Is This the Ultimate Pellet Grill Conqueror?
If you're shopping for your next grill and debating between pellet or charcoal, we've got one name you need to know: Masterbuilt's Gravity Series® XT Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker. The Gravity Series lineup is already making waves with grillers looking to leave pellet behind in favor of real charcoal flavor—without losing out on ease and control.
With the Gravity Series XT, Masterbuilt delivers serious firepower in a large charcoal grill, precision digital controls, and the versatility to smoke, sear, grill, and even griddle. But don't just take our word for it. Let's dig into what real users and BBQ pros are saying about Gravity Series XT.
The END Of Pellet Smokers? Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT First Impressions - @smokingdadbbq
James isn't shy about his preference for traditional offset smoking. "I'm a dinosaur," he jokes, talking about spending 10–12 hours tending a live fire at events like Memphis in May. But he also acknowledges what most home grillers are really looking for: flavor without the all-day babysitting. And that's exactly why the Gravity Series XT caught his eye.
Pellet grills opened the door to automated, app-controlled smoking. But where they fall short—particularly in flavor and searing ability—the Gravity Series XT steps in.
"The number one complaint I heard on the road from pellet grill owners? 'I can't get smoke flavor.'"
Pellets are made from compressed sawdust with extremely low moisture content, which burns quickly and imparts limited smoke. Charcoal, on the other hand, delivers live fire flavor with more humidity, deeper aroma, and a fuller smoke profile. And in the Gravity Series XT, it's controlled just as easily as a pellet smoker.
What's New with the Gravity Series XT? @smokingdadbbq
The Gravity Series XT (that's Extra Tough, by the way) is built like a tank—with significant upgrades over Masterbuilt's popular 1050 model:
- Heavier steel construction and stainless steel cooking grates across all four tiers
- 20% more cooking capacity with over 1,200 sq. in. of usable space
- Improved grease management with a U-shaped heat manifold and integrated drip tray
- Dual-wall insulation and mesh gasket to retain moisture and boost efficiency
- Ceramic fire bricks in the charcoal hopper to protect components and improve heat consistency
- Smart controller panel with built-in graphing and four probe ports
- Wider temp range from 180°F (perfect for holding brisket) to 700°F for steakhouse-style searing
- Extended hopper capacity (up to 20% more charcoal) for longer low-and-slow sessions
- Three-year warranty (tripled from past models)
This isn't just a new paint job. It's a smoker grill that's clearly aiming to become the category leader in gravity-fed charcoal grills.
Gravity vs Pellet Grills: The Flavor Gap Is Real @smokingdadbbq
"We're in the second generation of automatic smokers, where we take all the great benefits of automatic temperature control, app integration, but tackle the problem of fuel and lack of flavor associated with pellet grills."
James puts it plainly: "Fuel is flavor." And compressed sawdust pellets—no matter how well-engineered—just can't match the flavor output of a charcoal-based fire.
The XT still gives you digital convenience, WiFi connectivity, app-based control, and set-it-and-forget-it ease. But under the hood, it burns real charcoal and wood chunks—not pellets—giving you the kind of bold, competition-worthy smoke that wins hearts and taste tests.
"I've tested ribs, brisket, pork shoulder—you name it—side-by-side against pellet grills, and the Gravity Series wins on flavor every time."
Is the Gravity Series XT worth it? @smokingdadbbq
If you're looking for that "live fire" flavor with none of the traditional guesswork, the Gravity Series XT is more than just a solid option—it might just be the future of backyard barbecue. James makes it clear: for the home cook who wants offset-quality results with modern ease, this is the smoker to beat.
Whether you're a weekend warrior or a seasoned BBQ purist ready to simplify without compromise, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT is ready to fire up and deliver.
How about the Features?
Come see @thesmokinelk initial review on the Gravity Series XT features.
"Just putting this together you can tell the build quality is exceptional."
Is charcoal fuel really better?
Don't just take our word for it, Rasheed Phillips from Netflix's American BBQ Showdown states it best, "cooking with coals just imparts such a deeper level of flavor than using something like propane or pellets." Learn more about how Rasheed Phillips weighs in on the pellet vs charcoal BBQ question.
How about the flavor?
It's hard to be the best bite in BBQ, but according to @tfti.bbq you can accomplish this with the Gravity Series XT. Come check out the recipe.
@tfti.bbq 𝘽𝙊𝙉𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙎𝙎 𝘽𝙀𝙀𝙁 𝙍𝙄𝘽𝙎 I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Beef ribs is the BEST bite in BBQ hands down. Whether it’s bone-in or these beautiful American Wagyu Boneless beef ribs from @rcranchtx they cannot be beat in my opinion 💯 Beef Ribs is King 👑 _______________________________________ 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚/𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩/𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙚/𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙚𝙨, 𝙈𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙝, 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗧𝗙𝗧𝗜𝗕𝗕𝗤.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝘆𝟭𝟱 @ 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗿-𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟭𝟱% 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝙈𝙚𝙖𝙩, 𝙍𝙪𝙗 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬: @R-C Ranch TX Craft Meats 𝙎𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙧: @Masterbuilt XT Gravity Fed 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙡: @Jealous Devil 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙙: @Cutting Edge Firewood Post Oak 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙨: @cleanspaceproject _______________________________________ #beefribs #ribs #smokedribs #bbqtiktok #tftibbq ♬ Seven Nation Army - THYPONYX
Media Coverage and Reviews of the Gravity Series XT Charcoal Grill
- "The Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT is a game-changer for BBQ. After two months of using it, this smoker and charcoal grill combo has been nothing short of a game-changer for me." – Bloom Tampa Bay
- "The Gravity Series XT Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker checks all the boxes you'd want in a Combo grill. it has Back-yard appeal, a huge cooking surface (1260 square inches), an electric fan, and a charcoal hopper that can hold enough fuel to smoke for up to 24 hours!" - Gear Brigade
- "If you are a "stick-burner" and considering a pellet grill, I highly recommend taking a look at the Masterbuilt Gravity fed series instead. It's a great, happy medium between the classic charcoal smoker and the technological bells and whistles that we've come to expect from pellet grills." - Smoked BBQ Source
- "When it comes to an easy to use, effortless smoker with a tech twist thanks to the app and digital controls, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT takes the cake, or rather the brisket. Fire it up, call your neighbors, and puff your chest with pride as you'll become the envy of the block." - wifihifi
Gravity Series XT Delivers on Flavor, Flexibility and Function
The verdict is in whether you're an experienced pitmaster or new to backyard BBQ, the Gravity Series XT is a game changer. It gives you the authentic flavor of charcoal, the convenience of digital control, and the freedom to grill, smoke, sear, and griddle with ease. Learn more about which smoker is better of you, charcoal vs pellets.
If you're ready to leave pellet grilling behind and experience the future of backyard cooking, the Gravity Series XT is the upgrade your cookouts deserve.
