Weber Spirit vs Genesis – What’s the Difference?
If you’ve been around grills before, or if you’ve done any shopping for a new grill you’ve most likely come across the Weber brand. They’re a staple in the grilling community and have been one of the most recognizable brands in the world for quite some time now.
Two of Weber’s most popular lines of grills are the Weber Spirit Series and the Weber Genesis Series. Each line has been around for a few decades and has seen improvements to their features and quality over the course of time. Today, both the Spirit and Genesis grills are some of the best overall gas grills on the market.
In this post, we’ll do a complete comparison of the Weber Spirit vs Genesis from the perspective of each series as a whole. That includes everything from features, to grill construction, to pricing, and much more! After that, we’ll compare some of the most popular individual models from both the Spirit and Genesis series.
I should also point out that nowadays each series is on their second generation, so technically we are comparing Weber Spirit II vs Genesis II. We wouldn’t recommend purchasing grills from the older generations as they are outdated by now.
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In a Rush? Here’s Our Favorite Genesis II and Spirit II Grills
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Weber 62006001 Genesis II S-435 4-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Stainless Steel
Weber 45010001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Black
Weber 61011001 Genesis II E-310 LP Grill, Black
Weber 44010001 Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Black
Weber 62011001 Genesis II E-410 LP Grill, Black
Weber Spirit E330 Lp Black Grill
Check PriceAmazon.com prices as of 12/30/2019, 3:27:16 PM – details
Overview
It’s important to note that the Spirit and Genesis are both series of grills. Each series features dozens of individual grills that are suited for different needs. When comparing the Weber Spirit vs Genesis series, we’re going to look first at the high level differences.
First and foremost, the big difference between the two series is that Weber Spirit grills are designed to be more of a “bare bones” grill, whereas the Genesis series grills are more advanced and loaded with extra features.
That’s not to say that a beginner can’t operate a Weber Genesis – quite the opposite. It’s just that you might be paying for features you won’t use at first when you’re just learning how to grill.
That’s also not to say that the Weber Spirit series isn’t full of high quality grills. Just because there aren’t a bunch of bells and whistles doesn’t mean that it isn’t an incredibly good grill.
If you’re the type of griller who uses a grill once every other week, the Spirit might be a better suited design for you. It has everything you need to get the job done. If you’re an intermediate or advanced griller, or you’re looking to take your grilling game to the next level, the Genesis series might be better.
Weber Spirit vs Genesis – Similarities
There are quite a few things that come standard on both of these lines of grills.
- Both types of grill are backed by Weber’s industry leading 10 year warranty. I always think the presence of a solid warranty is a good indicator for quality of the product. Weber is so confident in their grills that they stand by them with a decade long warranty, which gives customers lots of confidence.
- Each line of grill comes kitted with Weber’s G4S Grilling System. The G4S grilling system is the result of years of accumulated knowledge. It includes:
- Infinity Ignition: Which is an easy, quick ignite system that virtually never fails and will work in any kind of weather conditions.
- Flavorizer Bars: These are triangular shaped bars that lay over the flames and under the cooking surface. These bars serve a couple of purposes. First, they prevent flare ups by catching and deflecting grease drippings. The second purpose they serve is adding flavor back to your food. The bars catch drippings which smoke and rise back into the food.
- Advanced Grease Management: Whichever drippings aren’t caught by the flavorizer bars or vaporized will make their way down to a grease collection pan. This pan is super easy to clean and takes away a lot of the headache typically associated with clean up.
- Upgraded Burners: These allow for consistent and even temperatures across your entire cooking area, which is a HUGE help when it comes to grilling delicious foods.
- All Weber grills come with the ability to utilize iGrill 3 technology. This tech embeds in the side of your grill and allows you to monitor many aspects of your grill from the convenience of your phone. Everything from temperature management, internal food temperatures, and timers can be managed on Weber’s phone app.
- Each individual type of grill comes with more or less the same color options: black and stainless steel are offered on all models. Red, smoke, copper, and even sapphire are color choices on some of the smaller grills. Each grill also comes with the option for either natural gas or propane connections.
Weber Spirit vs Genesis – Differences
We alluded to this a little bit already, but the main difference in the Weber Spirit vs Genesis comes in extra/custom features and heat output capabilities. Here are the main differences between the two series:
- Across the board, Spirit grills are cheaper than Genesis grills when you compare grills with similar primary cooking areas.
