Introduction
This Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 comparison looks at which electric smoker performs better for real-world UK garden cooking. Whether you want fast weeknight wood-fired flavour or an all-day vertical cabinet smoker for large gatherings, choosing the right electric appliance comes down to how you actually cook.
The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker (OG901UK) is a 7-in-1 outdoor cooker that can grill, smoke, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, and reheat in one compact unit. Priced around £399–£450 in the UK, it uses an electric heating element paired with a side hardwood pellet box to deliver real wood smoke without charcoal or gas, earning high praise from Expert Reviews for year-round convenience.
In this Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 review, we compare smoke flavour, build quality, running costs, and cooking capacity against the Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker (~£249)—a traditional vertical cabinet smoker built for big low-and-slow cooks.
- AMAZON EXCLUSIVE: This Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill includes extra accessories - a Cover, Additional Probe, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners and Cleaning Brush. The Ideal all in one bundle for outdoor grilling.
- APP CONTROL: Control your BBQ from your phone. Set your perfect cook level, time & temp, monitor your food’s progress & get notifications. Cooking probes for perfect results, no guesswork. Large capacity fits 10 burgers or two 3kg chickens
- 7 OUTDOOR COOKING FUNCTIONS: BBQ Grill, Smoker, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate & Reheat. Water resistant to rating IPX4. Perfect for gardens, patios, balconies and camping.
- WOODFIRE TECHNOLOGY: Integrated smoker box burns 100% real wood pellets for natural smoky flavours. Smoke low & slow for tender results, or quickly add smoky flavours to any food
- INCLUDES: Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill (UK plug), 2x Digital Probes, Smoke Box, Crisper Basket, Grill Plate, Grease Tray, 2 Woodfire Pellet Starter Packs, Scoop, Cover, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners & Cleaning Brush. Weight: 18kg. Colour: Black/Blue
Above: Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill & Smoker (OG901UK) – a versatile electric outdoor cooker with smart probe and app control.
Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Overview & Key Features
The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL weighs 18 kg (57 × 51 × 41 cm) and offers 30% more space than the original Ninja Woodfire, as tested by TechRadar. Its 45 × 31 cm ceramic-coated grate fits up to 10 burgers, two 3 kg chickens, or two racks of ribs.
Rather than burning wood for heat, an electric element and lid convection fan circulate heat while a small scoop of hardwood pellets smoulders in the side box.
- Wide Temperature Range (40°C–260°C): Unlike dedicated electric cabinet smokers that max out at 135°C (275°F) according to Masterbuilt, the Ninja sears steaks and crisps chicken skin at 260°C.
- 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker: Switch between Smoke, Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate from the digital panel.
- Pro Connect Wi-Fi & Bluetooth App: Monitor cooking times, adjust temperatures remotely, and receive flip or rest notifications on your phone.
- Dual Thermometer Probe Ports: Includes one smart meat probe (with ports for two) that tracks internal temperatures and automatically transitions the cook when your target is reached.
- Woodfire Pellet Ignition: Half a cup of pellets ignites automatically at the push of a button, producing clean smoke for 20–30 minutes, as highlighted by The Spruce Eats. For longer smokes, top up the side hopper and hold the Woodfire button for 3 seconds to relight.
Build quality is weather-resistant (IPX4 water-resistant) for year-round British drizzle and cold evenings. Because the built-in power lead is short, most gardens will need a weatherproof outdoor extension lead and a sturdy table to support its 18 kg frame.
Pros and Cons of the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL
Pros
- True 7-in-1 Versatility: Smoke ribs low-and-slow, then blast chicken wings at 260°C on Air Crisp mode to crisp the skin in one unit.
- Push-Button Electric Ease: No charcoal chimneys or fire management—just plug in, add a scoop of pellets, and set your temperature.
- Fast Preheat & Recovery: Heats up in under 10 minutes and recovers temperature almost instantly after opening the lid.
- Clean Wood Smoke Flavour: Delivers genuine wood-smoke flavour in a short 30-minute burst without billowing heavy smoke across neighbouring gardens.
- Low UK Electricity Running Costs: Its 1,700 W element uses roughly 0.67 kWh (~£0.18–£0.20) per hour of cooking, with no charcoal or gas refills required.
Cons
- Compact Single-Grate Capacity: At ~216 sq. inches, it feeds 4–6 people easily but cannot hold a full packer brisket or multi-rack party spread without batch cooking.
- 20–30 Minute Pellet Cycles: Long 8-hour pork shoulder cooks require refilling the small side pellet box every 30–45 minutes if you want continuous smoke.
