The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 is a digitally controlled charcoal grill and smoker designed to deliver much of the convenience of a pellet grill while keeping charcoal as the fuel.
Its key features are 1,050 square inches of cooking space, a GravityFed charcoal hopper, DigitalFan temperature control, app monitoring, a 225°F to 700°F cooking range, and enough hopper capacity for long smoking sessions without constantly adding fuel.
The bigger question today is not simply whether the Gravity Series 1050 works. It is whether this older but still-current model remains the right Masterbuilt to buy now that the Gravity Series includes several newer alternatives.
Check current Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 pricing and availability on Amazon.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 at a glance
| Feature | Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 |
|---|---|
| Model | MB20041220 |
| Fuel | Charcoal |
| Cooking space | 1,050 sq. in. |
| Temperature range | 225°F to 700°F |
| Heat-up claim | 225°F in 8 minutes / 700°F in 15 minutes |
| Hopper capacity | Up to 10 lb lump charcoal or 16 lb briquettes |
| Maximum advertised cook time | Up to 10 hours |
| Temperature control | DigitalFan |
| Remote control | Masterbuilt app |
| Meat probe monitoring | Up to 4 probes |
| Cooking grates | Reversible cast iron |
| Width | 60.6 in. |
| Length | 31.9 in. |
| Height | 52.2 in. |
What makes the Gravity Series 1050 different?
The main idea behind the 1050 is simple: combine traditional charcoal cooking with automatic temperature control.
Instead of manually adjusting vents throughout a long smoking session, you load charcoal into the vertical hopper, light the fuel, choose a temperature and let the DigitalFan regulate airflow.
As charcoal burns at the bottom of the hopper, gravity feeds more fuel downward.
This gives the Masterbuilt a very different personality from a conventional charcoal kettle or offset smoker. You still cook with charcoal, but you do not need to manage the fire in the same hands-on way.
Charcoal flavor with pellet-grill convenience
This is the strongest reason to consider the Gravity Series 1050.
Pellet grills are popular because an electronic controller can automatically maintain temperature over a long cooking session. The Masterbuilt applies a similar set-and-monitor approach while burning lump charcoal or briquettes instead of wood pellets.
That makes the 1050 particularly appealing to someone who wants charcoal cooking without spending an entire brisket cook adjusting vents and managing a fire manually.
You can also incorporate suitable smoking wood with the charcoal when you want a stronger smoke profile.
1,050 square inches of cooking space
The 1050 is a large backyard cooker.
Masterbuilt specifies 1,050 square inches of total cooking area across the main grate and warming racks.
That capacity is one reason the 1050 still makes sense despite newer Gravity Series options. It gives you considerable room for large cuts, multiple racks of ribs, chicken, burgers or mixed cooks.
If you normally cook for only two or three people, however, that much space may be unnecessary. A smaller gravity-fed model may use your patio space more efficiently.
225°F smoking to 700°F searing
The Masterbuilt’s specified temperature range runs from 225°F to 700°F.
At the low end, it is designed for traditional low-and-slow barbecue such as brisket, pork shoulder and ribs.
At the top end, the 1050 becomes hot enough for high-temperature grilling and searing.
Masterbuilt claims the grill can reach 225°F in about 8 minutes and 700°F in about 15 minutes.
That is significantly more convenient than waiting for a large conventional charcoal fire to stabilize before cooking.
High heat does not mean direct-flame searing
There is an important distinction between temperature and cooking method.
The 1050 can reach very high temperatures, but the food is not sitting directly above an exposed charcoal bed in the same way it would on a traditional charcoal grill configured for direct heat.
That means buyers specifically chasing direct-fire grilling should not assume that 700°F automatically makes the experience identical to cooking directly over glowing coals.
The reversible cast-iron grates are designed to support both lower-temperature smoking and higher-temperature grilling and searing.
GravityFed charcoal hopper
The vertical GravityFed hopper is central to the design.
Masterbuilt specifies capacity for up to 10 pounds of lump charcoal or 16 pounds of briquettes.
The company currently advertises up to 10 hours of uninterrupted cooking from a loaded hopper, depending on conditions and temperature.
Actual fuel consumption will vary. Running at 700°F will obviously consume charcoal differently from holding 225°F for a long smoke.
