Search “Pit Boss 1600” and you’ll get three different grills back: a standard Pro Series model, a stainless Elite upgrade of that same model, and a completely different Competition Series with a roll-top lid. They don’t all do the same thing, and only one of them sears.
Quick Answer
“Pit Boss 1600” isn’t one grill — it’s three. The Pro Series 1600 (current PS3 generation, model 10981) and Pro Series 1600 Elite PSE share an identical 1,597-1,598 sq in cook space, 32 lb hopper, and 150-500°F range, per Pit Boss’s own spec sheets — the Elite PSE just adds Variable Smoke Technology, a bigger touchscreen, and full stainless steel for about $300 more, per a hands-on review from SmokedBBQSource. The Competition Series 1600 Roll Top is a genuinely different grill: a matte-black embossed roll-top body with a smaller 26 lb hopper, 1,578 sq in of space, and a Flame Broiler lever for direct-flame searing up to 1,000°F — something neither Pro Series model offers. It sells at Academy Sports for $829.99.
Pit Boss “1600” models at a glance
| Spec | Pro Series 1600 (PS3) | Pro Series 1600 Elite PSE | Competition Series 1600 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | 3-tier cabinet | 3-tier cabinet | Roll-top barrel |
| Cook space | 1,597-1,598 sq in | 1,597-1,598 sq in | 1,578 sq in |
| Hopper | 32 lb | 32 lb | 26 lb |
| Temp range | 150-500°F | 150-500°F | 180-500°F + 1000°F sear |
| Direct-flame sear | No | No | Yes (Flame Broiler lever) |
| Grates | Porcelain cast iron | Full stainless steel | Porcelain cast iron |
| WiFi/Bluetooth | Yes | Yes (bigger touchscreen) | Yes |
| Price | Lower | ~$300 more than standard | ~$829.99 (Academy Sports) |
Pro Series 1600 vs Elite PSE — same chassis, different finish
Pit Boss Pro Series 1600 (PS3, Model 10981)
- 1,598 sq in across three tiers — enough for roughly 66 burgers in one load, per Pit Boss's own capacity estimate.
- 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen controller with WiFi + Bluetooth on the current PS3 generation — the older plain Pro Series 1600 used a simpler digital PID board, so check the model number before comparing listings.
- Porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates with a crosshatch pattern for sear marks, plus an interchangeable griddle insert.
- Pit Boss's 5-year warranty, matching the rest of the Pro Series lineup.
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Pit Boss Pro Series 1600 Elite PSE
- Identical 1,597 sq in cook space and 32 lb hopper to the standard Pro Series 1600 — this isn't a bigger grill, per Pit Boss's own spec sheet.
- Variable Smoke Technology (VST) lets you dial smoke output up or down independently of temperature, a feature the standard Pro Series 1600 doesn't have.
- Cooking grates, side shelf, and lid are all stainless steel rather than porcelain-coated cast iron on the bottom tier, plus a faster rapid igniter.
- Runs about $300 more than the standard model, per SmokedBBQSource's hands-on review, and is sold as a Lowe's exclusive.
If you already own, or have used, a standard Pro Series 1600, the Elite PSE won’t feel like a bigger grill — it’s the same footprint and the same cook space with finer smoke control and a nicer finish bolted on. The $300 gap buys VST and stainless steel, not more room for brisket.
Competition Series 1600 — a different grill that happens to share a number
Pit Boss Competition Series 1600 Roll Top
- 1,578 sq in of cook space — close to the Pro Series 1600's number, but on a smaller 26 lb hopper (6 lb less than the Pro Series's 32 lb), per Pit Boss's own listing.
- Matte-black finish with an embossed roll-top lid — a visually different grill from the Pro Series' flat-top cabinet design.
- Flame Broiler lever enables direct-flame searing up to 1,000°F — neither Pro Series 1600 model offers this.
- Sold at Academy Sports for $829.99, and separately in Canada/UK markets at different price points under the same name.
The “1600” in Competition Series refers to roughly the same cook-space class as the Pro Series, not a shared platform. If direct-flame searing matters to you — reverse-seared steaks, not just low-and-slow — the Competition Series is the only 1600-badged Pit Boss that does it. If you just want the most cook space for the least money, the standard Pro Series 1600 still wins on hopper size and price.
Who should buy which “1600”
- Want max cook space for the lowest price: the standard Pro Series 1600 (PS3) — same 1,598 sq in as the Elite PSE, without the $300 upgrade.
- Want finer smoke control and a premium finish: the Pro Series 1600 Elite PSE — same footprint, better tech, Lowe’s exclusive.
- Want to sear steaks on the same grill you smoke on: the Competition Series 1600 Roll Top — the only one of the three with a Flame Broiler lever.
- Want the biggest hopper for multi-day cooks: either Pro Series model (32 lb) over the Competition Series (26 lb).
Related reading: see our best pellet grill rankings for how the Pro Series 1600 stacks up against other brands, our Pit Boss Austin XL review for another Pit Boss naming split, and our best wood pellets for smoking guide for what to run through a 32 lb hopper.