Gas grills are one of the best ways to enjoy outdoor cooking. They are fast, easy to use, cook food to perfection and are simple to clean. You can enjoy cooking a wide range of food for friends and family with minimal fuss and effort.
Finding the right one for your needs is not always easy as there are so many options on the market. But if your option already torn between Napoleon and Weber, then you are in the right place since we will give you the low down on these two popular brands.
Weber and Napoleon Grills History and Overview
While both brands have a great history and a proud name in outdoor grills, there are some differences between these two great options. Before we discuss more detail for each product, let’s take a look at the company profile between Weber and Napoleon.
Weber overview
Weber brand under Weber-Stephen Products LLC is a very old American company which has been focusing on grilling manufacturing since 1951, even though the company itself has been established since 1893 as a metal works company.
Not only known with the grilling products, Weber also opened Grilling Restaurant and Grill Academy, which made them a superior in grilling industry.
Weber Spirit & Weber Genesis BBQ Grill
Weber has a long and proud reputation for quality, durable grills, and barbeques. Two of their leading lines are the Spirit and Genesis. While both have their merits, it is important to understand the difference.
Regarding value for money, the Spirit is a great option. While more compact than the Genesis it is still great for home use with the family. Most of the differences are cosmetic, but the more expensive Genesis is made from a higher grade of stainless steel.
Both are well made and have the same good warranty. If you do not need a lot of space, the Spirit will work well for you. If you want more area for grilling food and a few more bells and whistles, then spend a bit more on the Genesis.
Napoleon overview
At the other side, The history of Napoleon brand started by a couple from Germany, Wolfgang and Ingrid Schroeter who then moved to Canada and established a company named Wolf Steel Ltd which now become the parent company of Napoleon Appliances which produce the grills.
The Napoleon brand itself born in the 1980s when wood-burning stove becomes a trend. The full history can be read in this article.
Table Comparison Napoleon versus Weber Gas Grills
At this point to get fair grills comparison, we will compare the most famous model from each brand in the relatively same class based on its price.
Napoleon LEX 485 Review
The Napoleon Grill LEX 485 with Infrared Side & Rear Burners Natural Gas Grill is an extremely well built versatile grill with enough cooking surface for entertaining many people in style. As the name suggests, it works on natural gas or propane. As good gas grills go, this is a mid-price range option but still has everything you need from a gas grill.
It is well made from quality stainless steel and has 4 primary burners also in stainless steel. One of the main advantages is the large grilling space so you can cook for a number of people with Napoleon Grill. The smart wave design of the grill is excellent for cooking smaller items without them falling through. It boasts 4 main burners and 2 additional burners.
All 6 burners can be controlled independently. This gives you excellent control over your cooking and makes Napoleon highly versatile. The side burner and rotisserie will allow you to do authentic restaurant style cooking. You can use the side burner for perfectly seared steaks or put a pot on it for other foods or sauces.
It has a powerful ceramic infrared burner at the back, and a rotisserie kit is available as an extra. Another addition you can make to the Napoleon Grill is a smoker burner to transform it into one of the best grill smoker combos. This is great if you don’t want to purchase a separately dedicated smoker.
The JETFIRE Ignition System works exceptionally well, and the i-GLOW backlit knobs not only look great but make night cooking a breeze. The Napoleon gas grill is a popular well-loved option.
- Extremely generous cooking area
- Unique wave pattern on cooking grid for smaller items
- Backlit knobs
- Great electronic ignition
- Excellent warranty on the body and burners
- Built-in ice bucket with chopping board lid
- Double walled lid
- Handy side shelves
- Not all parts are stainless steel
- Warranty on parts other than body and burners not as good
Weber Genesis II LX 340 Review
The Weber Genesis II LX 340 is part of the fantastic LX range and offers quality and versatility at reasonable prices. The ignition system is excellent, and the build and design will make for perfect for cooking with minimal effort. The infrared options work exceptionally well, and the high+ heat setting will get the results you want for certain styles of cooking.
It can be purchased as propane or natural gas grill. This high-end grill delivers a host of features, many of which you would not expect it this price range. They also have an excellent warranty and great aftersales service.