DigitalFan temperature control
The DigitalFan automatically adjusts airflow from the charcoal system into the cooking chamber.
If the cooking temperature falls below the set point, increasing airflow feeds the fire. When less heat is required, the system reduces airflow.
That automation is what turns the 1050 from a conventional charcoal smoker into a digitally controlled cooking system.
For long cooks, the benefit is straightforward: you can spend more time monitoring the food and less time manually controlling the fire.
Masterbuilt app control
The grill can be controlled from its onboard digital panel or through the Masterbuilt app.
The app supports temperature and cook-time controls, alerts and monitoring for up to four meat probes.
Remote monitoring is particularly useful during long smoking sessions because you can check the grill or meat temperature without repeatedly walking outside and opening the lid.
That said, app connectivity is one area where long-term reviewers have reported occasional frustration. The physical controller therefore remains important rather than the app being the only practical way to operate the grill.
Meat probe monitoring
The controller can monitor up to four meat probes.
This matters most when several large cuts are cooking at the same time because grill temperature and food temperature answer different questions.
The grill controller manages the cooking chamber. Meat probes tell you what is happening inside the food.
For brisket, pork shoulder and other long cooks, that information is much more useful than relying purely on a timer.
The shutdown slides require attention
One ownership detail is easy to overlook when comparing specifications.
The Gravity Series system uses slides that isolate the hopper and firebox when the grill is shut down.
Experienced owners point out that forgetting the slides can create problems in either direction: leaving them inserted can prevent the grill from lighting properly, while failing to reinstall them after cooking can allow remaining charcoal to continue burning.
This is not difficult once it becomes part of your routine, but it makes the 1050 slightly less automatic than the phrase “set it and forget it” might suggest.
What about build quality?
Build quality is one of the areas where the 1050 receives more mixed feedback.
The cooker provides a huge amount of cooking capacity and electronic control for the type of product it is, but long-term reviewers have noted that some materials and components do not feel as substantial as heavier premium smokers.
There have also been owner reports involving switches and electronic components over extended use.
This does not mean every 1050 will develop a problem, but durability deserves more weight in the buying decision than the specification sheet alone suggests.
Is the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 still worth buying?
Yes, but the answer depends heavily on why you want it.
The 1050 still makes sense when your priorities are large cooking capacity, charcoal flavor, automatic temperature management and a wide smoking-to-searing temperature range.
It is less automatic than some buyers initially assume, and newer Masterbuilt models now create more competition inside the company’s own range.
The key advantage remains the combination of size and charcoal automation.
How the 1050 fits into the current Masterbuilt Gravity Series
The 1050 is no longer the only serious option in the Gravity Series family.
The current range includes smaller models, the 800 with its griddle-oriented versatility, newer models with updated hopper designs, and the premium Gravity Series XT with more emphasis on construction and efficiency.
That means choosing a Masterbuilt is increasingly about deciding which size and feature set suits you rather than simply deciding whether you want a Gravity Series cooker.
The 1050’s strongest argument remains straightforward: it provides a very large cooking area without moving into the premium price and construction territory represented by the XT.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 vs 800
The 800 is one of the most important alternatives to the 1050 because it serves a slightly different buyer.
The 1050 emphasizes cooking capacity. The Gravity Series 800 gives up some total cooking area but adds a dedicated flat-top griddle configuration.
If you regularly cook large quantities of smoked meat, the 1050’s additional space can be valuable.
If breakfast, smash burgers, fajitas and flat-top cooking matter alongside smoking and grilling, the 800 deserves serious consideration.
This difference is significant enough that the two models should not simply be treated as small and large versions of the same product.
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 vs pellet grill
A pellet grill is probably the most useful conceptual comparison.
Both approaches use electronic temperature management to reduce the amount of fire tending required during long cooks.
The difference is fuel.
A pellet grill automatically feeds wood pellets through an auger, while the Masterbuilt uses gravity to feed charcoal toward a fire controlled by airflow from the DigitalFan.
For a direct example of the pellet-grill approach, see the Traeger Ironwood 885 review. It uses WiFIRE app control, automatic pellet feeding and remote temperature monitoring instead of the Masterbuilt’s gravity-fed charcoal system.
