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Head-to-head · Best Charcoal Grills

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado vs PK Grills PK300

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

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The short answer

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about The budget-conscious kamado-curious griller who wants the heat-retention and fuel-efficiency benefits of a ceramic-style grill but can't justify spending $2,000 on a Kamado Joe or Big Green Egg. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado
Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Charcoal Grills
Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado
2 sourcesall derived$399.99as of Aug 1

Ceramic-kamado pricing has a budget answer in the Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado: 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. The trade-offs are real: flimsier side shelves, a shorter warranty than ceramic, and a steeper learning curve for low-and-slow temperature management. For true ceramic durability and a lifetime warranty, step up to the Kamado Joe Classic III; for the best kettle, 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
$399.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
PK Grills PK300
Ranked #5 in Best Charcoal Grills
PK Grills PK300
2 sourcesall derived$732.68as of Aug 1

The PK Grills PK300 is the premium portable charcoal grill: a cast aluminum capsule with a 4-point precision venting system, a 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, which produces 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, and 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
$732.68 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

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.

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.

Specs side-by-side

SpecChar-Griller E16620 Akorn KamadoPK Grills PK300
Cooking Area325 sq in primary, 445 sq in total315 sq in (22.35 x 14.13 in)
Diameter20 inches—
MaterialTriple-walled carbon steel bodyCast aluminum bowl and lid
Cooking GrateCast ironNickel-plated steel
DampersDual adjustable (top and bottom)—
Ash CatcherEasyDump slide-out ash pan—
WheelsLocking caster wheels—
Heat Range200-700 F—
Weight88 lb60 lb
Warranty5 years20 years on cast aluminum bowl and lid
Dimensions45"D x 31"W x 47"H16.21"D x 42.75"W x 37.35"H
Venting—Precision 4-point (2 intake, 2 exhaust)
Cook Height—30 inches
Cart—Aluminum cart with locking casters
Lid Thermometer—Yes (with rear probe port)
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