- Well-established and trusted brand
- Great customer service
- Feature rich
- Illuminated control knobs
- Enameled cast iron exterior
- Large main cooking area
- Good warranty
- Natural gas or propane unit
- Flavor bars
- Infrared side burner (cover with flush mounts)
- A natural gas option is a separate unit, not a conversion
- Not the largest warming rack
Detail Comparison between Napoleon LEX 485 vs. Weber Genesis II LX 340
Grilling Area
Regarding grilling space, the Napoleon Grill is the winner with a generous 815 square inches of cooking space. This means you can entertain for large parties or a big family with ease. The Weber Grill has a bit less space at 513 square inches of cooking area.
Remember that both offer a handy warming area so you can do food in stages and keep it warm while you finish off. They also both have an excellent side burner for searing steaks or cooking other items, so this does add to the cooking area.
Heat Consistency
As both Napoleon and Weber have well-built products made from quality materials, they both offer good heat consistency. Some meats require heat consistency when cooked, like cooking smoked beef burnt ends. There is no shortcut to this. Yes, other burnt ends recipe needs only 15 minutes to make, but the results will be better if cooked with a grill that has heat consistency.
The Napoleon, being a larger grill, has one of the higher heat ratings in its class at an impressive 74,000 BTU heat output. It has a double walled lid to improve heat retention and consistency while cooking.
The Weber option still produces great heat at 43,500 BTUs which is more than enough for its size. It also boasts a ‘High+ Heat’ feature if you want to give it a bit of extra heat with certain foods.
Design
The Napoleon Grill has a sleek modern look, and the exterior is made from sturdy stainless steel. This is easy to clean, good at retaining heat, durable and also looks great. It has a sophisticated modern design and certainly does not look like a budget grill.
Quality stainless steel is used throughout the body of this well-designed grill. For night cooking, the Napoleon Grill has effective and great looking radiant blue i-glow backlit control knobs.
Some of the extra features that Napoleon offers is a tucked away ice bucket to keep drinks cold and a handy cutting board above it. This allows extra space to cut and prepare food right there while you are cooking. The ice tray can also be used for marinades if you wish.
The Genesis II LX S-340 Grill is also made from stainless steel even down to the sturdy cooking grates. Weber is well known for good build quality so you can expect a gas bbq that does not rust or corrode over time. The exterior has also been built for durability and the steel structure is porcelain-enameled. This gives it a sleek appearance that is tough and hardy. There are handy hooks to hang utensils or BBQ cooking gloves and plenty of space to work.
If you want to buy a Weber, this model is available in 4 color options, black, smoke, copper or crimson.
Another great design feature of the Weber Gas Grill is handy control and handle lights. The lid lights are automatic and will help you check on your food as you open the lid.
Price
The Weber Genesis II LX 340 is going to set you back a bit more than the larger Napoleon option. This is based more on features as opposed to size. Although both are well made from quality materials, Weber has a slight edge on quality, and this does add to the cost.
The Napoleon comes in at a slightly lower price as not all parts are stainless steel. It still has a good warranty, so this should not be a significant concern.
Technology
Starting the Napoleon Grill could not be easier thanks to their ‘JETFIRE Ignition System’. This reliable electric starter will get your gas grill going first time every time.
The temperature gauge is built-in and, unlike many other grills on the market, is extremely accurate. This allows you to keep an eye on the temperature with ease. The rear infrared rotisserie and side infrared burners are a great addition and make the grill highly versatile and effective. The rear infrared burner is ideal for rotisseries, and the side burner or Sizzle Zone will make, amongst other things, amazing perfectly seared steaks.
Weber has used their famous GS4 Grilling system on the LX S-340 which makes grilling easy and convenient. The electronic ignition is also extremely reliable and will get you started with no hassles. It also has a built-in thermometer on the lid, but Weber has also included the fantastic ‘iGrill3’ technology. While this thermometer will have to be purchased as an extra, it will give you amazing control and convenience. You can use an app on your phone or tablet to remotely monitor the temperature of the grill.
Maintenance & Warranty
Both companies are well established and have a good reputation for customer service. Napoleon offers a 10-year warranty on the stainless steel body as well as the stainless steel burners. The remaining parts being the sear plates and grates have a 5-year warranty.
