ThermoWorks Smoke X4 Thermometer Review

Keeping a real-time, accurate temperature reading of whatever cut of meat you’re smoking is key to making great barbecue. If you’re smoking multiple cuts of meat or even whole chickens, you need to keep track of multiple temperatures at the same time.

Enter the Smoke X4 from ThermoWorks. The Smoke X4 allows you to track up to four individual temperatures simultaneously. It includes three temperature probes and one air temperature probe along with colored silicone rings to help keep track of which probe corresponds to which temperature on the screen. 

All that is great, but what really separates the Smoke X4 is the included receiver. You don’t need to hook the Smoke X4 up to your WiFi network or be within Bluetooth range with your phone. ThermoWorks boasts that the main unit and the receiver can be up to 6,562 feet apart. That works out to be almost one and a quarter miles. Just one of the reasons it made it to our favorite wireless meat thermometers.

In this review, we will cover its functionality, ease of use, it’s overall quality, and the user experience.

Overview of ThermoWorks

ThermoWorks is based out of Utah in the United States. The company’s focus has always been on providing reliable, accurate thermometers for a variety of industries including cooking both indoors and outdoors. ThermoWorks products are used by both professional and home cooks and are well-respected everywhere they are found. 

Whether it’s instant-read thermometers or devices like the Smoke X4 that are meant to be left in whatever is being cooked, a ThermoWorks product delivers results that takes the guesswork out of whether food is properly cooked or not.

The ThermoWorks X4 is a fantastic addition to an already great lineup of products. It allows backyard pitmasters and competition BBQ teams to monitor up to four separate temperatures in realtime whether they are at their smoker or off working on another part of the meal (or in my case, working at my computer!) What sets the Smoke X4 apart from other thermometers is that the receiver is included. No need to hook up to WiFi or Bluetooth with your phone. 

ThermoWorks Smoke X4 Thermometer Overview & Specs

The Smoke X4 will be at home on a competition BBQ trailer or in someone’s backyard arsenal. Whether it’s smoking multiple pork butts, whole chickens, or whatever you need to monitor, this thermometer delivers.

You can set temperature alarms on the Smoke X4 both as a high range to know when your food is done or a low range to make sure your pit doesn’t fall below a certain temperature. You’re able to monitor the temperature right there at your pit because the main unit has a built-in fold-out stand. I used it right on top of the pellet hopper of my Z Grills 450B.

You can also bring the receiver wherever you need to go and set it either on a flat surface or use the magnets to hang it up. I put mine on the whiteboard next to my computer to keep easy track of temperatures while I worked. The receiver means no additional software or phone usage is needed and no need to hook up to a WiFi network or pair Bluetooth devices.

Operating Temperature Range	14 to 122°F (-10 to 50°C)
Dimensions	Main unit: 4.68 H x 3.54 W x 1.10 D inches (119 H x 90 W x 20 D mm)Receiver: 4.44 H x 2.04 W x 1.10 D inches (113 H x 52 W x 28 D mm)
Display Dimensions	Main unit: 3.0 H x 2.32 W inches (78 H x 59 W mm)Receiver: 2.32 H x 1.37 W inches (59 H x 35 W mm)
Battery	2x AA in the main unit, 330 hours2x AA in receiver, 1,800 hours
Display Settings	0.1°F (°C) Switchable between °F/°C
Temp Reading Range	-58 to 572°F (-50 to 300°C)
Temp Reading Accuracy	Plus or minus 1.8°F (1.0°C) from -4 to 248°F (-20 to 120°C)Plus or minus 3.6°F (2.0°C) from 248 to 392°F (120 to 200°C)Plus or minus 5.4°F (3.0°C) from 392 to 572°F (200 to 300°C)
Communication Range	6,562 feet line of sight (1.24 miles/2 kilometers)
Backlight	20 seconds
Colors	White, yellow, green, red, blue, black, orange, pink, and purple
Water Resistance Rating	IP66 Splash-Proof
Warranty	Two year warranty
Included	Main unit, receiver w/ neck lanyard, 3 temperature probes, 1 air probe and grate clip, and eight high-temp silicone colored probe rings.

ThermoWorks Smoke X4 Features

The ThermoWorks Smoke X4 is a fantastic feature-filled piece of equipment, and all it takes is one look at the contents of the box to realize that.

1. Included Receiver

No need to do any pairing or connecting with the ThermoWorks Smoke X4. The main unit and the receiver are paired before packaging so they are ready to use fresh out of the box. You can set alarms on the main unit and have them trigger on both devices so no matter which you are using, you’ll know when your meat is done.

2. Multiple Probes To Monitor Multiple Temperatures

There is no need to fumble around with moving temperature probes around to monitor multiple cuts of meat with the Smoke X4. It comes with three of ThermoWorks’  Pro-Series High Temp cooking probes and one Pro-Series High Temp air probe. This allows you to monitor up to three different cooking temperatures at one time with no extra equipment. If you’re smoking on an offset smoker or indirect heat on a charcoal grill, you can use the air probe to get even more accurate temperature readings. 

The included silicone rings can help keep you organized when you put matching rings on both ends of the probe. That way you’ll know when one piece of meat is cooking faster than the others. 

