There’s something addictive about the smell of fire and food mingling in the backyard. Over the past few months I rotated two very different grills into my weekend lineup—the Ninja FlexFlame PG301 and the Weber Searwood XL 600—to see which one would earn a permanent spot on my patio.
Both promise versatility, high heat, and restaurant-worthy flavor, but they approach outdoor cooking from completely different angles. Here’s the full story of how each performed when asked to handle everything from slow-smoked ribs to seared pizza and weeknight burgers.
Key Difference Between Ninja FlexFlame Vs Weber Searwood Grill and Smoker
The core distinction comes down to fuel and technology.
- Ninja FlexFlame is a hybrid electric–propane 5-in-1 cooker. Electricity powers its CyclonicHeat-iQ fan system for convection-style heat while propane delivers the flame.
- Weber Searwood XL 600 is a wood-pellet smoker–grill that uses pellets for both heat and smoke, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for app-based control.
If you’re torn between a gas-electric precision machine and a tech-savvy pellet smoker, this difference is where your decision will likely start.
- 5-IN-ONE: Grill, smoke, roast, griddle, and make perfect pizzas. (sold separately).
- The Weber Searwood XL 600 Pellet Smoker Grill has a full temperature range from 180° to 600°F; Lets you smoke, sear,...
Quick Comparison Table: Ninja FlexFlame Vs Weber Searwood Grill and Smoker
| Feature | Ninja FlexFlame PG301 | Weber Searwood XL 600 |
| Fuel Type | Hybrid: 20 lb propane + 3-prong electric | Hardwood pellets |
| Cooking Range | 200 °F – 600 °F | 180 °F – 600 °F |
| Cooking Modes | Grill, smoke, roast, griddle, pizza (accessories optional) | Smoke, sear, roast, griddle (with insert) |
| Cooking Area | 424 sq in main grate | Full-grate sear zone (~600 sq in) |
| Special Tech | CyclonicHeat-iQ convection fan, QuickCrisp Roaster | Rapid React PID controller, SmokeBoost, Weber Connect app |
| Dimensions (D × W × H) | 59.57″ × 25.08″ × 48.31″ | 23″ × 50.5″ × 45.75″ |
| Weight | Heavy-duty, approx mid-range | Similar, slightly more compact footprint |
| Connectivity | None | Wi-Fi & Bluetooth with food probe |
| Price Tier | Premium gas-electric | Premium pellet |
| Latest Price & Deals | Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
Detailed Comparative Review
Before I get into specifics, I’ll say this: both units produce phenomenal food. But the experience of cooking on each is night and day.
Design & Build Quality
The Ninja FlexFlame arrives as a statement piece. Its stainless-steel body, three-burner layout, and tall frame look like a traditional propane grill at first glance, but a closer look reveals digital controls and a plug-in port for the convection fan. The lid feels solid, the porcelain-enamel grates are easy to clean, and the heavy-duty handles stay cool even after a long roast.
The Weber Searwood, by contrast, has a slightly more compact profile and a modern black finish. Pellet storage is neatly integrated, and the lid seals with the heft you’d expect from Weber. Inside, the full-grate Sear Zone is wide open—no giant diffuser plate—so flames lick the food directly for those photogenic sear marks.
- 5-IN-ONE: Grill, smoke, roast, griddle, and make perfect pizzas. (sold separately).
- The Weber Searwood XL 600 Pellet Smoker Grill has a full temperature range from 180° to 600°F; Lets you smoke, sear,...
Ease of Use
This is where their personalities diverge.
With the Ninja, I simply plugged in a three-prong outdoor extension cord, attached a propane tank, and set the digital temperature dial. The CyclonicHeat-iQ fan distributed heat evenly, so I could roast a chicken without babysitting hot spots. Switching to griddle or pizza mode is literally a matter of swapping accessories and dialing a new temp.
