Head-to-head · Best Kamado Grills

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker vs Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker

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

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Serious home cooks seeking traditional kamado performance — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Kamado Grills

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker

4.4

2 sources1 derived$999as of Jul 31

The Kamado Joe Classic Joe I 18-inch grill is premium ceramic cooking with some clever engineering, including the 2-Tier Divide & Conquer system and a Slide-Out Ash Drawer. Reviewers praised the solid build quality, the temperature control, and how well it grills, smokes, sears, and roasts. Thick ceramic walls and stainless steel grates keep it going for years, though the weight and the fragility of ceramic are real drawbacks. Serious outdoor cooks who want a long-lasting, high-performance kamado should buy; anyone needing portability or a very large cooking capacity shouldn't.

Strengths

— 2-Tier Divide & Conquer Cooking System allows cooking different foods at various temperatures simultaneously
— Patented Slide-Out Ash Drawer simplifies cleanup
— Cast Iron Top Vent enables precise temperature control

Watch-outs

— Grill is heavy at 227.7 lbs with included cart
— Ceramic construction can be fragile and requires careful handling

$999 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Kamado Grills

Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker

4.3

4 sourcesall derived$2,000as of Aug 1

The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe puts digital controls on a traditional kamado, holding temperature steadily and lighting the charcoal for you. Reviewers praised how fast it heats, how consistently it cooks, and how much it can do, particularly for beginners and anyone who likes the tech angle. Some found the 18-inch size restrictive, and the app is basic. It suits people who want charcoal cooking with the fiddly parts automated, less so those needing larger cooking capacity or advanced smart features.

Strengths

— Automatic Fire Starter (AFS) system eliminates need for third-party fire starters
— Fan-assisted system rapidly reaches set temperature
— Computer-controlled temperature regulation provides incredibly stable internal temperature

Watch-outs

— Size limited to 18-inch diameter which feels limiting for larger cooks
— Basic app functionality with limited advanced features

$2,000 · Buy at kamadojoe.com Full 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

Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker

The Kamado Joe Classic Joe I stands out with its 2-Tier Divide & Conquer system and Slide-Out Ash Drawer, features not found in the Big Green Egg MiniMax or London Sunshine models. While it shares ceramic construction with the London Sunshine and Outvita, its heavier weight and more robust build make it less portable than the latter. Unlike the Konnected Joe, it lacks digital controls but offers more traditional kamado functionality.

Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker

The Konnected Joe's automatic fire starter and fan-assisted temperature control set it apart from the Classic Joe and Big Joe models, which rely on manual controls. While it offers digital convenience, it lacks the larger cooking capacity of the Brand-Man Rodeo and the 2-tier system of the Classic Joe. It's more tech-oriented than the traditional London Sunshine or Outvita models.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Kamado Joe Classic Joe I Premium 18-inch Ceramic Charcoal Grill and Smoker	Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker
Dimensions	46.2 in	Width 46.9 in inches
Weight	228 lb	216 lb
Cooking Surface Area	250 square inches	450 sq in
Temperature Range	225 - 750°F	Up to 700°F
Material	ceramic	ceramic
Fuel Type	charcoal	Lump charcoal
Cooking Methods	Smoked, Grilled, Seared, Roasted, Baked	rotisserie, low and slow cooks, and grilling

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