In this outdoor grill review, we will take a look at Weber Summit vs Genesis to discover which of these reputable bbq grill company’s popular grill lines is well worth it. Weber has a reputation for making steel outdoor grills that have useful features and that look professional. Weber Summit is the top-of-the-line grill series that is considered to be high-end because their models cost $1000 to $2000 more than the models in the Weber Genesis series. Either way, no matter how big your budget is, there is bound to be a modern grill from either the Genesis series or Summit series that suits you.
You can’t really go wrong with a Weber grill because they have a great reputation and have been selling to happy backyard grillers since 1952 Trusted Source The Story of the Weber Grill Begins With a Buoy | Innovation | Smithsonian Magazine When metalworker George Stephen, Sr. put two halves of a buoy together, he didn’t know he was making a charcoal grill that would stand the test of time www.smithsonianmag.com , starting with their famous charcoal kettle grills. Their grills have evolved since then, but both the Genesis and Summit series are made of stainless steel, as were their signature kettle charcoal grills. The Genesis series offers movable carts with three to four cast iron burners and collapsible parts to help save space. By contrast, the Summit series is freestanding or can be built into an existing architectural space and boast digital controls, LED backlighting, and rotisseries
Here is a quick overview of the models’ features, uniqueness, and their pros and cons.
| Summit series | Genesis series | |
| Category | High-end | Mid-range |
| Cooking grids | Stainless steel | Cast iron |
| Number of burners | 4-6 | 3-4 |
| Cooking area | 580-840 sq.in. | Around 650 sq.in. |
| Smoker box and burner | No | Yes |
| Grill Light | No | Yes |
| Price range | 2200-2800 USD | 400-1200 USD |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
| VIEW ON AMAZON | VIEW ON AMAZON |
The Weber Summit s-740 Propane Gas Grill promises to exceed expectations, and it has an incredible roster of pros, including an inbuilt infrared rotisserie, a smoker, a warming rack area, and six stainless steel burners. It has 60,000-watt main burners, a 10,600-watt sear station, and a 12,000-watt side burner. It also has swivel casters bars and lighted control knobs. It turns on by ignition and has hooks for your tools. It also has a ten-year warranty.
This model is bulky, and you may not want to move it around much. You must buy the gas propane tanks for it separately, and it is quite pricey, even though it is one of Weber’s cheaper Summit models.
Weber Genesis Pros and ConsThe higher end of the Genesis II series of Weber grills is the Weber Genesis II E-335 BBQ Grill, with many features of the pricier Summit, but it is more portable. It is quite affordable at $2859.00 and has a 10-year warranty. It has four main steel burners with 48,000 inputs, a 9,000 sear station, and a 12,000 BTU side burner. The cooking area is also very large at 844 square inches. It has swivel-locking casters, and its welded tube frame boasts stainless steel heat deflectors. It comes with a 10-year warranty.
You do need to buy propane tanks for this model, and there are no backlit digital controls.
Weber Summit vs GenesisHere are some general thoughts about the Weber Summit vs Genesis that may be relevant to your search for the perfect outdoor grill for you.
The price range for the Genesis II series (don’t bother buying a last generation Genesis I as it is almost obsolete) is from $999.00 for a simple gas grill to $1049.00 for the most expensive model. Oddly, some of the cheaper models of Genesis II have better customer reviews on the Canadian Weber website Trusted Source Genesis® II Series | Gas Barbecues The bar has been raised and a new standard has been set in the world of gas grilling. The Genesis II line of grills are all equipped with premium features, compatible with iGrill 3 smart technology, and backed by an outstanding 10 year warranty on all parts of the grill.The series ranges in size from 3 to 4 burner models, with the option of upgraded features, and either a sleek open cart design or grill cabinet for storing tools. No matter what grill you choose, you’ve got the power, reliability, and lifetime of Weber support in your backyard. www.weber.com than the more expensive ones.
Weber Summit grills go from being $3,599.00 for the simplest kettle cabinet style wheels to $4,799.00 for a Summit Natural Gas Grill Center, which is very much like have a full designer kitchen in your back yard.
