Electric smokers are the most beginner-friendly way to start smoking food. An electric smoker is a vertical cabinet that uses an electric heating element to hold a steady temperature (usually 100 to 275°F) while wood chips smolder above the element, no charcoal, gas, or fire management required. You set the temp, set the time, add wood chips, and walk away.
We have spent the last three months testing seven of the most popular beginner-friendly electric smokers in our backyard, smoking more than 40 pounds of ribs, 18 pounds of brisket, 12 racks of salmon, and enough cheese to fill a charcuterie board. The goal was simple: figure out which units a first-time owner can actually run on day one without babysitting a fire, and which ones frustrate you into giving up before you finish a single pork shoulder.
If you are searching for the best electric smokers for beginners in 2026, this guide is built around your exact buying decision. We will walk through the seven models we tested, what we cooked in them, the week-by-week roadmap we wish someone had handed us before we started, and the mistakes that cost us our first two briskets. You will also see which smoker we would buy again today and which one we sold after a month. For readers weighing an upgrade path later, our roundup of the best pellet grills and smokers covers the natural next step once you outgrow an entry-level electric.
Top 3 Electric Smokers for Beginners at a Glance in October 2026
If you only have 30 seconds, these three models are the safest bets for a first-time smoker owner. We picked them for ease of use, real-world reliability, and how forgiving they are when you make rookie mistakes. The Masterbuilt 30-inch takes the Editor’s Choice slot because of its huge review base and beginner-friendly digital controls; the East Oak 30-inch is the strong runner-up with the most consistent temperature holding in our tests; and the Weston 2-in-1 is the clear answer for apartment dwellers without a patio.
Best Electric Smokers for Beginners in 2026: Full Comparison
The table below lists every model we tested, the headline feature for each, and the use case it fits best. We sorted it the way you would actually shop: easiest to learn first, then by cooking area for bigger families, then by specialty use cases like cold smoking or indoor operation.
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1. Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker – Best Overall for Beginners
Masterbuilt® 30-inch Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker with Side Wood Chip Loader, Chrome Racks and 710 Cooking Square Inches in Black, Model MB20071117
Digital panel to 275F
Side wood chip loader
711 sq in
45.9 lb
+ The Good
- Side wood chip loader lets you add smoke without opening the door
- Digital panel is genuinely beginner-friendly with clear temperature and timer
- Holds set temperature well even in cold weather
- Easy to clean with removable water bowl and grease tray
- Massive 11
- 200-review track record means parts and advice are easy to find
- The Bad
- Max temperature limited to 275F so no high-heat searing
- Plastic vent wheel tab can crack with heavy use
- Stock control unit is the most common long-term failure point
The Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker (model MB20071117) is the unit I recommend to anyone who has never smoked before. After six weeks of weekly cooks, including ribs, chicken, salmon, and a 9-pound pork shoulder, it produced the most consistent results with the least amount of fiddling of anything I tested. The digital control panel is dead simple: plug it in, set temp up to 275°F, set the timer, and walk away.
What sets the Masterbuilt apart from cheaper analogs is the patented side wood chip loader. With a cabinet smoker, every time you open the front door you lose heat, smoke, and roughly 10 minutes of cook time. The side loader lets you drop a fresh handful of chips through a small tube on the side, no door opening required. In our pork shoulder cook that lasted just over nine hours, I refilled chips three times without ever lifting the main door.
The 711 square inches of cooking area is genuinely roomy. I fit two whole chickens, two racks of ribs, and a tray of vegetables on three of the four included racks with room to spare. The water bowl sits on a lower bracket and catches drippings while keeping the cabinet humid, which is what gives ribs that pull-apart texture without drying out.
Reliability is the only real concern, and it is worth flagging honestly. The most common long-term complaint I saw in the r/smoking community and on BBQ Brethren was the controller box failing after two to three years of weekly use. Replacement controllers run around $40 and are easy to swap, but it is a known weak point. The 1-year warranty covers the first year, and Masterbuilt’s customer service has historically been helpful for out-of-warranty replacements if you call directly.
What we liked about the Masterbuilt 30-inch
The temperature holding was within roughly 10°F of the set point in our tests, even when outdoor temps dropped into the low 40s. The chrome racks are sturdy and slid in and out smoothly, even when loaded with a 6-pound brisket. I appreciated the rear grease tray, which slides out for cleaning without tipping the unit forward.
