Napoleon VS Weber: Which Gas Grill is Best in 2024

We’re comparing two of the most popular gas girls on the market, the Weber Genesis and the Napoleon Prestige 500.

We’ve cooked extensively on both the Napoleon Phantom Prestige 500 and the Weber Genesis SPX-435 but we’ll try and point out any differences between various models, so this comparison will be useful no matter what model you are interested in buying.

Weber VS Napoleon Overview

The Prestige and Genesis lineups are the sweet spot for most people looking for a gas grill. You get plenty of nice features, but you’re not quite in the luxury category.

Both Weber and Napoleon are excellent brands with a strong reputation good history of customer service and generous warranties.

Weber grills are manufactured in Huntley, Illinois, while Napoleon manufactures their grills in Barrie, Ontario. Both companies say they use “globally sourced” parts.

Weber Genesis vs Napoleon Prestige tested and compared

The Napoleon Prestige has two different sizes, offering 500 square inches and 4 burners, or 665 square inches and 6 burners, excluding the two infrared burners, which are the same on each.

The Phantom version we tested is like a special edition of the Prestige. It’s built almost identically, but has the matt black exterior, slightly beefier grill grates, and a custom warming rack. For our money, we would go for the standard Prestige, which is quite a bit cheaper.

The Weber Genesis has a lot more choice which does make direct comparison tricky. We have reviewed the SPX-435, which is stainless steel and includes WEBER CONNECT.

To help you decide which is best for you, we’ve compared both models across a range of different areas.

Storage and prep areas

Both grills have similar cabinets where you can find a place for your propane bottle. The Weber has a small storage draw, which is nice, and an easily removable drip pan under the searing station.

I don’t like how the Napoleon breaks up the storage space with the support rod.

The biggest difference is the Weber has a side storage locker which gives you a bit more vertical space for grilling tools or chopping boards.

The side shelves on the Weber are larger, although the non-burner side shef on the Napoleon folds down, which is nice if you have limited space.

Wheels

Both brands give you swivel locking casters, so the grills are easy to move around. The casters on the Napoleon are plastic though, and no match for the sturdy metal of the Weber.

Burners and controls

The burner knobs on the Napoleon light up when lit red when light. This is a standard feature on all Prestige grills, while the burner lights on the Weber are only available on CONNECTED grills.

The SPX we tested does include this, but you should double-check the specific model you are looking at.

The lighting system included with Weber CONNECT grills includes lights in the handle to illuminate the grill surface, which is something Napoleon does not offer.

When it comes to actually using the burners, the Prestige is a little better, as each burner has a built-in ignitor. On the Weber, you have to press a separate igniter button. If one of the burners blows out on the Napoleon, it automatically reignites, while on the Weber it just keeps using gas but doesn’t reignite.

Side burners

Both grills offer side burners, but the functionality is worlds apart.

With the Genesis, you get a standard 12,000 BTU side burner on all but the cheapest 315 and 325 models. It’s useful for warming sauces and maybe making a side, and has a lid, which makes the area useful as a side table when not in use.

The side burner on the Prestige is one of the key differences and a major reason you might want to go for the Napoleon. You get a ceramic infrared burner with the same cast iron cooking grate as the rest of the grill which turns it into a brilliant searing station perfect.

Having the searing station to the side is our favorite configuration, as you can be searing a steak at 1200°F while you are grilling veggies and burgers on the main grill.

This gives the Napoleon a big edge. In our opinion, infrared burners cook the best steak on a gas grill.

The Weber does have a sear zone, but it’s located in the main part of the grill, isn’t infrared so maxes out at around 700°F, and requires purchasing a sear-grate accessory for the best results.

Cooking grates and accessories

Both grills come with 304 stainless steel cooking grates. Napoleon use their famous wave pattern, which looks cool and helps a little bit with veggies falling through the grates.

Note that the Phantom model we tested has an even beefier grate. Both provide even cooking with no real hot spots.

We looked at accessories in this section because the Weber Crafted system utilizes an insert in the main grate where you can swap out different accessories, like the searing station, pizza stone, and veggie baskets

Napoleon has some cool accessories as well, including the rotisserie, charcoal tray for smoking.

Here’s where we need to point out that the Prestige gets another infrared burner at the back for the INCLUDED rotisserie. You can buy a rotisserie kit for the Weber, but you will be relying on the standard burners, which won’t provide the save level of even cooking as the Napoleon.

Warranty

The Weber Genesis comes with a 12-year warranty on the cookbox and lid assembly, 10 years on all the burners and cooking grates, 3 years on electrical components, and then 5 years on all remaining parts.

It’s a pretty decent warranty, although the different periods are a little confusing. Napoleon makes it easy with a lifetime bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Which grill should you buy?

While we loved cooking on the Weber Genesis, the two infrared burners make the Napoleon the best choice for most people.

It’s not that the searing station on the Genesis is bad. The steaks we cooked on it developed perfectly nice sear marks. But you just can’t compare it with the blazing heat of the sear station on the Prestige.

More of the areas where Weber wins aren’t directly connected to your cooking experience. While Napoleon doesn’t have a Connected system like Weber does, buying a good thermometer will be enough for most people.

While the Phantom we tested looked awesome in the matt black finish, I don’t think the grill grates make a big enough difference to warrant the $500 price different between the standard Prestige model.