The Traeger Pro 780 is the largest pellet grill in the Pro Series models. This pellet grill is the 2nd Gen model, an upgraded version of the Pro 34. Packed full of technology and extra features, the Pro 780 is an impressive grill.
In terms of value for money, there’s none better than the Pro 780. For about 1k, you get a high-tech pellet grill that has room to cook more than enough meat.
How Much Does It Cost?
The Pro 780 will set you back about $1,000—which is good for what you get. Unless you live in a cold climate, or cook for large crowds often, there’s no need to upgrade to an Ironwood or Timberline. Sometimes Traeger has huge discounts, and you can pick up the Pro 780 for around $800. If you don’t have the money to pay upfront, Traeger offers buy-now-pay-later with affirm. The Pro 780 works out to $77 per month.
| Pro 780 | Price |
| Grill Only | $849 to $999.99 ( see latest price) |
| Delivery | FREE DELIVERY ( From Traeger Website) |
| Buy-Now-Pay-Later | $77 per month with affirm |
| Cover | $79 ( see latest price) |
| 5 Pack Drip Liners | $14.99 (see latest price) |
| Hardwood Pellets | $19.99 ( see latest price) |
| Insulation Blanket | $149.00 (see latest) |
How Much Food Can The Pro 780 Cook?
The new Traeger models are named by the cooking area. So the Pro 780 has 780 square inches of cooking area.
The Pro 780 is enough to cook 34 burgers, or 6 whole chickens, or 6 pork butts. The Pro 780 could also hold about four briskets (depending on the size).
| Pro 780 | Cooking Capacity |
| Grill Area | 780 Square Inches |
| Burgers | 34 |
| Whole Chickens | 6 |
| Pork Butts | 6 |
| Briskets | 4 |
Control The Grill With A Phone
The Pro 780, like all Gen 2 Traeger models, has a Wi-Fi controller. This gives users the option to monitor their grill using a smartphone. You don’t even need to be near the Traeger. As long as you have a Wi-Fi connection, you can monitor and control a brisket cook while walking the dog, or shopping at the store.
Meat thermometers have used this remote monitoring technology for a while now. Thermometers companies like Tappecue Touch and Fireboard started the trend, merging technology with barbecue. Traeger has integrated this technology
Bypass The Wi-Fi. If you’re not a fan of all the hi-tech wizardry, you can use the Pro 780 like a normal grill and bypass the Wi-Fi.
The App. To use the Traeger Wi-Fi controller, first you need to download the Traeger App from the Apple, or Google Play Store. As you’d expect, the Traeger App is full of unnecessary information and promotional materials. However, the App serves its purpose when you use the control and monitoring functions.
GrillGuide. There are hundreds of recipes, and other resources on the Traeger App. I don’t use these features, but some people will find them useful. The recipes have improved since the original GrillGuide.
Size And Weight
The Pro 780 weighs 155 lb, and is 55 inches in height. The grill is 49 inches wide and has a depth of 27 inches. It’s easy to move around, it has all-terrain wheels. If you want a smaller grill, downsize to the Pro 22, the Pro 575, or the Tailgater.
| Pro 780 | Dimensions |
| Weight | 155 pounds |
| Height | 55 inches |
| Width | 49 inches |
| Depth | 27 inches |
Hopper Capacity
If you plan on doing long cooks, hopper size is important. The Pro 780 has a 18 lb pellet hopper. This is large enough, but can’t quite hold a standard 20 pound bag of pellets. The Ironwood has a 20 lbs hopper, and the Timberline has a 24 lb hopper. Having different hopper sizes makes no sense. I suspect this is part of Traeger’s strategy to encourage people to upgrade premium models.
Temperature Range
The Traeger 780 can reach 500° F, which is 50° F hotter than the Gen 1 Pro 34 model. This even matches Traeger’s top-of-the-line models — the Ironwood and the Timberline.
The lowest temperature on the Pro 780 is about 165° F to 180° F. However, this temperature depends on the outside temperature.
Most low-and-slow cooking is between 225° F and 275° F. Chicken and turkey is best cooked around the 300° F.
Cold Smoking. If you’re into cold smoking bacon, sausages, cheese, nuts, etc, the lowest temperature on the Traeger is 165° F, which is still a little hot for cold smoking.
If you want to cold smoke at lower temps, try saving it for the winter, or place trays of ice cubes in the Traeger.
Turbo Temp
- The Pro 780 has a TurboTemp function.
- TurboTemp bring your grill up to cooking temperature faster.
- This function also helps the grill recover temperature after you’ve opened the lid to spritz or check on your meat.
- TurboTemp works really well in the colder months where the cold air affects set cooking temperatures. Winter cooking usually means more pellets, and longer cook times.
- The TurboTemp function helps you combat the cold so you can cook within your usual time frames.
How TurboTemp works. The TurboTemp function works by feeding more pellets to the grill and increases the fan speed. A Pro 780 grill has a more powerful motor than the Gen 1 Pro Series. The powerful brushless motor is the reason the 780 has the TurboTemp feature.
