SMOBOT 4+

I am one of the people who do countless hours of research before I buy something. It was no different when choosing a temp control system for my BGE.

The SmoBot had little to no negative reviews, especially relating to the App and WiFi connectivity. I liked the idea of utilizing the true design of the BGE and having more control of bringing the temp down if it was overshot. I was looking hard at the Egg Genius by Flame Boss but saw several reviews of the connection cutting out mid cook.

I spoke directly to the co-founder Curtis about SmoBot and that ability to have great support put me over the edge; I am glad I made the decision to purchase SmoBot. I just finished up an 8 hour cook and the SmoBot was flawless. You won’t regret it if you buy it!

September 2020 update: with iOS 14 here and the ability to add widgets to the Home Screen, the need for widget support is now greater than ever. Come on guys, let’s make it happen! Back to my original review...
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The long-overdue and much needed companion app to the Smobot temperature monitor and regulator for kamado-style smokers has arrived! The device itself is fantastic in how well it works, and off a USB battery pack no less. Getting alerts by SMS was better than nothing, but insufficient compared to what other devices with native apps have long provided. The new app rectifies that and it DELIVERS! I now get a persistent alarm when my meat is ready or if the grill temp is out of range, a feature sorely needed to ensure i don't miss an alert if grilling overnight. Unlike bluetooth-based alternatives, the Smobot connects over wifi, which means I can monitor my cooks when out of the house and get alerts on multiple devices.

My only beefs with the app, and these are minor, is the lack of a widget and lack of landscape orientation for the iPad (come on guys, no one routinely uses their iPad in portrait orientation!). I’d also like to see more flexibility in setting cooking preferences (for example, automatically set a new grill temp after a set time or target temp on the meat). But these aren’t deal breakers and the app as-is still adds a lot of value for me.

This app works fine and while I’m reviewing the APP here, it’s associated hardware is pretty awesome, too. My only concern is the age of this app. It hasn’t been updated for 4 years. Guys, are you going to continue supporting your hardware?