Pit Boss WiFi & Bluetooth Pellet Smoker Guide: Direct Comparison

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Selecting the right connected outdoor cooker requires balancing direct flame versatility against dedicated smoking volume. When shopping for a pit boss pellet smoker wifi bluetooth setup, busy cooks need dependable temperature stability and remote smartphone controls to manage hours-long cooks without babysitting the firebox. Pit Boss integrates wireless digital controllers across both horizontal barrel grills and vertical cabinet smokers, allowing users to track internal meat temperatures, adjust heat setpoints, and receive cook notifications whether working in a home office or entertaining guests on the patio.

The Pit Boss connected smoker catalog is organized into two distinct physical formats designed for different outdoor cooking goals. On one side stands the Navigator horizontal grill line, which burns all-natural wood pellets and features flame broiler slide plates capable of reaching 500 degrees Fahrenheit for direct searing. On the other side stands the vertical smoker lineup, split between plug-in electric cabinets that utilize wood chips for low-temperature barbecue and a heavy-duty vertical pellet smoker engineered with an oversized hopper for uninterrupted smoking sessions. This pit boss pellet smoker comparison breaks down each unit by cooking surface, hopper volume, and thermal range so you can choose which pit boss pellet smoker to buy for your backyard layout.

Criteria matrix What each model in this report is credited with

Rows are the criteria that come up in the pros and cons listed for this lineup. A check means the criterion is named in this report’s write-up of that model; a dash means it is not. Criteria that apply to every model, or to only one, are left out because they separate nothing.

Criterion	850 Navigator Series WiFi 4.9★	3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth 4.7★	1300 Navigator Series WiFi 4.4★	4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth 4.0★	1600 Navigator Series WiFi 4.4★	Navigator 3-Series WiFi & 4.2★
Cooking	✓Named	✓Named	✓Named	Not named	✓Named	✓Named
Warranty	✓Named	✓Named	✓Named	✓Named	Not named	Not named
Meat probe ports	Not named	✓Named	Not named	✓Named	Not named	✓Named
Flame broiler	✓Named	Not named	✓Named	Not named	✓Named	Not named
Touchscreen digital controller	Not named	Not named	✓Named	Not named	✓Named	Not named
Stainless steel	Not named	Not named	✓Named	Not named	Not named	✓Named
Pellet hopper	Not named	Not named	✓Named	Not named	Not named	✓Named
Rear wheels	Not named	✓Named	Not named	✓Named	Not named	Not named
Criteria named	3 / 8	4 / 8	6 / 8	3 / 8	3 / 8	4 / 8

Built from the wording of this report, not from a bench test. A dash is not a fault: it only means the write-up does not mention that point for that model. Star figures are the average rating left by Amazon buyers, read from the product listing.

Pit Boss Pellet Smokers Lineup at a Glance

The Models in Detail

Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series WiFi

Best for: Versatile backyard searing and smoking

Pros

• Flame broiler slide plate
• 30 lb hopper with window
• 5-year warranty coverage

Cons

• Substantial deck footprint
• Single probe port listed

The Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series WiFi serves as a balanced mid-size horizontal grill and smoker combo for backyards that need both direct grilling and indirect smoking. Powered by wood pellets, this model features 932 square inches of total cooking space and operates across a temperature range of 180°F to 500°F. The unit incorporates fan-forced convection to circulate heat evenly across the grates, alongside a slide-plate flame broiler for open-flame searing. A 30-pound hopper provides extended burn time and includes an integrated viewing window so you can quickly check pellet levels without opening the hopper lid. Pit Boss backs the build with a 5-year warranty.

For professionals who need hands-off monitoring, the integrated LCD digital controller pairs directly with the Pit Boss Grills app using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. This allows pitmasters to fine-tune cooking temperatures in 5-degree increments and monitor the included meat probe remotely. The exterior design incorporates folding front and side prep shelves, integrated tool hooks, and a lower storage shelf for pellet bags and tools. An easy-access grease tray manages drippings to streamline maintenance. This pit boss navigator 850 wifi model is ideal for families seeking an everyday wood-fired cooker, bridging the gap highlighted in our broader pitt boss pellet grill evaluation.

