Weber Summit vs. Napoleon Prestige Pro – Comparison Review
There is no better family gathering than grilling outdoors. It combines a lot of fun with tasty food. To make the grilling process quick and pleasant, the right choice of the grill is essential. Gas grills are the most popular outdoor grills, especially in the summertime. They are economical and efficient, easy to clean, have short cooking times, are healthy food preparation, and are easy to use.
Moreover, many accessories are available such as smoker boxes, rotisserie, charcoal trays, and many more, to make the process more enjoyable. In this comparison, Weber Summit vs. Napoleon Prestige Pro presents the bestsellers on the gas grill market. Therefore, you can choose the best model among the four compared models.
Weber Summit vs. Napoleon Prestige Pro – Comparison Table
Main Differences Between Models
Even though the Napoleon Prestige Pro 500/650 and Weber grills E-470/S-470 might be similar in appearance, they have many differences. So we will consider in this article the differences between brands, the differences between grills inside the brand you will see in the models’ description section.
- Napoleon’s grill doors are equipped with a soft closure mechanism, whereas Weber’s are not. Both brands made only doors and partly the hood from stainless steel; the rest is powder-coated steel. Additionally, Napoleon cabinets have LED lighting inside.
- Weber grills have a standard side burner on the right side shelf, while Napoleon grills have a whole infrared side burner on the left side shelf. Apart from being a pot heater this side burner, Napoleon side burner can be used as a sear zone with 1800o F temperature. Weber integrated the sear station in the middle of the cooking area with three burners – two main ones and one sear.
- Weber does not require power; only batteries pack for motion light on the hood and other electrical consumers; Napoleon grills need a connection to 120 Volts.
- Napoleons have illuminated multicolored knobs going red when the burners are on and the logo on the floor; Webers have only white LED lights on main knobs without choice.
- Weber grills have integrated smoker boxes on the left side of the cooking area, but only the Napoleon 665 has a built-in smoker tray.
- Weber grills have only ten years of warranty, while Napoleons have an unlimited warranty.
To better view the compared models, please check their detailed descriptions below.
Why Weber Summit?
Weber is one of the most famous American companies producing grills. They produced the first kettle grill in 1952, and since then, they have increased their portfolio with gas, charcoal, wood pellet, and electric grills. They are famous for innovative technologies and seamless experience. Summit grills are one of the most advanced gas Weber grills, presented in various size models and colors. E-470 and S-470 are the basic proposals in this Series.
Weber Summit E-470 / S-470
With outstanding engineering systems, these grills ensure perfect performance. Summit gas grills are one of the best and most advanced Weber gas grills. Summit S-470/E-470 come pre-assembled only with some minor assembly in minutes. They consist of the following parts: a grill cabinet with a hood and two stainless steel side tables. On this grill, you can sear, sauté, smoke and rotisserie. The cooking area is enough to prepare 20 burgers.
The grill is made from the finest materials. And here is the only difference between S-470 and E-470 models: the E model has a black porcelain cabinet with double doors and a hood; the S model has stainless silver doors and a hood. Both models are available with two types of fuel – natural gas or liquid propane. The front of the grill, the hood, and the side shelves are made from stainless steel; the rest is welded painted metal, ensuring your grill lasts for years.
Grills have four main burners with 48.800 BTU per hour, one sear burner – 10.600 BTU per hour, one smoker burner – 6.800 BTU per hour, a side burner – 12.000 BTU per hour, and a rear-mounted infrared rotisserie burner with the hood – 10.600 BTU per hour. Individual burner ignition systems reliably lights each burner for ultimate and precise cooking control.
On the exterior panel of the grill cabinet, seven knobs are located to control the grill; for night grilling, all knobs can be lit up (working from the batteries). Each of the four lighted main knobs controls the separate main burner; the smaller burner controls the sear burner. Three burners in the middle (two main and one sear) are connected to reignite themselves if one stops burning. The sear burner generates intense heat for quick meat preparation and to create special sear marks; it also helps decrease the preheat time.
The smoker box for adding a smoky flavor is integrated into the grill with a separate burner – a 30-inch grill. For the smoker, there is a separate knob as well. The rotisserie kit for chicken barbecue taste is located on the left side shelf and can be hidden inside and go totally away if you do not use it. For the rotisserie, a separate knob is located near the other.