The Weber Searwood asks for a little more ritual: fill the hopper with pellets, ignite, and let the Rapid React PID bring it to temp (usually in 12–15 minutes). The payoff is the unmistakable wood-smoke aroma. The Weber Connect app is excellent—Bluetooth or Wi-Fi lets me monitor temps and get alerts on my phone while I’m inside prepping sides.
- 5-IN-ONE: Grill, smoke, roast, griddle, and make perfect pizzas. (sold separately).
Performance & Cooking Functions
I ran both through a gauntlet: ribs, burgers, pizzas, even a delicate cedar-plank salmon.
- Ninja FlexFlame
- Grill Mode: Burgers and steaks cooked evenly with gorgeous sear lines thanks to precise burner control from 200 °F to 600 °F.
- Smoke & Roast: The QuickCrisp setting delivered juicy pork shoulder about 30 % faster than my offset smoker, with surprisingly deep flavor for a propane grill.
- Pizza & Griddle: Using the optional pizza stone, I turned out a 16″ Neapolitan-style pie in just over 5 minutes at 600 °F. Edge-to-edge griddle heat made breakfast pancakes effortless.
- Weber Searwood
- SmokeBoost Mode: Ribs came out with textbook bark and deep hickory flavor at a steady 225 °F.
- DirectFlame Searing: When I cranked it to 600 °F, I got steakhouse-level crusts that impressed everyone at the table.
- Consistency: Temperature recovery after lifting the lid was lightning fast—ideal for flipping or basting.
- The Weber Searwood XL 600 Pellet Smoker Grill has a full temperature range from 180° to 600°F; Lets you smoke, sear,...
Cleaning & Maintenance
The Ninja’s grease tray pulls out smoothly, and the porcelain-enamel grates release residue with a quick brush. The pellet-burning Weber requires ash cleanup, but the removable drip tray and diffuser make it less messy than older pellet grills. Both are built for outdoor life and shrug off the occasional rain shower.
Ninja FlexFlame PG301
- 5-IN-ONE: Grill, smoke, roast, griddle, and make perfect pizzas. (sold separately).
Pros:
- Five distinct cooking methods in one unit
- Electric fan plus propane burners = incredibly even heat
- Rapid high-temp pizza capability
- Large 424 sq in cooking surface
- Heavy-duty build and cool-touch handles
Cons:
- Needs both propane and an electrical outlet
- Accessories (pizza stone, full griddle) sold separately
- No wireless connectivity for remote monitoring
Weber Searwood XL 600
- The Weber Searwood XL 600 Pellet Smoker Grill has a full temperature range from 180° to 600°F; Lets you smoke, sear,...
Pros:
- Authentic wood-smoke flavor with precise pellet control
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth monitoring via Weber Connect app
- Full-grate Sear Zone for unbeatable sear marks
- Rapid React PID reaches temp in under 15 minutes
- SmokeBoost for deep, slow-smoked flavor
Cons:
- Pellet cleanup takes extra time
- Slightly smaller main grate compared to Ninja’s total area
- Dependent on pellet supply for long cooks
Conclusion & Recommendation
After months of side-by-side cooking, here’s my verdict:
Go with the Ninja FlexFlame if you crave versatility and convenience. It’s essentially a backyard culinary playground—grill steaks on Friday, smoke ribs Saturday, host a Sunday pizza party—all with fast heat and precise burner control. It’s perfect for households that want one machine to do it all without a steep learning curve.
Choose the Weber Searwood XL 600 if authentic smoke flavor and connected tech matter most. Its wood-fired taste, app-based monitoring, and rapid PID controller make it a dream for low-and-slow barbecue and high-heat searing alike.
Personally, I keep both on the patio: the Ninja for quick weeknight meals and pizza nights, the Weber for leisurely weekend smoke sessions. If I had to pick just one, my inner barbecue purist would lean toward the Weber’s unmistakable pellet flavor—but the Ninja’s speed and 5-in-1 flexibility make it a formidable all-rounder for anyone serious about outdoor cooking.