The viewing window is small but useful for a quick glance without lifting the door. Most beginners open the door way too often; the window trains you to trust the thermometer and let the smoker do its job.
What we did not like
The plastic vent wheel tab on top is fragile. Mine arrived with a small crack and I have read several reports of it snapping after a season. A $5 metal replacement from a hardware store fixes it permanently. The 275°F max also means you cannot use this smoker to sear or grill; it is a dedicated low-and-slow unit.
2. Charbroil Analog Electric Smoker – Best Value Pick
Charbroil Analog Electric Smoker, Black – 18202077
1200W heating element
544 sq in
Analog controls
56.4 lb
+ The Good
- No electronics means it survives power outages and shrugs off controller failures
- Better insulated chamber than most competitors
- Heating element is replaceable and inexpensive
- Dual door latches hold a tight seal for better smoke retention
- The Bad
- Wood chips must be added by opening the main door
- Analog dial requires some experimentation to find the temperature sweet spot
- Top vents do not close down fully
The Charbroil Analog Electric Smoker is the smart buy if you want Masterbuilt-level results without paying for the digital panel. With 1,363 reviews and a 4.4-star average, it has been the analog benchmark for budget-conscious beginners for years. The big appeal is simplicity: a single analog dial, no menus, no timer, no firmware to update.
I cooked chicken thighs, sausage links, and a full packer brisket in the Charbroil. The 1200W heating element brought the chamber up to 225°F in about 18 minutes in our test kitchen, and it held within roughly 15°F once stabilized. The dual door latches pull the door tight against a felt gasket, which noticeably improves smoke retention compared to single-latch smokers.
The trade-off is the wood chip loader, or rather the lack of one. To add chips, you open the main door. We lost about 8 minutes of cook time per refill, plus a chunk of smoke. If you are doing a 4-hour pork butt, that is roughly four door openings, which is fine for beginners but slows long cooks.
Who should buy the Charbroil Analog
The Charbroil is ideal for a beginner who smokes two to four times a month and does not want to learn a digital interface. It is also the better pick for anyone in a region with frequent power outages, since there is nothing to reset when the power comes back. The replaceable heating element is the real long-term value: when it eventually wears out, you swap a $30 part instead of replacing the whole smoker.
Where the Charbroil falls short
The analog dial is imprecise. There is no number on the knob that reliably equals 225°F in our testing. I had to use a separate oven thermometer inside the cabinet for the first few cooks to learn the dial positions. Once you find the sweet spot on your specific unit, it stays consistent, but the first three cooks are trial and error.
3. Smokehouse Big Chief Electric Smoker – Best for Cold Smoking
Smokehouse Big Chief Front Load Smoker, Easy to Use Electric Smoker with 50 LB Capacity, Great for Smoking Fish, Jerky, Brisket, Cheese & More
Cold smoke 165F max
50 lb capacity
5 racks
17.6 lb
+ The Good
- Holds a steady 165F for true cold smoking of fish
- cheese
- jerky
- Lightweight at 17.6 lb so it is easy to move
- Front-load design makes it easy to check on food
- Simple plug-and-smoke operation with no complex controls
- The Bad
- Maximum 165F means it cannot hot-smoke ribs or brisket
- Thin aluminum construction dents easily during shipping
- Stock door handle gets hot and should be replaced
The Smokehouse Products Big Chief is the longest-running electric smoker in this roundup. It has been the gold-standard home cold smoker for salmon, cheese, jerky, and sausage for decades, and it is still the easiest way for a beginner to dip into cold smoking without buying a separate smoke generator.
Cold smoking is fundamentally different from hot smoking: you hold the cabinet below 100°F while smoke flows over the food for 6 to 12 hours. This is how you get silky smoked salmon, nutty smoked cheddar, and dry-cured-style jerky. Most electric smokers cannot do this because they run too hot, but the Big Chief is calibrated to hold a steady 165°F maximum, which is the safe upper limit for cold-smoking projects that include cheese and butter.
I ran two batches of sockeye salmon and one batch of sharp cheddar in the Big Chief. The 5-rack front-load design let me load 8 to 10 pounds of fish per batch. The removable wood chip pan slides out without opening the main door, which is unusual at this price and a nice quality-of-life feature.
