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There’s something so iconic about an Aussie barbie. From the smells and sounds to the social aspect of plating up deliciously grilled sausages, steaks, veggies or anything else you want to have that unique, smoky flavour. While there are already plenty of impressive electric BBQs on the market, the best smart BBQ can take your cooking to the next level with features including automated timing, thermometers, one-touch adjustments and plenty of different functions.
“A smart BBQ is designed to be your perfect backyard partner, allowing you to dish up delicious meals each and every time,” Russell Crosdale, Winnings BBQ expert and owner of American BBQ catering business Crosdale BBQs said,
“With built-in wifi and bluetooth technology, these BBQs seamlessly integrate with your phone to bring you up to the minute information on your cooking, your grill temperature and accurate readings of protein internal temperatures.”
Even those of us who love a rustic BBQ can appreciate some of these benefits. For example if you’ve ever gotten bothered by uneven cooking or missed out on conversations with family or friends because you’re on BBQ duty (speaking from experience here), the possibility of being able to get the optimal temperature for everything your cooking, or manage it from an app, can be very appealing.
So to help you decide if a smart BBQ is right for your home (or simply learn more about them), here we have picked out five of the best smart BBQ options on the market in Australia based on the range of cooking modes, smart features and ease of use. We’ve also factored in customer reviews where possible to give you real-world insights into how they work.
2025’s top smart BBQs
- Weber GENESIS EX-325s Smart Gas Barbecue, $1999, Weber (here’s why)
- Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill and Smoker, $1599, Barbeques Galore (here’s why)
- Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill and Smoker, $649.99 (usually $699.99), Ninja (here’s why)
The best smart BBQs in Australia 2025
01
Weber GENESIS EX-325s smart gas barbecue
from $1999, Weber
Best for: perfectly cooked BBQ classics
The GENESIS smart BBQ comes with Weber CONNECT technology so you can simply choose how you want your food barbecued, then get notifications on the BBQ or your phone when it’s time to flip and serve. The actual barbecue also has generous prep zones, a very large sear zone and an expandable top cooking grill to add a second level of barbecuing, making it easier to cook everything at once rather than in batches.
“Absolutely wrapped with the Genesis,” one Australian customer shared in a five star review on the Weber website. He notes that he has a lot of other Weber products “but I smile at and pat my Genesis every day”.
In a review on Amazon, a customer also shared: “What a perfect machine to have, final product is flawless… We did not expect to have to build the Weber from scratch (haha) but it took us about 3 hours and teamwork to complete. The manual could’ve been better at explaining the setup process. Decent size and grills evenly across the grid. Overall a good investment.”
While this model doesn’t have a lot of reviews on either website, it has a 4.3 star average rating on Google from over 280 user reviews.
Key features:
- Weber CONNECT technology for smart cooking
- 3 burners with a total cooking area of 3310cm2
- Ability to sear, roast, stir fry, steam, crisp, bake and more
- Digital temperature control
- LPG gas (canister sold separately)
- 12-year limited warranty
Also available at:
- $1999 from Amazon
02
Traeger Pro 575 Pellet grill and smoker
from $1599, Barbeques Galore
Best for: low and slow smoked barbecue flavours
If you’re a fan of the southern style barbecue meals made famous in the US, this pellet smoker BBQ from Traeger could help you recreate it at home. Its WiFIRE technology means you can control your grill from your phone, with features including temperature monitoring, timers, alerts and adding smoke. There are even custom recipe cook cycles through the GrillGuide.
“Love it, awesome product and delivery,” one Australian customer shared in a five star review on the Barbeques Galore website, where it has an average rating of 4.8 stars. “For someone who sucks at cooking on a grill this thing is the best. Can’t even say how much I love this thing.”
Another customer who left a five star review shared: “Have used other smokers but this one is next level. Easy to assemble and use. Love the wifi monitoring via the app. Temp control is great. Smokes very strongly at 160F and heats up to 500f if required. Quality product. Love it.”
Key features:
- WiFIRE smart BBQ technology to remotely manage temperature, smoke, timers, alerts and more
- Smoker and grill with hundreds of GrillGuide recipes and step-by-step instructions
- Powered by a D2 Direct Drive System to deliver the maximum flavour to your food, using a wider temperature range
- Natural hardwood smoke pellets
- 3-year warranty
Also available at:
- $1599.95 at Winnings
- $1599.95 at Appliances Online
03
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ grill and smoker
from $649.99 (usually $699.99), Ninja
Best for: an electric BBQ with versatile functions
The “smart” element of the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker is in its design, rather than an app. It has seven functions, including a BBQ grill and smoker, baking and even an air fryer mode. It also has an integrated Smart Probe that monitors temperature to give you perfectly cooked food at the touch of a few buttons.