If you particularly want charcoal as your primary fuel but appreciate the automation of a pellet smoker, the Masterbuilt occupies an unusually useful middle ground.
What we like
- Large cooking capacity: 1,050 square inches gives you serious room for family cooking and larger gatherings.
- Charcoal with automatic control: the DigitalFan dramatically reduces manual fire management.
- Wide temperature range: 225°F smoking through 700°F grilling and searing.
- Large charcoal hopper: useful for long cooks without constant refueling.
- App monitoring: temperature, timers, alerts and meat probes can be checked remotely.
- Fast warm-up: Masterbuilt claims smoking temperature in 8 minutes and maximum heat in about 15 minutes.
- Versatile cooking: smoke, grill, sear, bake and roast in one unit.
What to consider before buying
- It is physically large: smaller households may not need 1,050 square inches of cooking area.
- Not true direct-fire grilling: 700°F does not make it identical to cooking directly over exposed charcoal.
- Shutdown procedure matters: the hopper slides need to become part of your normal routine.
- App reliability has received mixed owner feedback: the onboard controller remains important.
- Build quality is not premium: buyers prioritizing heavier construction should compare newer and more expensive alternatives.
- Newer Gravity Series models exist: size, griddle capability and updated construction may make another model a better fit.
Who should buy the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050?
The Gravity Series 1050 is best suited to someone who wants genuine charcoal cooking but does not want to manually manage a charcoal fire throughout every long smoking session.
It is especially attractive if you routinely cook for groups, smoke several large cuts at once, or want one cooker capable of both low-temperature barbecue and high-temperature grilling.
It also makes sense for someone considering a pellet grill but who would rather use charcoal as the main fuel.
View the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 on Amazon.
Who should skip it?
Skip the 1050 if you rarely need a large cooking surface or if maximum construction quality is more important than capacity and value.
You should also compare other options if direct-over-charcoal grilling is central to how you cook, or if you specifically want a flat-top griddle built into the product concept.
Buyers who want the newest Masterbuilt engineering should also compare the newer Gravity Series models rather than assuming the 1050 remains the default choice.
Final verdict
The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 remains compelling because it solves a very specific problem extremely well.
It gives you the flavor and flexibility of charcoal without demanding the constant airflow management normally associated with long charcoal cooks.
The 1,050-square-inch cooking area, DigitalFan, app monitoring, large hopper and 225°F-to-700°F range make it unusually versatile.
Its weaknesses are equally important: the construction is not premium, app reliability has generated mixed feedback, the shutdown slides require a routine, and newer Masterbuilt models now provide alternatives that did not exist when the 1050 first became popular.
For buyers who specifically want a large gravity-fed charcoal cooker with digital temperature control, though, the 1050 still has a strong reason to exist.
Frequently asked questions
How much cooking space does the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 have?
Masterbuilt specifies 1,050 square inches of total cooking space.
What temperature does the Masterbuilt 1050 reach?
Its specified operating range is 225°F to 700°F.
How quickly does the Masterbuilt 1050 heat up?
Masterbuilt claims approximately 8 minutes to reach 225°F and 15 minutes to reach 700°F.
How much charcoal does the hopper hold?
The GravityFed hopper holds up to 10 pounds of lump charcoal or approximately 16 pounds of briquettes.
How long can the Masterbuilt 1050 run on one hopper?
Masterbuilt currently advertises up to 10 hours of uninterrupted cooking, although actual fuel use depends on temperature, weather and cooking conditions.
Can you control the Masterbuilt 1050 from your phone?
Yes. The Masterbuilt app supports remote temperature and time controls, alerts and meat-probe monitoring.
How many meat probes can it monitor?
The controller and app can monitor up to four meat probes.
Can the Masterbuilt 1050 sear steaks?
Yes. It reaches temperatures up to 700°F and uses reversible cast-iron grates. However, its cooking system should not be confused with a traditional grill placing food directly above an exposed charcoal fire.
Is the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 better than the 800?
Neither is automatically better. The 1050 provides more cooking space, while the 800 adds a flat-top griddle configuration that may be more useful for buyers who want greater cooking-format versatility.
Is the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 still worth buying?
It can be. Its combination of large capacity, charcoal fuel and automated temperature control remains distinctive, but buyers should now compare it with the newer Gravity Series models before deciding.