- Genesis II models typically include extra features such as enclosed carts, sear stations, extra burners, and other attachments.
- Genesis II grills feature more burners and higher BTU output capacity. There are 2 burner grill models in the Spirit II series but none in the Genesis II series. The Genesis models all have 3 or more burners.
Weber Spirit vs Genesis Reviews
In this section, we’ll go over some individual reviews across both the Spirit II and Genesis II to help you decide between the Weber Spirit vs Genesis series.
Weber 62006001 Genesis II S-435 4-Burner Grill
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Weber 62006001 Genesis II S-435 4-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Stainless Steel
- 10 year warranty, 100% Weber guarantee; Main burners: BTU-per-hour input 48,000
- Equipped with the powerful GS4 High Performance Grilling System. Dimensions – Lid Open (inches) – 62 H x 65 W x 31 D. Dimensions – Lid Closed (inches) – 47 H x 65 W x 29 D.Primary cooking area (square inches)- 646. Tuck-Away warming rack area (square inches)- 198. Total cooking area (square inches)- 844
- Use the side burner to simmer BBQ sauce or saut? veggies
- Sear Station creates an intense heat zone to quickly add sear marks on meat.Sear Station burner: BTU-per-hour input:9,000
- Solid 7mm stainless steel rod cooking grates provide superior heat retention
Our favorite all around grill in the Weber Spirit vs Genesis lines is the Weber 62006001 Genesis II S-435 4- Burner Grill, which is offered with both propane and natural gas connections. This grill is absolutely loaded with features and capable of handling any of your grilling needs.
First things first, there’s 646 square inches of primary cooking area and an additional 198 square inches of swing away warming rack. The 4 primary burners have a BTU output capability of 48,000 BTU’s. Stainless steel is the material of choice for the cooking grates, and a built in sear zone makes adding grill marks and crust to your meats a breeze.
In addition to all of that, there’s a side burner built in which is ideal for making sides or sauces. You can also add on a rotisserie kit to this grill at an extra cost, which adds extra versatility to your grill. There’s plenty of cabinet space to store your accessories, and the grill comes loaded with the G4S grilling technology we outlined above.
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Weber 45010001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Grill
Weber 45010001 Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Black
- Boasts the GS4 grilling system with improved infinity ignition, burners, porcelain-enameled Glamorizer Bars, and grease Management system
- Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates
- 529 Square inches of cooking space over three burners. Left Table down width – 42 inches
- 30, 000 BTU-per-hour input main burners with fuel gauge
- Open cart design with six tool hooks and two large wheels.Built-in lid thermometer
If you think the Spirit II line is more your speed, the Weber 45010001 Spirit II E-320 3-Burner Grill is one of the best all around grills you can find on the market, period. Similar to all other Weber grills, you can purchase the Spirit II E-310 in a variety of colors that’s fueled by either natural gas or propane.
It comes with all of the basic features you’ve come to expect from Weber, including their G4S grilling system. That means infinity ignition, burners, porcelain-enameled glamorizer bars, and a grease management system. Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates are used on the 529 square inch main cooking area. The three burners are capable of a 30,000 BTU output which is more than enough to get the job done.
One thing I personally like about the E-310 is the open cart design. It’s easy to move around, looks good, and features 6 tool hooks and 2 large wheels for maximum convenience. At 52 x 26 x 57 inches, this unit will fit into many patios or decks without taking up too much space.
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Weber 61011001 Genesis II E-310 Grill
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Weber 61011001 Genesis II E-310 LP Grill, Black
- 10 Year Warranty, 100% Weber guarantee; Stainless steel heat deflectors
- Equipped with the powerful Gs4 high performance grilling system
- Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates provide superior heat retention
- The fuel gauge lets you see how much fuel is left in the tank (LP Only)
- Igrill 3 compatible, for perfectly grilled food (accessory Sold Separately)
If you want the features of a Genesis but a smaller profile 3 burner gas grill, the Weber 61011001 Genesis II E-310 Grill is another great option. It comes with the option for either a natural gas or propane connection, and you can choose between a black or stainless steel exterior.
It’s iGrill 3 compatible, has the G4S grilling system built in, and comes with Weber’s signature 10 year warranty. The 3 burners have the capability to reach temperatures up to around 550 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can definitely sear steaks with this grill. There’s 513 square inches of primary cooking area, enough for about 20 burgers.