- Hand-Wash Accessories: The non-stick grill grate, crisper basket, and grease tray are not dishwasher-safe.
- Higher Upfront Price: At
£400–£450, it costs significantly more than basic dedicated electric smokers like the Masterbuilt 710 (£249).
- WiFi digital electric smoker with 711 square inches of cooking space
- Digital control panel to easily set cooking time and temperature from 100F to 275F
- Masterbuilt WiFi technology to control your smoker from anywhere
- Connect to the Masterbuilt app to set smoking temperature and time, receive alerts, monitor meat probes and discover new recipes from anywhere
- Patented side woodchip loader to continually add smoke flavor without having to open the smoker door
- AMAZON EXCLUSIVE: This Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Grill includes extra accessories - a Cover, Additional Probe, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners and Cleaning Brush. The Ideal all in one bundle for outdoor grilling.
- APP CONTROL: Control your BBQ from your phone. Set your perfect cook level, time & temp, monitor your food’s progress & get notifications. Cooking probes for perfect results, no guesswork. Large capacity fits 10 burgers or two 3kg chickens
- 7 OUTDOOR COOKING FUNCTIONS: BBQ Grill, Smoker, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate & Reheat. Water resistant to rating IPX4. Perfect for gardens, patios, balconies and camping.
- WOODFIRE TECHNOLOGY: Integrated smoker box burns 100% real wood pellets for natural smoky flavours. Smoke low & slow for tender results, or quickly add smoky flavours to any food
- INCLUDES: Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill (UK plug), 2x Digital Probes, Smoke Box, Crisper Basket, Grill Plate, Grease Tray, 2 Woodfire Pellet Starter Packs, Scoop, Cover, Rib Rack, Grease Tray Liners & Cleaning Brush. Weight: 18kg. Colour: Black/Blue
Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Smoker – Key Differences
When weighing up the Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710, both plug into a standard UK socket and connect to smartphone apps, but they are engineered for completely different styles of barbecue:
- Cooking Capacity (216 vs 711 sq. in.): The Masterbuilt 710 is a tall vertical cabinet with four racks (711 sq. in.) capable of smoking 6 whole chickens, 4 pork shoulders, or 4 racks of ribs at once. The Ninja Woodfire is a single-grate tabletop unit (216 sq. in.) built for family meals.
Above: The Masterbuilt 710 Digital Electric Smoker features four vertical racks and an integrated water pan for big batch smoking.
- Max Temperature & Crisping (260°C vs 135°C): In any Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 test, temperature range is the biggest differentiator. The Masterbuilt maxes out at 135°C (275°F)—ideal for low-and-slow smoking, but poultry skin stays soft unless finished in an indoor oven. The Ninja hits 260°C for high-heat searing and air frying.
- Smoke Generation (Pellets vs Wood Chips): The Masterbuilt uses a side tube loader to drop hardwood chips over an element, smouldering for 45–60 minutes per load. The Ninja uses mini wood pellets that burn cleanly for 20–30 minutes with convection airflow.
- Moisture & Bark Development: The Masterbuilt includes a removable water bowl and top air damper, creating a humid cabinet environment ideal for 10-hour brisket or pulled pork cooks. The Ninja uses a dry convection fan—great for fast bark and crisp skin, though spritzing helps on longer cooks.
- Footprint & Storage: At ~103 cm tall and 25+ kg, the Masterbuilt needs a permanent patio spot. The tabletop Ninja fits on small balconies, patios, or in a car boot for caravan trips.
- Smart App Experience: The Ninja Pro Connect app offers guided presets and automatic stage transitions via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The Masterbuilt app monitors up to 4 meat probes and chamber temps over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, though it is more manual.
Who Is It For? (Beginners vs BBQ Enthusiasts)
For Beginners & Busy Weeknight Cooks: In a head-to-head Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 comparison, the Ninja Woodfire is virtually foolproof. It removes fire management, preheats in minutes, and doubles as an outdoor air fryer and high-heat grill for steaks, burgers, and midweek roast chicken.
For Traditional Low-and-Slow Pitmasters: If you already own a high-heat gas or charcoal grill and want a dedicated smoker for large weekend feasts, the Masterbuilt 710 wins on sheer volume and classic water-pan smoking. You can stack multiple pork butts and ribs across four vertical shelves and let them smoke gently at 110°C all afternoon.
