Stainless steel side tables, racks, drawers

 

1. Weber Summit S-670

Pros

• 10-year warranty.
• Large and offers great versatility.
• 6 stainless steel burners.
• 60,000 BTUs.
• Includes a rotisserie burner for increased functionality.
• Infra-red burner.

Cons

• Its price is considerably high as compared to the Regal.

This Summit model comes in one design which is a sleek stainless steel finish that gives it more of a premium feel. Like its Regal counterpart, this model comes in 2 variants which are natural gas and propane gas. This difference in fuel inputs attracts a slight difference in cost.

This model feels bulkier at 290 lbs and is more difficult to move around. The gauge steel used contributes to this significant weight but compensates in durability. You also get 6 stainless burners and front-mounted controls.

Each of these burners comes set with a snap-jet ignition system. The S-670 features a built-in smoker box to enable you to add wood-cooked flavor to your grilled items. The 6 hooks provide more room to house your grill tools.

To be used after dusk, its control knobs and handle come to illuminate. The 9mm stainless steel grates enable uniform heating and heat retention.

2. Broil King Regal S 690 Pro

Pros

• 750 square inches of cooking space to conveniently prepare meals for your small crowd.
• The knobs feature Sensi-touch technology.
• Has 60,000 BTUs.
• Infra-red burners.
• Numerous cabinets and shelves.
• User-friendly and portable.

Cons

• Inferior functionality as compared to the Summit model.

At its premium price, the Regal comes with a greater overall visual appeal because of the black edgings that make it pop. It also provides more freedom and options to grill your food. The cook box lighting, infrared side burner, rotisserie kit, and burner are some of the benefits you get in this luxurious model.

The Regal comes with 2 cook boxes. At 310 lbs, its weight may be intolerable to some but with a lending hand, moving it becomes easier. The cooking grids in this model are cast stainless steel, which is easy to clean and are double-sided.

On one side, the taper is sharp to get sear marks on your steak, while the other side is smooth. Storage in this model comes plenty and in vast areas such as the shelves, pull-out drawers, and multiple hanging hooks on both ends of the grill. The 2 cook boxes utilize the 6 burners, with the large one taking 4 while the smaller one takes 2.

This extra feature provides more flexibility to cater to your specific needs, such as simultaneous cooking. Imagine searing some steaks in the small cook box while grilling your wholesome turkey in the large one. With such a move, you can save a lot of your time.

While the Regal costs are slightly less than the Summit, both models offer a lot of premium features for additional functionality.

Conclusion on Broil King vs Weber BBQ Grills

For their competitive design, features, and prices, picking a product from both manufacturers can be difficult. They are both trendsetters and hold a significant slice of the market share pie. Generally, Weber offers more cooking area capacity, but that affects the price of their products by raising them.

On the other hand, Broil King packs more features and BTUs for the cooking space covered. The BTU advantage may be a blessing or a curse as it boils down to your precision and attention span when cooking. Weber’s iGrill technology sets them apart, as is the case for Broil King’s Sensi-touch technology.

It is also imperative to note that both manufacturers offer quality products and that your ultimate choice should be guided by your grilling needs and budget. Whichever one you choose, your next grilling session will never be the same. We have Weber and Broil King propane or natural gas grills along with Charcoal type grills but if you are ready for high-end grilling then let us look at the Memphis Grill Reviews.