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Head-to-head · Best Gas Grills

Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB vs Weber Summit FS38 S

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

Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Serious hosts who care most about searing thick-cut steaks and rotisserie cooking whole chickens, prime rib, and pork loin on a weekly basis. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Gas Grills
Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB
$1,599

Napoleon's Prestige 500 RSIB is the steakhouse weapon in this lineup. The 1,000°F ceramic infrared side burner sears thick ribeyes the way a Weber simply can't, the 18,000 BTU rear rotisserie burner spins whole chickens to crisp-skinned perfection, and AmazingRibs gave it their full Platinum Medal at 5/5. Built from 304 stainless steel with a lifetime cookbox warranty, the Prestige 500 is the grill for hosts who care about searing and rotisserie cooking. It's not the easiest to assemble and the warming rack is fragile, but the cooking-feature set at this price has no real competitor.

Strengths
  • — 14,000 BTU ceramic infrared side burner reaches over 1,000°F for steakhouse-grade searing — hotter than any sear zone on a Weber
  • — 18,000 BTU rear infrared rotisserie burner plus included rotisserie motor, forks, and spit handle whole chickens and prime-rib roasts out of the box
  • — Solid 304 stainless steel cookbox and lid for long-term outdoor durability — AmazingRibs awarded it a Platinum Medal at 5/5
Watch-outs
  • — Cast-iron warming rack warps if you forget to remove it before lighting the rear rotisserie burner
  • — Small disposable drip pan fills fast with fatty meats — plan on emptying after every long cookout
  • — Cabinet doors are notoriously fiddly during assembly per multiple owner reviews
$1,599 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Weber Summit FS38 S
Ranked #4 in Best Gas Grills
Weber Summit FS38 S
$3,999

Weber's Summit FS38 S is the company's flagship gas grill — what you buy when budget isn't the gate. Five PureBlu burners plus a top-down infrared broiler, integrated rotisserie, built-in smoker box, and 681 square inches of primary cooking area put it in a different conversation from the Genesis line. Weber rates it 4.4/5 across 218 customer reviews, with praise centered on heat evenness and the sear feature. At $3,999 it's a luxury purchase, but for the host who entertains weekly and wants one grill that does griddle, pizza, wok, rotisserie, and smoker — it's the only Weber that does all of it without accessory swaps.

Strengths
  • — Five 13,000 BTU stainless steel PureBlu burners plus 16,000 BTU top-down infrared broiler total 93,000 BTU — the highest-output Weber gas grill
  • — 681 sq in primary plus 372 sq in top grate cooks for crowds of 12+ without needing to stage in shifts
  • — Integrated rotisserie motor, forks, spit, AND stainless steel smoker box ship in the box — no add-ons needed for low-and-slow or whole birds
Watch-outs
  • — $3,999 is a serious investment that only makes sense if you actually entertain crowds or want every cooking technique under one lid
  • — 247-pound footprint and 73-inch width need a real patio bay — not a townhome or balcony
  • — Some owners report the propane-tank scale on the cart is awkward to load — Weber's customer reviews flag it
$3,999 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB

Beats the Weber Genesis E-435 on side burner output (14,000 BTU infrared vs 12,000 BTU conventional), rotisserie kit (Napoleon includes one, Weber doesn't), and warranty length (lifetime cookbox vs 12 years). Loses to the Weber Genesis E-435 on customer service depth and assembly ease. Costs roughly a third of the Weber Summit FS38 S while offering most of the searing and rotisserie capability for hosts who don't need the Summit's 681-square-inch capacity.

Weber Summit FS38 S

The most capable grill in this lineup at more than double the price of every other option. The Weber Genesis E-435 covers 80% of what a typical Summit owner actually uses for one-third the price; the Summit makes sense when the rotisserie, smoker box, infrared broiler, and WEBER CRAFTED ecosystem all matter on a weekly basis. Versus the Napoleon Prestige 500, the Summit FS38 S offers 181 more sq in of primary cooking area, a built-in top-down broiler instead of a side burner sear, and Weber's accessory ecosystem — but loses on side burner sear temperature.

Specs side-by-side

SpecNapoleon Prestige 500 RSIBWeber Summit FS38 S
Burners4 main + 1 infrared side + 1 infrared rear5 main + 1 side + 1 infrared broiler
Total BTU66,000 BTU/hr93,000 BTU/hr
Primary Cooking Area500 sq in681 sq in
Total Cooking Area760 sq in1,053 sq in
Grate Material9.5mm stainless steel rod with WAVE pattern9mm stainless steel rod
IgnitionJETFIRE individual burnerOne-handed push-and-turn
Fuel TypeLiquid PropaneLiquid Propane
WarrantyLifetime cookbox/lid/grates, 15-year remaining parts15-year cookbox/lid, 10-year burners and grates, 5-year remaining parts
Weight—247 lbs
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