EDITORIAL COMPARISON · 1 VS 1
Kamado Joe Classic III 18" vs Kamado Joe Konnected Joe: which one should you choose?
Comparison by Valery Grin ·
Same Kamado Joe, two opposite philosophies. The Classic III is the classic kamado you light by hand and watch with your eyes; the Konnected Joe lights itself, holds temperature with an automatic fan and pings your phone. Is the electronics premium worth it?
Quick answer
The Kamado Joe Classic III is the better buy over the Kamado Joe Konnected Joe: same 46 cm ceramic for more than €1,200 less (€1,899 versus €3,139.50) and no electronics to fail. The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe only pays off if you smoke 12-14-hour brisket almost weekly and need to sleep through it.
Specs side by side
| Specification | Kamado Joe Classic III 18" | Kamado Joe Konnected Joe |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 46 cm | 46 cm |
| Diners | 6-8 | 4-6 |
| Weight | 113 kg | 113 kg |
| Material | Cerámica esmaltada | Cerámica esmaltada + electrónica integrada |
| Temperature range | 110°C – 400°C | 110°C – 400°C |
| Warranty | Vitalicia (cerámica) | 1 año electrónica, vitalicia cerámica |
| Current price | €1,899 | €3,140 |
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 Konnected Joe
For 12-14-hour smokes the automatic Kontrol Fan gives you your night back. ±5 °C held automatically, two meat probes with phone alerts — the Classic III makes you buy a separate BBQ Guru.
For pizza and oven bread
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
At 400 °C the Kontrol Fan is useless (you're already wide open) and the electronics are a failure point you don't need. The Classic III does the same thing cheaper and without a phone.
For big families or parties
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
For 6-8-person gatherings you're hovering over the kamado anyway — the Konnected Joe app is noise. And the Classic III ships three-tier Divide & Conquer; the Konnected Joe only two.
For balconies or tight spaces
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
On a small terrace the Konnected Joe's wires are extra clutter, and its 2.4 GHz-only WiFi has known issues with modern mesh networks — and modern flats use mesh.
For a tight budget
Winner: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
The Konnected Joe lands more than €1,200 above the Classic III on Amazon ES (€3,139.50 vs €1,899) — and only carries a 1-year electronics warranty vs the lifetime ceramic.
Best and worst of each
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 113 kg — needs two people to move
Kamado Joe Konnected Joe
Best
- Auto Fire Starter: lights charcoal on its own, no firelighters or torch
- Automatic Kontrol Fan: holds ±5 °C across 12+ hour smokes
- App with two included meat probes — alerts when target is hit
Worst
- Electronics add failure points: fan, probes, WiFi connectors
- WiFi is 2.4 GHz only — known issues with modern mesh networks
Our pick: Kamado Joe Classic III 18"
Buy the Classic III. Kamado cooking sits closer to ritual than to connected appliance, and the Konnected Joe's electronics add failure points to a grill whose strength is its simplicity. We only recommend the Konnected Joe to people who smoke 12-14-hour pulled pork or brisket nearly every week and literally need to sleep while it cooks — for everything else, the Classic III is the sensible call.
KEEP READING
Take this decision further
- Editorial guide
How to light a kamado: the step-by-step method
No petrol, no weird tablets and no 45-minute waits. The cone method, airflow control and the mistakes that prevent 80% of the frustration.
- 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
Divide & Conquer
Kamado Joe's modular two-tier grate and deflector system that enables simultaneous multi-zone cooking.
- Glossary term
Probe
Pin or clip thermal sensor that measures food internal temperature or chamber air temperature.