Choosing between the Masterbuilt 800 vs 1050 is not as hard as it may seem. Both grills use charcoal and can smoke, grill, roast, and sear. The main difference is size. The 800 has a built-in griddle and takes up less space. The 1050 gives you a lot more room to cook.
I have compared many grills over the years, and I find that most people are happy with the 800 unless they cook for large groups often. In many U.S. backyards, the 800 is big enough for family meals, while the 1050 works better for parties, game days, and holiday cooks.
In this guide, I will show the key differences, share real use tips, and help you pick the right grill for your needs.
Masterbuilt 800 Review
I have used the Masterbuilt 800 for a few months. I bought it because I wanted one grill that could smoke, grill, and sear. I also wanted real charcoal taste without a lot of work. After many cooks, I have learned what it does well and where it needs work.
Quick Introduction
I cook a mix of BBQ and quick meals. Most days, I cook for four to eight people. I chose the Masterbuilt 800 because it can smoke and grill in one unit. The built-in griddle was a big reason too.
Over the past few months, I have cooked brisket, ribs, pork shoulder, burgers, steaks, chicken, eggs, and vegetables. It has become one of the most used cookers in my backyard.
My First Impressions
The grill arrived in good shape. The box was well packed. I did not find any dents or broken parts.
Build time took me a little over two hours. Some parts were heavy, so an extra set of hands helped. The steps were clear, but there were a lot of them.
My first thought was that the grill felt strong. The metal parts felt solid. Nothing felt loose or cheap.
The size also stood out. It takes up a fair amount of space. Once built, it looked like a serious BBQ cooker.
The weight was the first downside I noticed. It rolls fine on a flat patio, but it is not easy to move often.
Cooking Performance
This is where the Masterbuilt 800 shines.
My first test was ribs. I cooked two racks at 250°F for about five hours. The grill stayed close to my set temperature the whole time. I did not need to make many changes.
Next, I cooked a pork shoulder. This was a long cook. I checked the temperature many times. The grill stayed steady. The pork came out soft and full of smoke taste.
I also cooked a brisket. The grill heated up fast. It reached my target temperature much faster than my old charcoal smoker. Once hot, it stayed on track.
For grilling, I cooked burgers, steaks, and chicken. The burgers got a nice crust. The steaks cooked even from edge to edge. The chicken stayed juicy.
The griddle became one of my favorite parts. I cooked eggs, bacon, pancakes, onions, peppers, and smash burgers. It worked very well for weekend meals.
I also checked how the grill handled different days. I used it on warm days and cool evenings. The temperature stayed steady. That gave me more trust during long cooks.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great charcoal taste | Heavy to move |
| Holds heat well | Build takes time |
| Built-in griddle | Needs a lot of space |
| Can smoke and grill | App may lose signal |
| Large cooking area | Cleanup takes time |
| Easy controls | Uses more charcoal than small grills |
Ease of Use
The controls are simple. I set the temperature and let the grill work. It did not take long to learn.
I used the app on many cooks. Most of the time it worked well. I could check temperatures from inside my house. A few times the signal dropped, but it came back.
Adding charcoal is easy. I also add wood chunks for more smoke flavor. The hopper makes this simple.
Ash cleanup is not hard. It just takes a few minutes after long cooks.
By my second weekend with the grill, I felt fully comfortable using it.
What I Liked Most
The best thing about the Masterbuilt 800 is the charcoal flavor. Food tastes like it came from a real smoker.
I also love the griddle. I use it more than I thought I would. On weekends, I often cook eggs, bacon, and pancakes outside. For family cookouts, I make smash burgers.
The grill is very flexible. One day I smoke ribs. The next day I grill steaks. Then I use the griddle for breakfast.
I also like how fast it changes temperature. That saves time and makes cooking easier.
Things I Did Not Like
The build process took longer than I expected. It was not hard, but it took time.
The grill is heavy. Once it is in place, it is fine. Moving it often would be a pain.
The app worked most of the time, but it was not perfect. I had a few signal issues during testing.
Cleanup takes some effort. Grease and ash build up after long cooks.
After months of use, I noticed a little paint wear near hot spots. It was not severe, but it was there.
The grill also needs a good amount of space. If your patio is small, this may matter.
Final Verdict
After months of use, I would buy the Masterbuilt 800 again. It gives me real charcoal flavor and makes smoking much easier. The griddle adds a lot of value. I use it almost every week.
I think it is a great fit for families, BBQ fans, and people who want one cooker that can do many jobs. If you need something small or easy to move, look at other options. For me, the great food and easy temperature control make the trade-offs worth it.
Masterbuilt 1050 Review
I have used the Masterbuilt 1050 for several weeks. I wanted a bigger grill for family meals and weekend BBQs. I also wanted real charcoal taste with easy control. After many cooks, I now know how it performs in real use.
Quick Introduction
I cook for 8 to 15 people most weekends. I chose the Masterbuilt 1050 because I needed more space than smaller grills. I also wanted one grill that could smoke and grill.
Before this, I often ran out of room when cooking ribs or multiple meats. That was the main reason I upgraded. I have now used it for many backyard cooks, both smoking and grilling.
My First Impressions
The grill came in a large box. Everything was packed well. Nothing was damaged.
Assembly took time. It was not hard, but it took a few hours. Some parts were heavy, so I needed help. The instructions were clear.
