# Char-Broil SmartChef Smoker — user reviews > 83 indexed App Store user reviews of Char by Char-Broil, LLC, rated 1.40/5 from 199 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/char-broil-smartchef-smoker/id1238426470/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/char-broil-smartchef-smoker/id1238426470.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 12 · 4★ 5 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 165 ## What do users think of Char? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - ✅ Works flawlessly when properly configured - 🔧 Solid performance after initial setup - ⏱️ Convenient remote monitoring capability - 🎯 Dummy-proof cooking once connected - 📱 Easy app interface for experienced users **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent WiFi connectivity failures - 🔐 Password reset functionality broken - ❌ No manual override controls available - ⚠️ App-dependent operation only - 🔌 Server/DADO network frequently down - 📵 Inconsistent app performance across devices - 🔄 Requires constant app reinstallation - ⏳ Extremely difficult initial setup process - 🚫 Cannot operate without app connection - 💔 Poor customer support responsiveness - 🔀 App crashes mid-cooking session - ❌ Firmware updates frequently fail - 🌐 Incompatible with special characters in WiFi passwords - 📱 Only works on newer iPhone models - 🔧 Overly complex user interface - ⚙️ Rigid cooking parameters with no flexibility - 🎯 Inaccurate temperature readings - 🔄 Frequent disconnections during use - 📊 Cannot display real-time smoker temperature - 🚫 Requires WiFi even for basic operation **Commonly reported bugs** - App won't connect to smoker after login - Password reset doesn't work for app accounts - Cannot create new accounts due to email already exists error - DADO network disappears after initial connection - App freezes during cooking sessions - Firmware update fails repeatedly - App signs user out unexpectedly mid-cook - Partial UI elements not fully visible on screen - Dropdown menus fail to display options - App crashes when selecting probe temperatures - Incompatible with older iPhone models - App won't recognize smoker as online despite solid connection - Temperature readings not updating in real-time - App won't allow logout functionality - Smoker randomly heats up without command - Manual mode doesn't work despite being available - App requires full restart to reconnect - WiFi connection drops frequently during use - Notifications never work - App becomes unresponsive during cooking **Most requested features** - Manual override controls for smoker operation - Offline mode capability without WiFi - Adjustable temperature and time controls via arrow buttons - Custom smoking session builder - Support for 3-2-1 ribs method preset - Temperature change notifications/alerts - Mid-cook adjustable recipes - Simplified setup process - Real-time smoker temperature display - Simultaneous display of smoker and probe temperatures - More recipe options and customization - Ability to change settings without restarting from beginning - Support for higher temperature settings (above 250°F) - Waterproof controller board - Better app design and UX improvements - Backward compatibility with older app versions ## Newest reviews (18 of 83) ### 1/5 — Don’t wast your money *2021-10-17* I have the WiFi smart smoker This smoker has been nothing but problems. Update issues, connection issues, won’t smoke in manual mode without app. This smoker actually detours me from smoking. Every time I use it, I am reminded of why I dislike this thing so much. I’m trying to smoke chicken today and the thing won’t even heat up. The app doesn’t tell me the temp inside because the probe is hooked up. Then once you think it is working. Then wonder why the numbers are not changing in the app. Well it’s frozen. The smoker is not hot and you just wasted 20 or 30 min. You restart the app and have to reset everything. Super annoying. Saving up to get a real smoker with apps that work ### 1/5 — Glitches, Glitches, Glitches… *2021-09-20, version 2.0.5* This app is extremely glitchy, and the notifications never work. ### 1/5 — Worst product ever *2021-07-30, version 2.0.5* My ex-wife got me this when we were still married. It has never worked right and I think of it as proof that she was literal Satan. I hate this company and I hate this product. ### 1/5 — Useless device, app won’t connect *2021-07-10, version 2.0.5* Worked great until I logged out. It wouldn’t connect when I logged back in. Even with resetting everything it will no longer connect making the smoker useless. ### 1/5 — They are lucky you cannot give zero or negative stars *2021-05-31, version 2.0.5* First of all the app is hot garbage and only the support service tops it. You can spend an hour on the phone telling the support staff that you have gone through the entire Troubleshooting database and yet they read through it again. Honestly, I’m about to contact Consumer Protection because this is total garbage. NEVER buy ANY Charbroil products! ### 1/5 — Terrible Experience *2021-05-12, version 2.0.5* The directions are garbage. I preheated it and put my meat in all ready to go and it says I need to preheat it. What do you think I was doing for the past hour+?!? Garbage. Do not buy. ### 2/5 — Dang...Do something about this wonky app Char Broil! *2021-04-15* This app worked fine last year. Uncovered my smoker and parts of the app are only partly visible. Did a chip burn...won’t let me add food as selecting probe you have two choices with drop down link...only part of the text line is visible and would not let me see the drop down lists of temps to set. Shut down the chip burn, tried probe cook and same issue. Recipie selection Beef and same issue with selections not launching drop downs. Finally did Timer Cook and kept tapping around the text for oven temp and finally the