Pit Boss 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth

Best for: Dedicated low-temperature electric smoking

Pros

• Ultra-low 100°F starting temp
• Compact vertical footprint
• Dual meat probe ports

Cons

• Cannot sear above 300°F
• Electric heat requires wood tray loading

The Pit Boss 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth digital smoker takes a different operational approach by using a 1,650-watt electric heating element paired with an internal wood chip and pellet tray. Operating across a focused low-and-slow range of 100°F to 300°F, this vertical cabinet provides 880 square inches of cooking space. While the listing summary notes four porcelain-coated adjustable racks, its bullet specifications reference six adjustable racks, giving users multiple tier options to arrange poultry, ribs, or cured sausages. The sealed door and heavy-duty steel cabinet retain gentle thermal levels and dense smoke for sensitive low-temperature cooks.

Remote management comes through built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, allowing users to watch cook progress down to the degree using the included meat probe and dual controller ports. Cleanup and patio transit are simplified thanks to rear wheels, an easy-access grease tray, and a removable grease cup. Backed by a 3-year warranty, this pit boss 3 series wifi digital smoker fits cooks who want dedicated smoking capability without managing an auger system or combustion blower. It gives way to horizontal pellet grills when high-heat searing is required, though low-temperature cooks can always introduce additional smoke via an accessory like a pit boss smoke tube when subtle wood nuances are desired.

Pit Boss 1300 Navigator Series WiFi

Best for: Large family cookouts and entertaining

Pros

• Expansive 1,329 sq in cooking area
• Two meat probes included
• Touchscreen digital controller

Cons

• Heavy 188-pound steel build
• Requires large pellet storage

The Pit Boss 1300 Navigator Series WiFi steps up the horizontal barrel format with a substantial 1,329 square inches of cooking surface, making it suitable for larger gatherings and batch smoking. Fueled exclusively by hardwood pellets, the unit maintains a versatile thermal span from 180°F to 500°F. The construction utilizes stainless steel outer materials and weighs 188 pounds, delivering a solid, heavy-gauge cooking chamber. Pit Boss equips this model with a touchscreen digital controller and includes two meat probes in the box, allowing simultaneous tracking of multiple cuts without lifting the lid.

Like its smaller Navigator sibling, this pit boss navigator 1300 includes a 30-pound pellet hopper featuring a sight glass for fuel monitoring, folding front and side prep shelves, tool hooks, and a lower accessory shelf. A flame broiler allows immediate transitions between indirect baking and direct open-flame broiling. The 5-year warranty ensures long-term reliability for serious barbecue enthusiasts. This unit suits backyard hosts who regularly cook for crowds and need more cooking grid area than the 850 provides, yet prefer the familiar horizontal barrel form factor over a purely vertical setup.

Pit Boss 4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth

Best for: High-capacity low-and-slow electric smoking

Pros

• Massive 1,320 sq in vertical space
• Six adjustable rack positions
• Integrated rear wheels

Cons

• Max temperature capped at 300°F
• Requires high-draw outdoor outlet

For those who require extensive vertical capacity in an electric format, the Pit Boss 4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth cabinet smoker expands your smoking territory to 1,320 square inches. Built around a 1,650-watt electric heating element, this 42-inch digital vertical cabinet operates between 100°F to 300°F. The listing highlights an adjustable rack system with six positions listed in the core features alongside four porcelain-coated racks in the product description. A built-in wood chip and pellet tray lets users introduce hardwood aroma while the sealed steel door keeps internal moisture and temperature consistent.

Wirelessly managed via the Pit Boss Grills app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, this pit boss 4 series wifi digital smoker features dual meat probe ports and comes with one probe included. Rear mobility wheels, an easy-access grease tray, and a removable grease cup simplify post-cook cleanup and deck storage. Backed by a 3-year warranty, this model is built for cooks who specialize in low-and-slow barbecue, fish, and jerky where steady, low-temperature electric heat is preferred over wood combustion. It yields to the Navigator series whenever high-temperature grilling or searing above 300°F is needed.

