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Head-to-head · Best Charcoal Grills

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado 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.

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The short answer

Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.7). 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.

Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado
Ranked #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 →
Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Charcoal Grills
Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
3 sourcesall derived$549as of Aug 3

The Weber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch wraps the standard Original Kettle in a four-leg cart with Touch-N-Go propane ignition, a thermoset work table, a charcoal storage bin and a 99-minute LCD timer. AmazingRibs awarded it a Platinum medal and Smoked BBQ Source called it the best mid-range charcoal grill. Its 363 sq in cooking area is identical to the Original Kettle Premium, so what you are buying is ergonomics and convenience. Anyone who wants a workspace and push-button ignition will spend the extra $240; anyone focused on raw cooking capability is 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
$549 · Buy at acehardware.comFull 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.

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

SpecChar-Griller E16620 Akorn KamadoWeber Performer Deluxe 22-Inch
Cooking Area325 sq in primary, 445 sq in total363 sq in
Diameter20 inches22.5 inches
MaterialTriple-walled carbon steel bodyPorcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid
Cooking GrateCast iron—
DampersDual adjustable (top and bottom)—
Ash CatcherEasyDump slide-out ash panEnclosed One-Touch high-capacity
WheelsLocking caster wheelsTwo large all-weather
Heat Range200-700 F—
Weight88 lb100 lb
Warranty5 years10 yr bowl/lid, 5 yr One-Touch, 2 yr other parts
Dimensions45"D x 31"W x 47"H8"D x 48"W x 43.5"H
Cart—Four-leg cart with thermoset work table
Ignition—Touch-N-Go propane (1 lb tank)
Lid Thermometer—Built-in plus 99-min LCD timer
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