drop down appeared...I set that Max temp, did same with Timer till it popped up and set 4 hrs...seems to be working but the meat has the probe in and I don’t get to see that temp. App says last updated 8 mo ago... ### 1/5 — Bad *2021-02-04, version 2.0.5* I bought this smoker it only came with one rack when it said 3 then it won’t hook up to the app I have tried and tried I cant get the app to sync with my phone then it took me 2 days to smoke chicken quarters. ### 1/5 — What a garbage! *2021-01-14, version 2.0.5* Firmware update required to use the smoker, but firmware update failed 8 times in the row. Customer support is closed. Returning it to the store tomorrow. screw you CB with your stupid games. DO NOT BUY THIS SCRAP! Ot is truly unfortunate that labor of so many people goes to waste over the mistakes of a few incompetent programmers. Tried to contact the company - the only solution they offer is to return the smoker, which we received as a gift. How does this company stays in business? It is now on my blacklist. I will not buy anything with the Chair-Broil brand. Sorry, Columbus.UPDATE -The company updated the firmware, but it still does not work- calls for adding the food after the preheat and won’t restart after that. WHAT A JUNK. TO PEOPLE AT CHAIRBROIL IN COLUMBUS GA - I wish everyone of you gets this smoker for Christmas. You deserve it! ### 1/5 — Junk *2020-12-10, version 2.0.5* App is junk, smoker is junk, I will never buy a charbroil device ever again. Won’t connect, won’t work unless it’s connected ### 1/5 — What awful smoker *2020-11-26* I’d say that I agree with all the negative reviews posted. I’ve had basically all the same issues reviewers have pointed out. I received this smoker as a gift from my son three yrs ago. And every time I try to use it it just doesn’t connect or half connect or just does not work, regardless of what you try to do. So if are not an electronic person or have little patience don’t buy one. The app updates are terrible to load. Just out of love for my son I thought I’d try to smoke a turkey this year, but I the turkey ended with my brain SMOKED. ### 1/5 — Useless *2020-11-24, version 2.0.5* Zero stars? If I could I would. Love the smoker, but always am using the manual setting now since this app refuses to allow a complete cook. ### 1/5 — Worthless if the app is down. *2020-11-05, version 2.0.5* My smoker will no longer connect to my WiFi, so now it is just a worthless piece of crap. ### 1/5 — Does not connect to DADO *2020-09-09, version 2.0.5* New version of this is unusable. Another case of programmers breaking things that previously working. ### 2/5 — Minimal flexibility *2020-08-22* The app should allow temps and times to be changed by clicking up and down arrows. I don’t know why they built the app to be so ridgid. And it wouldn’t have been to hard to include the ability for the users to custom build a smoking session where smoker temp changes based on time or meat probe temps. The 3-2-1 method for ribs would have been fairly easy for this app, it’s a huge company, I’m not sure why they couldn’t have brained stormed more and selected a better app team. ### 1/5 — Extremely complicated doesn’t connect to WiFi *2020-08-20, version 2.0.5* I have just tried to start using this smoker. Cannot get it to connect to Wi-Fi. Has a hard time with firmware updates. Not impressed. Hoping the manual mode works fine enough. Disappointed in app and smoker capabilities. ### 1/5 — Surprised No Class Action Lawsuit *2020-08-08* Received this as a gift and never could get it to associate with the Wi-Fi. Read all the reviews below and you will see everyone has the same problem. They have this weird DADO network that goes down and never comes back up. So basically I have a piece of junk sitting in the backyard that will probably go in the dumpster. But I cannot believe with this many bad reviews that there hasn’t been a class action lawsuit against them for selling this $400-$500 product and then just letting everyone suffer with a brick in their backyard. They should be ashamed. ### 1/5 — Smoker *2020-08-02, version 2.0.4* A complete joke. Don’t buy any smoker from charbroil! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Can’t reset password *2025-02-06* I forgot my password since I hadn’t ever used it since I bought it 7 years ago. It is my backup smoker. My master built finally gave out after ten years of dependable service. I thought thank goodness I have a backup only to find I can’t even change my password. By looking at all the other comments I don’t think it would have worked anyway. So now I’m going to strip what I can from it and off it goes to the land fill. I’m definitely going to buy a different brand from now on! ### 1/5 — Horrible *2024-11-03, version 2.0.5* Forgot password and reset doesn’t work. Tried to create a new account, email already exists. Why the security? The only people who can use my smoker are the Chinese hackers. Waste an hour trying to turn on a smoker every time I try to use it. There is no manual override on my smoker, must use the app. Avoid at all costs ### 1/5 — Poor app bricks smoker *2024-09-11, version 2.0.5* Really wanted to make this work but couldn’t even get through setup. Since there are virtually no manual controls on the smoker it is rendered useless. I am relatively advanced on network tech and this this is just unusable. ### 1/5 — Char-Broil employees should quit *2024-09-01, version 2.0.5* Terrible app, no support. Company should be ashamed and everyone who works here should feel bad about their life choices. ### 1/5 — How is CharBroil still in business? *2024-07-06, version 2.0.5* Worst app experience of all time. Smoking meat requires timing, I spent an hour and a half getting it working. Going to be very late for the 4th celebration. Last CharBroil product I ever buy. ### 1/5 — WORST PRODUCT EVER!! *2024-01-12, version 2.0.5* IF I COULD GIVE THIS APP ZERO STARS, I WOULD! I did everything correct in order to set up my smoker and the app, and it does not work at all! I’m so shocked that CHAR-BROIL would make a product that is not user friendly. ### 1/5 — No need to Repeat *2023-05-21, version 2.0.5* Everyone else says it all… DO NOT BUY CHARBROIL PRODUCTS. Nuff said. ### 1/5 — App and resetting the password *2023-05-08, version 2.0.5* If I could give this app and customer service 0 stars I would. Apparently customer service thinks resetting the password for your website account is the same as the app. It’s not. Why? Don’t know. So I cannot reset my password for the app nor can I log in because when I set up a new account it says my email is already in use. