EDITORIAL COMPARISON · 1 VS 1
Kamado Joe Classic II 18" vs Kamado Joe Classic III 18": which one should you choose?
Comparison by Valery Grin ·
The most-asked question on r/kamadojoe: do I pay the Classic III premium for the SlōRoller, or stick with the Classic II? Same ceramic, same multi-tier Divide & Conquer, same Air Lift Hinge. Two things change and decide it.
Quick answer
The Kamado Joe Classic III is the better buy over the Kamado Joe Classic II: roughly €700 more (€2,399 versus €1,699) buys the SlōRoller, decisive on 12-hour smokes. The Kamado Joe Classic II is enough if you mostly grill and bake pizza, where the SlōRoller adds nothing.
Specs side by side
| Specification | Kamado Joe Classic II 18" | Kamado Joe Classic III 18" |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 46 cm | 46 cm |
| Diners | 4-6 | 6-8 |
| Weight | 103 kg | 127 kg |
| Material | Glazed ceramic | Glazed ceramic |
| Temperature range | 110°C – 400°C | 107°C – 398°C |
| Warranty | Vitalicia (cerámica) | Vitalicia (cerámica) |
| Current price | €1,699 | €2,399 |
Verdict by use case
Five real cooking scenarios. For each one we pick a winner with a concrete reason — no diplomatic ties.
For low & slow smoking
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
The SlōRoller is the only real reason to step up to the III. On a 12-hour pulled pork the even bark and well-distributed smoke are visible at a glance.
For pizza and oven bread
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic II 18"
For pizza the SlōRoller doesn't matter: both hit 400 °C in thirty minutes with the same thermal mass. Paying the III premium for pizza alone is throwing away €700.
For big families or parties
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
Tied on capacity (46 cm), but the III ships the upgraded Kontrol Tower thermometer: cooking for 8 makes reading temperature without opening every fifteen minutes worth the extra.
For balconies or tight spaces
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic II 18"
The II weighs 103 kg vs the III's 127 kg, both with cart according to Kamado Joe. Twenty-four kilos that don't sound like much until you move the kamado from the courier to its final spot.
For a tight budget
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic II 18"
The Classic II typically lands €700 below the III in Spanish shops and delivers 90 % of the kamado. If you don't do smokes longer than 8 hours, the gap isn't justified.
Best and worst of each
Kamado Joe Classic II 18"
Best
- Same dense ceramic and Air Lift Hinge as the Classic III
- Multi-tier Divide & Conquer included
- Lifetime ceramic warranty
Worst
- No SlōRoller: long smokes need more babysitting
- Lower-spec Kontrol Tower thermometer
Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
Best
- Multi-tier Divide & Conquer system
- SlōRoller turns it into a convection oven
- Dense ceramic build, excellent heat retention
Worst
- Premium price
- Weighs 127 kg with the cart (108 without) — needs two people to move
Our pick: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
If you're already buying a Kamado Joe, pay the gap and take the III. The SlōRoller is the only real upgrade, but it's the one that separates a good kamado from a genuinely exceptional one on long smokes. The II is still right only if your cooking is mostly grilling and pizza — then you literally aren't using the reason the III exists.
KEEP READING
Take this decision further
- Editorial guide
Your first kamado: the complete pre-purchase guide
Size, materials, brand and budget. Everything you have to decide before clicking Buy, told by someone who has made enough mistakes.
- Recipe to try
Low-and-slow smoked brisket
The kamado acid test. Ten hours at 110°C, a deep bark, a pink smoke ring and a texture that gives way under the weight of a fork.
- Recipe to try
St. Louis-style ribs on the kamado
St. Louis-cut ribs (no rib tips), cooked reverse-sear: four hours at 130°C with light smoke, then a final blast of direct heat to caramelise the glaze.
- Glossary term
SlōRoller
Convection chamber patented by Kamado Joe that evens out low-temperature heat and removes hotspots.
- Glossary term
Divide & Conquer
Kamado Joe's modular two-tier grate and deflector system that enables simultaneous multi-zone cooking.