Better Grills is supported by our readers. I sometimes earn a small fee when you click on the affiliate links.
Doing the Z Grills review was a very easy thing to do. The information I needed I found all over the internet because these pellet grills are becoming very popular.
Updated: May, 2024
“Many People who write about Z-grills describe the same pros and cons as I found in my research and experience with Z grills.”
Read the rest of the Z Grills Reviews.
There are a few models available I found in my z grill smoker reviews and doing this Z Grills comparison. It took me a while to find out the differences.
Basically, they have the Zgrills 450, 550, 600, 700, and 1000 square inches models, but feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
There is an option to get the Z-grills assembled for an additional fee. I personally thought the price was a little steep for that.
They keep adding more models so keep coming back for my updated list.
Table of Contents
Z-Grills Models And Features
It is time to have a look at all the different Z-Grills models in this z grill pellet grill review and how to compare them to each other and the models of some other brands. I will also give a link here to their website where to find them at an affordable price.
450 and 550 Series
These are some of the first models the Z-Grills started with and are still available. There are upgraded models and features to add to these pellet grills.
Z-Grills 450A
You can also read my updated Z Grills ZPG 450A review first
- 450 Square inches grill area
- 10 lbs hopper
- Fold-able shelf
- Bronze colored
- My little higher rating is based on my Z-grill 450-A review and based on the fact that there were a few complaints about packaging and that has nothing to do with the quality of this pellet smoker.
Z-Grills 450-B
The new 2021 450-B model is an upgrade from the 450-A and it came with some nice new features.
- PID controller
- Hopper Cleanout
- Pellet View window
Z-Grills 550-B
- 538 sq inches
- 10 lb hopper
- Fold-able shelf
- Black color
From as far I could find doing this very short Z-grills 550B review is that it basically is a little larger version of the 450A model.
It is also not bronze but black.
Here are tips from someone who has used the 550B for a while
Here is a review from one of the readers.
“For those that want a Z grill 550b review: I have the 550b. Good smoker if a little small. Can do a large brisket but can’t fit much else at the same time. Sixteen-hour cook requires two hopper refills. Temperature, once the desired temp is reached, varies by about plus or minus five degrees: very acceptable.”
Z Grills 600 Series
I will have a look at all the models they have and I recently started on the Z Grills 600 series reviews on its own page.
I also had a good look at one of the most popular models in this series and did the Z Grils L600E review on its own page to help you.
Z Grills 700 series
The higher the number the newer the models are and here you can read about the Z-Grills 700 series.
Here is an overview of all the models in the Z-Grills 700 series
- 7002c2e
- 700D4e
- 700D3
- 700E
- 700D
- 7002B
- 7002b2E
- 7002C
Z- Grills 7002
What I found doing the z grills reviews is that this Zgrills 7002 pellet grill is a popular model and people specifically look for what they call the z grills pro 7002.
I found the following features for this particular 7002 model.
- total 19.2×26 inch
- total rack 700 inch
- 20 lb hopper
- stainless steel
- upgraded controller
- no storage
Z Grills 7002b
There are a few options to purchase. Just the grill or the grill and two bags of pellets.
Before you decide it is best if you read my Z Grills 7002b review on its own page and have a look at all the features it has to offer.
Z-Grills 7002E
What I found doing these z grill reviews is that the 7002E is a popular model and people specifically look for the Z Grill ZPG 7002E review, and I am working on that one
- Available in Black, Silver, Silver/Black, Bronze/Black
- Total 19.2×26 inch
- Total rack 700 inch
- 20 lb hopper
- storage with doors under the grill
This is a Z-grill that received a little higher ratings and is available in 5 different colors.
It looks like this is one of the most sold models z grills since I could find a lot more information about it.
What I noticed was the low number of bad ratings compared to many other pellet grill reviews I did.
The assembly seems to be very easy and all you have to do is attach the legs and the chimney I read that it takes about 20 minutes to do that.
Z-Grills 700D
What I found doing this z grills pellet grill review is that it is a popular model and people specifically look for the Z grill 700D.
This z grills 700d review shows that this one comes with the upgraded 2018 model controller and this should take care of the complaints about temperature swings in the older model.
- Available in Black, Silver, Silver/Black, Bronze/Black
- Total 19.2×26 inch
- Total rack 700 inch
- 20 lb hopper
- stainless steel
Click Here To See The Whole 700 Series!
Z Grills 1000 Series
There is a whole new 1000 series Z Grills and to introduce them the Z-Grills company made some nice deals.
The models are:
- POWERHOUSE 10002B2E
- BBQ LEGEND 1000D3E
I did a Z Grills 10002B review on its own page to help you see if this is the one you need.
You can have a look at all these new Z pellet grills at this link. New 1000 series Z-Grills
I probably will do a Z-grills review of these series in the near future since the Z-Grills, in general, are becoming very popular.
Wi-Fi series
This is the latest and newest series, Z Grills. As the name gives it away this one is loaded with the new Wi-Fi feature to control your grill.
Z Grills 11002B WiFi
They gave the 11002B the nickname Multitasker and I will write all about these features later on its own page but here are some of the features I found so far.
