The Pit Boss Austin XL shows up in searches as one grill, but Pit Boss actually sells two different machines under that name — and the gap between them is bigger than most listings make clear.
Quick Answer
The Pit Boss Austin XL is a budget big-capacity pellet grill, but the name covers two distinct SKUs: the original Austin XL (930 sq in, analog lid thermometer, no app, around $499) and the Austin XL 1000 Onyx Edition (~1,007 sq in, WiFi/Bluetooth via the Grill Connect app, typically $536-$600), per a direct check of Pit Boss’s and Walmart’s own listings in October 2026. Both run a 30 lb hopper and the same Flame Broiler slide-plate sear feature, backed by Pit Boss’s 5-year warranty. If a listing just says “Austin XL” with no “1000” or “Onyx,” assume it’s the cheaper, non-connected version.
Austin XL vs. Austin XL 1000 Onyx Edition
| Spec | Austin XL (base) | Austin XL 1000 Onyx Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Cook space | 930 sq in | ~1,007 sq in |
| Controller | LED board, auto start/shutdown | LED board + WiFi/Bluetooth app |
| Thermometer | Analog dial in lid | Analog dial in lid |
| Hopper | 30 lb | 30 lb |
| Flame Broiler | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Price | ~$499 | ~$536-$600 |
Why the name causes mix-ups
Pit Boss Austin XL
- 930 sq in across two porcelain-coated tiers, per Pit Boss's own listing — big enough for a full rack of ribs plus sides.
- 30 lb hopper with a cleanout door, built for long overnight cooks without refilling.
- Flame Broiler slide plate opens direct flame access over the fire pot for searing.
- LED control board with automatic start/shutdown, but no WiFi, Bluetooth, or app — temperature is read off the analog dial in the lid.
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Both grills get confused with each other because Pit Boss’s own marketing rounds the Onyx Edition’s 1,007 sq in down to “1000” in the model name, while the plain Austin XL — the one most budget shoppers land on at Walmart for around $499 — actually measures 930 sq in and has no connectivity at all. A listing that advertises “1,000 sq in” cooking space on a grill without WiFi is very likely describing the base model with a rounded-up number borrowed from its connected sibling, not an accurate spec for what you’re buying.
Where either Austin XL falls short
Neither version gets a PID controller — temperature swings wider than on the Pit Boss Pro Series 850, which uses true PID control plus WiFi/Bluetooth for roughly $799. The Austin XL line trades that precision for raw cook space and hopper capacity at a lower price. The base model’s lack of any app is a real limitation if you want to check temps from your phone; for that, the Onyx Edition or the Pro Series 850 are the better picks, not the plain Austin XL.
Austin XL vs. the rest of the Pit Boss lineup
| Model | Cook space | Controller | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin XL (base) | 930 sq in | LED, no app | ~$499 |
| Austin XL 1000 Onyx Edition | ~1,007 sq in | LED + WiFi/Bluetooth | ~$536-$600 |
| Pro Series 850 | 849 sq in | PID + WiFi/Bluetooth | $799 |
| Sportsman 820 | 820 sq in | Simple, no app | ~$480 |
For the full current Pit Boss lineup including the vertical smoker and the Platinum Lockhart combo, see our best Pit Boss pellet grill guide. Cross-shopping the brand against Traeger? Our Traeger vs Pit Boss comparison covers the value gap directly. Shopping in-store instead? Our pellet grill at Walmart guide covers the Austin XL alongside the rest of what Walmart stocks. Weighing it against Recteq’s lineup? See our Recteq vs Pit Boss breakdown.
Who should buy which Austin XL
- Buy the base Austin XL if: you want the most cook space per dollar and don’t care about app control — $499 for 930 sq in is hard to beat.
- Buy the Onyx Edition if: you want phone notifications and a slightly bigger grate, and don’t mind paying $40-$100 more.
- Consider the Pro Series 850 instead if: true PID temperature stability matters more than raw square inches — it holds temp tighter for about $300 more. Read the full Pit Boss Pro Series 850 review for the complete case.
- Always check the listing title: “1000” or “Onyx” in the name means the connected version; a bare “Austin XL” listing is almost always the cheaper, non-connected 930 sq in model.
The verdict
The Pit Boss Austin XL is genuinely one of the best cook-space-per-dollar deals in pellet grills — the problem is that “Austin XL” quietly refers to two grills with a real spec gap between them. Know which one a listing is actually selling (check for “1000” or “Onyx” in the name) before you compare prices, or you’ll end up judging the wrong grill against the wrong number. For the rest of the lineup, see our best Pit Boss pellet grill ranking, and for what to actually smoke first, our best wood pellets for smoking guide.