Masterbuilt Gravity 800 vs. Char-Griller Gravity 980 Head to Head | Gravity Fed Charcoal Grill Test

We run 21 tests on the Masterbuilt Gravity 800 and the Char-Griller Gravity 980 to see which unit is the better grill.

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0:00 Introduction
1:09 Assembly
2:25 Metal Thickness
2:45 Measurements
3:11 Weight
3:47 Mobility/Wheels
4:21 Grate Measurements
4:55 Grate Materials
5:45 Upper Warming Racks
6:30 Cooking Height
6:58 Front Shelf
7:35 Temperature Range
8:00 Temperature Test
8:45 The Biscuit Test
9:48 Charcoal Efficiency Test (3lbs of charcoal running test)
10:36 Smoking Test (Ribs)
11:00 Grilling Test (Marinated Chicken)
11:28 Griddle Option

[jw]

Great video! Honestly I don't trust either of these grills to last very long before dying. One shop is now producing an adapter to allow you to use a Fireboard to control the Masterbuilt because their controllers are so flakey when they get a couple years on them. Both these seem like they're built pretty darn cheap relative to their cost. The weird brick issue with the Masterbuilt series really put me off those too. The Char-Griller has the weird flapper issue, although that seems easily mitigated.

I think I prefer the relative simplicity and lower price of the new Char-Griller Auto Kamado, even though it's significantly smaller. That, or I will wait for a more robust option to come to market...

Thanks for producing such useful content!

[johncastro]

This was one of my dream grills I have always wanted by chance I went to Walmart today and I take a look in the garden section at the grill while pulling in and behold a clearance sign in front of this exact grill say 75.00. Well I guess Walmart really came thru with this late Christmas present. The only thing wrong with it was a lil rust on the griddle and the probes was messing. I now have my dream grill and only paid 75

[KevinSmith-qdsm]

I just recently purchased the Masterbuilt 800. And I’m so impressed by this grill. Absolutely everything I was looking for.

[Rad_B_OLand]

Just bought the MasterBuilt 800. I was shopping for a birthday present for my daughter at Walmart. When I noticed the floor model MasterBuilt 800 had been clearance priced at $260! Didn’t really need another BBQ but couldn’t resist that. Haven’t used it yet, but looking forward to my first cook.

[patrickreed]

I bought my 560 spring 2020. Since I'm retired on a fixed income cost vs quality and value were a big concern. If I had to do over I would still own a 560. Other than bypassing the switches for the two hopper doors, it is the same as it was from the factory. I only cook on it once or twice a week (weather permitting). The smoker works great and same for the grill. Right now I have two racks of baby backs and two strips of beef short ribs on smoking. Thing is still working great three years later.

[Smoke_N_EmbersBBQ]

@TheBarbecueLab great video David and Melissa. I picked up a MB 800 last sunday for a steal at $200. Cant wait to test out that griddle.

[JoeAnshien]

Great review / comparison. Would have liked if you had covered cleaning them and grease management, if one is easier then the other.

[DrewWest]

Awesome video and a lot of information packed into it! I enjoy your videos!!

[JGFowler]

I’m switching from GMG to Master Built. Thanks for the help and advice!!!

[scottintexas]

At least two small companies make serious stainless steel mods for the Masterbuilt which resolve most of the longevity issues. They add ~50% to the original retail price but it makes the MB a very good product. I also understand the controller and app have been improved. Also, MB offers rotisserie and pizza oven (w/ stone) accessories, while the griddle is included with the 800. I think a griddle is available as an extra for the 560 and 1050.

A couple other channels compare these two gravity grills and point out the Char-grillers legs seem a bit unstable.

The gravity-fed charcoal system is a great hybrid for the benefits of charcoal and wood with the convenience of extended smoke time with the hopper and a fan to control temp.

I had a pellet grill for some time. While they are very convenient, they don’t do smoke or sear very well imho. A few brands newer models have managed to improve the sear issue with a slide on the baffle bn the firebox and the grates. Smoke remains an issue with pellets but can be remedied to a degree with smoke tubes, anything I found those unreliable. I understand dedicated vertical pellet smokers do produce a bit better smoke than their horizontal brothers.

[cristian_c]

I'm going for masterbuild! Thx for the video!

[jayransey]

Awesome video, Greatly appreciate the detailed information and research this team has put into this product of a video.

[marioc]

Very informative video. I just bought the char griller, as I wrnt to my local Lowes, and they were selling the floor model for $200.

[The_Cyberz]

Char griller is developing a Gen 2 update, will be interesting to see what improvements they make.

[bmc]

Great review. I looked at both today. My RecTec is 13 yrs old, I have two Weber Kettles and a UDS. Looking to consolidate which lead me to these grills. I’ve been leaning toward the MasterBilt and your video seems to indicate I’m leaning in the right direction.

[krisbabic]

Good video. I keep going back and forth. I like the design and shape of the char griller better, but like the rotisserie option on the master built bc I want to rotisserie some things. Did you check by chance if the meter built would actually hold low temps? Like 150-200. This would be handy for sausage making

[RamirezVB]

You guys must be tossing these things around on the patio to have that much trouble with screws and things coming loose. At home, people usually place the grill in its place and don’t really move it around.

[tomjoseph]

Odd how you had the trouble with the Char-griller as compared to others on YouTube. From other tests I have seen, the 980 has a built in off-set for the temp which is calibrated to the center of the grill and runs fairly true.

[suhaibghazi]

Is the CG980 temperature issue a one-off for your smoker.. .or it a common issue? 50 degrees difference sounds like a real.problem. great review!

[arzhangashkan]

I have the same problem with my Chargriller 980. It seems to be a common issue. I tried changing temperature probe, changing the computer/processor, changing everything I could on it. Still having issues and their customer support acts like I'm crazy and not using the grill right. I have now seen multiple people report the same issue online. At least it keeps the temperature consistent but it's very annoying for an expensive grill to have this issue and for the company to completely ignore it.