All-New Camp Chef Apex Series: Quick Take Review

In June 2022, Camp Chef launched the all-new Apex series of grills that they deemed “a griller’s fantasy.” For every pellet grill user, they may have succeeded in creating that. While pellet grills are perfect for low-and-slow smoking, many a pellet grill manufacturer has tried to come up with a way to get a quality sear.

With the Apex, Camp Chef may have found just the answer everyone has been looking for. While there is a pellet-only model in both the 24-inch and the 36-inch sizes, the real star of the show is the pellet grill with a propane gas kit. They have added full gas grill functionality to a pellet grill with four burners on the 24-inch model and six on the 36-inch while also including a Sidekick burner. FYI: Pit Boss has something similar in the combo grill market.

Camp Chef also revamped the lid to improve smoke and heat retention. They also revamped the heat and smoke circulation in the cooking chamber by including a heat diffuser and switching to a rear exhaust rather than a single smoke stack.

However, those aren’t the only features that the Apex series of grills have going for them. Keep reading to see the breakdown and our thoughts. 

IMAGE	MODEL	FEATURES
	24"24"Camp Chef Apex 24	30lbs Pellet Hopper Easy Grease Tray WIFI	CHECK PRICE
	24"24"Camp Chef Apex 24 Gas Kit	30lbs Pellet Hopper Dual Fuel WIFI	CHECK PRICE
	36"36"Camp Chef Apex 36	30lbs Pellet Hopper Easy Grease Tray WIFI	CHECK PRICE
	36"36"Camp Chef Apex 36 Gas Kit	30lbs Pellet Hopper Dual Fuel WIFI	CHECK PRICE

Improved Features For Smoking

You might find yourself wondering why Camp Chef would roll out a pellet grill-only version of the Apex. The improvements they made to both the lid and the internal circulation will make the pellet grill even better. These are massive improvements over the Woodwind and SG Series Pellet Grills.

Between the added lid insulation and sealing capabilities, there will be less heat and smoke escaping which will help performance everywhere but especially in colder climates and during colder times of the year.

The heat diffuser and rear exhaust will improve smoke and heat circulation throughout the cooking chamber. This means better smoke distribution over models with a smoke stack off to one side.

The Apex series also has a 30-pound hopper with a built-in sensor, perfect for low-and-slow smoking of briskets, pork butts, and anything else you want to put on the three internal racks. It also comes with four temperature probes and built-in storage for those long cooks.

The Apex also has a WiFi-enabled digital controller that integrates with the Camp Chef app on a smartphone. This allows the user to monitor the cook using those four included probes and make adjustments. 

It also includes built-in lights in the cook chamber. If you are the kind of pitmaster who will put briskets or pork shoulders on in the middle of the night, having built-in lights will make your nights go much smoother.

Dual Fuel Versatility

Where the Apex series really makes its impact is with the added gas kit. The 24-inch model has four internal burners that each put out 9,000 BTUs of heat while the 36-inch model has six of those same burners for a high temperature of 650 degrees. Now you can smoke steaks for wood-fired flavor and then finish searing them over gas.

Each model also has the Sidekick burner that puts out 28,000 BTUs that can reach 700 degrees. You can warm sauces and deep-fry on it or use the included flat top griddle attachment so you can make pancakes or eggs for breakfast or smash burgers for dinner.

Easier And Improved Cleanup – Grease & Ash

One of the most significant developments that Camp Chef put into these new Apex grills is the slide-out grease tray in conjunction with their easy ash cleanout system. Cleaning pellet grills isn’t always easy with having to remove grill racks and other interior elements of the grill to reach the firepot area.

Instead of all that, Camp Chef made accessibility easy with a front door that allows you to slide the grease tray entirely out of the Apex grill. Now you can remove the grease tray and wash it without removing any other part of the grill. Camp Chef says that the tray should always be cleaned before using the gas burners to prevent grease fires. The ability to slide the tray out without removing any internal components is integral to the Apex being both a pellet grill and a gas grill.