3. Long Battery Life On AA Batteries

Perhaps one of the most underrated parts of the Smoke X4 is the simplicity of the batteries. Both the main unit and the receiver run on a pair of AA batteries. The main unit reportedly can run for 330 hours on one set of batteries while the receiver can last an astonishing 1,800 hours. I haven’t had a need to change the batteries yet, but I appreciate that it won’t take watch batteries like other probes I’ve used in the past.

ThermoWorks Smoke X4 Review

Whether I was smoking whole chickens, country-style spare ribs, or chicken leg quarters, the Smoke X4 has been my go-to for any smoking I’ve done. It’s been extremely reliable and hasn’t let me down. ThermoWorks nailed it on each of the main categories it needed to to make the Smoke X4 a trusted and reliable thermometer. 

The Receiver

While a number of other wireless multi-probe thermometers rely on WiFi or Bluetooth-connected apps (ThermoWorks Signals) for you to monitor temperatures on your phone, ThermoWorks got rid of that and included a wireless receiver. It’s a small unit that you could use the provided neck lanyard to keep it nearby, but I also appreciate that I can set it down on a flat surface or use its magnets to put on a magnetic surface.

The receiver has a backlight feature for when I’m moving around in a darker area as well as full alarm functionality. You can use the main unit without turning the receiver on if you plan on being by your pit for the duration of your cooking session. If you have the receiver on and it disconnects from the main unit, it will audibly alert you, whether you’ve run out of battery power in the main unit or just turned it off first.

Accuracy

This is not the first ThermoWorks thermometer I’ve had experience with. I’ve used both the Classic Thermapen and the Thermapen One, and all three have shown to be accurate. When monitoring temperatures from -4 to 248°F, it’s rated to be accurate within 1.8°F. That is plenty accurate when barbecuing pork, beef, or chicken.

ThermoWorks Probes

The Smoke X4 comes with three of ThermoWorks’ Pro-Series cooking probes and one air temperature probe. I have not had any issues with wear and tear on the probes through all my uses of them. Cleaning them has been simple too, just wipe clean with a damp towel or cloth and then dry them before carefully storing them to prevent damage. 

ThermoWorks Billows Compatability

While I do not have the Billows accessory, Michael here at Angry BBQ does and he has a full review. Like the previous Signals thermometer, the Smoke X4 is Billows-compatible, meaning you can hook up the Billows (Fan controlled by the Smoke X4) to a charcoal or kamado grill and get real-time temperature adjustments. Check out his review for a full breakdown!

Overall Fit And Finish

You take one look at the ThermoWorks Smoke X4 and you know that it’s meant to do its job well and for a long time. Even the receiver feels solid in your hand with a rubber inlay to make sure you won’t lose grip when looking at the temperature readouts. Whether you are looking at the main unit or the receiver, the displays are easy to read and the backlight helps improve visibility when needed.

Both units are IP66 rated so they will take even light splashing of water around the cooking area, so you will be protected. 

The main unit of the Smoke X4 can be laid flat, put on a magnetic surface, or you can stand it up with it’s flip-out stand. ThermoWorks made the Smoke X4 to adapt to whatever your cooking setup is which is fantastic. 

The main unit has a button on the front for switching back and forth between the various channels, setting the alarm for each channel, the backlight, and changing the volume. The buttons on the back are well-marked for turning the unit on or off, switching between °F and °C, and toggling the alarm. 

The receiver has two buttons on the front, one that a quick press activates the backlight and holding it serves as the power button and the other for the volume setting. 

ThermoWorks Customer Service And Support

I’m happy to report that I haven’t had any reason to contact customer service regarding the Smoke X4. However, that means I cannot rate how well they handle issues. They have plenty of hours, 6am to 7pm mountain time Monday through Friday plus 8am to 5pm mountain time on Saturdays. 

ThermoWorks Smoke X4 Warranty

The Smoke X4 comes with a two-year warranty. Average for the industry.

Do We Recommend ThermoWorks Smoke X4?

If you are cooking multiple cuts of meat at once and want to keep track of all of them whether standing at your pit/grill or while working on another project, then absolutely yes. It has become a staple of my barbecue arsenal and sees almost as much use as my instant-read thermometers. While the ThermoWorks Signals does the same thing via WIFI and Bluetooth, the Smoke X4 is better for areas without WIFI or if you want to break away from your smart phone and focus on the cook.

What I Like About The Smoke X4…

• The receiver – I don’t need to search for an app and make sure my thermometer is connected to WiFi or paired with my phone via Bluetooth.
• Four included cooking probes – gives me plenty of temperature monitoring capability (and I can always add more!)
• Both units run on AA batteries – I don’t have to worry about plugging in either unit or paying for other types of batteries I don’t normally use.

What Makes Me Angry…

Not a whole heck of a lot. The only thing that’s frustrated me so far is keeping the probe cables separated. They will tangle easily. Also, this isn’t a cheap unit. You get a great thermometer, but it’s going to be an investment. If you’re serious about smoking and grilling, it’s well worth it.

Final Verdict

Cooking barbecue is all about cooking to temperatures, and the Smoke X4 helps me monitor with a high degree of accuracy.  I could conceivably get all my temperature needs taken care of between the Smoke X4 and a high-quality instant-read thermometer. Start with an instant-read thermometer and then add the Smoke X4 to your collection if you can. If you prefer using WIFI and your phone for controls, buy the ThermoWorks Signals instead of the Smoke X4.