Main trade-off
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
This is a large patio grill, not a portable or tabletop model.
Head-to-head
Pit Boss Navigator 850M vs Traeger Pro 780: Navigator adds direct-flame finishing and a larger hopper
The short answer
Choose direct-flame access and a larger hopper or the Pro 780 smoking workflow.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Compare total multi-level rack area on the same basis
Navigator 850M provides 932 square inches and Pro 780 provides 780. The absolute difference is 152 square inches, or 19.5% of the smaller figure.
What this is based on
932 minus 780 = 152 sq in. 152 ÷ 780 × 100 = 19.5%. Both values include multiple rack levels, so this is not contiguous pan area. No serving count is inferred.
Main trade-off
Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
The 18-pound hopper is small relative to the 780-square-inch body for very long high-load cooks.
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Choose it for
- You want the direct-flame lever
- You need more than an 18lb hopper
- Main trade-off
- This is a large patio grill, not a portable or tabletop model.
Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Choose it for
- You prefer the Pro 780 rack arrangement
- You want the established WiFIRE workflow
- Main trade-off
- The 18-pound hopper is small relative to the 780-square-inch body for very long high-load cooks.
About this comparison
Compare Navigator 850M and Pro 780 by usable rack space, pellet capacity, searing setup and cleanup before choosing your grill.
Choose direct-flame access and a larger hopper or the Pro 780 smoking workflow.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
A meal that needs the largest uninterrupted main grate
Navigator adds 152 square inches to the stated total cooking area. Both totals span more than one rack, so the difference should not be interpreted as a guaranteed extra brisket or a specific number of servings.
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
A long cook with a planned pellet reserve
The 30lb Navigator hopper is 12lb larger than the 18lb Pro 780 hopper. Both list a 500°F chamber ceiling, while only Navigator has the documented direct-flame lever in this pair.
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
Repeated cooks where cleanup and movement matter
Pro 780 is a simpler choice for someone who prefers its smoking layout and already knows WiFIRE. Navigator fits someone who wants to finish food over its flame opening without buying another appliance.
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
Need to pour one full 20lb bag into an empty hopper without keeping a remainder
Navigator can accept the bag with 10lb of nominal room left. Pro 780 needs 2lb kept in dry storage even when its hopper starts empty.
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Not suitable
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Compare total multi-level rack area on the same basis
Navigator 850M provides 932 square inches and Pro 780 provides 780. The absolute difference is 152 square inches, or 19.5% of the smaller figure.
How we reached this conclusion
932 minus 780 = 152 sq in. 152 ÷ 780 × 100 = 19.5%. Both values include multiple rack levels, so this is not contiguous pan area. No serving count is inferred.
A stated pellet-burn assumption makes the hopper comparison usable
At an illustrative 1.5lb per hour, a full 30lb hopper represents 20 hours of fuel and a 18lb hopper represents 12 hours. These are planning estimates before any reserve.
How we reached this conclusion
Assume the same constant 1.5lb/h consumption solely to normalize hopper size. 30 ÷ 1.5 = 20h. 18 ÷ 1.5 = 12h. Actual use varies with temperature, weather, food and grill design. This is not an unattended-use recommendation.
A full 20lb pellet bag exceeds Pro 780’s empty hopper by 2lb
Navigator can accept the bag with 10lb of nominal room left. Pro 780 needs 2lb kept in dry storage even when its hopper starts empty.
How we reached this conclusion
30 minus 20 = 10lb. 20 minus 18 = 2lb. This is nominal bag-to-hopper capacity, not a refill instruction for a running grill.
Choice A
Pit Boss, PB850M
Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
It provides 932 square inches of cooking area. The pellet hopper holds 30 pounds.
- Best matched use
- feed a family of four and cook for eight or more people
Checked facts
- It provides 932 square inches of cooking area.
- The pellet hopper holds 30 pounds.
- The highest listed setting is 500°F.
Choice B
Traeger, TFB78GZEC
Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
It provides 780 square inches of cooking area. The pellet hopper holds 18 pounds.