- Total rack space of 1068 square inches
- 693 square inches lower rack
- 375 square inches upper rack
- 28-pound hopper
- Porcelain-coated grates
- Bamboo cutting board
With this large cooking area, it is a nice pellet grill that can be used when you cook for larger groups
Assembly might take some time and from the video I watched I think it is advised to have some help with it since it weighs 192 Lbs.
Z Grills Portable Pellet Grill Series
There is also a portable Z grills model and that is the Cruiser 200A.
With 202 square inches and a weight of 40 pounds, this is the ideal pellet grill for camping, tailgating, or just in your backyard.
Despite its small size it still comes with an 8 Lb hopper and a 202 square inches cooking grate.
The only thing that would make it better is if it had an open flame option and if there were meat probes included.
Features of the Z-Grills Models
Depending on the model there are some differences but here are some of the main features.
Material of the Z-Grills grates
The grates are made of stainless steel with an enamel coating. If that is the same or can be compared to the ceramic coating I like so much I still have to find out.
- Digital controller
- Type of used metal
- Hopper size between 10 and 20 Lbs
- Grill grates
Thermal Blanket
One thing I like is that I found A Z-Grills Thermal Blanket for all models.
Customer Reviews of the Z Grills
Assembly takes about an hour for the more complicated models. All parts are fairly easy to figure out and where to put them. If you ever get lost, the manual is well-written and will help you out with the pictures and descriptions.
I like the nice heavy-duty wheels that make it very easy to move around.
The temperature settings are easy to use and as soon as reached, it stays pretty steady although there are complaints about that also like in most pellet grill reviews I did.
There are people who replaced their controller with a PID controller that works a lot better than they mentioned.
Overall I found that most people are very happy with their Z- Grill.
The Z Grills customer service got some mixed ratings. From great and helpful to terrible and not helpful at all. I read that someone thinks it is in China and that is why it is not good.
My personal experience with their customer service is fairly good, but the person I talked to was not very knowledgeable.
Pros and Cons
The pros and cons we found are not just for one model, but an average of all the models we looked at. Each of the z grills pellet smoker reviews models might show slightly different pros and cons
These grills might get a review on a separate page and then we go into the nitty-gritty details.
Pros
- Hopper cleanout function and pellet sensor
- Very affordable
- Nice Quality
- Easy to move with large wheels
- Steady temperature
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- Not all models have a pellet removal option
- Temperature is not stable with an older controller
- Few complaints about arriving damaged
Where To Buy Z Grills
There are several places where you can buy Z-grills. However, I recommend two places that give you in my opinion the best prices.
All models are available of course, sometimes I see a model being sold out here. There are many Z Grills discount codes available here.
- The Amazon website (Not my first choice)
Not all models are available and shipping might take some time so this is not my first choice. You can’t use the discounts they offer.
I had several good looks at both over a period of time and the Z-grills website usually has more deals and discounts.
How Z Grills Work
The way Z Grills are designed and work is not much different than most other brands. This is basically how to use a z grill.
It works by burning wood pellets and in that way creates heat and a wood smoke flavor to your meat.
These pellets are stored in a hopper and this is located at the side of the grill. There is a mechanical auger that feeds the pellets in the firebox where they are ignited by a rod.
The pros are that you can fill the hopper, set your temperature, and go on with your day.
A picture might explain it better than I do probably.
The word pellet grill is in my opinion, not an accurate description. I look at them as a smoker. The reason is that they can maintain the temperature over a long period of time. However, most pellet grills are not good at getting hot enough to sear meat.
Although the latest models have sear options added to them.
Z grills Reviews – My Opinion
While trying to find out more information about them and to add the Zgrills to my pellet grill review page, I stumbled upon an article on bbqdryrubs.com (1) that found that these pellet grills are about a straight clone of the Traeger pellet grills.
I found that the mission statement of Z Grills is “We provide high quality pellet grills with honest prices to let everyone enjoy the wood-fired flavor.”. After doing and testing some of their grills I can say that they have succeeded in that.
Although someone emailed me later that they are more like the Grilla Grills. If all of this is true then it explains the affordable prices for the z grills pellet smokers.
They take out the middle man and start selling the same pellet smokers under their own name on the American market.
I have found that some companies start selling models that are specifically made for them. A good example is the Z Grills Typhon 706 which is only for sale at Menards. In my opinion, this is the same model as the Z Grills 7002C2E.
If you ask yourself the question are Z Grills any good? You can read my opinion here.
After doing this Z- Grills reviews and finding the best z grill smoker and comparing it to the Traeger (and some other brands like Grilla Grills), because the claim was that they are a Traeger clone I can only say that many pros and cons are the same and even the average customer star ratings of comparable models are almost the same.
Because of that reason, I think they are one of the serious Traeger competitors.
My only thing with Z-Grills is that I have a hard time making sense of the models in combination with features and price tiers.
I found a video that mentions the same problem I have and explains it fairly well.
The complaints in the lower ratings about temperature fluctuations are not much different from any other pellet smoker I reviewed. I think that with the new upgraded controller (Just like Traeger?) there will be a lot fewer complaints about Z Grills temperature problems.