In the hood is installed a thermometer and a motion light (one or two) on the hood handle. The side burner is installed on the right side table, which works as an outdoor kitchen built-in grill. A side burner can accommodate sauté or saucer pans to prepare simultaneously other food or sauces during grilling.
Under the hood, there are two racks, the big cooking rack, 468 sq in from stainless steel from two parts 9 mm in diameter, and the smaller 112 sq in warming rack. Under the grate are located flavorizer bars – diverters to protect from grease flare-ups and burners. All grease is collected into the grease channel below the burners and further into the drip pan. On the side shelves, there are six hooks to store tools in front of the grill.
Inside the grill, the cabinet is 20 lb. propane tank (purchased separately). On the panel, there is a push button functional LED Fuel Gauge with LED display with information on how full the tank is. For safety and function reasons, the grill has two front heavy-duty locking casters and two heavy-duty back swivel casters to maneuver the grill around the patio and lock it in place.
- Two exterior design options: black or silver
- High-quality stainless steel cooking grate
- 4 powerful burners and sear station – about 60.000 BTU per hour
- Built-in smoker box
- Built-in rotisserie kit with the possibility to hide the motor
- Massive range of temperatures 100-750oF
- Two side tables with side burner
- Light on the handle and knob to cook at night
- Consistent heat throughout the whole cooking area without hot spots
- Hooks for accessories
- Good grease management system without flare-ups
- Possibility of storing a lot of accessories inside the grill cabinet
- The lighting on the handle is not enough for the whole length of the grill
- A smoker box takes space from the cooking grate
- Battery-powered lighting, not electricity
- The rotisserie kit should be removed during extreme cold weather conditions
- Expensive
Why Napoleon Prestige?
The Napoleon brand produced grills from the 1980s and, since then, became recognizable with numerous outstanding models. They produce propane, natural gas, electric, and charcoal grills on every budget. Prestige Series is the most advanced grill from Napoleon and offers an outstanding lifetime guarantee. They are made in Canada and are the most popular Napoleon product. You can order the small model with four burners – Prestige Pro 500 or the bigger model with five burners – Prestige Pro 665.
Napoleon Prestige PRO 500 / 665
Napoleon Prestige Pro grills have a lot of excellent features as any other type of gas grills, at the same time, they are perfectly designed models. The body is made from stainless steel with polished chrome edges. On the grill hood, the accurate thermometer is located. The cooking temperature range is between 100-750oF. In the Prestige series, three grill sizes are available – 500, 665, and 825. They are available with natural gas or liquid propane as fuel.
In general, 500 and 665 differ by grill size and cooking area, but Pro 665 has an extra smoker tray with a special main burner, additional main burner, and corresponding knobs for control. And another minor difference is easy roll locking casters- the Pro 500 has four small ones, while the Pro 665 has two small black and two big silver easy roll locking casters.
Napoleon Prestige Pro 500 has four main burners connected together with a tube, while Pro 665 has five main burners. Each burner is rated at 12.000 BTU per hour. The infrared side burner has 14.000 BTU per hour, and the infrared rotisserie burner has 18.000 BTU per hour for both models. The smoker burner of Pro 665 has 8.000 BTU per hour. In total, the Pro 500 has 80.00 BTU per hour, and the Pro 665 has 99.000 BTU per hour. Four stainless (five for Pro 665) steel sear plates are located directly over the burners, and three additional ones (four for Pro 500) are located in the middle to create an even heating surface. The angled shape of these plates forces the grease to go below the drip pan preventing flare-ups.
On top of the sear plates, the main grill grate is located and divided into two segments. It is made from stainless steel with 9.5 mm thick wave tubes for durability and heat retention. The overall cooking area for Napoleon Prestige Pro 500 is 900 sq in, and for Pro 665 is 1140 sq in. On Pro 665, you can prepare 41 burgers; on Pro 500 31 burgers. Both grills also come with removable warming racks above the main grill grate and the infrared burner, which can be used as additional cooking space. Under the burner tubes is located the drip pan to collect the grease. It can be taken out quickly for cleaning. Also, you can put in disposable aluminum liners for quick cleaning.
The infrared burner for the rotisserie kit is located on the back side of the cooking grate; this kit is included in the package for both models. The rotisserie system also includes a dual set of forks of different sizes with a balance if you have poultry with different sizes. While the forks are rotating inside, the lid can be closed. This system is also equipped with a grill basket to cook small items.