The Weber warranty is a bit more generous, and they guarantee the cook box, lid, the Flavorizer bars, grill grates, grease management system, electric ignition, and the burners for 10 years and the remaining parts for 2 years.
Replacement parts for both makes are easy to come by and not too expensive. Maintenance is pretty straightforward and consists mainly of keeping the gas grill and all parts clean and free of grease.
Storage & Cleaning
Gas grills by nature are easier to clean than wood or charcoal grills, but both the Napoleon and Weber Gas Grills are both extremely easy to clean.
The Napoleon Grill has a full-length drip pan to collect fat and juices. Most of the drippings vaporize thanks to the flame tamers. What is left will collect in the disposable grease tray which you simply discard after grilling.
All that is left to do is wipe down and splashes that may have occurred. The unit measures 28 x 62 x 50 inches so ensure you have an excellent place to store it when not in use. The Weber unit is slightly more compact at 29 x 59 x 48 inches. The table on the left folds down for more accessible storage but still needs a bit of space.
Weber has a great grease management system to minimize cleaning hassle after use. It is highly effective. Again, you simply have to remove the catch pan to get rid of all the excess grease. Weber also has flavorizer bars that will eliminate much of the grease while adding an amazing smoky flavor to the food as you cook.
Both grills are quick and easy to clean. A grill cover is an optional extra that you can purchase to keep them clean and protected while in storage.
Performance Comparison between Napoleon Grills Compared to Weber
It has a large 18-inch by a 27-inch main grill, so you have plenty of room to grill. The stainless steel rod cooking grates have a wave design to prevent small items falling through and the durable rods retain heat perfectly and give excellent sear marks to your food. All in all, it is a highly competent grill with a good capacity. It seldom disappoints.
Napoleon also has their Prestige Series which include the Napoleon Prestige Pro, and they have the favorite Napoleon Rogue. Of all grill brands, Weber is probably one of the most well-known.
This grill looks amazing and performs even better. It is really easy to use from start to finish. The side burners are excellent, and the High+ Heat setting is ideal for certain foods or cooking styles. The backlit controls and lids handles are also exceptional.
Heat distribution and consistency are outstanding so even though the cooking area is not the biggest you can use all the space. The infrared sizzle zone will give you better than restaurant quality succulent steaks, or you could cook other items on the extra space. There is also a generous warming area if you are preparing food in batches. Cleaning the Genesis grill is an absolute breeze.
It is little wonder Weber have such a great reputation, and people love this model. The Spirit E-310 is a popular budget weber option for those wanting a compact gas grill, and the Smokey Mountain is a great smoker box.
Best Sellers
Final Verdict
It usually is relatively easy to decide between two options when you have learned all about them, but if you are looking for a professional grill, then both Napoleon and Weber are excellent choices. There are not that many significant differences between the two.
One the one hand, Napoleon is slightly less expensive and does give you a larger primary cooking area, but the Weber is also great and has some cool features. It is probably slightly more robust and is also more compact. While they are both easy to use, the Weber will probably suit the beginner better than Napoleon.
Give some thought to your grilling needs, home many people you intend cooking for and your budget. Think about the buying guides and checklist we have provided above and found the one that suits your needs and your budget the best.
You really can’t go wrong with either option and whichever one you decide on you can look forward to many happy years of grilling delicious food for friends and family.
I spent most of my life fascinated by food, and the outdoors. I can’t think of a more fitting combo that leads to mastering the art of BBQ one day. I ended up decent enough to grill the perfect burger and choose the best equipment after years of improvement. I create this website for outdoor cooking enthusiasts, who are fueled by interest but lacking in help, feel educated when they leave because I see my past clueless self in them.
To Whom It May Concern,
I was wondering if you can provide me with some information? I have been reading your BBQ reviews online and need a professional opinion before I purchase.
I am stuck between the weber genesis 335 and the napoleon rogue 525 xt. They have similar specs but the weber is 300 more. Is the weber worth the extra? Is it better at cooking and better flavour? Will it last longer and be better constructed?
Any opinion would be greatly appreciated
Hi Paul, I assume you refer to Weber Genesis II S-335 at this point. I would prefer to go with Weber if you can afford for the price, they have better build and relatively easy to get the parts on the market.