Head-to-head · Best Charcoal Grills

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado vs Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.4 vs 4.8). The gap is mostly about The weekend backyard BBQer who wants a no-nonsense charcoal kettle that lasts a decade and handles burgers, steaks, ribs, and the occasional smoked chicken without buying accessories on day one. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Charcoal Grills

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado

4.4

$369

The Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado is the budget answer to ceramic-kamado pricing: triple-walled insulated steel construction, 445 sq in of total cooking area, cast iron grates, an EasyDump ash pan, and a 5-year warranty for $369. Smoked BBQ Source called it 3-4x less expensive than comparable Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe models with most of the cooking benefit. Trade-offs are real — flimsier side shelves, shorter warranty than ceramic, and a steeper learning curve for low-and-slow temperature management. Buyers who want true ceramic durability and lifetime warranty should step up to the Kamado Joe Classic III; buyers who just want the best kettle should pick the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch.

Strengths

— Triple-walled insulated steel body holds 200 F to 700 F across an 18-inch primary cooking area
— 445 sq in total cooking surface with cast iron grates and a removable warming rack
— EasyDump ash pan slides out from the base for tool-free cleanup unlike most cap-and-shovel kamados

Watch-outs

— Temperature control requires practice — the grill heats fast and is hard to recover from after overshoots
— Side shelves feel flimsy compared to premium kamados
— 5-year warranty is meaningfully shorter than ceramic kamado lifetime coverage

$369 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Charcoal Grills

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch

4.8

$229

The Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch is the default charcoal kettle for a reason: 363 square inches of porcelain-enameled cooking surface, a One-Touch ash sweep, and a 10-year warranty for under $250. AmazingRibs gave it a Platinum medal and over 11,000 reviewers gave it five stars. Buyers who want a workspace and gas ignition should look at the Performer Deluxe sibling; buyers who want fuel efficiency and ceramic heat retention should jump to the Kamado Joe Classic III.

Strengths

— 363 sq in of cooking grate fits 13 burgers at once with porcelain-enameled bowl and lid that resist rust
— One-Touch sweep system clears ash through three blades into an enclosed wind-proof catcher in seconds
— Hinged plated-steel cooking grate flips up on either side so you can add charcoal or wood chunks mid-cook

Watch-outs

— Built-in lid thermometer sits 7.5 inches above the grate and reviewers call its reading unreliable
— Three-leg tripod design feels top-heavy on uneven patios compared to four-leg carts
— No side table or workspace for prep, plates, or tools out of the box

$229 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado

Captures the kamado heat profile of the Kamado Joe Classic III at one-sixth the price, but trades a lifetime ceramic warranty for 5-year steel coverage and loses Divide & Conquer plus the SloRoller insert. Cooking area (445 sq in) exceeds the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch (363 sq in) at a similar price band but build quality is thinner. Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch is the same money in a kettle format with a workspace and gas ignition. PK Grills PK300 trades the kamado profile for cast aluminum portability — different cooking philosophy entirely.

Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch

Cheaper and more portable than the Kamado Joe Classic III, but with thinner steel walls that lose heat faster on overnight smokes. The Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch shares the same 363 sq in cooking surface but adds a Touch-N-Go gas ignition, work table, and storage cart for about double the price. Char-Griller Akorn matches the price band with more cooking area and ceramic-style insulation, but build quality is noticeably thinner. The PK Grills PK300 is a portable alternative if you want cast aluminum and dual-zone cooking.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado	Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch
Cooking Area	325 sq in primary, 445 sq in total	363 sq in
Diameter	20 inches	22.5 inches
Material	Triple-walled carbon steel body	Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid
Cooking Grate	Cast iron	Plated steel, hinged
Dampers	Dual adjustable (top and bottom)	Adjustable lid and bowl
Ash Catcher	EasyDump slide-out ash pan	Enclosed One-Touch high-capacity
Wheels	Locking caster wheels	—
Heat Range	200-700 F	—
Weight	88 lb	32 lb
Warranty	5 years	10 yr bowl/lid, 5 yr One-Touch, 2 yr other parts
Lid Thermometer	—	Yes (built-in)

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