I’ve had a prestige pro 500 for a year now and have never second guessed my decision. Answer from Kylekings29 on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/buycanadian › napoleon bbq grills, a superior choice to weber grills
r/BuyCanadian on Reddit: Napoleon BBQ grills, a superior choice to Weber grills
February 24, 2025 -

With spring just a few months away, I wanted to share my experience with Napoleon BBQ Grills which are a high quality product that competes with Weber grills and are made in Barrie, Ontario. I have owned two Napoleon BBQs and have been impressed with the quality, durability and value in comparison to Weber grills.

You can see from reviews on YouTube that most Napoleon BBQ grill models are high quality and give better bang for buck compared to the competing Weber Model.

Here's a review of the entry level Napoleon Rogue model compared to the Weber Genesis.

https://youtu.be/BnbXw4zJbOw?si=vTNHJKoRHgh_8OsO

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › just about perfect, best part of a napoleon prestige 500
r/grilling on Reddit: Just about perfect, best part of a Napoleon prestige 500
October 28, 2023 - If you flip the meat more often, and on a different angle every time, you can get an OK crust on a grill. It will never be as good as a pan or griddle, but it’s good enough when you’re feeling lazy. ... Sear marks are not “crust”. This steak was cooked well and has a nice crust, I bet it’s delicious Continue this thread ... That’s a beautiful sear! ... Just got a Napoleon Prestige 500.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › i have a napoleon propane grill and love it. is getting a traeger grill worth it?
r/grilling on Reddit: I have a Napoleon Propane grill and LOVE it. Is getting a Traeger grill worth it?
January 24, 2024 -

I love grilling and inherited a smaller electric smoker but can never seem to get things quite right. Except for setting the temperature it's very manual (Have to change the vents, put wood chips in, etc.) and I am struggling to make tasty food in it. I was thinking of getting a Traeger as I've heard they are pretty beginner friendly and easy to use.

Is it worth spending $800 - $1,500 on one if I have a propane grill? Would love to hear your thoughts on if you like your smoker or not. Thank you all!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › $3500 napoleon grill worth it?
r/grilling on Reddit: $3500 Napoleon Grill worth it?
August 13, 2021 -

I'm looking into purchasing the Napoleon Pro 665. Have any of you used it and how do you like it? Was it worth the money? I cook steaks about every week so I feel I would use this grill a lot. Especially the infrared searing station that comes with it.

The grill has a slot for wood and a charcoal tray. I would occasionally like to smoke some meats like ribs and briskets. I'm curious to hear anyone's experience about using this grill as a smoker?

Top answer
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so I haven't used this grill specifically....I am generally a Weber guy, but like the Napoleon's I have cooked on. There are many similarities. The differences are -- Napoleon's tend to have more BTUs and get hotter, so you have to be a bit more diligent in temp control. Napoleon sear stations are outside the grill, so you have to move your food. But IR sear zones are super effective (when they don't break, which they do, cause they are brittle ceramic). Some of the light up controls are cool, but require a power source, and electronics and grills tend to not last the life of the grill, and I personally don't want my grill plugged into electricity (sorry Traeger) In general, gas grills aren't great for use as charcoal smokers. The designs are fundamentally different! Gas needs air to vent any gas leaks and avoid explosions. Charcoal needs very controlled airflow to get temps right. As a result, often, adding charcoal trays works for something imprecise like burgers and dogs, but can't really be controlled to get a low and slow cook for 10+ hours. It's a gimmick feature. If you have the budget for a $3500 grill, I personally suggest spending under $500 to get a dedicated smoker or charcoal kettle. A used weber kettle can often be found on Facebook marketplace for under $100. While a kettle may take a bit more effort than a WSM, ceramic cooker, or similar, the price point is hard to beat and if you can smoke on a kettle, you can easily move up to other equipment. And the added cost of 5% more charcoal burn is negligible given it is a $100 grill and you aren't doing long cooks every day. Don't try to get a do-it-all grill, just get 2 grills! Regardless of the grill you get, make sure to get a 2nd tank of gas, a weatherproof cover, a good probe thermometer, a good leave in and ambient thermometer, and good tools. Fun things like rotisseries, pizza stones, skewers are good additions. A pellet smoker tube or box for chips or chunks can also be a great addition for gas and <$20 means you don't need to get ones that come with the grill. Don't forget to clean your grill at least annually!
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If you can afford it…why not? $3500 for a grill is almost comical to me but hey, if money ain’t a thing, go wild
Find elsewhere
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/webergrills › weber vs napoleon
r/webergrills on Reddit: Weber vs Napoleon
March 9, 2023 -

