Comparisons
Pit Boss Navigator 850 vs Advantage 850SL
Identical cooking area, identical hopper. The entire difference is the controller — and a cover and tool set thrown in.
By Mike M. · Last updated November 6, 2026 · How we pick
850 vs 850SL
Pit Boss Advantage 850SL
Pit Boss · score 9.7/10 · Buyers who want PID accuracy without crossing $900
Same 932 sq in as the Navigator 850 but with a real PID controller and a cover in the box — the upgrade worth paying for.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Quick picks
Ranked by our value-weighted score. Prices are live from Amazon as of November 7, 2026 — tap a price to check it now, or tap a row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pit Boss Advantage 850SLSame 932 sq in as the Navigator 850 but with a real PID controller and a cover in the box — the upgrade worth paying for. | Buyers who want PID accuracy without crossing $900 | 9.79.7 out of 10 | $827.54Amazon |
| 2 |  Pit Boss 850 Navigator SeriesThe most cooking space per dollar of any WiFi pellet grill we track, and the one we point most buyers at first. | Most backyards — the default pick | 9.69.6 out of 10 | $799.99Amazon |
#ad We earn a commission on Amazon purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the ranking — here is the method.
What is actually different
| Navigator 850 | Advantage 850SL | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 932 sq in | 932 sq in (582 primary + 350 upper) |
| Hopper | 30 lb with window | Nearly 30 lb, with cleanout |
| Temperature range | 180-500°F in 5°F steps | 180-500°F in 5°F steps |
| Connectivity | WiFi + Bluetooth | WiFi + Bluetooth |
| Controller | LCD digital | Touchscreen P.I.D. |
| Probes | 2 included | 1 included, 2 ports |
| Hopper cleanout | Not stated | Yes |
| Burn pot | Standard | Removable for fast ash clearing |
| Casters | Standard wheels | Swivel-locking sport casters + 7 in wheels |
| In the box | Grill + 2 probes | Grill + fitted cover + tool set |
Does a PID controller matter?
A PID board watches the temperature, works out which way it is heading and how fast, and adjusts the auger feed and fan continuously to counteract it. An LCD digital board feeds on a simpler schedule and corrects after the fact. The result is a narrower band around your set point.
Where that shows up:
- Long low cooks, yes. Over 12 hours at 225°F, repeated overshoot and undershoot affects how evenly a brisket renders.
- Cold or windy weather, yes. A PID board compensates faster when heat is being pulled out of the chamber.
- Grilling and short smokes, no. At 375°F for chicken thighs, a 15°F swing is invisible in the result.
The three practical extras
The controller gets the attention, but these matter day to day:
- A fitted cover and tool set in the box. That is real money you would otherwise spend, and it narrows the effective price gap meaningfully.
- A removable burn pot. Ash clearing goes from a vacuum job to lifting the pot out. Given that ash buildup causes most of the temperature complaints people blame on controllers, this is quietly one of the best features on either grill.
- Hopper cleanout. Swapping from apple to hickory takes a minute instead of scooping the hopper empty by hand.
One listing error to ignore
The Advantage 850SL listing states “58 square inches on primary rack, plus 350 square inches on upper rack”. 58 is a typo for 582 — 582 + 350 = 932, which matches the headline figure. Pit Boss’s own copy is sloppy here; the grill is not tiny.
Our call
The Advantage 850SL is the better grill and, once you account for the included cover, usually the better buy. We recommend the Navigator 850 more often only because it is cheaper up front and the controller difference genuinely does not matter for the way most people cook.
If you are the kind of owner who will do overnight briskets through a winter, buy the Advantage. If you are mostly cooking burgers, ribs and the occasional pork shoulder on summer weekends, save the money and spend it on better pellets.
The picks in full
#1 · Buyers who want PID accuracy without crossing $900
Pit Boss Advantage 850SL
Pit Boss · score 9.7/10
Same 932 sq in as the Navigator 850 but with a real PID controller and a cover in the box — the upgrade worth paying for.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 932 sq in (582 primary + 350 upper)
- Hopper
- Nearly 30 lb, with cleanout
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F in 5°F steps
- Controller
- Touchscreen PID, one probe, two probe ports
- Connectivity
- WiFi + Bluetooth, Pit Boss Grills app
- Warranty
- 5 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.5/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.7/10.
What it does well
- PID control holds temperature far tighter than the LCD boards on the cheaper Pit Boss models
- Fitted cover and a tool set are included, which is $60-80 of kit you would otherwise buy
- Removable burn pot makes ash clearing a two-minute job instead of a vacuum session
- Swivel-locking casters, so it actually parks where you put it
Where it falls short
- Costs more than the Navigator 850 for the same grate area — you are paying for the controller
- Only one meat probe included despite two ports
- Listing bullet says 58 sq in on the primary rack, which is a typo for 582 — the maker's own copy is sloppy
#2 · Most backyards — the default pick
Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series
Pit Boss · score 9.6/10
The most cooking space per dollar of any WiFi pellet grill we track, and the one we point most buyers at first.
Also direct from Pit Boss — $799.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Published specifications
- Cooking area
- 932 sq in across two tiers
- Hopper
- 30 lb, with a viewing window
- Temperature range
- 180-500°F in 5°F steps
- Controller
- LCD digital, two meat probes included
- Connectivity
- WiFi + Bluetooth, Pit Boss Grills app
- Warranty
- 5 years
How it scores
Weighted rubric score: 8.4/10. Value carries the most weight on this site by design. On our published scale that is 9.6/10.
What it does well
- 932 sq in for well under four figures — roughly 20% more grate per dollar than the closest Traeger
- 30 lb hopper is double what most sub-$500 grills carry, so overnight cooks do not need a refill
- Flame Broiler slider gives you direct-flame searing, which most pellet grills in this range cannot do
- Two probes in the box rather than one
Where it falls short
- LCD controller is a step below the touchscreen PID on the 1300/1600 and the Advantage 850SL
- Pit Boss app has a long history of connection complaints in owner threads
- Assembly is a genuine two-person, ninety-minute job
Our recommendation
Top pick
Pit Boss Advantage 850SL
Buyers who want PID accuracy without crossing $900.
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Runner-up
Pit Boss 850 Navigator Series
Most backyards — the default pick.
Also direct from Pit Boss — $799.99 (list price as of 2026-11-07)
Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad how this is funded
Questions people actually ask
What is the difference between Pit Boss Navigator and Advantage?
The controller, chiefly. The Advantage 850SL has a touchscreen PID board, a removable burn pot, hopper cleanout, locking casters and a cover and tool set in the box. Cooking area (932 sq in) and hopper capacity are the same.
Is a PID controller worth paying extra for?
On long, low cooks and in cold weather, yes. For grilling and short smokes you will not see the difference. It is the most worthwhile upgrade if you are a brisket-and-pork-shoulder cook and close to irrelevant if you are a burgers-and-chicken cook.
Does the Advantage 850SL come with a cover?
Yes — the listing states a cover and tool set are included, which is real money you would otherwise spend separately and narrows the effective price difference.
Why does the 850SL listing say 58 square inches?
It is a typo for 582. 582 on the primary rack plus 350 on the upper rack gives the 932 square inches in the title. Pit Boss’s own listing copy has the error.
Sources
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