When looking to buy a propane gas grill, you must consider its versatility and build quality. Nobody likes a grill that feels flimsy and is not adaptable to one’s needs.
This is why it is best that you look for a grill constructed using sturdy materials such as stainless steel.
In light of this, it’s essential to take the grill’s BTU into account (British Thermal Unit). The maximum output of the grill is determined by this. It enables the user to adjust the intensity of their heater.
For a simpler cooking experience, a grill’s BTU and burner design are crucial factors in heat dispersion.
The two most popular propane grill manufacturers are without a doubt Broil King and Weber. They are renowned for producing strong, high-quality grills. The demand for propane grills has increased dramatically during the past ten years.
Whether you are looking for an entry-level or a high-end gas grill, you can be sure that Broil King and Weber have something for you.
Finding the best propane grill can be an uphill task, which is why we have put these brands head to head to find out the brand that best suits you.
Get to Know the Brands
It is important that we familiarize ourselves with the two brands before we take a look at the specifics of each grill.
Weber
Weber is by no doubt one of the biggest brands in the BBQ market. It was established in 1952 in Chicago. George Stephen Sr fashioned the first Weber grill using a half of a marine buoy that gave it a unique hemispherical Weber look like the Weber Smokey Mountain.
Over the years, Weber has grown from making simple brazier grills to a wide array of grilling equipment that includes electric pellet grills. Weber also creates grilling sauces and cookbooks that are available in all their chain of restaurants.
Broil King
Even though the establishment is not as old as Weber’s, Broil King has managed to build a reputation that is unmatched. Broil King was established in 1986 and has remained true to its doctrines. All their grills are made in the United States and Canada using local materials and labor.
Cadco, a renowned manufacturer that deals in high-end food service equipment, managed to purchase the Broil King brand in 1999. This allowed the company to increase its variety of grills in the market.
Learn More About the Grills
Weber and Broil King both have a wide array of products in the market today. To make it as even as possible, we have chosen to look at two of their comparatively similar grills. Weber will be represented by the
Genesis II E-435 while Broil King will be represented by the Regal S490 Pro.
Weber Genesis II E-435 Propane Gas Grill
This propane gas grill from Weber known is loved for its robust build. It is also relatively affordable compared to other grills in the market. The grill’s cooking system offers an exceptional distribution of heat. The
Genesis II E-435 is designed with porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grids to prevent explosions and flare-ups.
Features
- Dimensions: W65 x H47 x D29 inches
- Weight: 214 pounds
- Main burners and BTUs: 4 burners that produce a sum of 48000 BTUs
- Entire cooking area: 844 sq. inches
- Side burner: present
Broil King Regal S490 Pro Propane Gas Grill
The Broil King brand is well-known for its well-made and reliable grills that have stood the test of time. The Regal S490 is no exception. It features a massive cooking surface that allows users to be able to cook various foods simultaneously.
The grill is designed with a heavy gauge stainless steel that is very durable and offers excellent heat retention. The Regal S490 grill comes with a 5-year long warranty.
Features
- Dimensions: W65 x H50.4 x D24.4 inches
- Weight: 196 pounds
- Main burners and BTUs: 4 burners that produce a sum of 50000 BTUs
- Entire cooking area: 1000 square inches
- Side burner: present
Head-to-Head Comparison
Instead of looking at a general overview of these two models, we will delve into their fine details by breaking them down into their noteworthy features. This will allow us to be able to make a comprehensive comparison.
Burners/BTU Output
A lot of people are fond of overlooking this detail because they find it insignificant. This fallacy will only make you buy a low-quality grill in the long haul. BTU output is significant in the sense that it gives you a general idea of the duration the grill will take to heat up, plus how hot the grill can get.
The Weber Genesis is designed with a total of four high-performance stainless steel burners. They all produce a collective power of 48000 BTUs. The grill also has a side burner mounted on the shelf that produces 12000 BTUs and a searing station that puts out 9000 BTUs. All these burners combined make the grill produce a total output of 69000 BTUs.
The primary Weber Burners are triangular in design and narrow toward the back of the grill. This feature makes the burners produce a relatively consistent heat to the entire cooking area but cuts down on the output of the primary burner.
The Regal S490, on the other hand, features dual-tube main burners made of stainless steel. The burners produce about 50000 BTUs that, when combined with the 10000BTUs side burner and the rotisserie burner’s 18000 BTUs, give a total of 78000BTUs. This BTU output is 9000 higher than that of Weber.
Even though BTUs are not everything, the Regal S490’s dual-tube burner design combined with its high BTU output makes it consistently produce an evenly distributed heat.
Although the cooking system of the Weber grill also provides an exceptional distribution of heat, the Regal S490’s dual-tube burner setup is more effective. The grill’s high BTU output also makes it heat up quicker compared to that of the Weber.
Warranty
Both these fantastic grill brands trade on the reliability of their grills. This is why both of these models have quite a wide-ranging warranty.
The Weber Genesis II E-435 has an impressive 10-year standard warranty against material and workmanship defects exclusive of wear and tear.
Broil King, on the other hand, gives a more detailed and less incorporating warranty. They also offer a lifetime warranty on their burners and cook box. In addition to these, Broil King also has a 5-year warranty on their stainless steel cooking grates and the Flav-R-Wave cooking system, and a two-year warranty on all other parts and paint.
Although Broil King offers a more comprehensive and standard guarantee for a high-end grill, Weber’s more encompassing ten-year warranty is unmatched. This is because the warranty covers all individual parts of the gas grill.
