Is The Masterbuilt XT Worth It? Features, Benefits & Comparison

If you love the flavour of charcoal but could do without constantly adjusting vents, adding fuel and checking temperatures, the Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT will quickly grab your attention.

It combines authentic charcoal cooking with digital temperature control, WiFi monitoring and a GravityFed charcoal hopper capable of supporting cooks lasting up to 24 hours.

But with the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1150 offering many of the same core benefits at a lower price, is the Masterbuilt XT worth the extra investment?

For serious backyard cooks, frequent entertainers and anyone wanting a larger, tougher and more efficient charcoal smoker, the answer will often be yes. However, the Masterbuilt 1150 may still offer better value for cooks who do not need the XT’s longer cooking time, stainless steel warming racks and heavier-duty construction. That’s what we’ll break down in this guide.

Quick Answer: Is The Masterbuilt XT Worth Buying?

The Masterbuilt XT is worth it for serious charcoal BBQ enthusiasts who regularly cook for large groups, complete overnight smoking sessions or want the toughest model in the Masterbuilt Gravity Series range.

Its key advantages over the Masterbuilt 1150 include:

• Approximately 8,130 cm² of total cooking space
• Up to 24 hours of charcoal use at low temperatures
• ExtraTough construction
• FuelSaver body design
• Stainless steel warming racks
• Faster heating
• Wider body with more preparation space
• Two included meat probes
• A three-year warranty

The Masterbuilt 1150 remains an excellent option for family cook-ups and regular backyard entertaining. It provides the same basic GravityFed charcoal system, app control and DigitalFan temperature management at a more accessible price.

The XT becomes more worthwhile when you genuinely use its longer runtime, upgraded construction and stainless steel warming racks.

What Is The Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT?

The Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT Digital Charcoal BBQ and Smoker is a digitally controlled charcoal cooker designed for smoking, grilling, roasting, baking and high-heat searing.

Instead of manually controlling airflow through vents, you select your desired temperature using the digital control panel or the Masterbuilt app. The DigitalFan then regulates airflow from the charcoal hopper into the cooking chamber to maintain the selected heat.

You still cook with lump charcoal or briquettes, so you retain the flavour and cooking experience of real charcoal. The difference is that the XT handles much of the temperature management for you.

Its temperature range runs from approximately 107°C to 371°C, giving you enough flexibility to slowly smoke brisket, roast chicken, cook ribs or sear steaks over high heat.

What Makes The Masterbuilt XT Different?

The XT is not simply a slightly larger version of the Masterbuilt 1150. Its most meaningful upgrades are its stronger construction, longer potential charcoal runtime and improved warming racks.

ExtraTough Construction

The XT uses what Masterbuilt describes as ExtraTough materials and finishes.

This heavy-duty construction is aimed at frequent cooks who need a BBQ that can handle regular use, long smoking sessions and changing outdoor conditions.

That makes the XT more appealing if you cook most weekends or want to invest in a smoker that will become a major part of your outdoor cooking setup.

FuelSaver Technology

The FuelSaver body design helps seal in heat, smoke and moisture while making more efficient use of the charcoal inside the hopper.

Better heat retention can reduce unnecessary fuel use and help the smoker maintain steadier temperatures during longer cooking sessions.

The XT is therefore particularly useful for brisket, pork shoulder and other cuts that may remain in the smoker for most of the day or overnight.

Up To 24 Hours Of Charcoal Cooking

The GravityFed hopper supports up to 24 hours of cooking at low temperatures, depending on the charcoal, selected temperature, weather and cooking conditions.

That is one of the biggest differences between the XT and the Masterbuilt 1150.

The 1150 offers up to 15 hours of uninterrupted cooking, which is already enough for most backyard smoking sessions. The XT gives you a larger safety margin for especially long cooks and reduces the chance of needing to add fuel overnight.

Large Cooking Capacity

With approximately 8,130cm² of total cooking space, the Masterbuilt XT provides slightly more room than the Masterbuilt 1150, which offers approximately 7,420cm².

It can accommodate several cuts across its main cooking surface and upper racks, making it suitable for:

• Brisket
• Pork shoulder
• Ribs
• Whole chickens
• Roasts
• Steaks
• Burgers
• Large family cook-ups
• Entertaining bigger groups

The difference in total cooking area is around 710 cm². That is useful, but capacity alone is unlikely to be the main reason to choose the XT.

The bigger reasons to upgrade are its construction, stainless steel warming racks and longer potential charcoal runtime.

Stainless Steel Warming Racks

Both the Masterbuilt XT and Masterbuilt 1150 use reversible cast iron grates on the main cooking surface.

These grates can be positioned for smoking or searing, giving you strong heat retention and flexibility across different cooking styles.

