Kamado Joe
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III
$2199.99
Released 2019
Best Charcoal Grills · head-to-head
Kamado Joe Classic Joe III vs Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Char-Griller AKORN Kamado is cheaper at $399.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Char-Griller
Char-Griller AKORN Kamado
$399.99Cheaper
Which is better: the Kamado Joe Classic Joe III or Char-Griller AKORN Kamado?
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 | Kamado Joe Classic Joe III | Char-Griller AKORN Kamado |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $2199.99 | $399.99 |
| Brand | Kamado Joe | Char-Griller |
| Released | 2019 | — |
| Type | kamado | kamado |
| Primary cooking area sqin | 250 | 325 |
| Material | Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and hardware | Triple-walled insulated steel with cast iron cooking grates |
| Hinged cooking grate | No | No |
| Ash catcher | No | Yes |
| Built in thermometer | Yes | Yes |
| Diameter or size (in) | 18 in | 20 in |
| Release | 2019 | — |
Sources — Kamado Joe Classic Joe III: kamadojoe.com (verified 2026-06-19). Char-Griller AKORN Kamado: chargriller.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the Kamado Joe Classic Joe III and Char-Griller AKORN Kamado?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Primary cooking area sqin: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 250 vs Char-Griller AKORN Kamado 325
- Material: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III Thick-walled ceramic dome with 304 stainless steel grates and hardware vs Char-Griller AKORN Kamado Triple-walled insulated steel with cast iron cooking grates
- Ash catcher: Kamado Joe Classic Joe III false vs Char-Griller AKORN Kamado true
- Diameter or size (in): Kamado Joe Classic Joe III 18 in vs Char-Griller AKORN Kamado 20 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-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.