Cooking Surface
As shown in the features listed above, the Regal S490 is larger and has a relatively bigger cooking surface as compared to the Genesis II E-435. A large cooking area makes it easier for the pitmaster to prepare various foods simultaneously and conveniently.
The main cook box of the Regal S490 is 600 sq. inches. Combined with the side burner’s 400 sq. inches, the gas grill provides a total cooking surface of 1000 sq. inches.
On the other hand, the Weber Genesis II E-435 features a 646 sq. inches cooking surface which when added to the side burner’s 145 sq. inches, offers a total of 844 sq. inches.
Even though it seems like the Broil King Regal S490 has a relatively bigger cooking surface, it is worth noting that 200 sq. inches of the cooking area are a rotisserie which is not usually used for a side burner.
When you do away with the rotisserie, these two grills will have approximately similar cooking surfaces. In case you do not need a rotisserie, the Genesis II E-435 offers you a tad more cooking area.
Cooking System
Both the Regal S490 and the Genesis II E-435 have copyrighted cooking systems installed.
Genesis has the proprietary Weber Cooking System. The system uses a combination of flame tamers and stainless steel bars to help in uniform distribution of heat, minimization of flare-ups, and evaporation of drippings to add flavor to food.
The Regal S490 features the Flav-R-Heat panels and the Flav-R cooking system made of stainless steel. The Flav-R-Heat panels isolate the individual burners to allow you to prepare foods at different temperatures in various partitions.
The Regal S490’s cooking system is a bit similar to the Weber Cooking System because it minimizes the drippings from the food and vaporizes them to add flavor to the food.
Even though the two cooking systems are impressive, Regal S490’s partitions are a great addition. With Regal S490, you will get everything that Weber offers with the added advantage of partitions to let you cook various foods at different temperatures.
Striking Features
Right of the bat, both gas grills are exceptional choices considering their costs in the grill market. The two grills are well designed, well-built, and come with a vast array of features to make your grilling experience enjoyable.
The Weber Genesis II E-435 may not be considered a leader when it comes to BTU output. Still, because of its triangular burners and a robust cooking system, you are guaranteed superb heat distribution.
The Weber, though smaller in size, has a relatively larger cooking surface if the Regal S490’s rotisserie is removed.
Almost all parts of the Genesis II E-435 are made of stainless steel and are covered by Weber’s all-encompassing warranty. The Genesis is indeed a great gas grill.
The Regal S490 is equally a well-designed gas grill that has a tad more perks than its counterpart from Weber. Its dual tube burners made of stainless steel provide excellent distribution of heat and flare-up control, coupled with the 10000 BTU output more than the Genesis.
Its Flav-R-Wave flame tamers are equally as effective as the cooking system in the Weber. The Regal S490’s Flav-R-Heat panels allow for an easy 2-zone cooking system.
In addition, little details, such as the foldable side burners, make it easy to store the Regal S490. It is for such reasons that the Regal S490 has an edge over the Genesis II E-435.
Other Exceptional Options to Consider
Both the Broil King and Weber brands have a wide range of grills to choose from. In case the Regal S490 and the Genesis II E-435 do not tickle your fancy, there are other great grills you can consider.
Weber Spirit E-330 Propane Gas Grill
It is an entry-level Weber propane gas grill with a guarantee of quality. Just like any other entry-level grill, The Weber Spirit E-330 does not come with the usual 10-year warranty on individual parts. It also lacks flavorizer bars to help add flavor to food.
Just like the Genesis II E-435, this grill does not produce the highest values in terms of BTUs. The Spirit E-330 produces 32000 BTUs from its three stainless steel burners. With that said, the Spirit E-330 distributes heat effectively for even cooking.
It is designed with a searing station that produces an output of 75000 BTUs. The searing station has its independent electronic ignition for your searing needs coupled with a foldable side table for easy storage.
Features
- Searing station
- 32000 BTUs/ hour output
- Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grids
- 529 sq. inches of cooking space
- Infinity ignition
- 3 stainless steel burners
Read further and find out what’s the difference between Weber’s Spirit vs Genesis – What’s the Difference? Weber Spirit and Genesis.
Broil King Portable Propane Gas Grill
The Porta Chef series by Broil King makes cooking on the go quite easy and convenient. The Porta Chef 320 offers a remarkable amount of cooking space compared to other movable grills in the market. This allows the user to prepare delicious meals for the whole family or feed visiting friends. Its sturdy legs are perfectly designed to snap back into place to offer stability for the grill.
The Broil King Porta 320, though small in size, works just as perfectly as the bigger propane grills. Its outstanding features, such as the 18000 BTU output, allow it to offer an exceptional grilling performance.
Features
- 18000 BTUs
- 3 stainless steel burners
- High-quality cast iron grills
- Dimensions: W26.5 x L30 x H26 Inches
- Removable legs for easy storage
- Cooking surface: 430 sq. inches
- Warming rack
Final Thoughts
Both the Broil King Regal S490 and the Weber Genesis II E-435 are exceptional propane gas grills. If you are an aspiring pitmaster, you can never go wrong with either one of the grills.
However, since this piece is all about comparing Broil King and Weber, it is only right that we acknowledge the winner. With this head-to-head comparison of both grill brands, it is noticeable that the Broil King has an edge over the Weber. This is because it offers a lot more to customers in terms of features. Weber has stayed in business longer, but they have failed to edge out Broil King.
Related: The 8 Best Gas Grills You Can Buy in 2022