Hello. Please delete if not allowed.

I am interested in these two models the Weber Spirit E-330 Gas Grill and the Napoleon Rogue XT 425 SIB w/ Infrared Side Burner. These two grills seem the same except that I believe the Weber has the infrared burner on the inside rather than on the side but the price is $180 more than the Weber.

Additionally I would like to know if one is better than the other. I currently have an old Weber Spirit and I'm looking to upgrade to one of these but I'm unsure which one is better.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r › NapoleonGrills
r/NapoleonGrills
June 6, 2021 - Napoleon Legend LDX4 Australia. Hi there, I purchased a Legend grill LD4X the other day and have been disappointed with the results regarding the infrared sizzle zone, all it seems to do is grey the meat with a light brown grill mark on it, this says to me there is a temp issue.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › help me decide on a grill (likely napoleon)
r/grilling on Reddit: Help me decide on a grill (likely Napoleon)
April 26, 2023 -

I'm getting a natural gas hookup installed and I'm ready for a new grill. I'm upgrading from a horrible grill that rusted out in 3 years, so I'm looking for something decent.

I like to do a lot of meal prep on my grill, so I think a 4 burner model will be ideal.

Here are my current options, with Canadian pricing:

Napoleon Rogue 525 XT ($1349):https://bbqing.com/products/napoleon-rogue-xt525-sib-bbq?variant=31657728606270

Napoleon Rogue 525 XT - Stainless ($1499):https://bbqing.com/products/napoleon-rogue-xt525-sib-bbq?variant=31657728606270

Napoleon Prestige 500 ($1524):https://bbqing.com/products/napoleon-prestige-500-bbq?variant=19753353740350

Napoleon Prestige 500 RSIB ($1824):https://bbqing.com/products/napoleon-prestige-500-rsib-bbq?variant=19745193295934

Napoleon Phantom Prestige 500 ($2124):https://bbqing.com/products/napoleon-phantom-prestige-500-bbq?variant=40058767867966

Now, the Rogue seems like everything I need. The side burner seems like a plus since I do sous-vide a fair bit and having an ultra-hot sear-station seems like a nice benefit. However, I'm not sure if the 9000 BTU side burner is limiting. Going for the stainless model for $150 more gives me stainless grids. Not sure if that's worthwhile.

Going up to the Prestige 500, I lose the side burner, but gain better build quality and stainless grids.

The 500 RSIB gives it all, but it's $475 more than the nearly equivalent Rogue XT. It does have a bigger (more powerful?) side burner though and a rotisserie.

The Phantom Prestige just looks super sweet with those cast stainless grills. But it is not an insignificant increase in price.

My brain is telling me the Rogue XT is all I need. The 500 RSIB seems like possibly a worthwhile upgrade, but I'm not really sure if I'd ever use the rotisserie. And the Phantom would just be a flex. A great grill, but I'm not sure if I can justify such a large increase in price.

Any thoughts?

In those price ranges, should I be looking at anything from Broil King or Webber?

