Char-Griller
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
$399.99
Best Charcoal Grills · head-to-head
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K is cheaper at $249. Every spec and price links to its source.
Napoleon
Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K
$249Cheaper
Which is better: the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado or Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K is the cheaper at $249.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Char-Griller AKORN Kamado | Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $399.99 | $249 |
| Brand | Char-Griller | Napoleon |
| Released | — | — |
| Type | kamado | kettle |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 325 | 360 |
| Material | Triple-walled insulated steel with cast iron cooking grates | Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid, stainless steel cooking grids |
| Hinged cooking grate | No | Yes |
| Ash catcher | Yes | No |
| Built in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Diameter or size (in) | 20 in | 21.5 in |
| Release | — | — |
Sources — Char-Griller AKORN Kamado: chargriller.com (verified 2026-06-19). Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K: napoleon.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado and Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Type: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado kamado vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K kettle
- Primary cooking area sqin: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado 325 vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K 360
- Material: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Triple-walled insulated steel with cast iron cooking grates vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K Porcelain-enameled steel bowl and lid, stainless steel cooking grids
- Hinged cooking grate: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado false vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K true
- Ash catcher: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado true vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K false
- Diameter or size (in): Char-Griller AKORN Kamado 20 in vs Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K 21.5 in
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
One whitelisted tester — Reviewed (USA Today) — hands-on tested this exact model (Char-Griller E16620 Akorn) and named it Best Value: it cooks just as well as a more expensive kamado and is very easy to clean, but struggles to hold low smoking temperatures and may not last as long as pricier ceramic kamados. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Works just as well as a more expensive kamado at a fraction of the cost (Best Value pick); Cast-iron grates deliver nice sear marks over direct heat; Very easy to clean — the entire bottom unhooks to dump ash.
Flagged: Hard to reach low smoking temperatures; floor around 275°F with a learning curve; Smokin' Stone deflector plate is smaller than the grate, so food on the edges over-chars; Build quality and durability lag pricier kamados.
Napoleon Premium 22" Charcoal Kettle NK22K
One whitelisted tester, Reviewed (USA Today), hands-on tested this Napoleon 22in charcoal kettle and named it Best Overall charcoal grill, praising even heat distribution, strong heat retention, sturdy four-leg stability, easy vent airflow control, and roomy capacity (12-13 burgers), with no cons found. Note Reviewed tested the prior NK22K-LEG-2 leg generation, and the review was last updated April 2024. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Even heat distribution and strong heat retention (center convex dome spreads heat); Sturdy, stable four-leg design; Easy, precise vent airflow control and effortless coal access for indirect cooking.