Quick verdict
These are different kinds of grill. The Spirit E-310 is for quick, high-heat weeknight grilling with no setup; the Searwood 600 is for smoke, long cooks held at temperature by an app, and the sear at the end. Pick by how you cook, not by brand, since both are Webers.
Weber Spirit E-310 3-Burner Gas Grill
The Spirit E-310 is a propane grill that lights in a minute, reaches cooking temperature in ten and does burgers, chicken and vegetables on a weeknight with no planning. Three burners, 30,000 BTU and cast iron grates cover direct and indirect cooking, and nothing needs pellets, power or an app.
A propane Weber Spirit E-310 against the Weber Searwood 600 pellet grill: instant gas heat versus wood smoke and app-controlled low and slow. Published specifications compared for the cook who has to choose one.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Spirit E-310 3-Burner Gas Grill | Best for Everyday Grilling | 8.4 | Check price |
| Weber Searwood 600 Wood Pellet Grill | Best for Smoke and Set-and-Forget | 8.6 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Weber Spirit E-310 3-Burner Gas Grill
The Spirit E-310 is a propane grill that lights in a minute, reaches cooking temperature in ten and does burgers, chicken and vegetables on a weeknight with no planning. Three burners, 30,000 BTU and cast iron grates cover direct and indirect cooking, and nothing needs pellets, power or an app.
Reasons to buy
- Lights instantly; no power or pellets needed
- High direct heat for searing and quick cooks
- Lower purchase price
- Simple to clean and maintain
Reasons to avoid
- No wood smoke flavor
- Needs attention; nothing holds a temperature for you
- Propane tank to refill
Weber Searwood 600 Wood Pellet Grill
The Searwood 600 is a wood pellet grill with 600 square inches of cooking space, a 200 to 600 F range, WiFi and Bluetooth control and a smoke boost mode. It cooks low and slow unattended, adds real wood smoke and still sears at the top of its range. It needs electricity, pellets and a little more time to come up to heat.
Reasons to buy
- Real wood smoke on everything
- Holds a set temperature for hours via app
- Wide 200 to 600 F range covers smoking and searing
- Smoke boost mode for extra flavor
Reasons to avoid
- Needs a power outlet and a pellet supply
- Slower to preheat than gas
- More to clean: ash, grease and a hopper
Where these two differ
This is not a size comparison; it is a fuel comparison. The Spirit E-310 burns propane through three burners and cooks the way a gas grill does: fast, hot, by hand. The Searwood 600 burns wood pellets fed by an auger to a fire pot, holds a set temperature with a fan and a controller, and adds the smoke that pellets make. Both are Webers with a Weber warranty, and they suit different cooks.
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 | Spirit E-310 | Searwood 600 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Propane | Wood pellets |
| Heat | 30,000 BTU, 3 burners | 200 to 600 F controlled |
| Cooking area | 529 sq in total | 600 sq in |
| Controls | Knobs | Digital, WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Needs power | No | Yes |
| Smoke flavor | Minimal | Real wood smoke |
Speed and heat
The Spirit lights with a knob and a button and is ready in ten minutes. Full burners give high direct heat that sears steak and chars vegetables. The Searwood takes longer to reach temperature, holds whatever is set with no attention, and tops out at 600 F, which is enough to sear but not as fierce at the grate as an open gas flame. For a Tuesday chicken breast, gas wins on time; for a Saturday pork shoulder, pellets win on everything else.
Flavor
Gas adds almost no flavor of its own; the Flavorizer bars vaporize drippings for a grilled taste. Pellets add wood smoke to everything, and the Searwood smoke boost mode increases it for the first hour of a cook. If smoke is the point, there is no contest.
Control and attention
The Spirit is cooked by hand: knobs, lid, and a watchful eye. The Searwood is set to a temperature on the grill or in the app and holds it for hours, with alerts to a phone. One suits a cook who likes to tend the fire; the other suits a cook who wants to tend the guests.
Setup and upkeep
Gas needs a tank and a scrape of the grates. Pellets need a power outlet, a dry pellet supply, a hopper to keep filled and ash to vacuum from the fire pot. The Searwood is more to look after and rewards it with cooks the Spirit cannot do.
Which one should you buy
Buy the Spirit E-310 if most of your grilling is quick, high-heat and weeknight, and the patio has no outlet. Buy the Searwood 600 if you want smoke, long unattended cooks and app control, and you are happy to keep pellets on hand. Many households that want both end up with a gas grill for speed and a pellet grill for weekends, which is why these two sit side by side in the Weber range rather than competing.
Common owner complaints
Spirit owners mostly complain about the igniter battery dying and the side table size. Searwood owners mention the learning curve of pellet grilling, app pairing on some home networks and the need to vacuum the fire pot before it chokes. Both lists are short, and neither grill has a reputation for the controller or burner failures that end a cheaper grill early.
Our verdict
For everyday grilling the Spirit E-310 is the practical choice. For smoke and set-and-forget cooking the Searwood 600 is the better grill. Pick the one that matches the cooking you actually do.
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
How you cook most nights
Burgers and chicken in twenty minutes favor gas. Ribs, brisket and pulled pork favor pellets. Be honest about which is the usual night.
Power and pellets
A pellet grill needs an outlet within reach and a dry pellet supply. A gas grill needs a tank. One is easier in most backyards.
Searing
The Searwood reaches 600 F and sears well for a pellet grill. The Spirit sears harder on direct flame with less preheat.
Attention
Gas is by hand; pellets are set-and-forget with the app watching the temperature. Choose the style that suits your patience.
Our verdict
These are different kinds of grill. The Spirit E-310 is for quick, high-heat weeknight grilling with no setup; the Searwood 600 is for smoke, long cooks held at temperature by an app, and the sear at the end. Pick by how you cook, not by brand, since both are Webers.
FAQs
It reaches 600 F, which is high for a pellet grill, and sears well on its grates. A gas burner on full still gets hotter at the grate surface.
Only from drippings on the Flavorizer bars. A smoker box of chips adds a little; it is not a smoker.
The Spirit: scrape the grates, empty the drip tray. The Searwood adds ash from the fire pot and a hopper to keep dry.
Yes, from the controller on the grill. The app adds remote monitoring and alerts.
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