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › this is the first grill i’ve ever owned. i feel like a 16 year old with a lamborghini. napoleon prestige 500 phantom edition.
r/grilling on Reddit: This is the first grill I’ve ever owned. I feel like a 16 year old with a Lamborghini. Napoleon prestige 500 phantom edition.
February 28, 2022 - I am debating on the model. The cast steel grill grates seem to be the best of both worlds. ... Napoleon is a great grill. You get what you pay for with it. All 4 burners on and the grill is at 700F in about 10-15 minutes.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › my experience with napoleon grills
r/grilling on Reddit: My experience with Napoleon Grills
August 5, 2019 -

I posted this over at r/grills but it was suggested I post it here.

If you are considering a Napoleon Prestige Pro 500, read this because this has been my experience so far with them. This is my opinion based on my experience, obviously you may be lucky and have a much better experience.

I would say definitely do not buy the prestige pro 500. I got my grill 2 months ago, missing the plastic plugs that the wheels go into. I’ve called so many times, and been on hold for hours each time. They are a terrible company in my experience. I needed plugs, they sent me wheels after a month. Called back again, they finally just today sent me plugs. The wrong ones! They keep blaming it on COVID-19 but come on... This is just stupid errors on their part.

Here's a timeline:

Received grill 5/6. Impossible to assemble the cart part because things didn't line up. Spent about a day getting that sorted out. Rejoice! Flip over the grill to install the wheels, oh look... No caster plugs.

5/7 - call Napoleon, who say they'll send the part tomorrow.

5/19 - call to follow up. Oh it hasn't shipped, it'll ship tomorrow.

5/26 - arrives. Wrong fucking thing. They sent me more wheels. Notice the week between sending and receiving? They refuse to do any sort of expediting of shipping. Comes UPS slow as hell.

5/27 - call to ask for the correct part and if they can rush it. Nope, COVID-19! Sorry! We're sending you a pair of tongs as a "sorry we suck"

6/5 - hi, what's going on? Guy on the phone really made waiting 2 hours+ worthwhile with the gem "it'll ship when it ships - COVID-19!" Ok but can you send it faster than UPS super slow? No! Of course not! We don't give a shit about you! Your dumb ass decided to buy Canadian instead of China and see what you get??

6/16 (today) - finally receive my awesome tongs and 4 caster plugs. Guess what? They're the wrong fucking ones. They definitely do not fit my grill so I don't know what the hell they're doing over there but honestly I think trained monkeys could do a better job.

I'm finally going to call one last time tomorrow and call the company I bought it from (Kick-Ass grills) and see what I can do. I have to say I've spoken to the kickassgrills guys a few times, and they're very helpful as much as they can be. But there isn't much they can do.

TL;DR: DO NOT FUCKING BUY A NAPOLEON GRILL UNLESS YOU LOVE BEING FRUSTRATED AND SPENDING $2K ON SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE ASSEMBLED.

//Rant

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › just got my new napoleon! 3 weeks without a grill felt like forever.
r/grilling on Reddit: Just got my new Napoleon! 3 weeks without a grill felt like forever.
July 30, 2015 - My brother has the prestige 500 and I was the griller this past weekend. Cooked both filets and NYs both with crosshatch marks no problem. ... I have used my inlaw's Napoleon and I couldn't stand it. You know how sometimes you move something on an angle to the grills and it gets stuck or falls in between?
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/napoleongrills › new napoleon charcoal grills
r/NapoleonGrills on Reddit: New Napoleon Charcoal Grills
June 28, 2023 -

Hi Napoleon Grills community! I attended the HPBExpo last week (February 13-15) and Napoleon was there showing off their new charcoal grills. I got to check them out, see the features, and even take some pictures. Check out my thoughts here: https://www.angrybbq.com/new-napoleon-charcoal-grills-at-hpbexpo-24/. I have to say, I came away really impressed with the PRO 22” Cart. Plenty of cooking space and work space with the shelf. Plus those hinged wave grids are perfect for refueling while smoking. Let me know what you think!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › napoleon phantom, was it worth it?
r/grilling on Reddit: Napoleon Phantom, was it worth it?
April 26, 2022 -

I'm in the market for a new grill and I'm pretty settled on the Napoleon Prestige 500. Up there for contenders are the Weber Genesis II S-435, and Broil King Regal S590.

