Kamado Joe
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III
$2199.99
Released 2019
Best Charcoal Grills · head-to-head
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared is cheaper at $199.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Char-Broil
Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared
$199.99Cheaper
Released 2015
Which is better: the Kamado Joe Classic Joe III or Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared is the cheaper at $199.99.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Kamado Joe Classic Joe III | Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $2199.99 | $199.99 |
| Brand | Kamado Joe | Char-Broil |
| Released | 2019 | 2015 |
| Type | kamado | kettle |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 250 | 360 |
| Material | Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and hardware | Porcelain-coated steel with TRU-Infrared porcelain grate |
| Hinged cooking grate | No | No |
| Ash catcher | No | Yes |
| Built in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Diameter or size (in) | 18 in | 22.5 in |
| Release | 2019 | 2015 |
Sources — Kamado Joe Classic Joe III: kamadojoe.com (verified 2026-06-19). Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared: charbroil.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Kamado Joe Classic Joe III and Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Type: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III kamado vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared kettle
- Primary cooking area sqin: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 250 vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared 360
- Material: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and hardware vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared Porcelain-coated steel with TRU-Infrared porcelain grate
- Ash catcher: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III false vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared true
- Diameter or size (in): Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 18 in vs Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared 22.5 in
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III
Only one whitelisted tester — Reviewed (USA Today), reviewed by professional chef Lindsay D. Mattison — produced a hands-on write-up of this exact model, listing it among the kamado grills the team tested. She was unimpressed: she praised the generous bundled accessories, an easy-to-remove ash drawer, and the locking lid with a burp release, but flagged a heavy lid that won't stay open, a screenless draft door as a safety risk, and side shelves that don't sit flat. No measured numbers were reported for this model. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Purchase price includes several accessories (stand, drop-down shelves, two-tier grates and deflector/pizza plates); Easy-to-remove ash drawer inside the firebox makes cleaning easy; Lid locks in place with an easy release button for burping.
Flagged: Heavy lid won't stay open; air-lift hinge adjustment isn't intuitive; Draft door has no screen, a potential safety risk of live coals escaping; Drop-down side shelves don't sit flat, resting at an upward angle.
Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared
One whitelisted hands-on tester survived verification — Reviewed (USA Today), whose chef-tester ran the Char-Broil Kettleman TRU-Infrared through a live cook-off against seven rivals and ranked it near the bottom. It praised the TRU-Infrared grate's sear and the hinged lid, but flagged a wobbly build, a v-shaped grate that traps grease and burnt bits, grates with no hinges (forcing hands into a dangerously hot spot when adding coals), and a handle-less ash bucket, concluding better grills exist for the price. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: TRU-Infrared grate produced a beautiful sear and grill marks on burgers; Hinged lid.
Flagged: Wobbly, unstable build versus competitors; V-shaped grate very difficult to clean; grease and burnt bits lodge in crevices; Grates have no hinges, putting hands in a dangerously hot spot when adding coals.