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Head-to-head · Best Charcoal Grills

PK Grills PK300 vs Weber Performer Deluxe 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 Performer Deluxe 22-Inch comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about The heavy weeknight backyard griller who values push-button ignition, a built-in work surface, and a stable four-leg cart, but doesn't need overnight low-and-slow capacity that would push them toward a kamado. — read the strengths below before deciding.

PK Grills PK300
Ranked #5 in Best Charcoal Grills
PK Grills PK300
$599

The PK Grills PK300 is the premium portable charcoal grill — a cast aluminum capsule with a 4-point precision venting system, 30-inch cook height, and a 20-year warranty on the bowl and lid. AmazingRibs called PK's quest to build a better mousetrap successful, and Girls Can Grill measured 500 F+ direct-zone sears and 275 F sustained indirect-zone smoking on the same fuel load. Cast aluminum conducts heat 4x faster than steel, giving exceptionally even sear marks. The cooking surface is smaller than a kettle (315 sq in vs 363 sq in), so buyers prioritizing capacity should look at the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch instead; buyers who want a workspace should look at the Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch.

Strengths
  • — Cast aluminum construction conducts heat 4x faster than steel, giving even sear across the entire 315 sq in cooking surface
  • — Precision 4-point venting system supports two-zone direct + indirect cooking on the same load
  • — 30-inch cook height is ergonomically taller than the old PK Original and easier on the back
Watch-outs
  • — 315 sq in cooking surface is meaningfully smaller than a 22-inch kettle's 363 sq in
  • — $599 price tag is high relative to other portables — pays for cast aluminum durability, not raw cooking capacity
  • — Ash management uses an interior containment system rather than a slide-out pan — slower to clean than the Akorn or the Weber kettles
$599 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Charcoal Grills
Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
$469

The Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch wraps the standard Original Kettle in a four-leg cart with a Touch-N-Go propane ignition, thermoset work table, charcoal storage bin, and 99-minute LCD timer. AmazingRibs awarded it a Platinum medal and Smoked BBQ Source called it the best mid-range charcoal grill. The 363 sq in cooking area is identical to the Original Kettle Premium, so this is purely an ergonomics-and-convenience upgrade — buyers who want a workspace and push-button ignition will spend the extra $240; buyers focused on raw cooking capability are better served by the Kamado Joe Classic III at this price tier and above.

Strengths
  • — Touch-N-Go propane ignition lights a full chimney of charcoal in 10 minutes without lighter fluid or paper
  • — Same 363 sq in porcelain-enameled cooking surface as the Original Kettle, with the same AmazingRibs Platinum-grade build
  • — Thermoset work table, three tool hooks, charcoal storage bin, and bottom wire shelf make a complete outdoor cook station
Watch-outs
  • — $469 is roughly double the Original Kettle Premium for the same 363 sq in cooking surface
  • — 99-minute timer ceiling is too short for low-and-slow cooks longer than 90 minutes
  • — Built-in lid thermometer is inaccurate above 470 F per Smoked BBQ Source — plan to add a digital probe
$469 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

PK Grills PK300

Smaller cooking surface than the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch (315 sq in vs 363 sq in) but offers cast aluminum heat retention that kettle steel can't match. Far more portable than the Kamado Joe Classic III (60 lb vs 280 lb) but cannot match a ceramic kamado's overnight fuel efficiency. Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado offers more cooking area in the same price band but trades aluminum portability for triple-walled steel weight. Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch at this price gets you a kettle and a workspace cart; the PK300 trades workspace for actual portability.

Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch

Shares the porcelain-enameled bowl and cooking surface of the Weber Original Kettle Premium 22-Inch, but adds a Touch-N-Go propane ignition, work table, and storage cart for roughly $240 more. Far less capable than the Kamado Joe Classic III for long cooks (no ceramic insulation, no overnight burn), and at this price the kamado tier starts to make sense if smoking is your focus. The Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado costs slightly less and offers ceramic-style insulation in exchange for thinner construction. PK Grills PK300 is the portable cast-aluminum alternative if you want a workspace and dual-zone cooking on a smaller footprint.

Specs side-by-side

SpecPK Grills PK300Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
Cooking Area315 sq in (22.35 x 14.13 in)363 sq in
MaterialCast aluminum bowl and lidPorcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid
Cooking GrateNickel-plated steel—
VentingPrecision 4-point (2 intake, 2 exhaust)—
Cook Height30 inches—
CartAluminum cart with locking castersFour-leg cart with thermoset work table
Lid ThermometerYes (with rear probe port)Built-in plus 99-min LCD timer
Weight60 lb100 lb
Warranty20 years on cast aluminum bowl and lid10 yr bowl/lid, 5 yr One-Touch, 2 yr other parts
Diameter—22.5 inches
Ignition—Touch-N-Go propane (1 lb tank)
Ash Catcher—Enclosed One-Touch high-capacity
Wheels—Two large all-weather
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