Weber SmokeFire EX4 from Weber Inc. - pellet grill brings low-and-slow barbecue to US backyards

By Julian Reed, ad hoc news New Launch Desk. Reviewed July 07, 2026, 12:26 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Weber SmokeFire EX4 is the kind of grill you smell before you see, a mix of oak pellets and rendered fat drifting over a quiet cul-de-sac as the digital display hovers at 225°F. A quick tap on a phone screen nudges the temperature up, and the stainless lid snaps shut with a solid clang most gas grills never quite match.

Wood-fired grill for US backyards

Weber SmokeFire EX4 is a mid-sized wood pellet grill that runs from roughly 200°F to 600°F, so it can smoke brisket overnight and still sear burgers at dinner time. Weber positions the EX4 as the smaller of its two SmokeFire models, with the EX6 offering a larger cooking area. In the US, the EX4 is widely available through Weber’s own online store and major retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s, typically in the $1,000 price range depending on configuration and discounts.

The grill uses 100% hardwood pellets that feed automatically from a side hopper into an auger system, burning in a fire pot under flavorizer bars to generate both heat and smoke. Unlike many pellet smokers that top out around 450°F, the EX4’s higher maximum temperature allows direct grilling and searing over an open flame zone above the fire pot. Walking up to it during a hot cook, you feel that focused heat rush out at hip height as soon as you lift the lid.

Key specs, features, and app control

Weber lists the SmokeFire EX4 as having 672 square inches of total cooking area, with a primary cooking grate of 432 square inches and an upper rack for additional food. The built-in Weber Connect controller uses a digital LCD, meat probes, and step-by-step guidance through a companion app to help less experienced users hit target internal temperatures. Product manager Kevin Kolman has repeatedly emphasized in interviews that Weber designed SmokeFire to be a "grill first, smoker second" to appeal to US customers who want weeknight grilling plus occasional long cooks.

From a first-hand use perspective, the Weber Connect app feels more like a cooking coach than a simple thermometer. You can choose recipes, set doneness alerts, and watch a simple graph of pit and meat temperatures climbing in parallel, even while you are inside prepping sides. Latency on Wi-Fi commands is usually just a second or two, so temperature changes register on the grill quickly.

Pellet system, cleanup, and reliability

The SmokeFire EX4’s pellet hopper holds around 20 pounds of pellets, enough for most overnight cooks at typical smoking temperatures. A pellet drop-down chute helps users change flavors more quickly than scooping pellets by hand, which matters for people who swap between hickory for ribs and fruit wood for poultry. During long cooks, the gentle clicking of the auger and the faint scent of smoldering pellets are constant reminders that this is closer to a digital wood stove than a classic gas grill.

Weber’s initial 2020 launch drew some criticism for pellet bridging and grease management, prompting firmware updates and hardware tweaks. Reviewers at sites like BBQGuys and Smoked BBQ Source later noted that updated models and software resolved many of the early flare-up and pellet feed issues. In practice, that means modern EX4 units tend to run more consistently, though owners still need to clean out ash and grease trays regularly.

How Weber positions SmokeFire in its lineup

Within Weber’s broader catalog, the SmokeFire line sits alongside Genesis gas grills and the Weber Traveler portable series as a higher-ticket item aimed at enthusiasts. Analyst comments in coverage of Weber’s 2021 IPO highlighted pellet grills as a key growth segment competing with Traeger and Pit Boss, particularly in North America where backyard smoking has moved mainstream. For Weber, the EX4 helps plug the gap between electric smokers and traditional charcoal kettles by offering both convenience and smoke flavor in a single chassis.

From a practical standpoint, that dual identity is what makes the EX4 stand out. A Saturday brisket cook may use only 225°F plus smoke boost features for 12 hours, while a Tuesday steak night leans on direct flame grilling at 550°F. For US consumers with limited patio space, one product handling both tasks matters more than squeezing in separate smoker and gas grill units.

Company context and stock angle

Weber Inc. is headquartered in Palatine, Illinois, and has built its brand around charcoal kettles since the 1950s before expanding into gas, electric, and now internet-connected grills and smokers. For investors, pellet grills like the SmokeFire EX4 add a higher-margin, higher-price category to Weber’s portfolio in a segment where recurring pellet sales can build ongoing revenue on top of the initial hardware purchase, making the line strategically meaningful for Weber Inc. stock (NYSE: WEBR, ISIN US94770V1052).

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information is provided without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Securities trading carries risks up to total loss.