The difference is found in the upper racks.

The XT uses up to three stainless steel warming racks, while the Masterbuilt 1150 uses porcelain-coated warming racks.

Stainless steel is durable, easy to maintain and well suited to regular smoking. This makes the XT’s upper rack system a worthwhile improvement for cooks who frequently load the smoker with ribs, chicken, sausages or multiple cuts at once.

Fast Temperature Performance

The Masterbuilt XT reaches:

• Approximately 107°C in seven minutes
• Approximately 371°C in 11 minutes

The Masterbuilt 1150 reaches:

• Approximately 107°C in nine minutes
• Approximately 371°C in 15 minutes

Both heat quickly for charcoal smokers, but the XT reaches its target temperatures a little sooner.

For most low and slow cooks, the difference of a few minutes will not completely change the experience. It is still a useful improvement when firing up the BBQ for a quicker weeknight cook or high-heat searing session.

Masterbuilt XT Vs Masterbuilt 1150

The Masterbuilt XT and Masterbuilt 1150 share the same core cooking system.

Both give you authentic charcoal flavour, digital temperature control, WiFi app connectivity, a GravityFed hopper and reversible cast iron cooking grates.

The XT mainly improves the construction, upper racks, cooking duration and overall size.

What Are The Biggest Differences?

The Masterbuilt XT and 1150 cook in a very similar way. You load the hopper, light the charcoal, set the temperature and allow the DigitalFan to control the heat.

The main differences are easier to understand when broken into four areas.

The XT Can Cook Longer

The XT offers up to 24 hours of cooking at low temperatures, compared with up to 15 hours from the 1150.

The 1150 is already capable of handling brisket, pulled pork and most overnight cooks. The XT simply gives you more fuel security for especially long smoking sessions.

The XT Has A Tougher Build

The XT is positioned as the more heavy-duty model.

Its ExtraTough materials and FuelSaver design make it better suited to customers who plan to cook frequently and want the premium option in the Gravity Series range.

The XT Has Stainless Steel Warming Racks

The XT has premium stainless steel grates, while the 1150 has the cast iron grate.

The XT has stainless-steel upper cast-iron warming racks, while the 1150 has porcelain-coated warming racks. This is one of the clearest physical upgrades found on the XT.

The XT Is Bigger

The XT is approximately 17cm wider and 17cm deeper than the 1150.

It provides around 710cm² of additional cooking space, but it also takes up more room in the backyard.

Customers with a smaller patio or outdoor kitchen may find that the 1150 fits their space more comfortably.

Which Masterbuilt Should You Buy?

The easiest way to decide is to think about how often you cook and what you normally put in the smoker.

Choose The Masterbuilt 1150 If:

• You want the Gravity Series cooking experience at a lower price
• You mainly cook for family and medium-sized gatherings
• You complete occasional brisket, rib or pulled pork cooks
• Up to 15 hours of charcoal runtime is enough
• You are happy with porcelain-coated warming racks
• You want a large smoker without taking up as much outdoor space
• You would rather put the price difference towards charcoal, meat or accessories

For most family cooks, the Masterbuilt 1150 provides more than enough cooking space and fuel capacity.

It offers the same important conveniences as the XT, including app control, DigitalFan temperature management, reversible cast iron grates and a large GravityFed charcoal hopper.

Choose The Masterbuilt XT If:

• You cook most weekends
• You regularly complete long or overnight smoking sessions
• You entertain larger groups
• You want stainless steel warming racks
• You want the tougher ExtraTough construction
• You value the FuelSaver body design
• You want up to 24 hours of low-temperature charcoal cooking
• You need additional preparation and cooking space
• You want the premium Masterbuilt Gravity Series model

The Masterbuilt XT makes the most sense for customers who will use it frequently enough to benefit from the stronger construction and longer cooking time.

Is The Extra Cooking Space Noticeable?

The XT provides approximately 8,130 cm² of cooking space, compared with approximately 7,420 cm² on the Masterbuilt 1150.

That gives the XT around 710 cm² of additional room.

This difference may help when arranging several large cuts or cooking across multiple levels. However, both smokers are already large enough for family gatherings and serious backyard BBQ sessions.

Customers should not choose the XT based on cooking space alone.

The XT offers better value when the additional capacity is combined with its stainless steel warming racks, FuelSaver design, faster heating and ExtraTough construction.

How Easy Is The Masterbuilt XT To Use?

The Masterbuilt XT is designed to remove much of the guesswork from charcoal temperature control.

Load the hopper with lump charcoal or briquettes, light the fuel, set your target temperature and allow the DigitalFan to manage the airflow.

Through the Masterbuilt app, you can monitor the cooker, adjust temperatures and check compatible meat probes from your phone.

