Great preview video, interested to understand how this now works without Wi-Fi. Do you need a smart phone or tablet to be in claose proximity to the charging case in order to access meater cloud from when you are away from home? The 1st gen meater block has this inbuilt and took care of this problem. Not sure how this new meater plus 2 handles this if there is no wifi access to begin with.
Thanks for asking this. To be 100% clear the Meater plus still does not come with its own wifi signal like the block does which is why I opted for the block in Gen 1. This like before is wifi enabled when using your own spare device like a tablet or phone that acts as the wifi repeater vs it being built in. This is why I listed the block missing as one of my nearly perfect items as this still looks to be a feature that will live exclusively with the block
The meater 2 plus is the same. It can connect to an external wifi device (phone/tablet) through Bluetooth and uses that device to connect to meater cloud. I'm sure just a matter of time before they have a meater 2 block as well....
@@SmokingDadBBQ thanks, the problem is the new meater plus requires you to be running minimum ios14 meaning my old WiFi repeater tablet will be useless with this. I have thick walls so Bluetooth only will be an issue.
I forget i ordered one a couple weeks ago until yesterday when i cancelled another order for something else i saw it on the purchase history, luckily i put the box in the bed of my truck and used it for beer bottles then went out of town for a week. It got rained on but still works. It was at the bottom under packing material
I ordered my Meater 2 plus on black Friday. It just came in today. I really thought I would not get it before Christmas. I have my prime rib in the fridge prepped and ready for tomorrow. I can't wait to see how well it works. All I have before is a wired probe, so to say I am excited is an understatement.
@@torpol Great. It is so nice to use now that I have had it a while. I can be upstairs and check on my phone to watch the internal temps. The external temp is great too so I know my oven actually keeps a pretty steady temp. After several more prime ribs, I have it down so I can pull from the oven and rest to a perfect medium rare, or less cooked if slicing to have later.
Great in-depth info. Got me excited that you might not need a secondary device for wifi. Unfortunately, these are a waste of money without WIFI in my book. I'm sure a new block is around the corner, though! 🍻
Just contacted Meater and they, since I just got original, are giving me credit and meter 2..... Told them they had my business because of Smoking dad.. which I think made a difference . Also ordered the Meater cutting board... Keep making videos... Just signed up for member ship to your channel BTW they said the Meater two block will be available first of year.. I'm holding out for that
My wife showed me your channel, she thinks I will like it as you explain with a engineering and scientific tilt. She thought that you are some kind of engineer and I will get your explanations. She is right on both accounts, and today you giving out the background working in HP confirms in. Thanks to your channel I am interested to cook now, me and my wife have another activity we do together 😊
The increase in the ambient temperature limit is sufficient to sell me. When I reverse sear a steak I use a small grate and put it directly on the coals. I then insert Meater before finishing the cook. One time I inadvertently touched the grate while inserting the probe. I don't know exactly the temperature of the grate after it was in the air for a few seconds but 400+ degrees F might be a good estimate. It glows bright red when I first remove it from the coals. The damage to my thumb was a bit painful. Thanks for this review as I don't think I would have learned this fact another way.
Like you say not everyone needs 4 probes and can justify spending 4 or 5 hundred dollars for a meat thermometer. Meater should come out with an expandable type system that would be WiFi capable. The base model would come with 1 probe with the option of being able to purchase a 2nd probe later if needed, and perhaps a base price in the $225-$250 range.
I contacted meat and they said they will have a Meater block refresh in 2024. So lets hope they bring all the feature of the plus 2 version to this new block
Great video, I'm one of the (few) people who actually don't like Meater at all, connectivity never seems to work for me on any device but primarily the quality of the probes I find atrocious, I bought a block and 2 out of 4 probes broke within a year and then the block itself stopped working and the whole thing ended up in recycling. This certainly look better, but I'm still vary abiutbrhe quality of this brand...
Thanks for the detailed review! I can’t wait for the block to come out. This would definitely addresses a lot of the issues I face with my current Meater block.
@@gg80108 They aren’t really issues, but more so limitations. I wish they were waterproof, would allow me to use it in more ways. They aren’t dishwasher safe (which isn’t really the biggest deal). You can’t sear with them and you have to be careful with open fire cooking on the Joetisserie as it can easily get past the maximum cooking temperatures. The thinner the probes the smaller the hole left behind in the meat (not the biggest deal). Battery life and charging apparently improved a lot on the new model. You can still be perfectly happy with the Meater Block, it’s just the improvements on the next gen ones are definitely convenient.