On both sides of the Napoleon grills are located two side tables. The right one can be used as a working surface, but it also contains a container with a white cutting board. On the left side, the side table has a sear infrared station with a stainless grate in low and high positions. This infrared ceramic burner can be preheated up to 1800oF in just 30 seconds. Both side shelves have space for condiments, tool hooks, and a chrome bar for a towel.
The illuminated control knobs are located on the grill cabinets’ front panel. You can choose any color of knobs per your choice; if you choose the green light, it will change colors through the whole spectrum periodically. In the standby position, they are of the set color; when you light the burner, they change the color to red. Four or five big knobs are for main burners, and two smaller ones are for infrared burners. The small knobs turn on the gas; for ignition, you must press a small button on the left. The grills also project the “Napoleon” logo on the ground in the dark, inviting you to grill.
Inside the cooking chamber, there are two LED lights that are controlled by a small button on the right side of the control panel. Inside the grill cabinet, there are lights to find any required accessories quickly. On the back of the grills, power sockets to plug the rotisserie motor or other electronic devices are located. Grills should be connected to 120 Volts of electricity.
Inside the cabinet, on the left side, there are two shelves for storage accessories; on the right side, the place for the propane tank is provided with a slider mechanism. On the door inside, there are several hooks, a bottle opener, and a bottle catcher. The double doors are equipped with a soft automatic closure system.
Optional for grill lovers to each model, a sear plate smoker box is available. You can use it with or without a cooking grate installed from the main burners. In the box, you can add wood chunks with any flavor to receive a unique taste of food. Another accessory is a charcoal tray on two grill burners with space for charcoal and wood chunks. The ignition is from the main burner knob.
- The visual indicator of working burners by colored knobs
- No batteries are required; lights, rotisserie motor, and infrared burners work from electricity
- Optional accessories as a smoker box or charcoal tray, are available
- Built-in rotisserie kit
- A lot of storage place in the grill cabinet
- Wide temperature range of 100-750oF
- Infrared side burner with temperature up to 1800oF in 30 seconds
- Extra-large cooking area – 1140 sq in for Pro 665
- Two side tables
- Thick, durable wave tubes for grill grates
- Expensive
- No indicator of a fuel tank
- No smoker burner
- Connection to the electricity required
- No standard side burner
Face-to-Face Comparison
From the description above and the part with the main difference it became clear that these grills have similar main functional characteristics but are different in details and accessories.
Design and Dimensions
Weber Summit
These two models have the same dimensions, 27 x 66 x 51 inches, and weigh 180 pounds. The difference is only in design – the E model has black double doors and a hood, while the S model is entirely made from stainless steel and silver.
Napoleon Prestige PRO
Pro 500 is a silver grill with chromium edges. Its size is 25.5 x 66.5 x 51.75 inches, and its weight is 254 pounds. Pro 665 is the enormous grill in this comparison, with a size of 25.5 x 76.75 x 51 inches and a weight of 334.4 Pounds. It is entirely made from stainless steel with chromium edges.
verdictAll grills have a cabinet with double doors, a panel with knobs, and a cooking area under the hood with a thermometer. On both sides, the side shelves are located. The Weber Summit E-470/S-470 and Napoleon Prestige Pro 500 have the exact dimensions, but the Pro 500 is heavier. The Pro 665 is the most significant and heaviest grill in this comparison. For easy moving, all grills are equipped with easy-rolling locking casters. If the size and weight are important to you, then Weber E-470/S-470 is the winner here.
Fuel Type and Power
Napoleon Prestige PRO
The main burners of these models also work from liquid propane or natural gas in 20 lbs. tanks. The place under the cooking area in the grill cabinet on the slider is ensured for the tank. There is no gauge to check the level of fuel in the tank. All electrical components work from electricity.
verdictThere is no difference in the fuel type for Weber Summit vs. Napoleon Prestige Pro grills. But Weber grills are equipped with an indication system of the fuel level in the tank. So, it is the winner in this comparison. The work from electricity or the batteries is individual characteristics where the winner can’t be determined, as here, the owner only can determine the convenience of having or not having electricity access to the barbecue area.
Cooking area
Weber Summit
The cooking area of both Weber grills is 580 sq in and consists of 468 sq in of main steel rack and 112 sq in of warm rack. The main rack is made of 9 mm stainless less.