Pro 780 Cons
One Thermometer. The Pro 780 only ships with one meat thermometer. So if you already have a Wi-Fi thermometer, don’t throw it away just yet. If you want to track multiple meats at one time, you’re going to need another one, anyway.
No Insulation. An important feature to look for in a pellet grill is insulation. This is especially important if you live in a cold climate. The major difference between the Pro 780 and the more expensive Traeger models is the level of insulation.
The level of insulation is especially important If the pellet grill has thin metal, it won’t be able to retain heat, which means more temperature fluctuations, and a less economical grill.
The Pro 780 has a single layer of metal, whereas the Ironwood has double-walled insulation, and the Timberline has all-round insulation.
The lack of insulation on the Pro 780 doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get one. However, if you live in a cold climate, you may need to buy an insulation blanket.
Traeger makes insulation blankets for the Pro Series models. These blankets fit perfectly over the grill, and you can cook while the blanket’s attached. This will keep the cold out, and the heat in. That way you can cook throughout the winter.
The blanket is fireproof, and straps evenly across the grill. The Traeger insulation blanket costs about $100, which is cheaper than upgrading to the Ironwood.
No Pellet Sensor. Unlike the more expensive Traeger models, the Pro 780 doesn’t have a pellet sensor. The Ironwood and Timberline have a pellet sensor in the pellet hopper. When your pellets are running low, the sensor will send a notification to your phone.
Pro 780 vs Pro 34
If the Pro 780 is out of your budget, another option is to buy the Gen 1 model, the Pro 34.
- The Pro 780 is the upgraded version of the Gen 1 model, the Pro 34.
- The Gen 1 Pro 34 is a no frills pellet smoker that cooks the same amount of meat, but without the technology.
Save your money and buy a thermometer. If you already have a high-tech thermometer, or if you plan on buying one, then you don’t need all the technology of the Pro 780. The money you save with the Pro 34 is more than enough to buy a thermometer, and it will be more accurate that the in-built meat thermometer that ships with a Traeger.
A Fireboard 2, or a Tappecue Touch, will allow you to monitor your grill from a mobile phone. Even a smart thermometer like MEATER or AirProbe3 will give you most of the controller tech a Traeger boasts.
On paper, the Pro 780 has less cooking area as the 1st Gen pro 34. So some people question if the upgrade is worth it, but what most people don’t know is the Pro 780 has more vertical cooking area.
The Pro 34 has 884 sq inches of cooking area, and the Pro 780 has 780 inches of grill area. However, the Pro 780 has a different shaped barrel. The Pro 34’s barrel is longer, but the Pro 780 is more oval shaped and gives you more vertical space.
Spec Comparison – Pro 34 vs Pro 780
| Specs | Traeger Pro 34 | Traeger Pro 780 |
| Manufacturer | Traeger Pellet Grills | Traeger Pellet Grills |
| Price (US) | $508.22 grill only$869.85 grill + shelf + cover$719.90 grill + pellets | $999.99 |
| Weight | 136 lbs | 173 lbs |
| Dimension (DxHxW) | 27″ x 49″ x 53″ | 48.7” x 26.7” x 54.4” |
| Grill Capacity | 7 rib racks or 8 chicken or 40 burgers | 6 rib racks or 6 chickens or 34 burgers |
| Grilling area | 884 sq. in. | 780 sq. in. |
| Hopper Capacity | 18 lb | 18 lb |
| Hopper Cleanout | Yes | Yes |
| Technology | Downdraft exhaust system & double side wall insulation | WiFIRE network connects your barbecue to your house WiFi, and even the Traeger application lets you manage it from anywhere. |
| Special Features | ● Precision Temp control● Beginner friendly● Easy to assemble | ● Built for Large Family● Cleaning the grill porcelain grates is a breeze.● Easy to operate |
| Connectivity | Digital Pro Controller | WiFi Smart Home Technology |
| Power source | 100% All-natural Wood pellet | 100% All-natural Wood pellet |
| Colour Variations | Bronze | Bronze |
| Outer Material | Steel | Steel |
| Inner Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Wheels | All-terrain wheels | All-terrain wheels |
| WiFIRE Enabled | Yes |
| Features | Traeger Pro 34 | Traeger Pro 780 |
| Temperature Control | Advanced Grilling Logic Technology | Advanced Grilling Logic Technology |
| Max Temperature | 450 °F | 500 °F |
| Cooking Methods | 6 in 1 versatility cooking (smoke, bake, roast, bbq, braise and bake) | 6 in 1 versatility cooking (smoke, bake, roast, bbq, braise and bake) |
| Advanced Grilling | Yes | Yes |
| Food production | 12 to 20 people | 13-18 people |
| Double Side Wall Insulation | Yes | Yes |
| Downdraft Exhaust System | Yes | No |
| Standard Size | Extra large | Large sized |
| Meat Probe | Dual | Dual |
| All Terrain Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Pro Controller | Yes | Yes |
| Locking Caster Wheels | No | Yes |
| Turbo Temperature | Yes | Yes |
| SawHorse Chassis | Yes | No |
Pro 780 vs Pro 585
Another difference between 575 and the Pro 780 is the size of the cooking area, plus the dimensions and weight of the grill.