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2022-10-02, version 2.0.5* I’ve gotten this app to work twice. This last time it was mid chip burn and it signed me out and deleted my account info, and now I can’t get the smoker to work at all… so so disappointed. I dont know if it’s the app or the smoker. But either way don’t get either! ### 1/5 — Terrible *2022-09-14, version 2.0.5* Every negative comment you read about this smoker and app is an understatement. This is the worst product I have ever purchased. The smoker will not operate without the app and the app never works. Customer support does not exist. I will never buy another Char-Broil product. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great Product *2018-12-25* I’ve had this smoker for a year now and absolutely love it! I had some problems getting it to work but found out it was my internet and it was not reaching the smoker. I bought a mesh internet system and haven’t had a problem since. App is easy and smoker is dummy proof. ### 5/5 — Seems good to me *2018-12-25* It was frustrating at first I downloaded the BBQ app instead of the Smoker app. Once I figured out it was me that made the mistake everything else has been smooth. Currently in the seasoning stage. Will update after first cook and so on. Don’t be fooled by all the bad reviews. The only thing I would like is more recipes but those can easily be found online. Review Christmas 2019 ### 5/5 — Works Well *2018-02-24, version 2.0.2* With the only adjustment that I had to do to my home network being adding an AP closer to the smoker, I honestly have no qualms about working with it after that. It connects every time with the app, and never has cut out mid-cycle for me. ### 5/5 — This thing is freaking awesome!!! *2018-02-17* I have zero clue how this has so many bad reviews. This app and the smoker work FLAWLESSLY for me! I totally love it!! Makes smoking so much easier. I really hope this app receives ongoing support. I’d love to see the ability to set temp notifications so you can see when you are coming out of the stall. And more weight adjustments for the recipes. Otherwise, this thing is so good!!!! ### 5/5 — Worked for me!! *2017-12-24* I’ve read the reviews for this unit and if you don’t type in your network information exactly as it is (upper and lower case for ssid) then it won’t connect. Mine connected just fine ran the firmware update took maybe 10 minutes then I was off already got the seasoning setup going no issues here. ### 5/5 — Love the new app! *2017-08-20, version 2.0.1* Downloaded the new app with no issues yesterday! Smoked ribs and brisket for my family while I was out and about running errands. We came home and enjoyed the best smoked meat ever. This smoker is so convenient and easy! ### 4/5 — No troubles here… *2021-05-02, version 2.0.5* For the life of me I don’t know what all the Hub-Bub is about. It lost 1star for two reasons. 1- It is a little hard too get connected to your WiFi. I’m a tech and it took me two try’s. But once it’s connected it’s as solid as a rock. 2- Nowhere in the book does it say anything about “water proof or not”. I had to buy a new controller board, top. And a new power board, under the bottom. If you are going to leave the smoker outside get the slip on clover, it’s will worth it. I have been using this WiFi Char-Broiled Smoker for nearly 2 1/2 years now. I love it. Prepare the meat Start the Smoker and go about your business. One thing to remember. Don’t try to out think the program. Put the wood chips in. Start the App on your phone. Then follow the instructions. If the thing says go press the start button, then go press start button. In my book this smoker is Aces. ### 4/5 — Last update *2020-03-29* App no longer will connect to the smoker after the recent update ( 3/20). Worked fine before. FIX!!!! ***Updated 3/28*** Reinstalled app (for about the 4th time) and smoker came right back online without having to re-do WiFi connection or anything. Back to working perfectly. ### 3/5 — Drops connection *2020-08-09, version 2.0.5* It frequently has a great connection when I start but kicks me out after some time into the smoke. Cant reconnect. Had to guess on when it was done. I like the concept, just not executed very well. ### 3/5 — Great idea. Needs better UX. *2018-06-20* I’ve been using the smoker with the app for a few years and it works most of the time but it’s still confusing to use. It doesn’t have to be. My company designs and builds applications like this so I know that with a few simple design sessions you could make major improvements to the design to allow for the ultra-smoker-newb to grasp the potential this application has. Many organizations don’t find user experience to be a priority and you see it in a lot of applications these days. I hope they keep updating this application as the smoker has worked great and I recommend it to a lot of people. However, I warn them about the usability of the application. This has so much potential so please find a way to invest a little more into the application and I’ll be happy to re-review! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*