Pit Boss likes to offer retailer-specific models through big box stores like Lowes and Walmart. Well, there is a new range of Pit Boss pellet grills/smokers exclusively for Walmart, called the Onyx Edition. Instead of just describing the features of these new grills, I think it helps to do a comparison, in this case, against the Pit Boss Pro Series exclusive to Lowes. We’ll look at the similarities/differences to try and work out which is the better deal.
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Introduction To The Pit Boss Onyx Edition vs Pro Series
The Pit Boss Onyx Edition was launched originally with just one model, the Savannah. However, updated versions of the Lexington and Austin XL have now joined the Onyx Edition range.
I have a dedicated article for the Pit Boss Onyx Edition range. However, as a quick introduction, I’ve included the short promotional video below from Pit Boss.
So the Pit Boss Pro Series, if you didn’t know, is a Lowes Exclusive, and its been one of the most popular ranges of Pit Boss pellet grills/smokers for many years now.
When the Onyx Edition Savannah was first launched, the latest version of its sibling range was the Pit Boss Pro Series Gen 2. However, that has now been replaced with the Pit Boss Pro Series Gen 3/V3.
Below I’ll first discuss the similarities in the technology/features between the Pit Boss Onyx Edition and the Pro Series models. We’ll then get into a direct model-to-model comparisons.
Control Panel Similarities & Differences
So the first thing to point out is both the Onyx Edition and Pro Series models use PID control panels.
The reason its important to state that is because that’s not currently the case across the entire Pit Boss range. Check out my Mahogany vs Sportsman or Navigator vs Sportsman articles as examples.
The advantage of PID technology is that it enables a pellet grill/smoker to hold its actual internal temperature much closer to the set internal temperature.
In terms of further similarities, both of these control panels offer a temperature range of 180 to 500 degrees. While we’re on the topic of temperature, both ranges also offer direct-flame access.
Therefore, on the face of it, the temperature control and control panel technology between the Onyx Edition and Pro Series models would appear identical, as they both offer 5-degree temperature adjustment.
However, there is a difference, and its quite an important difference at that. The Onyx Edition offers a Smoke Setting, whereas the Pro Series models (mostly) currently do not.
There is a Pro Series 1600 Elite which does feature a smoke setting, but that’s not the case on the lower specification/cheaper Pro Series models, which are comparable to Onyx Edition models.
The Return Of The P-Setting
If you currently own or have owned a previous generation Pit Boss or another brand of pellet grill/smoker, you may remember the P-Setting.
On previous generation control panels, the pellet feed auger worked on a timer, so many seconds on and then so many seconds off.
PID temperature control works differently. With a PID control panel, it constantly monitors the internal temperature and compares it to the set temperature to decide when to turn the auger on and off.
However, while PID technology is excellent for tight temperature control, a more efficient pellet fire also means a fire that produces less smoke.
Hence, the trade-off has typically been, with many pellet grill/smoker PID control panels, you may get tighter temperature control, but you also get less smoke production as a result.
However, the control panel fitted to the Pit Boss Onyx Edition models is a PID control panel, but it also has a P-Setting which can be used when the Smoke Setting is activated.
So as you can see above, with P-Setting adjustments, the user is altering the ‘Pause Time’ between the auger coming back on again to feed more pellets into the fire.
The point is, in between that gap, with the correct P-Setting to suit the outside ambient temperature, the pellets will begin to smolder and will create more smoke.
However, if the P-Setting is not suitable for the outside temperature or a strong gust of wind hits the pellet grill/smoker, it can result in a flameout situation.
Therefore, P-Setting adjustment needs to be gradual. Also, when operating in the Smoke mode, wider temperature swings will be present, its the trade-off of producing more smoke.
However, for those who want the ability to produce more smoke, this is where the Pit Boss Onyx Edition models have a clear advantage over most of the Pit Boss Pro Series models.
What About WiFi & The SmokeIT App?
So this is where there is a difference between the Onyx Edition and Pro Series models, with only the Pro Series control panels featuring the SmokeIT App as standard.
