Weber’s Smart Ring Changes Charcoal Grilling Forever

Nursing a charcoal grill through a 12-hour smoking session is an exercise in endurance. It’s an arduous effort that involves adding just the right amount of fuel and making tiny adjustments to various vents in an effort to keep the temperature low so your hours of effort don’t result in meat with the consistency of shoe leather. It’s the reason why pellet grills, with their set-it-and-forget-it design, have become the most popular choice of home smoker. Weber’s release of the Kettle Smart Ring changes all that by marrying smart technology to a kettle grill design that hasn’t changed a whole heck of a lot since it debuted nearly 75 years ago.

Smart Tech Meets 75 Year Old Tech

The Kettle Smart Ring consists of a metal ring that fits on any standard 22-inch Weber charcoal kettle grill (not including hinged models or the Jumbo Joe), turning it into a smart grill/smoker. 

Here’s how it works. A digital thermostat on the ring allows the user to dial in a specific temperature. Similar to a pellet grill, the ring then uses a thermostat and built-in fan to regulate the temperature inside the cookbox to match that setting. Thanks to the Ring, you can maintain temperatures as low as 180 degrees for cooking slow and low for ribs, pulled pork, and brisket without having to hover over it for 12 hours. 

Related: Men's Journal Grilling Awards: We Tested and Reviewed the Best Grills of 2025

Make Your Kettle Grill Smart

The Ring also makes your kettle grill smart with WiFi connectivity that allows you to monitor and adjust temperatures via the Weber Connect app. And with its two built-in meat probe ports, you can monitor meat temperatures as well as the grill temperature from the comfort of your living room sofa or bed if it’s an overnight smoke. The Weber Connect app is also robust, providing you with detailed temperature graphs and pushing you alerts as grill temperatures fluctuate and food probes meet preset levels. 

There's also a Rapidfire Assist mode that heats up your charcoal grill more quickly by acting as a bellows that stokes the coals (no more blowing over the coals) with its built-in fan. 

Easy to Install 

The ring requires no modifications to your existing grill. It rests directly on the bowl and uses interlocking plates to secure it. It is important to note that the Ring is designed for low and slow cooking and not conventional grilling. Since the Ring sits between the bowl and the lid, it raises the cooking grate further from the coals, making it harder to get a good sear. If you’re grilling burgers and steaks, you’ll want to use your Weber grill without this attachment. This isn’t a huge inconvenience given that you can add and remove the ring in minutes with no tools required. 

A Great Value For Existing Kettle Owners

While the Ring isn’t what I’d call cheap at $280, it’s a far more affordable way to add smoking to your outdoor cooking repertoire than spending $800 on a new smoker or $600 on Weber’s Performer Smart Charcoal Grill. It’s also a space saving means of adding smoking capabilities without having to crowd your deck or patio with another cooking appliance.