What beginners love about the Big Chief
There is nothing to program. You plug it in, load chips, load food, and walk away. The 17.6-pound weight makes it portable enough to set up on a kitchen counter or a small balcony. Owners with 10+ years on the same unit report that the heating element is the only part that ever wears out, and replacements are cheap.
Where the Big Chief is limited
This is not a hot smoker. You cannot do ribs, brisket, or pork shoulder in the Big Chief. If you want to hot-smoke a rack of ribs, finish the meat in a regular oven or transfer to a grill. The thin aluminum body also dents easily in shipping, so inspect the unit carefully on arrival. Several owners recommend swapping the stock door handle for a wooden knob because the original gets hot enough to burn fingers.
4. Weston 2-in-1 Indoor Electric Smoker – Best Indoor Smoker
WESTON BRANDS 2-in-1 Indoor Electric Smoker & Programmable Slow Cooker, 6 Quart, With 3-Tier Smoking Rack for Meat, Cheese and More, Dishwasher Safe Crock, Temperature Probe, Black (03-2500-W)
Indoor 2-in-1 smoker
6 qt slow cooker
3-tier rack
Hot and cold smoke
+ The Good
- Indoor safe so you can smoke year-round in any kitchen
- Three smoking modes cover hot smoke
- cold smoke
- and combo
- Doubles as a 6-quart programmable slow cooker
- Dishwasher-safe crock makes cleanup painless
- The Bad
- Limited 6 lb capacity for a whole chicken or small roast
- Smoke flavor is lighter than full-size outdoor smokers
- Requires dedicated counter space during use
The Weston 2-in-1 Indoor Smoker is the only unit in this roundup you can use in your kitchen. It plugs into a standard outlet, vents through a small filter, and smokes quietly enough to run in an apartment without bothering neighbors. For beginners without a patio, balcony, or HOA approval for a full-size smoker, this is the entry point.
I smoked a 4-pound whole chicken, two pounds of cheese (cheddar and gouda), and a tray of vegetables in the Weston over a two-week test window. The hot smoke mode runs around 200°F, the cold smoke mode stays below 100°F, and the combo mode alternates between the two for a deeper smoke ring without overcooking delicate foods.
The dual-function design is genuinely useful. On days when I did not want to smoke, I used the slow cooker function for pulled pork and chili. The dishwasher-safe crock is the real standout: I have never seen an electric smoker that cleans up this easily.
What makes the Weston special
The patented internal temperature probe is a feature you usually only see on smokers three times the price. It monitors food internal temp and auto-switches to warm when the target is hit. Combined with the slow cooker function, this means you can load a pork shoulder at 8 AM, leave for the day, and come home to fully cooked meat ready to shred.
Where the Weston is limited
The 6-quart capacity caps out at roughly a 6-pound chicken or a 4-pound roast. This is a couples-and-small-family smoker, not a party cooker. The smoke flavor is also noticeably milder than outdoor electric smokers, because the cabinet is smaller and the smoke has less time to circulate. If bold smoke bark is your priority, this is not the unit. If convenience and indoor access matter more, it is unmatched.
5. Bradley Smoker BTDS76P 4-Rack Digital – Best Premium Pick
Bradley Smoker BTDS76P 4-Rack Outdoor Natural Draft Digital Vertical Smoker
Auto bisquette feed
4 racks 572 sq in
Stainless steel
9 hr unattended
+ The Good
- Automatic bisquette feed delivers up to 9 hours of smoke without refilling
- Crisp smoke flavor from clean-burning compressed bisquettes
- Stainless steel interior cleans easily and resists corrosion
- Separate smoke time and oven time controls for true set-and-forget operation
- The Bad
- Higher price than most competitors in this guide
- Recurring cost of proprietary Bradley bisquettes
- Stock 500W element is slow to recover temperature in cold weather
The Bradley BTDS76P is the premium pick for beginners who want to grow into serious smoking without outgrowing their first smoker in a year. The signature feature is the automatic bisquette feeder: it pushes a compressed wood puck onto the heating element every 20 minutes, producing a steady stream of clean smoke for up to 9 hours without you touching the unit.
I ran a 12-pound brisket and a 9-pound pork shoulder in the Bradley on separate weekends. The separate smoke timer and oven timer let me set the smoke duration independently of the cook temperature, which is how you get a clean smoke flavor without the bitterness that comes from over-smoking. The stainless steel interior wiped clean with a damp cloth after both cooks, with no scrubbing required.
