Type “Masterbuilt pellet grill” into a search bar and most of what comes back is the Gravity Series — Masterbuilt’s WiFi-connected charcoal grill and smoker, now in three sizes. It’s a genuinely good product. It is also not a pellet grill. Masterbuilt does sell one real wood-pellet smoker, the MWS 340B, but it’s an older, simpler unit that Masterbuilt has largely stopped marketing in favor of the Gravity line. Here’s what each one actually is, what it costs, and which one (if either) is worth buying.
Quick Answer
Masterbuilt’s flagship “smart” grills — the Gravity Series 560, 800, and 1050 — are WiFi-controlled charcoal grills, not pellet grills; they burn lump charcoal and wood chunks in a gravity-fed hopper, per Masterbuilt’s own specs. Masterbuilt’s only true wood-pellet smoker is the MWS 340B, a 977 sq in unit with a 12 lb hopper and a 180-350°F range — but it has no WiFi or app control, a real gap next to Traeger, Pit Boss, or Recteq. If you specifically want pellet-fed convenience with app control, the MWS 340B’s missing WiFi is the dealbreaker to know before you search further; if digital charcoal grilling is fine, the Gravity Series is the better-supported, better-reviewed product.
Masterbuilt’s lineup at a glance
| Model | Fuel | Cook space | Temp range | WiFi | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravity Series 560 | Charcoal | 560 sq in | 225-700°F | Yes | ~$499 |
| Gravity Series 800 | Charcoal (+griddle) | 800 sq in | 225-700°F | Yes | ~$699-$799 |
| Gravity Series 1050 | Charcoal | 1,050 sq in | 225-700°F | Yes | ~$799-$899 |
| MWS 340B | Wood pellet | 977 sq in | 180-350°F | No | ~$478-$532 |
1. Masterbuilt Gravity Series — the one most searches actually mean
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560
- 560 sq in across three levels (430 sq in main grate, 130 sq in on the upper racks), per Masterbuilt — enough for a family cook but the smallest of the three sizes.
- DC fan-driven gravity feed hits and holds a 225-700°F range, wide enough to smoke low-and-slow and sear steaks on the same cooker, per Masterbuilt's specs.
- WiFi and Bluetooth control through the Masterbuilt app, with a meat-probe port for remote temperature tracking — the feature true pellet grills also offer, which the MWS 340B does not.
- Burns lump charcoal or briquettes, not compressed wood pellets — expect charcoal-level smoke flavor and charcoal-level fuel cost, not pellet-grill economics.
While you’re prepping for the first cook, you can skip a separate store run — try Amazon Fresh for rubs, briskets, and produce delivered same-day. The Gravity Series is what most “Masterbuilt pellet grill” shoppers end up buying once they realize the fuel type, and reviewers back that up: Reviewed’s hands-on test of the Gravity Series XT and Engadget’s review of the 800 both praised the WiFi app and searing range while noting plainly that this is a charcoal grill with pellet-grill-style convenience, not a pellet grill itself. The 800 adds a flat-top griddle insert the 560 and 1050 don’t offer, which is the deciding factor for some buyers over raw cook space.
2. Masterbuilt MWS 340B — the actual pellet smoker
Masterbuilt MWS 340B Pellet Smoker
- 977 sq in across 4 chrome-plated racks — Masterbuilt rates it for 6 turkeys, 8 pork butts, 8 racks of ribs, or 16 chickens in one cook.
- 12+ lb pellet hopper with an auger that auto-feeds to hold temperature, the same basic mechanism Traeger and Pit Boss use.
- 180-350°F range — noticeably narrower than the Gravity Series' 700°F ceiling, so no searing without a separate grill or a cast-iron finish on the stovetop.
- Digital control panel with preset smoke/cook cycles and a built-in meat probe, but no WiFi or app — you monitor and adjust at the unit itself.
If pellet-fed, low-and-slow smoking is genuinely what you’re after, the MWS 340B does the job — Walmart and Home Depot listings have shown it in the $478-$532 range, cheaper than most WiFi-enabled pellet grills at a similar cook space. The catch is exactly what search intent for “Masterbuilt pellet grill” usually assumes it has: no WiFi, no app, and a 350°F ceiling that rules out searing. Compare that against our best pellet grill roundup’s picks, most of which pair a similar or larger hopper with full app control for a comparable price.
Masterbuilt by the numbers
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gravity Series models with WiFi | 3 of 3 (560, 800, 1050) | Masterbuilt product specs |
| True pellet-fed models with WiFi | 0 of 1 (MWS 340B) | Masterbuilt/Walmart listing |
| Gravity Series temperature ceiling | 700°F | Masterbuilt |
| MWS 340B temperature ceiling | 350°F | Masterbuilt |
| MWS 340B cook space vs. Gravity 560 | 977 sq in vs. 560 sq in | Masterbuilt specs |
The number that clears up most of the confusion is zero — as in zero WiFi-enabled models among Masterbuilt’s actual wood-pellet cookers, against three-for-three on the charcoal-fed Gravity Series. That’s backward from what most shoppers searching “Masterbuilt pellet grill” expect, and it’s the single fact worth knowing before comparing prices further.
Which Masterbuilt should you buy?
- Want WiFi, high-heat searing, and the better-supported product line: Gravity Series 560, 800, or 1050 — but know it’s charcoal, not pellets.
- Want genuine pellet-fed convenience and don’t need WiFi or searing: MWS 340B — the cheaper, simpler option, with real trade-offs.
- Want pellet-grill convenience with app control: Masterbuilt isn’t the pick — see our best pellet grill roundup or best pellet grill brands guide for brands built around pellets from the ground up.
- Curious how charcoal and pellet grills compare more broadly: Our pellet grill vs charcoal grill guide covers the trade-offs the Gravity Series tries to split the difference on.
Not sure Masterbuilt fits your budget either way? Our best pellet grill under $500 and best pellet grill for the money guides round up dedicated pellet grills in the same price range as the Gravity Series 560 and MWS 340B. And if vertical smoking space matters more than a wide grill footprint, our best vertical pellet smoker guide covers cookers built pellet-first from the start.