The Genesis II E-310 features an open cart design that makes storage of tools and equipment incredibly easy. On propane fueled models, there’s also a fuel gauge that lets you see how much fuel you have in your tank and when it’s time for a refill.
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Weber 44010001 Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Grill
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Weber 44010001 Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Black
- Boasts the Gs4 grilling system with improved infinity ignition, burners, porcelain-enameled Flavorizer Bars, grease Management system, and 450 Square inches of cooking space over two burners
- Porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates. Left table down width : 38 Inches
- 26, 500 BTU-per-hour input main burners with fuel gauge. Dimensions – Lid Open (inches)57 H x 48 W x 26 D
- Open cart design with six tool hooks and two large wheels.Built-in lid thermometer
- 10 year, 100 Percent Weber Guarantee
The Weber 44010001 Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Gas Grill has actually made another appearance on our list of the best 2 burner gas grills, so it’s one that we hold in high regard for a lot of reasons. In the context of the Weber Spirit vs Genesis comparison, it’s the only 2 burner grill offered between the two series, and it’s also the best price.
And just because it’s basically the cheapest Weber gas grill you can buy doesn’t mean the quality isn’t great. Everything you’ve come to know about Weber grills is included on the E-210. That includes GS4 grilling, iGrill 3 compatibility, and porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates.
The primary cooking area is 360 square inches with an additional 90 square inches of warming rack, which is more than enough to get the job done for a family or group of friends. Heat output wise, the burners can achieve 26,500 BTUs – more than enough to sear steaks or handle just about any of your needs.
If you’re buying your first grill, and want something that’s nice but won’t break the bank, the Spirit II E-210 is one of the best recommendations we can give.
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Weber 62011001 Genesis II E-410 Grill
Weber 62011001 Genesis II E-410 LP Grill, Black
- 10 year warranty, 100% Weber guarantee
- Equipped with the powerful GS4 High Performance Grilling System
- Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates provide superior heat retention
- The fuel gauge lets you see how much fuel is left in the tank (LP only). Dimensions-Lid Open (inches)-62 H x 65 W x 31 D inches
- iGrill 3 compatible, for perfectly grilled food (accessory sold separately)
So I have to admit, this review comes with a twinge of bias. The Weber 62011001 Genesis II E-410 Grill is the first gas grill I ever got (I have a natural gas one but they sell propane fueled ones too), and boy do I love it.
The 4 burner grill really gives you a ton of space to get to work. There’s 646 square inches of primary cooking area along with a 198 square inch swing away warming rack. That makes a total of 844 square inches of cooking space – enough to feed a small army!
This grill heats quickly, evenly, and consistently, with porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates providing superior heat retention. The 4 burner set up allows for maximum versatility. It’s possible to sear, roast, rotisserie, and cook with indirect cooking all on the same gas grill.
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Weber Spirit E330 Gas Grill
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Weber Spirit E330 Lp Black Grill
- Equipped with upgraded features and the perfect size for hosting a BBQ or everyday family grilling
- Sear station creates an intense heat zone to quickly add sear marks on meat; Built-in lid thermometer
- Keep food warm or toast buns on the built-in warming rack and simmer BBQ sauce or sauté veggies on the side burner
- Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates retain even heat for the best tasting food. Dimensions – Lid Open (inches) : 63 H x 52 W x 32 D inches, Dimensions – Lid Closed (inches) 45.5 H x 52 W x 24 D inches
- Built to last with heavy duty, porcelain-enameled lid and cookbox that won’t rust or peal over time
If you find yourself looking for something a little in between a Weber Spirit vs Genesis, the Weber Spirit E330 Gas Grill is in the Spirit line of grills but comes with a couple of nice upgraded features.
There’s a built in sear station which creates an intense heat zone, which makes it possible to quickly and easily sear meats. A side burner is also built in to make sides or sauces while the main course cooks on the grill.
With 529 square inches of total cooking area (includes main cooking area and warming rack), you’re sure to have enough space for most grilling duties that you could come across at home.
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Wrap Up
There you have it! To reiterate, the big difference between the Weber Spirit vs Genesis families of grills is the sophistication of the grills. The Spirit line has everything you need to get the job done, without a doubt. But if you’re looking for a few extra features to take your grilling game to the next level, the Genesis II line might be best for you.
Which one did you end up going with? We want to hear about it in the comments section below. Be sure to check out our other grill reviews next!