Special Edition SE Weber Genesis II Gas GrillsWeber markets Genesis II Special Edition gas grills in select dealers across the US. You will not be able to find these models in big box home improvement stores. Overall, the Genesis II LX is well-built, comes with a great warranty, and will doubtlessly last a long time. But I’d happily trade many of the bells and whistles of the LX line for a grill that can give me a blistering sear and enough power to keep the indirect cooking temps dependable. But after more rigorous testing, the grill proved to have some serious weaknesses. This thing is built like a tank, but it’s surprisingly underpowered.
To see whether the upgrades are indeed improvements, Consumer Reports bought all of these grills for testing. The most common issue was a hotter front of the grill than the back as a result of the gas pressure not reaching the back of the grill. The new Genesis II burners solve both issues with a tapered design and larger, protruded openings to address these portable bbq concerns with aplomb. Burner holes (also known as “ports”) have been made larger and more extruded. As a result, the new Genesis II burners are more resistant to corrosion and clogging issues that can sometimes plague other grill models and series. Upgraded features and stainless steel components bring grilling versatility and a premium look to any backyard.
This grill’s burners go to 11, but that’s still not high enough. 3D interactive assembly instructions for this product are available through the free BILT app. Find a spot to place it in that you are happy with and stick with it. They do well with heat retention but not for portability issues.
The NexGrill Evolution two-burner is 5 inches skinnier than Weber and half the price. The Royal Gourmet Deluxe two-burner is even cheaper at $175 to $200. The Char-Broil Signature Series Tru-Infrared 2-Burner grill is a little more expensive, but at $380, it’s still far cheaper than the Genesis. However, the Weber Genesis is constructed of higher-grade materials, which is why it offers a 10-year warranty, versus the 1- to 2-year warranties of these other brands.
Since indirect heat is the goal here, I left the center burner off. To add smarts to the Genesis II you’ll need to purchase the iGrill 3 accessory separately, a $100 upgrade. All of the Char-Broil SmartChef grill’s technology comes built-in. If you think gas grilling no longer has anything to offer, and you’re considering giving it up, you may want to think again. This grill performs beautifully and provides the precision control and versatility you need to think beyond the basics.
Furthermore, the porcelain enamel grates and flavorizer bars of the II series are warrantied for 5 years. On stainless steel versions of grates and flavorizer bars on II SE and II LX series you will get the 10 year warranty. Digging deeper, gone are the old tube burners, replaced by tapered shape stainless steel burners with heat deflectors that should provide even heat across the entire cooking space.