It is most likely that you’ve seen the name “Weber” if you ever looked for a grill before. It is a commonly known name in the grilling community. Their products are very popular for quite some time now, so much so that Weber Spirit vs Genesis Grill has become a thing. Many people choose this reliable name while buying a new grill.
But there are too many options that make it hard for us to choose. However, the two popular series i.e. Spirit and Genesis, cannot be overlooked. We can say both of these series carry some of the best gas grills around. They have been on the market for a few decades now and their qualities only seem to improve over time.
Most grilling enthusiasts choose one or another. Weber sure deserves the fame. I guess everyone knows that I am rather obsessed with kitchen products and you must not be so different since you are here with me! Like you, I used to wonder, what are the similarities and the differences between weber spirit and genesis?
Thus, we will compare these two series to one another after looking at both of them individually. Since the older versions are outdated, we will be discussing weber spirit ii and genesis ii. These series both contain many individual grills. Every one of them has different features to meet different needs. So, what would I recommend, weber spirit or genesis? Let’s learn!
What Is the Weber Spirit?
Weber Spirit is the older brother with many individual models. These are easy to use with their basic design and also tend to be more budget friendly. Since it is both affordable and easy to use, Spirit is recommended for beginners.
The durable gas grills of this series come with 2 or 3 burners and grates that are coated with porcelain. Usually foldable side tables are also included. It is designed for being a ‘bare bones’ grill. When we compare Weber Spirit with Genesis, we see that Spirit is more affordable but has fewer features. Usually it also has a smaller cooking area.
- Affordable
- User-friendly
- Foldable side tables
- Does not have many features like Genesis
- Small cooking area
- Cannot reach very high temperatures
Also Read: Best Pizza Pan – Top Reviews to Bake Pizzas at Home
What Is Genesis?
The Genesis series contains sturdy grills with more durable construction. These come with 3 or 4 burners at least for larger volume grilling. It also has a larger cooking and working area which makes the process easier.
Some Genesis models can use both natural gas and LPG. With both a large cooking area and more burners, not to mention more fuel options, it is possible to grill a large amount of food. And of course, this reflects in the price. Genesis is naturally more expensive than the Weber Spirit.
- More durable
- Functional
- Large cooking and working areas
- High heat generation
- Side tables are not foldable
- Expensive
Comparison Between Weber Spirit vs Genesis
It is time for the grill wars! The comparison part is always my favorite! To compare Weber Spirit and Genesis, I’ll use Spirit II E-310 and Genesis II E-335. People are loving them nowadays; they are very popular. Let’s see why.
As I mentioned before, when I said, “weber spirit vs genesis”, I actually meant “weber spirit ii vs genesis ii” since the first generation is outdated. Anyway, let’s start to compare these two best-selling grill options.
Cooking Area
Weber is mostly famous for its large cooking areas. This reputation comes from its Genesis series rather than Spirit series since Genesis has larger cooking areas than the other one. Genesis II E-335 has 513 square inches of cooking area with a 156 square inch warming rack. And when we combine these two, we get a 669 square inch cooking area.
On the other hand, the Weber Spirit series has a smaller cooking area in almost every model. This is also valid for E-310. Spirit II E-310 has a 424 square inches cooking area with a 105 square inch warming rack. This makes 529 square inches in total. Let alone Spirit II E-310, even if we compare other models of Spirit with other models of Genesis, Genesis still has the larger cooking area.
Number of Burners
The number of burners mostly change from model to model. It depends on the one you choose. But Genesis has more burners than Spirit models in most of the cases. While Spirit usually has 2 or 3 burners, Genesis often has more. We can consider Genesis II E-335 as an example.
It has 3 burners for the cooking area. But it also has 2 extra ones just in case. The extra ones make it more versatile. In contrast, Weber Spirit has only 3 burners for the main cooking area and nothing more. For example, Spirit II E-310 has only 3 burners and no extra ones.
Also Read: Best Meat Grinders Review – Grind Meat at Home Perfectly
Heat Output
Genesis seems to overtop Spirit in this case too. But just for some 2-burner grills. We cannot say there is a big difference with the other ones since the burners deliver the same heat output and they use the same burners. Spirit uses three burners, each of them delivers 10,000 BTU which makes 30,000 in total. On the other hand, the three burners of Genesis deliver 39.000 BTU in total.
Moreover, if we also consider the two extra burners of Genesis, Genesis overtops Spirit. Because while the sear burner delivers 9,000 BTU, the side burner delivers 12,000 BTU. As we can see, the total crashes the Spirit with this one. Although, the small cooking area in Spirit grills does yield more heat per square inch.
Cart Design
Weber Spirit usually comes with an open cart design. It is a handy feature when we want to access the grilling essentials or\and the tank. The E-310 model also has an open cart design. Genesis comes with a closed cart design. It makes it easy if you want to keep the stuff out of sight.
But not every model like this. Some Spirit models come with a closed cart design and some Genesis models come with an open cart design. It changes from model to model. Both options are available for both series.
Sear Station
If searing is an important step for you, a sear station is a great feature. If you are looking specifically for this feature, you must go after Genesis II E-335. It offers better cooked foods that serve looks with its sear station. But unfortunately, Spirit E-310 does not have this option.
Foldable Side Tables
A Foldable side table is a great handy feature that helps to keep the food warm and facilitates cooking all over. While Spirit II E-310 has this feature, Genesis II E-335 does not have it.
Wheels
This feature is not about the cooking process, but it is important for more convenient usage. Both series have wheels to make the ‘moving around’ process easier. Let’s individually look at the models that we are comparing. Spirit II E-310 has two all-weather wheels that help us move around the grill.
It does not have locking casters but thanks to its thick steel legs, the grill stays stable in place. Genesis II E-335 has all-weather wheels too. The wheels of Genesis are better in my opinion because they move smoother. It is easier to move the grill around. Additionally, it has locking casters.
Prices
Of course, the price depends on which model you are buying but Spirit series tends to be cheaper than Genesis. If you are a beginner, Spirit can offer you what you need at an affordable price. While Genesis is certainly the more expensive one, it sure offers us more features and a sturdier construct. It performs better with its advanced technology features.
Although these two grills (E-310 and E-335) are similar in size, the price gap is huge. Having more features than the other one makes Genesis II E-335 a more expensive option. You can choose it if you are an experienced person who can use all these features that it is offering you. But will it be worth it to pay that much money for that? It is your decision!
Also Read: Freestanding vs Slide in Range – Is There a Battle?
Wrapping Up
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, Weber is a reliable company. Throughout these years, the company mastered the grilling art. It offers us many different grills for many different needs. With these endless options, it may be hard to choose one since both series are the products of the same brand.
That’s why we compared the best-selling two series with each other today. In the end, I would recommend the Spirit for the beginners. If you are looking for an inexpensive option that is easy to learn and use, you should choose Spirit. On the other hand, Genesis is for more experienced ones.
It has more features and more cooking area. It can give you a high-end grilling experience with its durable construction. This was my thought about the ‘Weber Genesis vs Spirit’ discussion. What are your thoughts about this topic? Which series would you like to choose? Let me know in the comment section below!
Leave a Reply