PIT BOSS 1600 Navigator Series WiFi

Best for: Catering-scale backyard barbecue sessions

Pros

• Over 1,500 sq in cook space
• Heavy-duty 205-pound construction
• Touchscreen digital controller

Cons

• Very large 64-inch footprint
• Higher pellet consumption rate

The PIT BOSS 1600 Navigator Series WiFi stands as the largest horizontal pellet grill in the Navigator lineup. It offers a massive cooking surface listed at 1,593 square inches in the title and 1,539 square inches in the specifications, providing ample room for dozens of burgers, multiple briskets, or full racks of ribs. Driven by 100% all-natural hardwood pellets, it spans temperatures from 180°F to 500°F. The grill incorporates fan-forced convection for balanced indirect heat, tapered legs for stability, and a flame broiler for direct searing.

Measuring 64.57 by 31.77 by 49.06 inches and weighing 205 pounds, this pit boss navigator 1600 is a substantial outdoor appliance supported by a 5-year warranty. Its touchscreen digital controller connects to home Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enabling 5-degree temperature adjustments and meat probe monitoring from a mobile phone. A 30-pound hopper with a viewing window, folding front and side prep shelves, tool hooks, and a lower shelf ensure full functionality during intensive cooks. This model is designed for competition cooks, large property owners, and barbecue caterers who need commercial-level capacity in a single connected pellet grill.

Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series WiFi &

Best for: Unattended marathon overnight pellet smoking

Pros

• Huge 50 lb pellet hopper
• Wide 130°F to 420°F range
• Three meat probe ports

Cons

• Vertical layout lacks direct flame searing
• Heavy stainless steel frame

The Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series WiFi & Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker combines the vertical footprint of a cabinet with the authentic wood fire of a pellet burner. Recognized as the 2025 Best Vertical Smoker by Men’s Journal, this unit provides 1,118 square inches of cooking space across five porcelain-coated steel cooking racks. Unlike the electric vertical units that cap at 300°F, this pellet-fueled vertical smoker delivers an expansive operating range of 130°F to 420°F, supporting delicate jerky dehydrating up to higher-temperature poultry roasting.

A standout feature of this pit boss navigator 3 series vertical smoker is its massive 50-pound pellet hopper, specifically engineered for extended marathon cooks without mid-session refilling. The cabinet is built with heavy-gauge stainless steel, a high-temperature door seal, a large viewing window, and a chimney exhaust with convection airflow for uniform smoke circulation. Its LCD digital controller features three meat probe ports with one probe included, all monitored remotely via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through the Pit Boss app. It suits dedicated barbecue artisans who prioritize authentic pellet smoke and continuous overnight runtime over the direct flame searing offered by horizontal grills.

Matching a Model to Your Setup

• Everyday Family Cooking and Searing: The Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series WiFi offers the ideal footprint for standard backyards, pairing 932 square inches of grill space with a 500°F flame broiler for searing steaks and burgers.
• Unattended Overnight Brisket and Pork Butt: The Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series WiFi & vertical pellet smoker is unmatched for endurance thanks to its 50-pound hopper, wide 130°F to 420°F range, and five stacked racks.
• Large Patio Gatherings and Entertainment: The Pit Boss 1300 Navigator Series WiFi expands your horizontal cooking deck to 1,329 square inches with dual meat probes for managing different cuts simultaneously.
• Delicate Low-Temperature Smoking in Tight Spaces: The Pit Boss 3-Series WiFi & Bluetooth electric smoker fits compact decks with an 880-square-inch footprint and a 100°F minimum starting temperature for jerky and sausage.
• High-Volume Jerky and Rib Production: The Pit Boss 4-Series WiFi & Bluetooth electric cabinet provides 1,320 square inches of vertical space across multiple adjustable racks, keeping meat smoking simple and steady.
• Catering and Neighborhood Barbecue Feasts: The PIT BOSS 1600 Navigator Series WiFi maximizes production with over 1,500 square inches of grill surface, heavy-gauge steel construction, and mobile app management for commercial-scale backyard cooks; shoppers looking for older configurations can also watch seasonal pit boss clearance sales for baseline comparisons.

