Pit Boss Navigator 850 vs recteq X-Fire Pro 825: two wood pellet grills, side by side

Both of these are wood pellet grills: a hopper feeds hardwood pellets into a fire pot, a fan drives the burn, and a controller holds a set temperature. Hopper gap: Pit Boss Navigator 850 holds 30 lb of pellets, recteq X-Fire Pro 825 holds 20 lb. Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the larger box at 932 sq in against 830. The numbers below passed our verification pass. Anything we have not confirmed stays a dash.

Pit Boss Navigator 850 and recteq X-Fire Pro 825 wood pellet grills side by side, VS between them
Pit Boss Navigator 850 on the left, recteq X-Fire Pro 825 on the right.

Verdict from the verified data

On verified paper the Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the one we would take from this pair. Cooking area per dollar: Pit Boss Navigator 850 at $0.80/sq in vs recteq X-Fire Pro 825 at $1.87/sq in.

How do the Pit Boss Navigator 850 and recteq X-Fire Pro 825 pellet grills compare on paper?

Pit Boss Navigator 850 beside recteq X-Fire Pro 825, editorial product photography
Same two wood pellet grills without the VS badge.
Pit Boss Navigator 850recteq X-Fire Pro 825
Verified price$750$1550
Total cooking area932 sq in830 sq in
Price per sq in$0.8$1.87
Hopper capacity30 lb20 lb
Max temperature500°F1250°F
WiFi controlYesYes
Direct-flame searingYesYes
PortableNoNo
Warranty5 yearsn/a
Our weighted scorenot yet scorednot yet scored
Site rankunrankedunranked

Highlighted cells mark the better verified number. Rank on this site is the tested editorial pick; the score is the weighted measure (how we test). Pit Boss Navigator 850: 932 sq in of cooking area, a 30 lb pellet hopper, a 500°F ceiling, direct-flame searing, WiFi control. recteq X-Fire Pro 825: 830 sq in of cooking area, a 20 lb pellet hopper, a 1250°F ceiling, direct-flame searing, WiFi control.

What a square inch of pellet grill costs Verified regular price divided by total cooking area. Shorter bar = more grill per dollar. Pit Boss Navigator 850 recteq X-Fire Pro 825 Pit Boss Navigator 850 $0.80/sq in $750 · 932 sq in recteq X-Fire Pro 825 $1.87/sq in $1550 · 830 sq in
Price per square inch of cooking area, from verified regular prices.

What do owners actually complain about?

Pit Boss Navigator 850

No recurring owner complaints have cleared our verification bar yet.

recteq X-Fire Pro 825

No recurring owner complaints have cleared our verification bar yet.

Complaint patterns come from verified owner reports gathered during our research passes, kept on file.

Common questions about this pellet-grill matchup

Are both of these wood pellet grills?

Yes. The Pit Boss Navigator 850 and the recteq X-Fire Pro 825 both burn hardwood pellets. Neither is a gas grill, a charcoal kettle, or a stick-burner. If you came here from a brand-vs-brand page, this is the model-level version of that fight.

Which is bigger, the Pit Boss Navigator 850 or the recteq X-Fire Pro 825?

The Pit Boss Navigator 850 has the larger verified cooking area at 932 sq in, against 830 sq in. Whether that matters depends on how many racks of ribs you run at once.

Which costs less?

At verified regular prices the Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the cheaper grill at $750, versus $1550. Sale prices move; the check-price buttons always show today's number.

Which hopper lasts longer on an overnight cook?

The Pit Boss Navigator 850 holds 30 lb against 20 lb. That is the one less likely to need a 2 a.m. refill on a brisket.

Which one should I buy?

From this pair, the Pit Boss Navigator 850. That is our call on ranking, score, and cooking area per dollar, not a promise that it is the right grill for every patio. If you want the site's overall winner instead, that is still the Weber Searwood XL.

Take the winner home

Both links show live prices. Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never touches the numbers above.

Check Pit Boss Navigator 850 price → See recteq X-Fire Pro 825 in the database

Deep-dive matchups: camp chef vs green mountain · camp chef vs recteq · camp chef vs weber · or the full database.

Our #1 after testing: Weber Searwood XL Check today's price →