Camp Chef also put the knob for the ash system on the front of the grill. Now you can dump the ashes into the ash pot on the bottom of the grill, then remove the pot with a twist and discard the ashes properly. No vacuum is needed!

Camp Chef Connect App and Digital Controller

Camp Chef has also focused heavily on the technological side of smoking and cooking with their WiFi-enabled controller and smartphone app integration. You can set the internal temperature and smoke level all at the grill itself while also monitoring the four included temperature probes.

You can also control all of those features and monitor your cook from the Camp Chef Connect app on your smartphone. All the functionality that you have at the Apex’s controller screen is available on your phone. You can set your temperature and smoke level while monitoring the four probes’ readouts.

Apex Multi Probe System

Speaking of the probes, Camp Chef makes it easy to store the probes. You don’t have to find any additional cabinet or drawer space to keep the probes safe. They installed a compartment underneath the controller screen that pops open for easy and accessible storage.

Apex Rear Ventilation – No More Stack

Camp Chef also revamped the exhaust system. Gone is the smoke stack on top of the grill. The Apex has rear ventilation that combines with a heat diffuser above the fire pot. Now smoke will circulate more evenly throughout the cooking chamber before exiting through the rear of the grill. This improves both heat and smoke distribution for all the food in the cooking chamber.

With pellet grills, convection is the name of the game. While offset smokers use the smoke stack to help circulate the heat and smoke around the cooking chamber, pellet grills have a built-in fan to help with that. Using the heat diffuser and rear ventilation in conjunction with that fan, Apex users should see improved convection.

Another convenience with removing the stack is the ease of installing the grill cover. The cover would always get caught on the stack. Not a big problem but it can get annoying.

Camp Chef Apex Accessories and Attachments

On the gas models, Camp Chef has also included the Sidekick burner. It puts out 28,000 BTUs and comes with a flat-top griddle. It is compatible with all your favorite Sidekick accessories including the pizza oven and cast iron cookware for use over the burner itself. Whether you want to deep fry appetizers or sides, make baked beans, or warm your barbecue sauce for glazing ribs, you can do it all with the Sidekick.

My Overall Thoughts On The New Apex Series Of Pellet Grills

Camp Chef has made a top-of-the-line pellet grill that also can serve as your gas grill. The 24-inch cooking chamber models will be plenty of space for a family, but the 36-inch option will allow you to host parties and serve plenty of smoked brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. Camp Chef is challenging to make the Apex the ultimate all-in-one grill for the backyard pitmaster.

The pellet grill-only Apex does have a higher price point starting at $1,699, but that still comes in lower than the Traeger Gen 1 Timberlines. The Apex with gas kit starts at $2,198 which can be quite the investment for a lot of cooks, but it can be a perfect all-in-one grill for backyard users.

These are just my preliminary thoughts, and I hope to someday soon get to try one of these myself for a full in-depth review to see if Camp Chef delivers on the promises. Stay tuned and we will link to a full review when it becomes available.

Feel like pellet grills lack in smoke flavor? Check out the new Camp Chef Woodwind Pro, and read our thoughts.

IMAGE	MODEL	FEATURES
	24"24"Camp Chef Apex 24	30lbs Pellet Hopper Easy Grease Tray WIFI	CHECK PRICE
	24"24"Camp Chef Apex 24 Gas Kit	30lbs Pellet Hopper Dual Fuel WIFI	CHECK PRICE
	36"36"Camp Chef Apex 36	30lbs Pellet Hopper Easy Grease Tray WIFI	CHECK PRICE
	36"36"Camp Chef Apex 36 Gas Kit	30lbs Pellet Hopper Dual Fuel WIFI	CHECK PRICE

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can the Apex Gas Kit work with Natural Gas?

Answer: The natural gas conversion kit is coming soon. Camp Chef has planned to offer this.

Question: Can the Gas Kit Be Added On Later?

Answer: Yes. You can purchase the non-gas version Apex and at a later date purchase the gas kit and install it. Camp Chef has a lot of support videos and instructions to install it.