Weber's iconic Spirit grill just got smarter — here's why I recommend the EX-325 to (almost) anyone

I've been reviewing the best grills for six years, and even though I've tested countless models in that time, the Weber Spirit line is the one I've recommended to the most people. Dependable, consistent and at a price that makes sense, this stalwart of the grill game is hard to beat. So when Weber released a smart version of its iconic Spirit grills in 2026, I was keen to see if it lived up to its predecessors.

The new Spirit EX-325 (and its sister model. the larger EX-425) features that signature Weber quality, and adds in some smarts. Weber's new WeberWorks modular accessory system allows you to customize your grill, and an in-built smart thermometer display can be paired to your grill for remote monitoring or tailored guidance.

I put the Spirit EX-325 to the test with a group of friends, and we all remarked at how easy it was to use and the quality finish and build quality. If you're looking for a great grill at a price that makes sense, it's a worthy contender.

Weber Spirit EX-325 review: Price and availability

Retailing for $599, the Weber Spirit EX-325 doesn't depart from the older Spirit line in price. The Spirit II E-310, which I reviewed back in 2024, cost the same at full price and lacked a number of the EX-325's new features. In my book, that's a win.

The grill is available direct at Weber, as well as retailers like Amazon. And if you want to buy its four-burner counterpart, the EX-425, it'll cost you $749 at Weber.

Weber Spirit EX-325 review: Design

The reimagined Spirit line features upgraded smart features and Weber's SearZone, which allows you to boost the temperature on two of the three burners to hit that signature seared grill lines on burgers and chicken.

It's also got a new thermometer. Instead of sitting on top of the grill lid, it now sits to the side and shows the real-time temperature of your grill. If you pair this WiFi-enabled thermometer to the Weber app, you can monitor your grill's temperature remotely. And if you plug in the included meat probe, it will display the temperature of your meat both on your app and on the thermometer display.

Smaller touches include the four accessory hooks on each corner of the grill's side arms. The left arm folds down for easy storage, and the right features a modular WeberWorks insert, which can be removed to allow you to slot in meal prep trays or condiment containers, both of which Weber sent over for us to try. While it's a shame that you get the modular design regardless of whether you want to spend the extra money on the accessories, I was pleased with the quality of the ones we tried and would personally spend the $40 for the convenience they offer.

I've tested grills with side burners, and while I wouldn't expect a grill at this price to feature one, I do think they're a meaningful update for outdoor hosting. Weber's Genesis series is worth considering if this is something you like the sound of, but it'll come at a premium price.

I've assembled a handful of Weber grills before, and the Spirit line is the easiest of its gas models to build. If you've built flatpack furniture, you can build the Spirit EX-325. It took two of us around two hours to set the grill up, a significant portion of which was spent simply updating the software on the grill when pairing to the app.

As with all Weber products I've tried, the manual was incredibly thorough and also gave a range of tips for setup and first use. And once built, the grill felt solid and well-constructed — a good sign for the durability of the grill. Speaking of which, the EX-325's cookbox is backed by a 10-year warranty, the grates for five, and all remaining parts, two.

Weber Spirit EX-325 review: Grilling performance

The Weber Spirit EX-325 has three stainless steel burners, two of which feature SearZone modes for an added boost of power — up to 31,000 BTU (an increase on the Spirit II E-310's 26,500 BTU). As laid out in the manual, you could fire up the two external burners and place food in the center of the grill plates for indirect cooking, or use each burner individually to cook for smaller groups. We were cooking for six people, and with the 360 square inches of cooking space plus the 90-inch warming rack, we had no trouble keeping everyone well-fed.

Low-heat cooking

The first thing we cooked was some plant-based sausages and burgers for my vegan friends. I've cooked vegan sausages on a grill before, and the trick is to keep temperatures consistent and controlled. Because of the lower fat content, these meat alternatives don't sizzle — they just burn.

After pre-heating the grill for 15 minutes, we turned the temperature to a medium level and closed the lid. I was struck by how well the porcelain-enameled grates retained heat, and the fact that all of the sausages cooked at the same speed regardless of how central they sat in the grill was an indication of quality insulation and even heat distribution.

Our plant-based food came out crisped, and crucially, not burnt. Next up, it was time to fire up the SearZone burners and cook up some beef burgers.

Our plant-based food came out crisped, and crucially, not burnt. Next up, it was time to fire up the SearZone burners and cook up some beef burgers.

High heat cooking

We let the grill come up to heat for another five minutes, which was super easy thanks to the remote temperature display on the app, and the onboard dial. Our burgers were sizzling away for three minutes before we flipped them to reveal the signature grill lines everyone wants from a barbecue. Three of us wanted our burgers cooked to medium, and one wanted theirs well done. We inserted the temperature probe and watched the dial until it hit 135°F, placing the burgers on the warming rack while the fourth continued to cook for another couple of minutes.

While there were a couple of flare-ups as the fat dripped down from the grates, the burner shields prevented this from happening enough to cause burning or uneven cooking. According to Weber, its Flavorizer bars catch and vaporize dripped juices and add flavor to your food while channelling grease from burners into an easily removed drip tray below. After testing, this made cleanup super easy. And it also resulted in a tasty finish — our burgers were crisp but juicy and had a nice smoky flavor, albeit nothing that could rival a classic charcoal grill.

Smart thermometer and app

To test the Weber app and meat thermometer, as well as its indirect cooking capabilities, we cooked some peri-peri chicken breasts on the third, non-SearZone burner. Using the meat thermometer, we set the app to boneless, skinless chicken breast and started Weber's recommended recipe.

The app first told us to pre-heat our grill and then set the chicken to cook for six minutes (complete with timer). You could also set your app to graph mode, which will allow you to track the temperature of your meat rising. This would be more useful for slow-cooked cuts of meat, where you want to ensure they're not cooking too fast, but it's great that the app has this feature built-in.

The app didn't notify us when the six minute timer finished. I'd grilled chicken the weekend before testing the Weber Spirit EX-325 and it cooked in under ten minutes. It was a little dry, and charred around the outside, so I appreciated Weber's advice to cook a little slower and lower than you might think on a conventional grill. Patience was required, but it did pay off. The chicken was juicy and flavorful without any burning or surface-level toughness. A sign that the EX-325 can handle indirect heat, as well as searing.

I've tested a number of smart appliances that won't work without an app before. I like that the Weber Spirit EX-325 isn't one of them. While the app offers some handy enhancements, the onboard temperature display and meat thermometer readings mean you don't need to use the app to get a great experience.

Weber Spirit EX-325 review: Verdict

For the average buyer, the Weber Spirit EX-325 is a great option. Weber's latest slate of updates bringe the Spirit range in line with modern releases from Kamado Joe and Brisk It. But I love that this doesn't come at an added price, and that you don't sacrifice build quality in the place of these smart features.

I was impressed at how well the Spirit EX-325 maintained heat on account of its porcelain-enameled grates. Its SearZone delivered juicy burgers, complete with the grill pattern you're used to seeing on commercials, and the smart thermometer adds value and utility, without any gimmicky or complex quirks. And while I think the app is useful, I like that you don't need it to get a great performance from your grill.

Sure, I wish it had a side burner, and the meat probe required a heatproof glove to add and remove to meats, but these small downsides are easy to overlook if you value solid build quality and value for money. For the average buyer, it's a top choice.