However, it is possible to upgrade the Onyx Edition models with a SmokeIT control panel. Last time I checked, the price was $160, but you can use the link below to double-check.
Pit Boss Onyx Edition vs Pro Series Comparisons
Below, I’ve provided some direct comparisons between Onyx Edition and Pro Series models of equivalent sizes to see how they compare not only on their features but also their price points.
However, what I should point out is for this first comparison on the smallest pellet grills, there is not currently a Pro Series Gen 3/V3 model of the 600. There is only the Gen 2 version.
Pit Boss Lexington Onyx Edition vs Pro Series 600 Gen 2
| Features | Lexington Onyx Edition | Pro Series 600 Gen 2 |
| Total Cooking Area | 543 sq.in | 600 sq.in |
| Main Grate | 373 sq.in | 411 sq.in |
| Cooking Surfaces | 2 | 2 |
| Hopper Size | 15 lbs | 12 lbs |
| PID | Yes | No |
| Temp Range | 180-500 | 180-500 |
| Temp Adjustment | 5 Degrees | 25-50 Degrees |
| Smoke Mode/P-Setting | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Flame Access | Yes | Yes |
| SmokeIT (WiFi) | No | No |
| Typical Price | $327 | $399 |
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Don’t be under the impression that the slight increase in the overall cooking area or the slightly larger main grate makes the Pro Series 600 competitive in this comparison, its not even close.
The Lexington Onyx Edition offers PID technology which is missing from the Pro Series 600 Gen 2. Therefore, the Lexington Onyx Edition offers much tighter temperature control.
To further cement the win for the Lexington Onyx Edition to make this a slam dunk, its typically priced around $75 cheaper than the Pro Series Gen 2. Easy win for Walmart here.
Pit Boss Austin XL Onyx Edition vs Pro Series 1150 Gen 3/V3
| Features | Austin XL Onyx Edition | Pro Series 1150 Gen 3/V3 |
| Total Cooking Area | 1,007 sq.in | 1,115 sq.in |
| Main Grate | 720 sq.in | 711 sq.in |
| Cooking Surfaces | 2 | 2 |
| Hopper Size | 30 lbs | 32 lbs |
| PID | Yes | Yes |
| Temp Range | 180-500 | 180-500 |
| Temp Adjustment | 5 Degrees | 5 Degrees |
| Smoke Mode/P-Setting | Yes | No |
| Direct Flame Access | Yes | Yes |
| SmokeIT (WiFi) | No | Yes |
| Typical Price | $483 | $699 |
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The Austin XL Onyx Edition and the Pro Series 1150 Gen 3 are closely matched in the overall cooking area, with the slight edge going to the Pro Series 1150. However, the Austin XL has a larger main grate.
In terms of hopper capacity, they are also very closely matched, with the slight edge going to the Pro Series 1150. Temperature range and adjustment are identical between the two models.
In terms of their features, the most notable difference, as discussed above, is the P-Setting adjustment that the Austin XL Onyx Edition provides to enable more smoke production at lower temperatures.
What is very notable, as you can see from the table above, is the price difference between these two Pit Boss pellet grills/smokers, with the typical price of the Pro Series 1150 V3 around $200 more.
Now, the Austin XL does not come with WiFi/SmokeIT as standard. But if you did upgrade to the SmokeIT control panel, it would still come in cheaper than the Pro Series 1150 V3.
Therefore, this is another win for Walmart with the Austin XL Onyx Edition.
