I had not used a Z Grills product before receiving the Gen 2 10502B Smoke Beast, and I wasn’t familiar with the brand until I unpacked this unit. The packaging arrived intact and very well organized, and the assembly experience was exceptional for a grill priced under $600. The 10502B offers several attractive features for a budget-friendly pellet grill, but after using it I encountered a number of concerning problems. Because some of these problems affect safety or reliability, I cannot recommend the Z Grills 10502B (Gen 2) Smoke Beast. Below I cover the positives, the negatives, and everything in between.
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Why Trust Me?
I’ve been grilling for nearly 20 years across gas, charcoal, and pellet platforms, and I’ve worked with brands like Weber, Recteq, Green Mountain Grills, Z Grills, Masterbuilt, and Blackstone. I’ve cooked for events and for my family, and hold two advanced engineering degrees that help me understand and troubleshoot the technology behind pellet grills. I create content to simplify outdoor cooking and make it accessible and enjoyable.
TL;DR
Pros
- Excellent, user-friendly assembly process
- Clear instructions and labeled hardware
- Assembly gloves and required tools included
- Two removable shelf rows in addition to the main grill grates
- Pellet hopper window for a quick pellet level check
- Power cord storage bracket
- Pellet cleanout chute
- PID controller for steady temperature control
- Very affordable for the feature set
Cons
- No WiFi or remote monitoring
- Our test unit shut off unexpectedly during cooks on two separate occasions
- Lid gasket was partially destroyed during the initial burn-in
Final Verdict
The Z Grills 10502B (Gen 2) Smoke Beast presents a compelling list of features for its price, but inconsistent reliability and safety-related issues make it difficult to recommend. It may be a case of a defective unit, but the problems we experienced are significant.
Assembly
The Smoke Beast arrived well packaged and undamaged. It’s heavier than it looks—about 105 pounds—so plan on getting help when moving the box. Packaging was efficient and professional, and the assembly experience stood out: parts were well separated and labeled, illustrated instructions were clear, and the included tools and gloves were thoughtful additions. The gloves were protective yet thin enough to handle screws and small parts comfortably. Z Grills did a great job with packaging and assembly, and that level of detail set high expectations.
Burn-In
Priming the auger and getting pellets into the firepot was straightforward. However, the burn-in revealed problems. After placing the heat deflector, drip tray, grates, and shelves back in, I set the grill to 450°F and followed the burn-in guidance. A heavy oily, metallic smell from manufacturing oils burning off persisted far longer than expected—roughly 90 minutes instead of the typical 30—prompting my child to ask about the smell. When I opened the lid after the initial cycle I found the bottom edge of the lid gasket burned away. I notified Z Grills, and they acknowledged the issue; I hope they address it, since a functioning lid gasket improves heat retention and performance.
Performance
I evaluated the Smoke Beast across four distinct cooks on separate days: a pork butt, soft pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, and pig shots. Testing took place in varied weather conditions, which highlighted how the grill handles temperature control in real-world scenarios.
Low and Slow
Pork butt is a forgiving test for a smoker. I positioned the butt over the hottest part of the drip tray to monitor if rendered fat would ignite; although the drip tray reached extremely high temperatures (measured well above 800°F while set at 425°F), fat rendered and charred but did not flare into a sustained fire. The pork developed a mild smoky flavor comparable to other pellet grills and turned out tasty. Cold weather increased pellet consumption—about 4–6 pounds over a four-hour cook at 275°F—so expect higher pellet use in colder climates, which can affect overnight cook planning.
Non-traditional Cooks
Baking soft pretzels and cookies in the Smoke Beast worked very well. Results were slightly different from an oven—clean, toasty, wood-fired notes that many pellet-grilled bakers appreciate. The grill can provide a pleasant, subtle flavor for items that aren’t traditionally smoked.
Quick Cook
The pig shots turned out delicious, but the cook highlighted an alarming reliability issue: the grill shut off unexpectedly while preheating. This happened twice during testing, and I also experienced intermittent failures to power on initially, requiring multiple attempts to start. Random shutdowns and erratic power behavior erode confidence in the unit’s dependability.
Other Issues
Beyond shutdowns and the gasket problem, I noticed several additional concerns during months of testing:
- Controller startup displays a different Z Grills model number. This doesn’t affect function but looks unpolished.
- The fiberglass gasket between the cooking chamber and chimney sheds fibers. While I didn’t find fibers in food, loose fiberglass isn’t ideal in a cooking environment and raises questions about material selection and installation.
- The grill is awkward to move because it has only two wheels and a thin metal handle. At over 100 pounds, transporting the Smoke Beast requires effort and can be uncomfortable for frequent movers.
- On windy days grease can blow onto the ground, and I observed grease leaking down the side of the unit near the grease bucket. That’s messy and inconvenient.
Features
The Smoke Beast includes several strong features for its price class, with a few minor shortcomings that are largely preference-based.
- No WiFi — Remote monitoring and control are absent. Many entry-level pellet grills omit WiFi, but having it adds convenience and peace of mind, especially for beginners or overnight cooks.
- Simple PID controller — The interface is minimal: a single push/rotate control to power on and select settings. It’s easy to use, but advanced users may prefer more control options.
- Grill grates plus two removable shelves — This expands usable cooking area to more than 1,000 square inches and helps position food further from the firepot for more even cooking. Great for baking, fish, ribs, and appetizers.
- Pellet hopper window — A convenient visual indicator of pellet level, though the window doesn’t show the lower portion of the hopper so pellets can still be left unnoticed below the window level.
- Pellet cleanout chute — Helpful for changing wood types quickly and easily.
- Ash cleanout cup — Included, but its positioning under the chamber makes it less useful than other designs that provide direct access to the firepot for vacuuming ash.
- Power cord management — A simple bracket on the hopper makes cord storage tidy and effective.
- Four temperature probe ports — Plenty of ports for multi-zone cooking.
- Two temperature probes included — Useful, though it would be nicer to include four probes to match the ports.
- 12-pound hopper capacity — Adequate for many cooks, but a larger hopper (15+ lb) would reduce pellet refills during long or cold-weather cooks.
Price
At the time of testing, the Z Grills 10502B (Gen 2) Smoke Beast retailed for $479. If the unit had no major flaws it would represent a very strong value in the entry-level pellet grill market.
Build Quality
Aside from the burned gasket and some grease leakage, the Smoke Beast is generally well-built and sturdy. Materials are not premium, but the chassis and components have held up well during use.
Who Is It For?
Because our test unit exhibited serious reliability issues, I cannot confidently recommend this model. If these problems were absent the Smoke Beast would be a compelling entry-level pellet grill, especially for those who don’t need WiFi.
Final Thoughts
I had high expectations: outstanding packaging, excellent assembly, and a feature set that looks great on paper. Unfortunately, intermittent shutdowns, difficult startup behavior, an overheated drip tray, a burned gasket after burn-in, and grease leakage are serious drawbacks. These issues overshadow what is otherwise an attractive package for under $500. If Z Grills resolves the reliability and gasket issues, the Smoke Beast could be a strong contender.
Specifications
| Temperature Range | 160 to 450°F (71 to 232 °C) |
| Cooking Area | 1080 square inches |
| Hopper Capacity | 12 pounds |
| Cooking Chamber Height | 11 inches |
| Controller Type | PID |
| Dimensions | 45” Wide x 23” Deep x 54” Tall |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Temperature Probe Ports | 4 |
| Temperature Probes Included | 2 |