EDITORIAL COMPARISON · 1 VS 1
Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5" vs Monolith Icon 13": which one should you choose?
Comparison by Valery Grin · 27 May 2026
Two 33-34 cm tabletop kamados at nearly the same Amazon.es price, both with honest ceramic and the same promise: real kamado in portable format. The Joe Jr brings the US DNA and the strongest resale brand; the Monolith Icon brings EU service and a 10-year warranty.
Specs side by side
| Specification | Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5" | Monolith Icon 13" |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 34 cm | 33 cm |
| Diners | 2 | 2-4 |
| Weight | 31 kg | 35 kg |
| Material | Cerámica esmaltada | Cerámica esmaltada |
| Temperature range | 110°C – 400°C | 90°C – 400°C |
| Warranty | Vitalicia (cerámica) | 10 años (cerámica) |
| Current price | €549 | €549 |
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 Joe Jr 13.5"
Roughly the same ceramic mass, but the Joe Jr inherits Kamado Joe's air-flow engineering from the bigger models — better calibration on long smokes.
For pizza and oven bread
Winner: Monolith Icon 13"
The Icon ships with a ceramic heat deflector for indirect — the Joe Jr doesn't, you improvise with a generic plate setter that isn't native.
For big families or parties
Winner: Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5"
Near tie: 34 cm Joe Jr, 33 cm Icon. The Joe Jr edges it because its round grate loses fewer corners than the Icon, whose layout prioritises the deflector.
For balconies or tight spaces
Winner: Monolith Icon 13"
The Icon weighs 35 kg but is engineered European: single body, no folding handles, fits a standard outdoor cabinet better. The Joe Jr is a touch taller with the side handle attached.
For a tight budget
Winner: Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5"
Same approximate price (€549), but the Joe Jr resells better: the brand has an active Wallapop community and the secondary market is more liquid. Money you can recover.
Best and worst of each
Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5"
Best
- Same Kamado Joe ceramic as the bigger models — real heat retention
- Only 31 kg, two-handed carry
- Hits target temp in 15-20 min (a Classic III takes 30-40)
Worst
- 34 cm grate — caps you at 4 diners
- No SlōRoller or Divide & Conquer: if you want multi-tier, look elsewhere
Monolith Icon 13"
Best
- Real Monolith ceramic, not a Chinese rebrand
- 35 kg — one person can move it
- European after-sales service
Worst
- 33 cm is tight for 2-4; doesn't scale
- No Divide & Conquer-style multi-tier system
Our pick: Kamado Joe Joe Jr 13.5"
The Joe Jr — Kamado Joe heritage settles it when both cost similar. It comes from the brand with the most active kamado community, which means accessories, recipes and resale are all easier. The Monolith Icon is the call if you live far from Spanish urban hubs and want European service with spares in days — then the 10-year warranty and included deflector earn their keep.
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
Heat deflector
Ceramic plate placed between the coals and the grate to turn direct fire into indirect cooking.
- Glossary term
Plate setter
Big Green Egg's name for its three-legged ceramic deflector, equivalent to the modern ConvEGGtor.