Masterbuilt Charcoal Grill Guide: Gravity Series or AutoIgnite?
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Masterbuilt is known for making smoking and charcoal grilling easier, and its biggest idea is the digital charcoal grill. Instead of piling coals in the bottom of a kettle and adjusting vents by hand, you load charcoal into a tall side box called a hopper, set a temperature on a control panel or phone app, and a small fan does the work of holding that heat. It is the flavor of charcoal with much of the convenience of a gas grill.
The four products below are three of those digital charcoal grills, which differ mainly in cooking space, hopper size and extras such as a griddle insert or push-button ignition, plus the Masterbuilt fire starters that all three are designed to use.
Masterbuilt Charcoal Grills Compared
| Model | Cooking Area | Hopper Capacity | Listed Run Time | Heat-Up Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity Series 800 | 800 sq in (incl. smoking racks) | 10 lb lump or 16 lb briquettes | Up to 10 hours | 225 F in 8 min, 700 F in 14 min |
| Gravity Series 1050 | 1050 sq in | 10 lb lump or 16 lb briquettes | Up to 8 hours | 225 F in 8 min, 700 F in 15 min |
| AutoIgnite 545 | 545 sq in | 5 lb lump or 7 lb briquettes | Up to 8 hours | Range 250 to 650 F |
| Wax Fire Starters | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not listed | Burn up to 1300 F |
How a Gravity-Fed Digital Charcoal Grill Works
Before comparing models, it helps to understand the basic design. Charcoal sits in a vertical hopper beside the cooking chamber. You light a fire starter at the bottom, and as the lowest coals burn away, gravity drops fresh charcoal down to replace them, which Masterbuilt calls GravityFed. A small electric fan, the DigitalFan, blows air into the fire. More air means more heat, less air means less, and the controller adjusts the fan to hold the temperature you chose.
That is why these grills can smoke a brisket at a low temperature for hours and then sear steaks at high heat on another day, using the same fuel. You still get real charcoal flavor, but you do not need to babysit vents. For shoppers who prefer the classic hands-on approach, our guide to a traditional charcoal grill covers simpler kettle and barrel designs.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 Smoker Grill for Grill, Smoker and Griddle in One
Masterbuilt
Masterbuilt® Gravity Series® 1050 Smoker Grill – Digital Charcoal Combo Grill with Free App, 1,050 Cooking Square Inches in Black, Model MB20041220
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Smoker Grill
Best for: Hosts cooking for big groups
Pros
- 1050 sq in cooking space
- Reversible cast iron grates
- Stainless steel front and side shelf
- App meat probe monitoring
Cons
- No griddle insert listed
- Up to 8 hours per load
Best for: Families wanting grill, smoker and griddle
Pros
- Flat top griddle insert included
- 800 sq in total cooking area
- WiFi or Bluetooth control
- Up to 10 hours per hopper load
Cons
- 1-year warranty
- Needs space for a hopper grill
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 Smoker Grill (model MB20040221) is the most versatile model here because it includes a flat top griddle insert along with cast iron grill grates. The griddle turns the grill into a flat cooking surface for breakfast, smash burgers or fried rice. Total cooking area is 800 square inches, a figure that includes two porcelain-coated smoking racks.
Masterbuilt lists fast heat-up times: 225 F in 8 minutes, 450 F in 10 minutes and 700 F in 14 minutes. The hopper holds 10 pounds of lump charcoal or 16 pounds of briquettes, and the description says that lasts up to 10 hours. You can set temperature and cook time on the digital control panel or from a smart device over WiFi or Bluetooth, and the listing includes a built-in temperature gauge and a meat probe thermometer. The warranty is 1 year.
This model suits families and first-time charcoal cooks who want one grill that can smoke, grill, sear, bake and cook on a griddle. If you regularly feed large crowds, the 1050 gives more space; if you want push-button lighting, the AutoIgnite 545 is the one with that feature.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Smoker Grill for Big Cooks
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Smoker Grill (model MB20041220) is the largest grill in this group, with 1050 square inches of cooking space. That is enough room for several racks of ribs or a full cookout for a large family. It reaches 225 F in 8 minutes or 700 F in 15 minutes, and the GravityFed hopper holds 10 pounds of lump charcoal or 16 pounds of briquettes for up to 8 hours.
