The 2026 Performer Smart and Kettle Smart Ring use a controlled fan to regulate charcoal heat, pushing connected cooking beyond temperature alerts.
Why this deserves attention
Weber’s 2026 lineup adds Wi-Fi-connected airflow control to charcoal cooking through the Performer Smart models and a retrofit Kettle Smart Ring. This is more consequential than adding another probe display: the system can actively change combustion rather than merely report temperature.
The useful question is whether the controller improves long, unattended cooks without making an ordinary kettle dependent on an app, proprietary parts, or a difficult recovery path. Manual dampers and probe ports still matter. A smart controller earns its place when it reduces tending while preserving the cook’s ability to take over.
What to watch
The headline is the start of the question.
01
Measured temperature stability across long cooks
02
Manual operation when power, Wi-Fi, or the app is unavailable
03
Battery, fan, probe, and controller replacement paths
04
Whether the retrofit ring seals and fits consistently across supported kettles