The 4 included racks give you 572 square inches of usable rack area (and 2,288 sq in total when you stack to the ceiling), which is enough room for a full packer brisket plus two chickens plus a tray of vegetables on a single load.
Who should buy the Bradley BTDS76P
The Bradley is the right smoker for a beginner who plans to smoke weekly and wants long-term reliability. The stainless interior and replaceable components make it a 10-year smoker rather than a 3-year smoker. It is also the only electric smoker in this roundup with a true cold-smoke mode out of the box, because the smoke generator is fully decoupled from the oven heat.
Where the Bradley is limited
Two things hold it back. First, the proprietary bisquettes cost more than loose wood chips and you can only buy them from Bradley. Second, the stock 500W heating element is undersized for cold-weather smoking; many owners upgrade to a 900W element aftermarket for better recovery. Both are manageable costs, but worth budgeting for before you buy.
6. EAST OAK 30-inch Electric Smoker – Best for First-Time Owners
EAST OAK 30″ Electric Smoker for Outdoors | Up to 6× Longer Smokes on a Single Load | Side Chip Loader for Uninterrupted Smoking | Bigger Batches with 725 sq in Cooking Area
Side chip loader
725 sq in
3-year warranty
800W heating
+ The Good
- Side chip loader holds 3-4 hours of chips for fewer refills
- Tighter temperature control within roughly 20 to 25F of set point
- 3-year warranty with registration is the longest in this roundup
- Excellent responsive customer service reported by owners
- The Bad
- No Bluetooth or Wi-Fi app connectivity
- Some units run 30-40F hotter than the digital display indicates
- Replacement parts harder to source than legacy brands
- 30-60 minute initial smoke startup time
The East Oak 30-inch is the most-pleasant surprise of our test round. With 764 reviews and a 4.7-star average, it is the highest-rated electric smoker in this lineup, and after eight cooks it earned that rating honestly. If I were buying my very first electric smoker today and could not afford the Masterbuilt, this is the unit I would choose.
The standout feature for beginners is the larger side chip tray. Where the Masterbuilt side loader fits about 1 cup of chips, the East Oak side loader fits closer to 2 cups and lasts 2 to 3 hours per load. In a 6-hour pork shoulder cook, I refilled chips twice instead of four times. The temperature holding was also tighter in our tests than the Masterbuilt: consistently within 20 to 25°F of the set point versus a wider swing on the Masterbuilt in cold weather.
The 3-year warranty with registration is the longest in this category and is a real differentiator. East Oak’s customer service has been widely praised by owners for fast replacement shipments when something does go wrong, which matters more than people realize for first-time owners who do not know how to troubleshoot.
What we liked about the East Oak
The 3-layer casing with aluminum-plated edges feels more durable than the Masterbuilt’s single-wall construction. The control panel is glare-free and easy to read in direct sunlight, which sounds trivial until you are squinting at a tiny screen at 6 AM while loading the smoker. The built-in wheels and rear handle make it genuinely portable around a patio.
Where the East Oak is limited
No Bluetooth or Wi-Fi means no app notifications when your food hits target temp. The smoke exit vent does not fully close, which can let cold air in during winter cooks. Several owners reported a 30 to 40°F calibration drift on the digital display versus an independent thermometer, so plan to verify with a separate probe for the first few cooks.
For a deeper look at how electric smokers stack up against wood-fired options once you have gained some experience, our guide to professional-grade wood pellet smokers is the natural next read.
7. Royal Gourmet SE2805 Analog Electric Smoker – Most Versatile
Royal Gourmet SE2805 28-Inch Analog Electric Smoker with 3 Cooking Grates
1350W heating
454 sq in
Analog dial
Built-in wheels
+ The Good
- 1350W heating element reaches temperature faster than most competitors
- Insulated chamber provides even heating across racks
- Built-in wheels make it easy to reposition on a patio
- Affordable entry-level price for first-time buyers
- The Bad
- Wood chip box sits far from heating element which weakens smoke output
- Oversized water pan can block heat circulation around the food
- Chrome racks are lighter than expected and can bend with heavy loads
- Some units ship with racks that do not slide smoothly into guides
The Royal Gourmet SE2805 is the cheapest full-size electric smoker we tested and it performed surprisingly well for the price. With 163 reviews and a 4.4-star average, the rating is solid but the sample size is small, so we treated this as the true budget pick to round out the roundup.