Pit Boss Savannah Onyx Edition vs Pro Series 1600 V3
| Features | Savannah Onyx Edition | Pro Series 1150 Gen 3/V3 |
| Total Cooking Area | 1,507 sq.in | 1,598 sq.in |
| Main Grate | 633 sq.in | 711 sq.in |
| Cooking Surfaces | 3 | 3 |
| Hopper Size | 28 lbs | 32 lbs |
| PID | Yes | Yes |
| Temp Range | 180-500 | 180-500 |
| Temp Adjustment | 5 Degrees | 5 Degrees |
| Smoke Mode/P-Setting | Yes | No |
| Direct Flame Access | Yes | Yes |
| SmokeIT (WiFi) | No | Yes |
| Typical Price | $597 | $999 |
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On the overall cooking area, you should have noticed from the tables above the Pro 1600 is the larger of the two offering a total of 1,598 sq.in compared to 1,507 sq.in on the Onyx Savannah. Both offer three separate cooking surfaces.
The same goes for the main grilling grate, the Pro 1600 offers 711 sq.in, whereas the Onyx Savannah offers less at 633 sq.in, but these are not massive differences.
The Onyx Savannah also has the smaller pellet hopper of the two at 28 lbs compared to the 32 lb hopper on the Pro Series 1600. However, again the difference is not that significant.
While both have the same temperature range of 180 to 500, and both have direct-flame access, as I’ve stated above, only the Onyx Savannah also offers a smoke setting/P-setting adjustment.
Therefore, while the Pro 1600 may appear the better smoker at first due to the slight increase in the cooking area, the smoking setting/P-setting adjustment of the Onyx Savannah is a big tick in its favor.
Then we come to the big one, the price difference. At their typical pricing, the Pro Series 1600 V3 is $400 more than the Savanah Onyx Edition!
Now, the Savanah does not come with WiFi/SmokeIT as standard. But if you did upgrade to the SmokeIT control panel, it would still come in cheaper than the Pro Series 1600 V3.
So again, its an easy win for Walmart in this comparison.
Pit Boss Onyx Edition vs Pro Series Vertical Smokers
| Features | Copperhead Onyx Edition | Pro Series Elite 6-Series |
| Total Cooking Area | 1,300 sq.in | 1,500 sq.in |
| Racks | 5 | 5 |
| Hopper Size | 65 lbs | 70 lbs |
| PID | Yes | Yes |
| Temp Range | 130-420 | 130-420 |
| Temp Adjustment | 5 Degrees | 5 Degrees |
| Smoke Mode/P-Setting | No | Yes (VST) |
| SmokeIT (WiFi) | No | Yes |
| Typical Price | $474 | $899 |
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If you don’t need a new grill and you’re purely interested in smoking large volumes of food, we now have two Pit Boss vertical pellet smokers to consider.
The Pro Series Elite 6-Series offers a larger cooking area, larger hopper capacity, and, not surprisingly, following on from the other examples above, a significant increase in price.
The Pro Series Elite 6-Series is nearly double the price of the Copperhead Onyx Edition. Another easy win here for Walmart? Well, sort of, but we have some role reversal going on with these models.
You see, the Copperhead Onyx Edition is not fitted with the same control panel as the other Onyx Edition horizontal pellet grills/smokers above.
While it still has 5-degree temperature adjustment, its oddly missing the P-Setting adjustment along with missing WiFi/App support.
Whereas the Pro Series vertical pellet smoker features VST (Variable Smoke Technology), which is essentially the same functionality as P-Setting adjustment.
Therefore, the Pro Series vertical pellet smoker is the superior product, but I also don’t think its worth double the price of the Copperhead Onyx Edition.
Conclusions On The Pit Boss Onyx Edition vs Pro Series
So what have we learned? Well, other than the Copperhead Onyx Edition vertical pellet smoker, in all the other comparisons, I think it’s an easy win for the Onyx Edition models and, therefore, Walmart.
In fact, for under $500, I think the Austin XL Onyx Edition is currently the best-value pellet grill on the market, and my Pit Boss Onyx Edition vs Competition Series article further reflects that.
Yes, the Onyx Edition models are missing WiFi/SmokeIT as standard, but they can be upgraded with SmokeIT and still come in at a lower price point than the Pit Boss Pro Series models.
That’s it! Thanks for reading. As always, please check out my Wood Pellet Grill/Smoker Guide to learn more about all your current options in the world of pellet BBQs.
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