The Masterbuilt app lets you set and adjust temperature and time, monitor meat probes and even shut the grill down from your phone. Reversible cast iron grates have one side for high-heat searing and one for low-and-slow cooking. A stainless steel front and side shelf give you prep space. The listing does not mention a griddle insert, and the warranty is 1 year.
Choose the 1050 if you host big gatherings or smoke large cuts often. For most households cooking for four to six people, the 800 offers enough room plus the griddle. If you are comparing it with a traditional offset design, our offset charcoal smoker grill guide explains that style.
Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill for Push-Button Starts
Masterbuilt
Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker Combo for Easy Grilling, Digital Control, App, Sear Plate, Mini Hopper and 545 BBQ Cooking Square In. in Black
Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.
Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill
Best for: Beginners wanting push-button lighting
Pros
- QuickStart automatic ignition
- 545 sq in cooking space
- 250 to 650 F control range
- Digital panel and app
Cons
- Smaller 5 lb lump MiniHopper
- Lower top temperature listed
The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite 545 Digital Charcoal Grill (model MB20041124) is the compact, beginner-friendly option. Its standout feature is QuickStart Automatic Ignition: you insert a fire starter, press a button, and the grill lights it for you, with no lighter fluid needed. Masterbuilt describes it as the convenience of gas with the flavor of charcoal.
It offers 545 square inches of cooking space and a precise temperature range of 250 to 650 F, controlled from the digital panel or the Masterbuilt app with the DigitalFan holding temperature. Instead of a tall side hopper, it uses an internal MiniHopper that holds 5 pounds of lump charcoal or 7 pounds of briquettes for up to 8 hours. The listing adds a sear plate. The description calls it the Gravity Series Compact 545, so you may see both names. The warranty is 1 year.
This is a smart gift for someone new to charcoal or for a small patio. It gives way to the Gravity Series 800 if you want a griddle insert, higher top heat or more cooking room.
Masterbuilt Pure-Paraffin Wax Fire Starters for Every Cook
The Masterbuilt Pure-Parrafin All-Natural Odorless Wax Fire Starters are not a grill, but they are what the three grills above use to light. The pack contains 48 wax cubes that Masterbuilt says are odorless and smokeless, burn up to 1300 F and light even when wet.
They are made for Gravity Series grills but described as compatible with all charcoal grills and fireplaces. The listing says they are the easiest way to light your charcoal and reduce the time it takes to reach temperature.
Add a pack when buying any of the grills above, especially as a gift, so the new owner can cook on day one. They also work in a standard kettle or even in a dual gas and charcoal grill with a charcoal side.
How to Choose the Right Masterbuilt Charcoal Grill
Cooking space. 545 square inches suits couples and small families. 800 suits most families and includes a griddle. 1050 suits large gatherings.
Lighting. Only the AutoIgnite 545 lights with a button. The Gravity Series grills are lit by hand with a fire starter.
Run time per load. The 800 lists up to 10 hours; the 1050 and 545 list up to 8.
Top heat. The Gravity Series reach 700 F for searing; the 545 lists up to 650 F. Both are hot enough for steaks, but the extra headroom helps if you love a deep crust.
Extras that save money later. The 800 includes a griddle insert in the box, which means you do not need a separate flat top. The 1050 adds stainless steel shelves for prep space. The 545 includes a sear plate. Think about which extra you would actually use.
Power and placement. Because the DigitalFan and controller are electric, plan to place your grill within reach of an outdoor outlet or a suitable outdoor extension cord. Leave room around the hopper on the Gravity Series models for loading charcoal.
FAQ
Which Masterbuilt grill should I buy as a beginner?
The AutoIgnite 545 for its push-button ignition and smaller size, or the Gravity Series 800 if you want more room and a griddle.
Can I control these grills from my phone?
Yes. The 800 lists WiFi or Bluetooth control, the 1050 lists the Masterbuilt app with meat probe monitoring, and the 545 lists app control.
Can I use briquettes instead of lump charcoal?
Yes. All three grill listings give capacities for both lump charcoal and briquettes.
Do Masterbuilt fire starters work in other grills?
The listing says they are made for Gravity Series but compatible with all charcoal grills and fireplaces.
What warranty do these grills have?
All three grill listings state a 1-year warranty.
