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Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch vs Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB, compared side by side using critic reviews, Reddit opinions, and Amazon data.
Quick answer: Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch wins (90 vs 76). The smoker that made backyard smoking accessible. Rock-solid temp control for 12+ hours.
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
8 critics · 55 Reddit · 5,495 Amazon
Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB
4 critics · 25 Reddit · 355 Amazon
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Weber Smokey | Napoleon Prestige |
|---|---|---|
| PatioRank Score | 90/100 | 76/100 |
| Critic Score | 88/100 | 72/100 |
| Reddit Score | 90/100 | 80/100 |
| Amazon Rating | 4.7★ | 4.2★ |
| Reviews | 5,495 | 355 |
| Price | $419 | $949 |
Pros & Cons
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
- + Holds temp for 8-12 hours with zero babysitting
- + Produces deeper smoke flavor than any pellet grill
- + Bulletproof reliability - users report 10+ years of heavy use
- + Massive online community (virtualweberbullet.com)
- − No WiFi or app - manual monitoring only
- − Water pan management is tricky for beginners
- − Limited capacity vs larger offset smokers
Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB
- + Infrared sear station produces restaurant-quality results
- + Outstanding stainless steel build quality
- + Rotisserie kit included (Weber charges extra)
- + Even heat and solid temperature control across all burners
- − Expensive - hard to justify over Weber for casual grillers
- − Infrared burner burns food fast if you're not careful
- − Parts availability not as good as Weber's network
What Reddit Says
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch
"WSM 18 is the best smoker you can buy under $500. I've had mine for 7 years. Briskets, ribs, pulled pork - never let me down once."
"Sold my pellet grill and went back to the WSM. The smoke flavor isn't even comparable. Pellet grills are glorified ovens."
Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB
"The infrared sear station on the Prestige is legit. 1800F surface temps. First time I used it I thought I ruined my steak but it was the best crust I've ever gotten at home."
"Napoleon vs Weber is like BMW vs Toyota. Napoleon has better features and performance, Weber has better dealer network and resale. Pick your priority."
Verdict
The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 18-Inch takes this comparison with a PatioRank Score of 90/100. The smoker that made backyard smoking accessible. Rock-solid temp control for 12+ hours.