Are you a beginner smoker looking for an entry-level, affordable wood pellet grill? The Z Grills 7002C2E WiFi grill perfectly fits this brief.

With its easy movability, great smoke flavor, and handy WiFi connectivity, the Z Grills Backyard Warrior 7002C2E WiFi offers a reliable and stress-free grilling experience.

In this detailed review, I test-drive this pellet grill so you can decide if it’s the right model for you.

Overview of the Z Grills 7002C2E WiFi Pellet Grill

Did you know the team at Z Grills has a rich history of manufacturing pellet grills for top brands, including Traeger? Founded in 2016, this experience quickly established it as one of the most popular brands in the industry.

With Z Grills, you get comparable quality to a lot of big box brands at often lower prices. This is evident in the Backyard Warrior 7002C2E WiFi Pellet Grill. It offers WiFi connectivity, a large cooking area, and consistent temperatures in a compact package.

This model was our pick for the best budget smoker in our best pellet smokers roundup.

Do you want to skip over the WiFi connectivity? Then go even cheaper with the Backyard Warrior 7002B. It still has a PID controller; you just can’t track it from your phone.

Another alternative is the Z Grills 700D4E WiFi Pellet Grill. It’s the brand’s flagship product and has several similar features. However, the 700D4E levels up with an enclosed storage cabinet and dual-walled insulation.

Z Grills 7002C2E WiFi Pellet Grill specifications:

What I like:

• Smoke flavor: I have zero complaints about the decent and consistent smoke flavor this Z Grills produces.
• Easy movability: This might be one of the easiest pellet grills to move around. It has two large all-terrain, wagon-style wheels and two rotating, locking caster wheels.
• Ample cooking space: The grill boasts nearly 700 square inches of total cooking area. This is a reassuring feature for a grill of this size, weight, and price.

What I don’t like:

• No storage: The main thing I would change with this grill is adding a side shelf and tool hooks.

Unboxing and build quality

I’m always impressed by how compact every Z Grills is delivered. Never let the small box fool you! They pack a lot in there, including assembly gloves, a detailed instruction manual, and a rain cover.

The Z Grills 7002C2E Pellet Grill’s setup took about 1.5 hours. It requires more assembly than similar models, including attaching the hopper to the chamber. It’s also much easier to assemble with two people, so rope in a family member or friend (then treat them to some barbecue afterward).

But the build quality impressed me. It weighs just over 130 lbs and is 48 inches long, 26 inches wide, and 51 inches high. As mentioned, the grill is easy to move around thanks to the two wagon-style wheels and the two rotating and locking caster wheels.

It also has a durable stainless steel lid that helps retain heat while smoking. Inside, you’ll find a powder-coated steel chamber and porcelain-coated steel grates, which I personally prefer.

Connectivity

As the name suggests, WiFi connectivity is one of this pellet grill’s stand-out features. The LCD touchscreen PID controller has built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and meat probe ports (with two included temperature probes).

The controller allows you to monitor and adjust the temperature from afar with the Z Grills App. I really like the app. While it’s pretty generic, it’s highly responsive.

The controller also includes the Manual Feed feature. This equals faster startup and temperature recovery with the simple press of a button. The latest Z-Smart PID Grilling Technology maintains consistent temperatures every time.

Cooking on the Z Grills 7002C2E WiFi

Hopper size is always important to me. Fortunately, we have a 28-pound pellet hopper in this case, which is large enough for an overnight cook. Its cleanout feature makes it easier to switch or collect all unused pellets at once. The hopper also includes a viewing window to monitor the fuel level easily.

The 697 square inches of total cooking space equals 504 square inches on the lower rack and 193 square inches on the upper warming rack. Z Grills says this cooking area fits 29 burgers, five whole chickens, or six rib racks. The temperature also ranges from 160 to 500°F, increasing in 25-degree increments.

One of the most satisfying aspects of using Z Grills products is their consistent smoke production and steady temperature control.

My first test cook, a rack of baby back ribs, showcased the grill’s ability to deliver color, tenderness, and juiciness. The same level of performance was evident in my second test, a pork tenderloin.

One of my most memorable cooks on Z Grills was chicken halves. They were some of the juiciest chicken halves I’ve ever eaten.

Storage and accessories

Unfortunately, this wood pellet grill doesn’t have any built-in shelves. It doesn’t even have space for your tools! The best you’ve got is using the hopper lid as a temporary shelf for your tools or cutting board if you need to do some prep. If you want an enclosed storage cabinet, I recommend checking out the Z Grills 700D4E WiFi model.

The main additional accessory you can add to this wood pellet grill is the cast-iron griddle. Its reversible design makes it extremely versatile, turning your grill into a griddle in one easy step.

Cleaning

There’s no built-in ash cleanout system; you just clean it like other pellet grills. Remove the cooking components every three to four cooks, scrape them down, and vacuum the chamber.

Alternative pellet grills to consider

We have a whole article and video where we look at five of the best budget pellet grills in a similar price range.

My top recommendation is the Camp Chef DLX 24 Pellet Grill, which offers the best bang for your buck. It provides WiFi connectivity, a stand-out ash cleanup system, superior temperature accuracy and consistency, and next-level smoke control adjustability.

My second recommendation is the Pit Boss Sportsman 820 Pellet Grill. It has nearly 850 square inches of cooking space, a flame broiler, and the best built-in accessories and shelving.

To compare even more models, check out all our pellet grill reviews.

Wrapping it up

The Z Grills 7002C2E WiFi perfectly suits small families and beginner smokers. It has everything you’d want in a wood pellet grill: easy movability, excellent smoky flavor, and WiFi connectivity at an affordable price point.