Before You Buy

While Pit Boss provides robust specifications on capacity and temperature ranges, the product listings omit several practical details that buyers must plan for. Full assembled dimensions are not specified for most models in the listing data, with only the 1600 Navigator listing its exact footprint of 64.57 by 31.77 by 49.06 inches. Furthermore, the listings do not specify pellet consumption rates per hour, which vary significantly depending on ambient weather conditions, wind exposure, and whether you are smoking at 180°F or broiling at 500°F. Protective outdoor weather covers are also not listed as included components across any of these models, meaning you must budget for a separate fitted cover to protect the digital electronics and steel cabinet from rain.

Electrical requirements represent another key purchasing factor that differs across this lineup. The vertical electric 3-Series and 4-Series cabinets utilize a 1,650-watt heating element that requires a stable outdoor 120V household outlet capable of handling sustained electrical draw alongside the digital controller. Conversely, the Navigator pellet models use electric power primarily to run the digital controller, internal convection fans, and the automated fuel auger, relying on hardwood pellets for heat generation. Before setting up your outdoor cooking station, verify that your patio has adequate outlet access and clear perimeter clearance away from combustible structures.

FAQ

How does mobile control work on a Pit Boss WiFi smoker?

Pit Boss connected smokers and grills integrate both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware into their digital controllers. By pairing the cooker with the Pit Boss Grills mobile app on a smartphone, users can view ambient pit temperatures, monitor internal meat temperatures through connected probes, and adjust cooking temperatures in 5-degree increments remotely. The dual wireless setup ensures local Bluetooth connectivity when working nearby on the patio, as well as cloud-based Wi-Fi communication when monitoring cooks from inside the home or away from the property.

Can you sear steaks on these Pit Boss smokers?

Searing capability depends on whether you choose a horizontal Navigator grill or a vertical cabinet smoker. The horizontal Navigator models (850, 1300, and 1600) include a slide-plate flame broiler that opens to allow direct flame access over burning pellets, reaching temperatures up to 500°F for high-heat searing. In contrast, the vertical models are designed exclusively for indirect cooking; the electric 3-Series and 4-Series cap at 300°F, while the Navigator vertical pellet smoker tops out at 420°F without direct flame exposure.

What is the difference between the electric vertical smokers and the Navigator vertical pellet smoker?

The electric 3-Series and 4-Series vertical smokers generate cooking heat using a 1,650-watt electric element and incorporate a dedicated tray where you place wood chips or pellets to produce flavor cues. They operate within a low-temperature bracket of 100°F to 300°F. The Navigator 3-Series vertical smoker, on the other hand, is fueled entirely by wood pellets fed from an integrated 50-pound hopper, featuring a broader temperature range of 130°F to 420°F and an internal convection chimney airflow system.

Do these Pit Boss models include meat probes in the box?

Yes, all six models feature meat probe monitoring capability, though the included probe count varies by model. The Pit Boss 850 Navigator, Pit Boss 3-Series electric, Pit Boss 4-Series electric, PIT BOSS 1600 Navigator, and Navigator 3-Series vertical smoker include one meat probe with ports to add more. The Pit Boss 1300 Navigator listing specifically states that two meat probes are included in the package for tracking multiple cuts of meat right out of the box.

Which Pit Boss pellet smoker is best for overnight cooking sessions?

For uninterrupted overnight cooking, the Pit Boss Navigator 3-Series vertical pellet smoker is the standout option because of its 50-pound hopper capacity. This oversized fuel reservoir allows extended low-and-slow smoking sessions without the need to refill pellets in the middle of the night. By contrast, the horizontal Navigator models feature 30-pound hoppers, which still provide substantial burn times but require more frequent monitoring during marathon cooks.