Cooking Performance: Smoke Quality & Food Results
In real-world UK testing and owner feedback on Reddit’s r/NinjaWoodfire community, the Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 matchup comes down to the cuts you cook most:
Steaks & Burgers: Only the Ninja can reverse-sear a thick ribeye (smoke low at 80°C, then sear at 260°C) or grill burgers with woodfire char.
Pulled Pork & Brisket: Both tenderise pork shoulder (~93°C internal) and brisket flats beautifully. The Masterbuilt’s humid cabinet and longer wood-chip smoulder develop a slightly deeper smoke ring and heavier traditional bark on 10-hour cooks, while the Ninja finishes smaller joints faster thanks to convection airflow.
Pork Ribs: The Ninja fits 2–3 half-racks at 120°C and turns out tender ribs in under 3.5 hours. The Masterbuilt holds 4 full racks simultaneously for party catering.
Chicken & Wings: The Ninja wins hands-down on poultry. You can smoke a whole chicken or basket of wings at 120°C, then switch to Air Crisp at 200°C–240°C for glass-crisp skin—something a 135°C cabinet smoker cannot do alone.
More Ninja Woodfire & UK Electric Smoker Guides
When comparing the Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 for British gardens, your final choice comes down to weeknight speed versus vertical smoking capacity. Our Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 testing shows that both appliances excel in UK weather, provided you match the cooker to your typical batch size. Before making your final Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 decision, explore our companion UK tests and interactive cooking calculators below:
- Upgrading to smart app control? Read our hands-on review of Why the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Finally Made Me Jump to see how built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth probes compare.
- Comparing running costs? Check our test of Ninja Woodfire vs. Dual Air Fryer: Which is the Real Energy Saving Champion? for exact UK wattage and pence-per-cook breakdowns.
- Best UK alternatives: Browse our complete Best Electric Smoker UK (2026 Tested & Compared) buyer’s guide.
- Plan your cook: Use our interactive BBQ Smoker Time Calculator and All UK BBQ Calculators & Pitmaster Hub to dial in exact smoking times and safe internal food temps.
Is the Ninja Woodfire a real smoker or more of a grill?
The Ninja Woodfire is primarily a grill with smoking capability. It uses pellets to add smoke flavour but does not operate like a traditional smoker. The Masterbuilt 710 is a true electric smoker designed for long, low-and-slow cooks with consistent smoke production.
Which produces better smoke flavour: Ninja Woodfire or Masterbuilt 710?
The Masterbuilt 710 produces a stronger and more authentic smoke flavour. Its enclosed design and dedicated wood chip system allow for longer smoke exposure, whereas the Ninja Woodfire delivers a lighter smoke flavour intended for quicker cooks.
Can the Ninja Woodfire replace a Masterbuilt 710?
For grilling, roasting, and convenience cooking, the Ninja Woodfire can replace multiple appliances. However, it cannot fully replace the Masterbuilt 710 if your goal is traditional smoking, long cooks, or deep smoke penetration.
Which is easier to use for beginners?
In any Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 comparison for beginners, the Ninja Woodfire is easier due to its compact size, fast heat-up, and simple controls. The Masterbuilt 710 has a slightly steeper learning curve but offers greater control for smoking-focused users.
Is the Ninja Woodfire worth it for UK users?
Yes, when weighing up the Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 for year-round British cooking, the Ninja Woodfire is well suited to UK conditions thanks to its electric design, weather resistance, and fast recovery times. The Masterbuilt 710 is also UK-compatible but is better suited to users with space for a dedicated smoker.
What are the main downsides of the Ninja Woodfire compared to the Masterbuilt 710?
The main drawbacks of the Ninja Woodfire are limited smoke intensity, smaller cooking capacity, and less suitability for long smoking sessions. The Masterbuilt 710 is larger, produces stronger smoke, but takes up more space and is less versatile for grilling.
Final Verdict: Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710
Our Ninja Woodfire vs Masterbuilt 710 verdict comes down to versatility versus volume:
- Buy the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL if you want an all-in-one outdoor grill, smoker, and air fryer for 2–6 people. It heats up in minutes, sears at 260°C, crisps poultry skin effortlessly, and delivers genuine wood-smoke flavour on a rainy Tuesday night.
- Buy the Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Electric Smoker if you already have a grill for searing and want a dedicated, high-capacity vertical smoker (711 sq. in.) for big family gatherings, multi-rack rib cooks, and traditional low-and-slow barbecue at a lower upfront price.
Before your first smoke, check out our guide on How to Deep Clean an Electric Smoker (Remove Tar & Creosote Safely) and plan your exact cook times with our interactive BBQ Smoker Time Calculator below:
Last update on 2026-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
