Thermoworks Smoke X4 Review – How is it different than the Smoke and Signals?
For years Thermoworks has pretty much been the industry standard when it comes to meat and cooking thermometers. There are other OK brands out there but if you want an accurate, precise, durable, simple to use, and affordable thermometer it is hard to beat the products Thermoworks has to offer.
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For a few years now the Thermoworks Smoke has been one of the best bbq and meat cooking thermometers out there. With two probes you could easily measure the temperature of the meat and the temperature of your grill or smoker at the same time. And the remote unit that came with it allowed you to check your temps from the comfort of your own home.
With the release of the Signals about a year ago Thermoworks added in 2 more channels, a wi-fi connection, and the ability to control the Thermoworks Billows fan controller.
So where could Thermoworks go from here? Today at 12:30 mountain time Thermoworks released the brand new Smoke X4:
The Thermoworks Smoke X4 is almost like the Signals and the Smoke had a perfect baby taking the best parts of both of them and combining them into one awesome unit.
Best Features of the Thermoworks Smoke X4
Here are a few of what I think are the best features of the Thermoworks Smoke X4 that make it unique:
4 Channel Temperature Monitoring
Probably 80% of the time I am fine with only having two channels on my Smoke but that other 20% of the time the extra two channels can be a lifesaver. If you are cooking multiple pieces of meat or different types of meat at the same time (a pork butt and a brisket for example) the 4 channels really comes in handy.
Extended Range on the Receiver
The Thermoworks Smoke has a range of about 300 feet. I know quite a few people who have had issues with the receiver communicating with the base unit when they go to the other end of their house. I know mine usually loses signal if I have to go down to my garage and the smoker is chugging away on the patio. The X4 has a transmission range of an amazing 6,562 feet. Of course trees, buildings, hills, etc. can all affect that but for 99% of us that will definitely provide coverage for our house and yard.
Billows Control
One main difference between the Signals and the Smoke is the ability to control the Thermoworks Billows which is a fan controller you can use to keep a steady temperature on your smoker. The good folks at Thermoworks provided that capability on the X4 with the additional X4 Billows kit. The Billows will easily fit on a number of different types of smokers and can even work on a Weber Kettle.
Turn off the Alarm From the Remote
One major complaint about the Smoke was if the alarm went off on you had to turn off the alarm on the remote and then go turn it off on the base unit. This was always something that annoyed me. If I was working on a potato salad or some deviled eggs or something else to go with dinner I didn’t want to stop and go outside to shut off the alarm. Thermoworks heard our cries and now you can silence both alarms from the receiver. Volumes on the base unit and remote can also be adjusted independently as well.
Recessed Buttons on the Receiver
We are really talking first world problems here but with the Smoke remote there was one big button that could get pushed if it was in your pocket. The buttons on the Smoke X4 receiver are slightly recessed which helps solve this problem.
The major thing the Smoke X4 lacks that the Signals has is the Wi-fi connection that connects it to the app. Many people I have talked to aren’t really fans of the app overall and have had some different wi-fi issues so this isn’t a big issue for most. The wi-fi could be useful if you had to go run some errands or go to a kids soccer game or something while you were cooking but still wanted to keep an eye on your temps. I have never really had a huge need for the wi-fi or app yet. It is a fun thing to play around with but not a necessity.
So all in all the Thermoworks Smoke X4 takes the simplicity and function of the Smoke and adds in the 4 channels and Billows control of the Signals.
Pricewise the Smoke X4 will run $199. For comparison-sake the Smoke is $99 and the Signals runs $229. In April the Smoke X2 which is a 2 channel version will be available for $169. One thing to keep in mind too is the Smoke X4 comes with all 4 probes (3 cooking probes and 1 air probe). Those run about $18 a piece if you buy them separately.
And of course the Thermoworks Smoke X4 comes in 9 different colors much like the rest of the Thermoworks products
Is the Thermoworks Smoke X4 Worth It?
All in all I am a big fan of the new Thermoworks Smoke X4. If you regularly cook more than one hunk of meat I think the extra $100 is worth it compared to the Smoke. The Billows adds another $80 if you want a fan controller but if that can save you an hour or two of sleep on long cooks it could easily be worth it.
I am of the opinion that everyone who cooks should have a good thermometer of some sort. There is no other tool that will improve your cooking more than a way to easily measure temperature. Order your Thermoworks Smoke X4 today and you will be getting a very well built, accurate, and precise thermometer that will help you cook better meat.