This is particularly helpful during long cooks because you do not need to stand beside the BBQ for hours watching a thermometer.

It is still a charcoal smoker, so fuel quality, weather, food placement and basic fire management remain important. However, it is considerably more approachable than a traditional offset smoker that requires frequent manual adjustments.

What Can You Cook On The Masterbuilt XT?

The XT is not limited to low-and-slow smoking. Its broad temperature range makes it a versatile outdoor cooker.

At lower temperatures, you can smoke brisket, ribs, pulled pork and lamb shoulder.

At moderate temperatures, it can roast chickens, pork, vegetables and other family favourites.

At the top of its range, it can grill burgers and sear steaks.

That versatility can help justify the investment because the XT can perform the jobs of a smoker, charcoal grill and outdoor roasting oven in one setup.

The Masterbuilt 1150 provides the same basic cooking versatility. The XT simply gives frequent cooks a tougher and more refined platform.

Are There Any Disadvantages?

The Masterbuilt XT will not be the right cooker for everyone.

It has a large physical footprint at approximately 155cm wide, 84cm deep and 132.5cm high. You need enough space around the BBQ for ventilation, safe operation and access to the charcoal hopper.

It is also a premium investment when the Masterbuilt 1150 provides the same core gravity-fed cooking system.

The XT makes the most financial sense when you will use its upgraded construction, longer runtime and stainless steel racks regularly.

Buying it for a few sausages once a month would be difficult to justify. Buying it for frequent family meals, weekend smoking and larger gatherings is a different story.

Our Verdict: Should You Buy The Masterbuilt XT?

The Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT is worth it for customers who want the tougher, longer-running and more premium option in the Masterbuilt Gravity Series range.

Its combination of charcoal flavour, digital control, up to 24 hours of low-temperature cooking and stainless steel warming racks makes it particularly well suited to frequent backyard cooks.

The Masterbuilt 1150 remains the better-value choice for many families.

It provides a large cooking area, app control, reversible cast iron grates and up to 15 hours of charcoal use. That is more than enough for most backyard meals and smoking sessions.

Think of the decision this way: Masterbuilt XT

Choose the Masterbuilt 1150 if you want the core Masterbuilt Gravity Series experience and do not need the premium upgrades.

Choose the Masterbuilt XT if you cook regularly and value longer runtime, stainless steel warming racks, a larger body and tougher construction.

Neither model is a small or basic smoker. The decision comes down to whether you need great Gravity Series performance or the strongest and most capable version of it.

Fire Up Your Next Charcoal Cook

Ready to enjoy charcoal flavour without spending the whole day managing the fire?

Explore the Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT Digital Charcoal BBQ and Smoker or compare it with the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1150 online.

You can also speak with the BBQ Spit Rotisseries team for practical advice based on how often you cook, how many people you feed and the space available in your backyard.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can The Masterbuilt XT Cook Without Adding Charcoal?

The GravityFed hopper can support up to 24 hours of cooking at low temperatures.

Actual fuel duration will depend on the selected temperature, weather conditions, charcoal type and how often the cooking chamber is opened.

Does The Masterbuilt XT Have Stainless Steel Cooking Racks?

The Masterbuilt XT has reversible cast iron grates on the main cooking surface and stainless steel upper warming racks.

The Masterbuilt 1150 also has reversible cast iron main grates, but its upper warming racks are porcelain-coated.

How Many Meat Probes Come With The Masterbuilt 1150?

The Masterbuilt 1150 comes with one meat probe.

Its controller and app can monitor up to four compatible probes, with additional probes sold separately.

Can The Masterbuilt XT Sear Steaks?

Yes. The Masterbuilt XT reaches temperatures up to approximately 371°C, making it suitable for high-heat grilling and searing as well as low and slow smoking.

Does The Masterbuilt XT Have WiFi?

Yes. It connects to the Masterbuilt app, allowing you to monitor and adjust the cooking temperature remotely and follow compatible meat probe readings.

What Is The Main Difference Between The Masterbuilt XT And 1150?

The XT offers up to 24 hours of low-temperature cooking, ExtraTough construction, FuelSaver technology, stainless steel warming racks and slightly more cooking space.

The Masterbuilt 1150 offers the same basic GravityFed charcoal system and digital controls at a lower price.

Can You Use Lump Charcoal In The Masterbuilt XT?

Yes. The Masterbuilt XT is compatible with both lump charcoal and charcoal briquettes.

Is The Masterbuilt XT Suitable For Beginners?

Yes. Its digital temperature controller and DigitalFan make charcoal cooking much easier to manage than a traditional manually controlled smoker.

Beginners will still need to learn basic food temperatures, charcoal handling and smoking techniques, but the XT simplifies fire control considerably.

by: Sasha Halabi