Grills & smokers · owner-verdict comparison

Meater Plus vs Pit Boss 850 Navigator: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Pit Boss 850 Navigator: 75% of 20 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 155 for the Meater Plus.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Meater Plus

53%of 155 owners recommend
53% recommend · 13% neutral · 34% don't
Owners praise
  • Often accurate internal temp readings
  • Fully wireless, no trailing probe wires
  • Good app with cook graphs
Owners complain about
  • Frequent connectivity drops
  • Limited wireless range
  • Ambient temp readings often off
Full owner report →

Pit Boss 850 Navigator

75%of 20 owners recommend
75% recommend · 10% neutral · 15% don't
Owners praise
  • Owners are overwhelmingly satisfied and say they'd buy the Navigator again, repeatedly described as running flawlessly for years with no issues
  • The open-flame broiler/direct-heat vents let it grill and char like a real grill, not just smoke like a typical pellet unit
  • Seen as strong value for the money, especially around the ~$399 price point and Black Friday/Costco deals
Owners complain about
  • Electronics reliability problems, control boards, WiFi controller, grill probes, and igniter failing or needing replacement/upgrade
  • Uneven heat distribution and temperature control, hopper-side food cooks faster than the far side, temps fluctuate, and the 10-degree adjustment increments feel too coarse
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Meater Plus if
  • ✓Oven and rotisserie cooks who keep the base close
  • ✓Data-loving cooks who want per-cook graphs
  • ✓Grillers who stay within short range of the cooker
Skip it if
  • Anyone needing long, reliable wireless range
  • Cooks working with thin cuts of meat
Get the Pit Boss 850 Navigator if
  • ✓Cooks who want both smoking and open-flame searing
  • ✓Budget buyers wanting solid build for the money
  • ✓First-time pellet grill owners
  • ✓Fans of heavier, smoky flavor and good smoke rings
Skip it if
  • Anyone needing even heat across the whole grate
  • Buyers worried by reports of control-board failures

What Meater Plus owners say

“The only thing g that counts is the center temperature which you can accurately measure with a meat thermometer. I use a Meater plus”
— winehaze on Reddit
“The MEATER really is a great tool. It does what is says which is everything.”
— @jonathanrobertson3406 on YouTube
“Constant trouble with this thing. Says not close enough when phone, probe, and dock are all right next to each other. Getting ready to just throw this thing out!”
— @cassandratheisen6865 on YouTube

What Pit Boss 850 Navigator owners say

“STILL ROCCCKING WITH THE NAVIGATOR 1150 AND 850”
— @VietKieuLongNguyen on YouTube
“Just picked one up Black Friday at Academy for a great price and have already grilled on it a few times, Great Product!!”
— @Intoxacajun on YouTube
“I have a Navigator 850G over a year old. Have replaced 4 control boards and 2 grill probes. Waiting on igniter. Does anyone have any ideas why they keep going bad?”
— jcbitsme on Pit Boss Grill Forum

Meater Plus vs Pit Boss 850 Navigator: frequently asked questions

Is the Meater Plus or the Pit Boss 850 Navigator better?

Real owners lean toward the Pit Boss 850 Navigator: 75% of 20 owners recommend it, vs 53% of 155 for the Meater Plus.

Who should get the Meater Plus?

Owners point the Meater Plus at oven and rotisserie cooks who keep the base close, and data-loving cooks who want per-cook graphs.

Who should get the Pit Boss 850 Navigator?

Owners point the Pit Boss 850 Navigator at cooks who want both smoking and open-flame searing, and budget buyers wanting solid build for the money.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Meater Plus is frequent connectivity drops. For the Pit Boss 850 Navigator, it's electronics reliability problems, control boards, WiFi controller, grill probes, and igniter failing or needing replacement/upgrade.