Char-Griller
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
$399.99Cheaper
Best Charcoal Grills · head-to-head
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado vs PK Grills PK360
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Char-Griller AKORN Kamado is cheaper at $399.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
PK Grills
PK Grills PK360
$999.99
Which is better: the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado or PK Grills PK360?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Char-Griller AKORN Kamado is the cheaper at $399.99.
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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 | PK Grills PK360 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $399.99 | $999.99 |
| Brand | Char-Griller | PK Grills |
| Released | — | — |
| Type | kamado | kettle |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 325 | 360 |
| Material | Triple-walled insulated steel with cast iron cooking grates | Cast aluminum body with marine stainless steel cooking grate |
| Hinged cooking grate | No | No |
| Ash catcher | Yes | No |
| Built in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Diameter or size (in) | 20 in | 24.8 x 15.8 in |
| Release | — | — |
Sources — Char-Griller AKORN Kamado: chargriller.com (verified 2026-06-19). PK Grills PK360: pkgrills.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Char-Griller AKORN Kamado and PK Grills PK360?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Type: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado kamado vs PK Grills PK360 kettle
- Primary cooking area sqin: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado 325 vs PK Grills PK360 360
- Material: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Triple-walled insulated steel with cast iron cooking grates vs PK Grills PK360 Cast aluminum body with marine stainless steel cooking grate
- Ash catcher: Char-Griller AKORN Kamado true vs PK Grills PK360 false
- Diameter or size (in): Char-Griller AKORN Kamado 20 in vs PK Grills PK360 24.8 x 15.8 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.
PK Grills PK360
One whitelisted hands-on source: WIRED's Joe Ray tested the PK360 across multi-day cooks (chicken, steak, ribs, brisket), rating it 9/10. He praises the tank-like cast-aluminum build and excellent temperature control, holding within 10-20°F all day. Main gripes: 360 sq in is small for crowds, and side tables and interior are hard to clean. No Popular Mechanics, Serious Eats or Wirecutter PK360 test found. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Excellent temperature control on long cooks — held within 10-20°F of target all day; Tank-like cast-aluminum build expected to last for decades; Versatile two-zone direct/indirect grilling and smoking.
Flagged: 360 sq in cooking surface too small for large cuts or big groups; Side tables' etched crosshatch and interior bottom are hard to clean; Utensil hooks placed on the back; no notch for thermometer probe cables.