Whether you buy a model from the flashier Weber Summit line or more family-oriented Weber, all models come with a full ten-year warranty. In general, all of Weber’s accessories come with a general two-year warranty, so it is best to buy the tools that go with the appliance line if possible.
The individual who uses any of the Weber Genesis series of portable, stainless steel barbecues tends to be a renter or owner of a first home or a person with a family who wants the features of a more expensive bbq without the expense. The Genesis series of BBQs is also for steak lovers, as many of them come with searing stations.
By contrast, the person who uses the much more expensive Summit model tends to be more of a gourmand who is into entertaining. Extra features such as flavor bars, grease tray catchers, sideboards, side burners, smokers, embedded thermometers, and rotisseries enable the chef to show off his culinary skills to the max.
These types of barbecue grills are generally not allowed on the balcony of an apartment or a condo unless you happen to have a condo with a huge terrace and a gas hookup, in which case you might be able to install a Summit model that is outfitted with a gas line. Propane tanks have been known to explode on balconies, which is why grills with propane tanks are mostly not allowed.
DesignsBoth Weber Genesis and Weber Summit grills are built with safety in mind first, with trays to catch grease and stop/start gas ignition buttons. Both series feature lots of below cabinet space and also feature fold-up or down sideboards. The company is known for its knack for minimal design and the open shelf design below the grill.
Many of the Weber Genesis designs are on four swivel casters or the “wheelbarrow-style” of two wheels plus a handle. Both series are made out of hygienic stainless steel, which is very easy to clean. The Weber Summit designs tend to be bulkier and have a more permanent feel to them as if they were outdoor kitchen appliances.
A big difference between the Weber Genesis and the Weber summit grills is that the Summit comes with a smoker box and burner, and the Genesis models do not. The fact that the Genesis models do not have smokers or smoker burners is a deal-breaker for many home chefs who like to make smoked pulled pork or barbecued brisket.
Oddly, one feature that the lower proved Genesis models have, but that the pricier Summit doesn’t, is an interior light, which can make barbecuing at night a lot easier.
The materials used in a Weber grill, in either line, accounts for their expense. They are constructed mainly of stainless steel, brushed stainless steel, and porcelain, which give both series that glamorous a modern yet hygienic look of a high-end restaurant kitchen. Not only are these materials the safest for high temperatures, but they are also easy to clean.
Whether you are using a Weber Summit grill or a Weber Genesis grill, by propane tank or gas line, both have an upper temperature limit of 550F.
In general, the Summit series has a larger area of cooking surfaces of between 580-860 sq. inches, while the cooing area in the Genesis area tends to remain standard around 650 sq. in. Both series have foldable counters, but if space is an issue, you are best to go with the Genesis series that has foldable counters and is easier to tuck away.
Hopper capacitySome, but not all, models in the Weber Genesis line come with slide-out trays that hold 5-10 pounds of wood pellets in pull-out trays. All of the sophisticated Summit 2 models come with inbuilt smokers. However, if a true smoker barbecue from Weber is what you need, you might want to look at a brand new Weber line called Smokefire.
One of the most significant features of all Weber grills is temperature control. Both lines boat on/off buttons, and the materials used, porcelain, iron, and stainless steel, don’t have a chance of catching on fire.
The line of Weber grills that is easier for you to use will depend on how portable you need your barbecue to be. In general, the barbecues in the Genesis series are more mobile and lighter. The grills in the Summit series are more like heavy mobile kitchens. If you are an urban griller who likes push-button technology, the Summit line is more suited to you.
One of the drawbacks of dealing with Weber is that all of their accessories for either line, such as cleaning tools, grill covers, and thermometers, are sold separately.
There are no truly huge differences between these two different lines of Weber barbecues, the Summit and the Genesis, especially if you are comparing a more expensive Genesis grill model to a less expensive Summit Grill. Both types are mobile with swivel wheels and an average of at least 649sq in. of counter space. Both lines allow you to buy a version of a model that can hook up to a gas line rather than a propane tank. In the end, the Weber Summit line wins our battle of Summit vs Genesis outdoor grills simply because many models come with digitized temperature controls, a rotisserie, and built-in smoker boxes with hoppers for wood pellets.