- Best matched use
- feed a family of four and cook for eight or more people
Checked facts
- It provides 780 square inches of cooking area.
- The pellet hopper holds 18 pounds.
- The highest listed setting is 500°F.
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill | Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking surfaces | 932 sq in total | 780 sq in total | Navigator adds 152 square inches to the stated total cooking area. Both totals span more than one rack, so the difference should not be interpreted as a guaranteed extra brisket or a specific number of servings. |
| Pellet supply | 30lb hopper | 18lb hopper | The 30lb Navigator hopper is 12lb larger than the 18lb Pro 780 hopper. Both list a 500°F chamber ceiling, while only Navigator has the documented direct-flame lever in this pair. |
| Chamber ceiling and searing | 500°F, direct-flame or high-heat grilling design | 500°F, indirect cooking | Chamber settings, localized flame heat and separate side stations are different quantities. Match the cooking method as well as the temperature. |
| Controls and smoke mode | Wi-Fi app access | Wi-Fi app access | Connectivity is useful only where the network reaches. No flavor or temperature-accuracy advantage is inferred from a named mode. |
| Cleaning and installation | Accessible grease tray with separate internal ash cleaning | Separate grease bucket and periodic internal ash cleaning, 150lb dry weight | Pro 780 is a simpler choice for someone who prefers its smoking layout and already knows WiFIRE. Navigator fits someone who wants to finish food over its flame opening without buying another appliance. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- The indirect pellet temperature tops out at 500°F. The much hotter 1,000°F figure applies only when the Flame Broiler exposes food to direct flame.
If you choose Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- It cannot expose food directly to flame for a seared finish.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
You want the direct-flame lever
Choose Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill. Navigator adds 152 square inches to the stated total cooking area. Both totals span more than one rack, so the difference should not be interpreted as a guaranteed extra brisket or a specific number of servings.
You prefer the Pro 780 rack arrangement
Choose Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill. Pro 780 is a simpler choice for someone who prefers its smoking layout and already knows WiFIRE. Navigator fits someone who wants to finish food over its flame opening without buying another appliance.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Size the food on the actual racks
Navigator adds 152 square inches to the stated total cooking area. Both totals span more than one rack, so the difference should not be interpreted as a guaranteed extra brisket or a specific number of servings.
Separate fuel capacity from cooking temperature
The 30lb Navigator hopper is 12lb larger than the 18lb Pro 780 hopper. Both list a 500°F chamber ceiling, while only Navigator has the documented direct-flame lever in this pair.
Choose the daily cooking and cleaning workflow
Pro 780 is a simpler choice for someone who prefers its smoking layout and already knows WiFIRE. Navigator fits someone who wants to finish food over its flame opening without buying another appliance.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- Pellet-duration estimates use a stated illustrative burn rate. They are not measured runtime or permission to leave a grill unattended.
- Rack totals do not establish a serving count or the fit of a single large item.
- No smoke-flavor, temperature-stability or searing-performance test is claimed.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current pellet grills and smokers comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
Compared set
8 of 22 models checked match every need here: “Smoke a brisket overnight” and “Reach at least 500 degrees for a hot finish”.
8 matching models from 22 checkedMeasured difference
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill lists 932 sq in for published cooking area, 19% above Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill at 780 sq in.
- Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
- 932 sq in
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- 780 sq in
- Comparable models
- 17 of 22
See the checked facts and calculation notes
Match countThe count uses the current product-to-need assignments for “Smoke a brisket overnight” and “Reach at least 500 degrees for a hot finish”. A need with no documented match does not count.
Calculation noteThis uses the maker total cooking-area figure. Upper racks and irregular layouts do not provide the same direct-grate space. 17 of 22 models have comparable published figures for context.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill |
|
| |
| Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill |
|
|
Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Pit Boss Navigator 850 Connected Pellet Grill
You want the direct-flame lever
See price & reviews on AmazonTraeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
You prefer the Pro 780 rack arrangement
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.