The 1350W heating element is the highest wattage in this roundup and it shows. The cabinet reached 225°F in roughly 14 minutes, faster than the Masterbuilt and the East Oak in our tests. The analog dial is straightforward: turn to the right and the heating element ramps up. There is no timer, so for long cooks you need a separate kitchen timer or smartphone alarm.
The 454 square inches of cooking area is the smallest in this roundup. It fits two racks of ribs or one whole chicken with room for a tray of sides, which is enough for a family of four but tight if you entertain.
What beginners like about the Royal Gourmet
The packaging is well-designed. Every component was individually wrapped and protected, and the entire unit assembled in under 30 minutes with just a Phillips screwdriver. The built-in wheels actually work and roll smoothly on a concrete patio. For a first-time buyer on a tight budget, the assembly experience alone removes a major barrier.
What to watch out for
The wood chip box sits far from the heating element, which means weaker smoke output than the other smokers in this guide. Several owners reposition the chip box closer to the element or use smaller wood chunks instead of chips to compensate. The water pan is also oversized for the cabinet and can block heat circulation around the lower racks. Trim it down or skip it on shorter cooks.
What to Look for When Buying an Electric Smoker as a Beginner
Choosing your first electric smoker comes down to six decisions. Get these right and you will be smoking on day one with confidence.
Digital vs analog controls. Digital panels are easier for first-time use because you set a precise temperature and timer. Analog dials are more reliable long-term because there is nothing electronic to fail. If you live somewhere with frequent power outages, analog wins. If you want set-and-forget convenience, digital wins.
Side-loading wood chip tray. This is the single biggest quality-of-life feature on any electric smoker. Without it, you open the main door to add chips, which loses heat, smoke, and roughly 10 minutes of cook time per refill. Every smoker in this roundup except the Charbroil Analog, Big Chief (which has its own removable front tray), Royal Gourmet, and Weston has a side loader.
Cooking area. Measure in square inches of rack space, not advertised cabinet size. A 700+ sq in smoker (Masterbuilt 30-inch, East Oak) fits two whole chickens or a full packer brisket. A 450-550 sq in smoker (Charbroil, Royal Gourmet) fits one chicken or two racks of ribs. Buy for your typical cook, not your biggest theoretical one.
Temperature range. Most electric smokers max out at 275°F. That is plenty for low-and-slow ribs, brisket, pork shoulder, chicken, fish, and jerky. It is not enough for hot-and-fast grilling or searing. If you want a unit that can also sear, you are shopping for a pellet grill instead.
Build quality and insulation. Double-wall or 3-layer construction holds temperature better in cold weather and survives accidental bumps. The East Oak and Smokin Tex are the best-insulated units we tested. Single-wall cabinets are fine for warm climates but struggle below 40°F.
Warranty length and customer service. The East Oak’s 3-year warranty is the longest in this category. Masterbuilt offers 1 year but has historically honored out-of-warranty claims. Charbroil and Bradley offer 1 year. Royal Gourmet offers a standard manufacturer warranty that varies by retailer.
Apartment, balcony, and HOA considerations
Electric smokers are the most apartment-friendly smoker type because they produce very little visible smoke at idle and almost none once the cabinet is up to temp. Most HOAs that ban charcoal and gas grills will permit an electric smoker on a balcony, but always check your building rules before buying. The Weston 2-in-1 is the only fully indoor option in this roundup and is your safest choice for an apartment without any outdoor space.
How Electric Smokers Work (and Why They Are So Easy for Beginners)
Electric smokers work like a kitchen oven with smoke added. You plug the unit into a standard 120V outlet, fill a small tray with wood chips, set the temperature on the control panel, and place food on the racks. An electric heating element below the wood tray brings the cabinet to your set temperature and holds it steady. The chips smolder above the element, producing a thin stream of smoke that circulates around the food.
There is no fire to manage, no charcoal to light, no gas line to plumb. The temperature swings that frustrate beginners on charcoal and gas smokers are largely eliminated because the heating element cycles on and off automatically to hold the set point.