The first thing I noticed was the size. The Masterbuilt 1050 is big. It takes up a lot of space.
Once built, it felt strong. The metal parts felt solid. The grill also felt stable when I moved it.
The weight is high. It rolls on flat ground, but I do not move it often.
Cooking Performance
This is the best part of the Masterbuilt 1050.
I first cooked ribs. I made three racks at 250°F for about five hours. The heat stayed steady most of the time. I did small checks, but I did not need to adjust much.
Next, I cooked a pork shoulder overnight. I checked it a few times. The temperature stayed stable. The meat came out soft and full of smoke flavor.
I also cooked two briskets at once. The extra space made this easy. Both cooked evenly. I did not feel crowded at all.
For grilling, I made burgers, steaks, and chicken for more than 10 people. The heat was strong. The burgers cooked fast. The steaks had a nice crust.
I tested it on different days. Warm days and cool nights. The temperature stayed steady after it warmed up. It also heats faster than I expected for a charcoal grill.
Overall, cooking felt easy and steady. It handled large meals without stress.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Very large cooking space | Heavy to move |
| Great for big groups | Takes up space |
| Strong charcoal taste | Build takes time |
| Holds steady heat | Uses more charcoal |
| Good for smoke and grill | Cleanup takes effort |
| Fits many meats at once | App can drop signal |
The biggest win is space. I can cook many foods at the same time. The downside is size and weight.
I also noticed it uses more charcoal than smaller grills. That is normal for its size, but worth noting.
Ease of Use
The Masterbuilt 1050 is easy to use after a few cooks. The control panel is simple. I set the temp and let it run.
The app worked most of the time. I could check temps from inside. A few times it lost connection, but it came back.
Adding charcoal is easy. I also add wood chunks for more smoke flavor.
Ash cleanup is simple but takes a few minutes. After a few uses, I got used to the process.
After 2 to 3 cooks, it felt very easy to use. I checked it less over time.
What I Liked Most
The best thing is the cooking space. I can cook for 12 to 15 people without stress.
I also like the charcoal flavor. It gives food a real BBQ taste.
One weekend, I cooked ribs, chicken, and burgers at the same time. It handled everything well.
I also like how flexible it is. I can smoke low and slow or grill hot and fast.
It fits well for weekend BBQs and family meals.
Things I Did Not Like
The grill is heavy. I do not move it often.
Assembly took time. It was not hard, just slow.
The app sometimes drops connection.
Cleanup takes effort after big cooks.
It also uses more charcoal than small grills.
It needs a lot of space on the patio.
Final Verdict
After weeks of use, I would buy the Masterbuilt 1050 again. It makes big cooking easy.
It is best for families and people who cook for groups. It is not ideal for small spaces.
For me, the space, steady heat, and charcoal flavor make it worth it. The small issues are easy to accept once you use it often.
Details Comparison for Masterbuilt 800 vs 1050
I have used both the Masterbuilt 800 vs 1050 in real backyard cooking. I focused on real use, not specs. I cooked ribs, brisket, burgers, and full meals to see how they work in daily life.
Cooking Space and Capacity
The biggest change is space. The 800 is good for small families. The 1050 is better for large groups. I ran out of space on the 800 when cooking many items. The 1050 solved that problem.
| Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Good for 4–6 people | Good for 8–15 people |
| Fits 1 brisket | Fits 2 briskets |
| Tight for big cooks | Easy for big cooks |
| Best for small meals | Best for parties |
When I cooked ribs and chicken together, the 1050 felt much easier to use.
Temperature Control and Performance
Both grills use the same system. Both hold heat well after warm-up. I tested ribs and pork on both grills.
| Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Fast heat-up | Slightly slower heat-up |
| Stable for small cooks | Very stable for large cooks |
| Good for short cooks | Better for long cooks |
| Few hot spots | Very even heat |
On long cooks, both worked well. The 1050 felt more steady when fully loaded.
Ease of Use in Real Life
Both grills are easy to use. I set the temp and let them run. After a few cooks, both felt simple.
| Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Easy for beginners | Slight learning at first |
| Simple controls | Same control system |
| App works most of the time | Same app use |
| Fewer checks needed | Fewer checks needed |
After 2–3 cooks, I did not need to watch them closely.
Cooking Versatility
This is where use style matters. The 800 has a griddle. The 1050 does not, but it has more space.
| Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Built-in griddle | No griddle |
| Great for breakfast | Great for BBQ events |
| Smoke + grill + griddle | Smoke + grill focus |
| Daily use friendly | Party cooking friendly |
I used the 800 for eggs and bacon. I used the 1050 for large BBQ days.
Size, Maintenance, and Practical Use
Size makes a big difference in real life. The 800 fits small spaces. The 1050 needs more room.
| Masterbuilt 800 | Masterbuilt 1050 |
| Fits small patios | Needs large space |
| Easier to move | Hard to move |
| Less charcoal use | More charcoal use |
| Faster cleanup | Bigger cleanup |
After long cooks, the 1050 takes more time to clean.
Conclusion
After using both grills, I see a clear split in use. The Masterbuilt 800 vs 1050 is not about better or worse. It is about how much you cook.
The 800 is good for small families and daily meals. The 1050 is better for big groups and long BBQ days. I use the 1050 when I need space and the 800 when I want quick cooks.
Both work well. Your choice depends on how much food you make and how often you host.
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