Overall I think that these Z grills perform pretty well. That should also answer the question I see are Z grills any good? There are many who call the design excellent and praise the solid construction.
The Z Grills company has been making pellet grills for many other brands for many years before deciding to bring out their own brand using that previous experience.
They used this experience to build some pretty good grills. I only have a problem with how they range all the different models and how they name them.
It is not easy to find your preferred model in that forest of different Z Grils models.
One thing I found that was coming back several times was that these grills are not doing too well in searing. It simply does not get hot enough for that. Although the newer series as the 700 and 1000 seem to do better.
With the latest models have to the open flame sear option that problem seems to be solved.
With temperature fluctuations of around 10 degrees, it might not come close to the Rec Tec’s but they are also in a different price range.
Overall the Z-grills pellet smokers are highly recommended and are comparable, but more affordable than many other brands.
With more brands jumping on the bandwagon of pellet smokers it is important to look at a manufacturer with experience and I believe that the Z-grills are a good choice since they have produced the Traeger brand and maybe some others also,
Recommendations
I always suggest buying a high-quality grill cover and I recommend moving it into your shed or garage after use.
This is something that I recommend for every pellet grill since, in my opinion, water and pellet grills do not get along too well.
Using a quality extension cord is also my tip.
You can find all Z-grills models here
I will probably do a Z grills review for most of the models on its own page and give you a lot more details and comparisons to help you find all the differences.
Overall I think it is safe to say that the Z-grills are fairly good and comparable to other brands in this price range.
Like any pellet grill, the Z-Grills have pros and cons and you have to weigh all of them to decide if this is the pellet smoker you would purchase.
FAQ about Z-grills
I have been contacted a few times after writing these Z grills pellet grill reviews, with questions about the Z-grills and I found some online that I will try to answer here in the frequently asked questions about Z grills.
I have found several questions people have about the Z-grills and have done a lot of reading and research in my attempt to answer them.
Q: Where are Z- grills made?
A: Z-grills are made in China. They are almost an exact clone of the Traeger or Grilla Grills. This also answers the question of whether Z-grills are made in the USA.
Q: How accurate is the thermostat in Z-Grills?
A: The Z Grills thermostat keeps the temperature pretty spot on as long as you don’t open the lid. Since the Z-grill basically has the same electronic parts as many other pellet grills, you can expect the same accuracy as for instance a Traeger.
Z- grills, just like most pellet grills can have temperature problems. There are upgrades and z-grill modifications available to a higher-class thermostat. You can read more in my post about the Traeger controller replacement here.
Q: Z- grills versus Traeger.
A: This one is hard to answer. Traeger and Z-grills were made by the same company in the past. However, Traeger is now manufactured in a different plant.
This means, in my opinion, that they should be better compared to the Grilla Grill. What I have read is that they both do pretty well. Traeger just has more brand awareness.
Q: Can you use wood instead of pellets with Z-grills?
A: No, you can not use wood instead of pellets with your Z-grill pellet smoker. The reason is that the auger is designed for pellets that are uniform in size. Wood chunks are not all the same size.
Z-grills replacement parts availability.
Z-grill spare or replacement parts can be ordered on several websites, including the Z-grill website. Especially now they are becoming popular because of the affordable price.
If you have any experience with these pellet grills bands like to add something to this Z-Grill review, please share it in the comments.
Update
My update: I did these Z-grills reviews a while ago and can only say that there are becoming more popular and more people starting to like the brand.
Customer Service
In my initial update, I found that some people are having a hard time connecting with their customer service for parts or even the occasional return.
I guess the reason is that this company just started selling z grills a few years ago and had no experience with this. I have found, however, better reviews of their customer service in recent months.
I have been following the Z-gills company for a while and it seems they are developing the way I thought they would. If I would do z grills customer service reviews I can mention that I personally have the experience that they answered me pretty fast and with the answers I needed.
New Models
They are bringing more and more new models on the market and are becoming a serious competitor for brands like Traeger. You can have a look at the new Z-grill models here and see what they have come up with.
Sometimes it is hard for them to keep up with the demand and some models are sold out quickly.
Z Grills Blind Box is one of the promotions they run and if you opt for this you can get your hands on a Zgill for a very affordable price. I would call this a nice Z Grills rebate!
The only thing I am confused about when it comes to the Z-grills is the way they add new models with numbers that do not make too much sense to me.
I see that Z-Grills are also sold in Canada, Australia, Europe, and New Zealand. I am not sure if the links on this page will take you there but I am trying to figure that out for you.
What they can improve in my opinion.
They could make it a little easier to find out the features of the different models. it seems to me that new models just get random names and numbers sometimes.
When I looked at the pellet grill ratings consumer reports (1) I found that they also gave them a pretty good rating.
Eddie van Aken
Eddie van Aken has years of experience in running his full-service restaurant and with this came working with using and dealing with all types of kitchen equipment. With his experience, he can find all the pros and cons of grills and add them to the grill reviews he is doing. You can read more on theabout page for Eddie van Aken
