Quick verdict
The Genesis E-325s is the better built, faster, hotter grill; the Sportsman 850 is the bigger, cheaper cooker that smokes. Buy the Weber for grilling quality and simplicity; buy the Pit Boss if smoke and capacity for less money matter more than finish.
Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Gas Grill with Sear Zone
The Genesis E-325s is a 39,000 BTU three-burner gas grill with a sear zone, 787 square inches of cooking area and Weber build and warranty. It grills fast, sears hard and handles a crowd with nothing but a propane tank.
Weber Genesis E-325s premium gas grill versus Pit Boss Sportsman 850 value pellet grill: searing, smoke, capacity, build, price and upkeep compared from published specifications.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Gas Grill with Sear Zone | Best Gas Grill Overall | 9.0 | Check price |
| Pit Boss Sportsman 850 Wood Pellet Grill | Best Pellet Grill for the Money | 8.3 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Weber Genesis E-325s 3-Burner Gas Grill with Sear Zone
The Genesis E-325s is a 39,000 BTU three-burner gas grill with a sear zone, 787 square inches of cooking area and Weber build and warranty. It grills fast, sears hard and handles a crowd with nothing but a propane tank.
Reasons to buy
- Sear zone on open flame
- Fast preheat and no power needed
- Premium finish and ten-year warranty
- Tall lid and expandable upper grate
Reasons to avoid
- No wood smoke
- Hands required throughout the cook
- Higher price than the Pit Boss
Pit Boss Sportsman 850 Wood Pellet Grill
The Sportsman 850 is a value pellet grill with 849 square inches, a 180 to 500 F range, a flame broiler for direct-flame searing and a 21 lb hopper. It smokes large cuts unattended, sears when the plate is open and usually costs less than the Genesis.
Reasons to buy
- Smokes and roasts unattended
- Flame broiler sears over fire
- Bigger cooking area and lower price
- Large hopper
Reasons to avoid
- Needs power and pellets
- No app; rougher finish
- Swings in cold wind
Where these two differ
A premium gas grill against a value pellet grill: the Genesis E-325s costs more and is better finished; the Sportsman 850 is bigger, cheaper and smokes. The Weber sears on open flame and is ready in ten minutes. The Pit Boss holds 225 F for a brisket and sears through a flame broiler when the plate slides open.
This comparison is based on the published specifications and manuals for both grills and on recurring owner feedback. We have not cooked on either ourselves.
| Specification | Genesis E-325s | Sportsman 850 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane | Wood pellets |
| Heat | 39,000 BTU plus sear zone | 180 to 500 F controlled |
| Cooking area | 787 sq in total | 849 sq in |
| Sear | Open flame sear zone | Flame broiler slide plate |
| Controls | Knobs | Digital dial, no app |
| Warranty | 10 years on cookbox and burners | Shorter, per Pit Boss |
Grilling and searing
The Genesis is the better grill. Thirty-nine thousand BTU, a sear zone and open flame crust a steak and char vegetables fast, and the whole grill is cooking ten minutes after the knob turns. The Pit Boss grills at 450 to 500 F and sears through its flame broiler, which puts food over the fire pot flame and gets close to gas. It is a good grill for a pellet grill and a slower one than the Weber.
Smoking
The Sportsman 850 holds a low temperature from a 21 lb hopper for as long as a brisket takes and smokes throughout. The Genesis cannot. For anyone who wants ribs and pulled pork without tending a fire, the Pit Boss is the only one of the two that applies.
Capacity and footprint
Eight hundred and forty-nine square inches on the Pit Boss against 787 on the Genesis with its upper grate. Both feed a party. The Pit Boss is longer and needs an outlet; the Genesis is deeper with fixed side tables.
Build and ownership
The Weber has the finish, the hardware and the ten-year warranty on the parts that fail. The Pit Boss has heavy steel, rough edges and a controller that works without an app. The Weber cleans with a brush; the Pit Boss needs the fire pot vacuumed and pellets kept dry. Both last with a cover.
Setup and first cook
The Genesis is assembled in an hour or so with two people and cooks the same evening after a burn-off. The Sportsman 850 needs a burn-in run at high temperature to cure the paint and season the barrel, and a dry place for the first bag of pellets, before the first smoke. Plan a weekend for either.
Common owner complaints
Genesis owners mention weight, assembly time and grease under the sear zone. Sportsman 850 owners mention temperature swings in wind, finish quality and controller readings that need checking with a separate thermometer.
Which one should you buy
Buy the Genesis E-325s if grilling is the main event and you value finish, speed and a hard sear with simple ownership. Buy the Sportsman 850 if you want smoke, more room and a lower price and can live with a rougher product and a power cord.
Our verdict
The Genesis E-325s is the better grill and takes this comparison on quality. The Sportsman 850 is the better buy for a smoker on a budget, and the flame broiler means it grills respectably too.
How we research
This comparison is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of both products and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run either product ourselves; where the makers do not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Smoke
Only the Pit Boss smokes. If that is the goal, the Genesis is out.
Searing quality
Open flame and a sear zone on the Genesis beat the flame broiler, which in turn beats most pellet grills.
Finish and warranty
Weber finish and a ten-year cookbox warranty against solid but rough Pit Boss steel.
Price and size
The Pit Boss gives more cooking area for less money and takes more patio.
Our verdict
The Genesis E-325s is the better built, faster, hotter grill; the Sportsman 850 is the bigger, cheaper cooker that smokes. Buy the Weber for grilling quality and simplicity; buy the Pit Boss if smoke and capacity for less money matter more than finish.
FAQs
The Genesis, on open flame with a sear zone. The Sportsman 850 flame broiler is a close second among pellet grills and still behind gas.
Only lightly with a chip box. It is a gas grill.
The Genesis, clearly: finish, hardware and warranty. The Pit Boss is sturdy steel with rough edges and a reliable auger.
The Sportsman 850 usually costs less despite being larger. Check current pricing.
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