The Napoleon Phantom series looks awesome and really impressed with reviews so far but can't find any long term reviews or videos that aren't blatant advertising and marketing snake oil.

So... Anyone have a Napoleon Phantom? Has it been worth it? Are the cast stainless grates as good as they look? And the biggest question.. how has the Matte finish held up? I'm a sucker for matte finishes and know how much maintenance they can be and hoping this Phantom is an exception to my past experiences with matte.

Any and all thoughts are welcome!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › weber vs napoleon
r/grilling on Reddit: Weber vs Napoleon
August 24, 2022 -

Hello. Please delete if not allowed.

I am interested in these two models the Weber Spirit E-330 Gas Grill and the Napoleon Rogue XT 425 SIB w/ Infrared Side Burner. These two grills seem the same except that I believe the Weber has the infrared burner on the inside rather than on the side but the price is $180 more than the Weber.

Additionally I would like to know if one is better than the other. I currently have an old Weber Spirit and I'm looking to upgrade to one of these but I'm unsure which one is better.

Top answer
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Hopefully you'll get an answer from someone using either of these exact grills. I've been using a very similar Napoleon for the last handful of years with no infrared. So I can comment on the grill performance. The only issue I have with it is the igniters get gunked up fast. Though I grill a lot of heavily marinated meat. They still light, but usually not on the first try. Grill gets hot though, works well year round and I don't have any major hot or cold spots. The rear right is slightly warmer, but by degrees at most. I can't see any signs of rust after it's 3rd Canadian winter. I've never dealt with Weber customer service, so maybe they're stellar too. But I recently contacted Napoleon's customer service email to ask about a griddle insert. They emailed me back in minutes with a product number. I had problems checking out on their site so I called and got a local live agent right away who helped me out and followed up in person by email to confirm my order. So a very positive customer support experience with Napoleon too. The value of having a live, local, knowledgeable, friendly agent pick up a call is priceless.
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I don't have that exact Weber. I did a lot of research into it and really wanted it and then Weber rolled out the "Spirit II" line so I opted for the Spirit II E 310 thinking the old Spirit would be sunset. Then Weber proceeded to ignore the Spirit II line and keep promoting the old Spirit...but I digress. IIRC the E330 does not have infrared. It has an extra burner inside, I think in the center, where you can just use more BTUs to sear but it's still the same type of heat. It also has some cool accessories you can use in the center and it has the side burner. That flexibility I thought was very cool and attracted me to the grill. I have no experience with Napoleon but a dedicated infrared sear station will probably sear one steak better than the Spirit. However with all three big burners + the sear burner going on the Spirit you should be able to to sear just fine, and more than 1 steak at a time. Also Weber just rolled out CI grill covers so you could buy that and likely get a very good sear. Weber customer service is great. My Spirit II has aged well and they've been very helpful to find replacement parts when necessary and the warranty is generous (however I think this Spirit II and Genesis lines have better warranties than the old Spirit). My FiL has had the old 2 burner Spirit for about a decade and it's going strong. No experience with Napoleon grills but I hear good things. I assume you'll be happy with both. Hope this helps.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/grilling › napolean grills
r/grilling on Reddit: Napolean Grills
June 7, 2023 -

I've been using a Weber Genesis LP grill for probably 10 years. The ignitor quit last year and the ol' girl needs replaced. I've learned about Napolean Grills and I am intrigued. Weber is now mostly made in China and the parts do not seem to be as quality as the Canadian made Napolean. Napolean also has an infrared sear burner and the infrared burner for the rotisserie, neither of which the Weber has. I am also transitioning to Natural Gas so it's time for something new. Does anyone have any experience with the Napolean's? Any guidance is appreciated.