- The Pro 575 has 575 square inches of grilling area, compared to 780 square inches of grilling area with the Pro 780.
- The Pro 575 has 180 square inches of cooking area on the top rack.
- The Pro 780 has 210 in of cooking, air out on the top rack.
- On The bottom rack, the larger grill, the Pro 780 has 570 square inches, whereas the 575 has 480 square inches on the bottom rack.
- The Pro 780 is wider than the Pro 575, but only by about 8 inches. To put that into perspective, that’s only the size of an iPad mini.
- The Pro 575 is 41 inches wide, and the Pro 780 is 49 inches wide.
- The Pro 575 is only 124 pounds, whereas the Pro 780 is 155 lb. There’s not much difference in terms of height either. The Pro 780 is 55 inches high, and the Pro 575 is 53 inches high. The two grills are equal in depth at 27 inches.
Price Differences. There’s only a $100 price difference between the Pro 575 and the Pro 780. The only difference is the cooking area, so if you need to cook for a crowd regularly or even just once or twice a year, I think the $100 price difference pays for itself. No one ever regrets buying a bigger grill.
Size. One of the key differences between the two grills is the size. This is going to be an important consideration if you have a small yard or a small deck.
Spec Comparison – Pro 780 vs Pro 575
| Specs | Traeger Pro 575 | Traeger Pro 780 |
| Manufacturer | Traeger Pellet Grills | Traeger Pellet Grills |
| Price (US) | $899.95 grill only$962.13 grill + cover$980.08 grill + cover + pellets$917.90 grill + pellets | $999.95 grill only$1,078.95 grill + cover$1,017.90 grill + cover + pellets |
| Weight | 128 pounds | 146 pounds |
| Dimension (DxHxW) | 27” x 41” x 53” | 48.7” x 26.7” x 54.4” |
| Grill Capacity | Five (5) rib racks, or Four (4) chickens, or Twenty-four (24) burgers | Six (6) rib racks, or Six (6) chickens, or Thirty-four (34) burgers |
| Grilling area | 575 sq. in. | 780 sq. in. |
| Hopper Capacity | 18 lb | 18 lb |
| Hopper Cleanout | Yes | Yes |
| Control Style | WiFIRE Controller | WiFIRE Controller |
| Connectivity | ● WiFIRE network enables the user cook, grill, or barbecue using their home’s WiFi.● Traeger app enables the user to run the rill remotely. | ● WiFIRE network enables the user to cook, grill, or barbecue using their home’s WiFi.● Traeger app enables the user to run the rill remotely. |
| Power source | Electricity | 100% All-natural Wood pellet |
| Special Features | ● Built for Large Family Cooking● Cleaning the grill porcelain grates is a breeze.● Rivetrain starts faster● heats up quicker● Produces higher quality smoke.● Easy to operate● Achieve Wood-fired taste | ● Built for Large Family Cooking● Cleaning the grill porcelain grates is a breeze.● Rivetrain starts faster● heats up quicker● Produces higher-quality smoke.● Easy to operate● Achieve Wood-fired taste |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellet | Wood Pellet |
| Colour Variations | Bronze or Black | Bronze or Black |
| Outer Material | Steel | Steel |
| Inner Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Wheels | All-terrain wheels | All-terrain wheels |
| Features | Traeger Pro 575 | Traeger Pro 780 |
| Temperature Control | Advanced Grilling Logic Technology | Advanced Grilling Logic Technology |
| Max Temperature | 500 °F | 500 °F |
| Cooking Methods | 6 in 1 versatility cooking (smoke, bake, roast, bbq, braise and bake) | 6 in 1 versatility cooking (smoke, bake, roast, bbq, braise and bake) |
| Advanced Grilling | Yes | Yes |
| Food production | 6-12 people | 13-18 people |
| Double Side Wall Insulation | None | None |
| Downdraft Exhaust System | None | None |
| Standard Size | Large Sized | Extra Large |
| Meat Probe | Dual | Dual |
| All Terrain Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Porcelain Grill Gates | Yes | Yes |
| WiFire Controller | Control from anywhere | Control from anywhere |
| Turbo Temperature | Faster start-up and quicker recovery. | Faster start-up and quicker recovery. |
| Grill Guide | Yes | Yes |
Pro 780 vs Ironwood
- The Ironwood has the double-walled insulation, which is a big upgrade from the Pro 780. Although you can buy an insulation blanket for the Pro 780.
- The Ironwood 885 has 100 square inches more grilling area. This means you can cook four more whole chickens on the Ironwood, or three pork butts.
- The Ironwood is also 5 in wider than the Pro 780 and is taller. The Ironwood weighs 30 lb more than the Pro 780, plus it will hold 2 lb more wood pellets.
