Hey Grillers! Today I’m taking a close look at the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 charcoal grill and smoker. Masterbuilt has created a gravity-fed charcoal system that delivers the flavor of charcoal and wood with the simplicity of a pellet grill. Read on to see whether the Gravity Series 800 fits your needs.
Masterbuilt provided this grill for testing, but the opinions here are my own.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series Features
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 combines powerful performance with practical features:
- Fast heat-up: reaches 225°F in about 8 minutes, 450°F in 10, and up to 700°F in roughly 14 minutes
- 800 square inches of cooking area
- Cast iron grates, two porcelain-coated warming/smoking racks, and a heavy-duty griddle included
- Charcoal capacity: holds 10 lbs of lump charcoal or 16 lbs of briquettes
- Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth controller with count up/down timer, four probe ports and one included probe
- Stainless steel foldable front shelf for prep and serving
- Removable grease tray for easier cleanup
Assembly
Assembly is straightforward but takes time. The main grill body arrives attached to the hopper, so most of the work is building the cart, shelves and installing accessories. Expect about two hours for a solo build; it will go faster with a helper. Some internal parts have a light oil coating to prevent rust, so follow the manual’s seasoning instructions before your first cook.
How to Use the Masterbuilt Gravity Series
Getting the grill ready is simple. Here’s a basic start-up procedure:
Lighting the grill
- Open the hopper lid and ash door and remove the air intake slides between the hopper and main body.
- Fill the hopper with charcoal. For added smoke flavor, tuck fist-sized wood chunks among the charcoal every couple of inches. Do not use match-light charcoal or lighter fluid.
- Place a fire starter in the charcoal grate behind the ash door and light it.
- After 1–2 minutes, set the desired temperature on the digital controller.
- Close the hopper lid and ash door and let the grill reach the set temperature.
Grilling
The Gravity Series 800 is impressive for high-heat grilling. With a 700°F max, it transitions quickly from low-and-slow smoking to intense searing heat. It reaches 450°F quickly, perfect for burgers, hot dogs, steaks, brats and chops. The fast ramp-up is particularly useful for reverse-searing steaks: cook low until a few degrees shy of your target, rest briefly, then crank to high heat for a brilliant crust in about a minute per side.
Smoking
As a smoker the Gravity Series performs very well. At 225°F I saw roughly nine hours from a full hopper of lump charcoal in cool outdoor conditions. Load wood chunks for smoke and add more as needed. For example, a rack of St. Louis spare ribs cooked at 225°F delivered moist meat, a strong smoke ring and rich charcoal-wood flavor after several hours of smoke, a wrapped period, and a final glaze stage.
Griddling
One standout accessory is the heavy-duty cold-rolled steel griddle that replaces the grates. It fits securely with minimal movement and includes a drain hole for grease. Swapping manifolds is simple: remove the grates and switch to the griddle manifold. The grill also includes storage hooks and a lower shelf to stow the unused manifold when not in use. The griddle expands what you can cook—breakfast, smashburgers and other flat-top favorites are all easy to tackle.
What We Like
- The griddle: adds functional versatility—great for breakfast, smashburgers and more.
- Ease of use: combines the convenience of a pellet-style controller with charcoal flavor; lights easily, holds temperature well and yields excellent results.
- Safety features: multiple switches on the main lid, hopper lid and ash door limit heat and prevent unsafe conditions; the lid switch caps temperature to 500°F when open.
What Could Be Improved
- Metal thickness: some panels are thinner than ideal. Given the price, the construction is reasonable and should deliver several years of service, but heavier gauge material would increase longevity.
- Power cable strain relief: the power cable has minimal strain relief where it enters the controller. Protect the connection with zip ties or additional slack to reduce stress on solder joints.
- Controller app behavior: the Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth app can be inconsistent. In one instance the app’s initial connection caused the grill to power down, requiring a manual restart of the controller.
Pellet Grills vs Gravity-Fed Smokers
If you’re deciding between a pellet grill and a gravity-fed charcoal smoker, consider what matters most: convenience and consistent set-and-forget cooking (pellet) versus the authentic charcoal and wood-fired flavor plus very high sear temperatures (gravity-fed). Both have strengths; the Gravity Series bridges the gap by offering automated temperature control with charcoal flavor.
Recipes to Try
Once your Gravity Series is up to temperature, try classic favorites like 3-2-1 ribs, smash burgers or a reverse-seared steak. These cooking styles showcase the grill’s versatility—smoke, sear and griddle all perform well.
Conclusion
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 is a welcome, versatile cooker that blends the flavor of charcoal and wood with the convenience of an automated controller. Its ability to move quickly between low-and-slow smoking and very high searing temperatures, plus the included griddle, make it a valuable choice for backyard cooks who want one unit that does it all. While some materials and the controller app could be improved, the performance and flexibility make it a compelling option for many home grillers.
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