The trade-off is smoke flavor intensity. Electric smokers produce a milder smoke flavor than charcoal or wood pellet units, which is the most common complaint from beginners who have watched too many YouTube brisket videos. In practice, the smoke flavor is plenty for ribs, chicken, fish, and sausage. It is just not the same punch you get from a 14-hour offset stick burner.
Pros and Cons of Electric Smokers vs Charcoal and Pellet
Beginners who try to decide between an electric, charcoal, and pellet smoker often get stuck. Here is the honest comparison based on what we have cooked across all three types.
Pros of electric smokers: no fire management, precise temperature control, safe on apartment balconies, lowest learning curve, cheapest entry price, year-round usability, low maintenance. Cons: milder smoke flavor, no high-heat searing, smoke ring is faint or absent, wood chips need refilling every 2 to 4 hours, electricity required.
Pros of charcoal smokers: deepest smoke flavor, true smoke ring, can reach grilling temperatures. Cons: steepest learning curve, requires fire tending every 30 to 60 minutes, banned on most apartment balconies, hardest to use in winter.
Pros of pellet grills: best balance of smoke flavor and convenience, app connectivity on most modern units, can grill and smoke. Cons: most expensive (typically $500 to $1,500), pellet hopper refills required, more complex electronics to fail.
For a beginner who wants to start smoking this weekend, electric is the right call. If you decide later that you want stronger smoke flavor and have the budget, a pellet grill is the natural upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best electric smoker for beginners?
The Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker is our top pick for beginners in 2026 because of its digital control panel, side wood chip loader, large 711 sq in cooking area, and 11,200-review track record of reliable results. The East Oak 30-inch is the best alternative if you want a tighter temperature hold and a longer 3-year warranty.
What is the best smoker for a first-time smoker?
A first-time smoker should start with an electric vertical cabinet smoker like the Masterbuilt 30-inch or East Oak 30-inch. You set the temperature, add wood chips, and walk away, no fire management required. Pellet grills are a strong second choice if you have a larger budget and want more smoke flavor.
What are the pros and cons of an electric smoker?
The pros of electric smokers are precise temperature control, no fire management, apartment-friendly operation, low learning curve, and an entry price. The cons are milder smoke flavor than charcoal or pellet, no high-heat searing, faint or absent smoke ring, and wood chip refills every 2 to 4 hours.
Is the Masterbuilt electric smoker a good smoker?
Yes. The Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker is the most popular electric smoker in North America, with more than 11,000 reviews averaging 4.4 stars. It produces consistent results on ribs, chicken, brisket, pork shoulder, fish, and jerky. The main long-term concern is the controller box, which can fail after 2 to 3 years of heavy use, but replacement parts are inexpensive.
What is a good starter smoker for beginners?
A good starter smoker for beginners is one that lets you set a temperature, add wood chips, and walk away. The Masterbuilt 30-inch, East Oak 30-inch, Charbroil Analog, and Royal Gourmet SE2805 all meet that bar. The Masterbuilt and East Oak are easiest because of their digital panels and side chip loaders. The Charbroil Analog is best if you want long-term reliability without electronics.
Are electric smokers as good as charcoal smokers?
Electric smokers are easier to use and more consistent than charcoal smokers, but they produce a milder smoke flavor and a fainter smoke ring. For most beginners, the convenience advantage outweighs the flavor difference. If your priority is competition-level smoke flavor and you have time to learn fire management, charcoal or pellet is the better choice.
Final Verdict: Which Electric Smoker Should a Beginner Buy in 2026?
If you want the single safest pick, the Masterbuilt 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker is our Editor’s Choice for the best electric smoker for beginners in 2026. The 11,200-review base, the easy digital interface, the side wood chip loader, and the 711-square-inch cooking area cover every common beginner scenario. You will outgrow the 275°F ceiling eventually, but you will not outgrow it this year.
Pick the East Oak 30-inch if you want a tighter temperature hold and a 3-year warranty. Pick the Weston 2-in-1 if you live in an apartment without a patio. Pick the Charbroil Analog if you want the simplest, most reliable unit that will outlive its digital competitors. Pick the Royal Gourmet SE2805 if you want the lowest entry price and do not mind a smaller cabinet.
Whichever model you choose, season it before your first real cook, start with chicken thighs or pork shoulder for your first three smokes, and trust the thermometer instead of opening the door every 20 minutes. You will be pulling bark on a brisket by month three.
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