Napoleon Prestige PRO
The Pro 500 has 500 sq in of cooking area on the main rack, 260 sq in on the warm rack, and 140 sq in on the side burner. The main rack is made of 9.5 mm waved stainless steel.
The Pro 665 has the most significant cooking area: 665 sq in of the main rack, 335 sq in of the warm rack, and the same 140 sq in of the side burner. The materials are the same as for the Pro 500.
verdictNapoleon Prestige PRO 665 wins in this comparison with the most significant 1140 sq in (in total) cooking area. Its grate is made of waved 304 stainless steel for extended durability. PRO 500 has only 900 sq in; Weber grills are 580 sq in without the standard side burner.
Burners and temperature control
Napoleon Prestige PRO
Napoleon Prestige Pro 500 has four main burner tubes, an infrared rotisserie, and a searing side burner. Total BTU is 80000. RGB-lighted knobs with an automatic ignition system control all burners.
Napoleon Prestige Pro 665 has 5 main burner tubes, an infrared rotisserie, a searing side burner, and a smoker burner. Total BTU is 99000. All burners are controlled the same with an automatic ignition system.
verdictNapoleon Prestige PRO 665 wins in this comparison again, as the bigger grill has more main tubes and all other types of burners – smoker, rotisserie, and searing side tubes. The second place has Weber E-470/S-470 with all types of burners and four main burners. PRO 500 does not have the smoker box, so it takes the last place.
Lighting
Napoleon Prestige PRO
Both Napoleon grills have two LED lights inside the hood to light the cooking area. The grill cabinet has two LED lights as well. Moreover, all knobs on the control panel are lit, and on the floor, the motion sensor logo invites at night.
verdictBoth Napoleon grills are equipped better with night cooking lights, considering the grill is connected to the constant power, not to the batteries. So, both Napoleon grills are the winners.
All other technical parameters of the grills look similar. Both grills have the following:
- A thermometer in the hood with a range of 100-750oF.
- Flavorizer bars (Weber) or sear plates (Napoleon) create an even heating surface between the burners and the cooking area. You can cook with or without them for direct or indirect heat. The tent form of these steel plates is part of the grease management system.
- The grease management system that is organized under the burners, where all grease is collected into grease channels and into the catch pan in the grill cabinet.
- Grill cabinet with double doors to storage on the right of the fuel tank and the right shelves. On side tables, there are a lot of hooks to store accessories.
Buyer’s Guide
Excellent gas grills cost significant money, this purchase should be chosen considering all aspects, as you buy a grill for years. So, taking into account these tips and data from a comparison of Weber Summit vs. Napoleon Prestige Pro, you can choose the best grill.
- Define if you need a free-standing or built-in grill. Choose the place for the new grill, and check if you have electricity there.
- Define if you need a grill on natural gas or liquid propane. Natural gas grills typically choose owners with an existing natural gas line at home.
- Choose the grill size depending on the size of your family. Calculate how many burgers you need to prepare at once.
- Define your preferable type of cooking. Not all grills are equipped with smokers, rotisserie, or grill baskets.
- Define the budget (entry–level, practical, or luxury grills you need).
- Define how long you are going to use the grill. Some grills have a lifetime warranty.
Conclusion
Both brands – Napoleon and Weber – have functional grills with many accessories and cooking possibilities. These grills are not the most affordable on the market, but they have unique designs and the best performance.
Weber grills S-470/E-470 do not differ in size or number of burners, while Napoleon Prestige Pro 665 is more significant than 500. If you choose the grill based on its dimensions and the size of the cooking area, then Napoleon Prestige 665 is the winner; it has five main burners, a rotisserie kit, a smoker tray burner, and an infrared side searing burner.
This multi-functional model is fully equipped to work at night with lighting, plenty of storage places, and accessories like a charcoal tray. The Napoleon Prestige Pro has second place as its cooking area is smaller and does not have a built-in smoker tray.
Weber grills have the tiniest cooking area, but they have a rotisserie, smoker box, and a standard side burner. Weber grills win the battle as the cheapest among compared models. So, functionally all grills are functionally close to each other, and their main differences are in price and size. Moreover, Napoleon grills have more “fancy” accessories such as RGB lighted knobs and chromed angles.