“Great grill, smoker, bbq all in one. Enough for 6 folks to have proper feast,” one customer shared in a five star review on the Ninja website, where it has a 4.8 star average rating from over 1550 reviews.
Key features:
- Seven functions: Smoker, Grill, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Reheat
- Manual and preset modes
- Built-in Smart Probe for ideal cooking
- Electric power with natural wood pellets for smoke
- Includes crisper basket, sample pellets, pellet scoop, removable woodfire smoker box and quick start guide
- 2-year warranty
Also available at:
- From $629 at The Good Guys
04
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe digital charcoal BBQ and smoker
from $3399, Barbeques Galore
Best for: simple starting and customisation
This cutting-edge grill stands out for its convenient Automatic Firestarter button, which lets you fire up the grill and smoker at the push of a single button. It has both an Automatic Cook Mode and a Classic Mode so you can choose how hands-on or hands-off you want to be. The digital control panel also has advanced features including 24-hour temperature graphing, notification alerts and automatic temperature control, with an app that allows you to control the grilling and smoking from your phone.
While it only has five customer ratings on the Barbeques Galore website, all of them are five stars.
“This bbq is out of this planet,” one customer shared in their review. They also added, “The negative sides of all barbecues in my opinion are the smoke that gets in your eyes while cooking and staring fire…well with Konnected Joe there’s none of this annoyance… Which I believe in addition to the next level flavour makes it an absolute gold mine.”
Key features:
- Grill and smoke functions with the ability to choose between Automatic and Classic cooking modes
- Automatic Fire Starter button for simple ignition
- State-of-the-art premium digital control panel
- Kamado Joe App lets you set and adjust your desired temperature and cooking time, as well as monitor the meat probes right your smartphone or tablet
- Economically fuelled by lump charcoal, with a slide-out ash drawer
- 5-year warranty on metal parts, 3-year warranty on electronic components, heat deflectors, and pizza stones and 2-year warranty on miscellaneous components and standalone accessories
05
The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 Digital Charcoal BBQ and Smoker
from $599 (usually $999), Barbeques Galore
Best for: affordable digital features
After getting input from the BBQ community, this design was crafted by specialists and is packed with features – including the Masterbuilt app that lets you keep track of what’s on the grill or in the smoker. You can use it to adjust the temperature and time, monitor meat probes, get alerts and access recipes. It’s also got a QuickStart Automatic Ignition button and a digital fan to maintain precise grill temperatures from around 121° to 343°C.
“Amazing barbeque, this is not an all rounder, it does a specific style of cooking and it does it great!! If you’re used to cooking with charcoal with things such as a BGE or a Kamado and you want more ease and a bit of tech then these are the way to go! So far chicken breast has come out superb as well as whole chook and reverse seared steaks,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on Barbeques Galore.
Key features:
- Grill and smoke
- Masterbuilt app controls and resources
- Includes 1 meat probe, with compatibility for up to 4 meat probes
- Cast iron cooking grates, plus emovable hopper cast iron griddle plate, foldaway warming rack
- 1-year warranty
What does a smart BBQ do?
A smart BBQ uses technology to make grilling and smoking easier, with features such as built-in temperature probes, alerts, timers, step-by-step cooking instructions and simple app management. Some smart BBQs also incorporate innovations in their design to offer more consistent, ideal cooking environments.
The actual features depend on the model and, as they are relatively new, smart BBQs aren’t always easy to find. In fact, some of the best examples of smart BBQs may not even have “smart” in their name. But they can be a game-changer for perfectly barbecued dishes, whether it’s old favourites or you’re branching out into smoking.
What to look for in a smart BBQ
“Look for a grill that sits in your comfort range and experience level, whilst also considering the traditional ways of using your grill – family size, location, access to utilities et cetera,” Winnings BBQ expert Russell Crosdale said.
“More specialised smart BBQ’s are things like Traeger Grills that are smokers rather than the traditional gas grill. These are excellent BBQs however understanding how smokers work gives you a slight advantage to meals you will create.”
He also said the apps that come with a smart BBQ can give you even more value by providing “a world of recipes and cooking tips, at your fingertips allowing you to explore new dishes, exciting cuisines and new techniques historically only available to professional chefs and pitmasters.”
And once you’ve chosen a smart BBQ, make sure you look after it so it lasts a long time.
“Care for your smart BBQ the same way you would treat that old gas grill – keep it clean after every cook, buy a cover that protects from the elements (and pests!) and ensure that gas lines are clean and free from obstructions,” Russell said.
“If the grill is not kept under a patio or awning, make sure the grill is covered when not in use and don’t allow water to pool on the grill, as this may interfere with the electronics that pair your BBQ, wifi and phone.”
It’s also a good idea to check the manual or app for any other details or support if you need it.
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