A familiar kettle with one obvious difference
The short version is simple: the Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill is a classic 22-inch Performer kettle with a Wi-Fi-connected controller layered onto it. The base grill still looks and functions like a Performer, but the smart module changes how you manage heat. Instead of relying only on the usual charcoal adjustments, the controller can monitor grill temperature and food temperature, and it ties into the Weber Connect app on a smart device.
That is the main point of the video. This is not a total reinvention of the kettle. It is Weber taking a known charcoal platform and adding digital control where the cook normally does the most work.
How the smart controller changes the way the grill is used
The part that makes this model different is the digital controller on the front. According to the video, it is Wi-Fi enabled and connected through the Weber Connect app. From there, you can monitor grill and food temperatures, change the cooking temperature, and access recipes.
The control panel also includes two built-in probe ports, and one food probe comes with the grill. That matters because it turns the cooker into something closer to a monitored setup rather than a purely hands-on charcoal pit. The controller is not just showing a number; it is part of the feedback loop. The video points out an ambient reading of 90° with the set temperature at 225°, which makes the function of the system easy to understand: it is built to hold a target rather than simply react to heat after the fact.
The other major piece is the fan. The video shows it inside the grill and notes that the duct sits down on the right and vents sideways toward the back. That fan is the mechanism tied to the smart control system. In practical terms, this is the hardware that lets the cooker respond to the controller’s temperature settings.
What the Performer still keeps from the standard model
Even with the smart controller added, the grill still carries the familiar Performer features that charcoal users already know. The hinged grate is still there for tending the coals. The lid still has a rack so it can be held off to the side during the cook. And unlike standard Weber kettles, Performer models come with a cart.
That cart is part of the reason the Performer has always occupied a different spot from a plain kettle. The video also shows a cutout for Weber Works drop-in accessories, such as a cutting board, which adds to the sense that this is a setup built around convenience as much as cooking.
So the smart model is not starting from zero. It takes a grill that already had some useful built-in organization and adds another layer without stripping away the things that made the Performer recognizable in the first place.
Small convenience details that shape the experience
The video spends time on a few details that may sound minor but tell you how Weber expects the grill to be used.
One is the power cord. It is described as a little short, and it plugs into the controller on the grill. That is the kind of thing a buyer will notice fast, because it affects where the grill can sit and how cleanly the setup connects.
The cart also includes tool hooks and a generous storage area. The storage space is shown as usable for charcoal or other items, which makes the cart feel less like a stand and more like a working part of the cooking station.
Another detail is the small door over the fan. The video calls this an important feature because it opens and closes the fan access. When the fan is in use, the door should be open. If you want to run the grill in manual mode, you can close it and fall back to the old-fashioned intake damper control instead.
That manual option is worth paying attention to. It means the smart model does not force you into one way of cooking. The grill can operate with the fan and controller, but it can also be used the traditional way when you want to manage temperature yourself.
What this first look does and does not answer
This video is framed as a first look, not a full verdict. The creator makes that clear by directing viewers to the written review for the detailed testing and cooking results. So what you get here is not a complete judgment on performance. You get a guided tour of the parts that matter most in the smart version.
That makes the focus narrower but useful. The video answers the basic structural question: what is smart about the smart Performer, and what still makes it a Performer? The answer is that the tech lives in the controller, probe ports, fan, and app connection, while the rest of the grill stays rooted in the familiar kettle-and-cart format.
For readers deciding whether this model fits their style, that distinction is the real takeaway. If you want a charcoal kettle that behaves more like a monitored cooking system, this grill is built around that idea. If you prefer a traditional charcoal experience, Weber still leaves a path for manual control.
The result is a kettle that tries to bridge convenience and charcoal familiarity without making the original design disappear.
Watch the original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBWTpPltGDc
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Official Pit Culture merchandise from Texas Thread Theory, built for people who live for fire, smoke and low-and-slow weekends.