EXCELLENT review ! I've been on the fence for about a year about getting one. You just may have pushed me over. So true about "spec's". As a long time advanced amature photographer I have explained numerous time to numerous people it not all about "pixel " count. Soccer mom doesn't need a McClearen to go to the grocery store.
Hi James, looks like Thermoworks is coming out with a wireless meat thermometer called the RFX. Would love to see you do a future review of it and the Chef IQ. Cheers,
I have the standard Meater. I like it well enough, but I still use my Smoke, too. I'll be waiting on a block version with it's own wireless for the Meater 2.
Thank you, James, for another great video. I have both the MEATER Block and Fireboard devices. I’m waiting to see if the Block will be updated with the new probes and hopefully they will move forward with USB Type-C instead of the micro USB connection (a better location of the port would be great also). Ultimately, my decision to go with the Block a few years ago was the ability to connect WiFi without having to use another phone/tablet for internet cloud monitoring.
Fireboard user here. I tend to use the wired probes all the time because the Meater probes are fragile. I’ve burned out several … I do love the convenience of wireless… Like you, have the block, but the ambient temp probes can be damaged at 500 degrees, not even reaching the max. Looking forward to the meater block being updated.
I had remembered your fantastic review of the various thermometers, and so when I saw that meater had come out with a new model, I was super curious to see what you thought of it. Thanks for the review.
Whoa, an unrelated callout to the HP Touchpad? That's wild. I bought two of them at midnight on the $99 firesale and they were awesome at that price! I later installed Android on it and it was pretty good as an early Android tablet as well. You're right though, specs on paper competed with iPad at the time, but just didn't succeed. I think the head start that Apple had on apps at the time was the biggest factor in the WebOS/Touchpad downfall.
I love my Meater 2+ but I wish they made a WiFi device like the block for this probe but for 1 or 2 probes. I don’t need 4 probes but I would like to have WiFi without needing a second Apple device.
I just bought a Meater plus from Amazon. Got it Saturday. I then just watched your video comparing all the thermometers and checked your channel...low and behold you put this video out! Great timing 👏. So the block has more tech...what's the main advantage? It's only me so I didn't purchase the block. Very informative 👏 Well done video. Thankfully the meats weren't cooked the same 😂
I agree wholeheartedly. A “mini block” would be my dream. I have a Meater block now, but even with family of 5, 99% of the time I’m using 2 of my 4 probes. I RARELY use more than 2 at a time; a block with all the functionality and 2 probes would be perfect for me!
Most peoples biggest gripe with meater is the range and connectivity issues. It doesn't seem like that's been fixed. We all have walls, furniture etc that will block the bluetooth. So the range has been improved slightly. My smokers on my patio and if I go to my kitchen which is within the range they state and disconnects. I'll probably get the new version and hope for the best.
correct, the "improvement" is a solution that isn't supported as of now on my phone's operating system (Coded PHY 5.2) leaving WIFI as the best option... which this doesn't have built in the same as the block does which is why I gave it nearly perfect.
Thanks for the review! New to smoking. Have a 4 probe wired ThermoPro I like, but really want to get a wireless one. Was on the fence with meater + and meater 2. Definitely pushed me to the meater 2.
Be sure to keep the probe very clean, tip use baking soda to clean the probe. This is especially after a long smoke, since it gets a lot of residue from the smoke on the probe. I was having issues with the probe charging, but after I was able to get it perfectly cleaned it started charging. So if your getting disconnect issues on the Meater 2 plus or charging issues, it is likely due to the probe not being clean. It is extremely sensitive to anything on the probe. Just my recent experience, but when it works it works amazing.
@@SmokingDadBBQ nice. Yeah I had to return mine because it wasn’t holding a good charge and only used it three times. So hopefully the replaced one will work correctly. I want to love it. I did when I worked at first. But their tech support is pretty bad. I’m hopeful that the replacement will work better. Anyways. Great video. Ty
Another great video review! I can't help but ask? Are you using a prompt of some type or do you just remember everything you want to cover! Great job either way!
I want Meater to allow me the option of seeing the ambient temp all the time instead of blanking it out when the ambient temp is less than the internal temp when resting/holding. This has been my biggest gripe with my original Meater Plus. I don't have a fancy warmer that gets down lower than the min 170F my home oven does, so if I am resting/holding in an oven or cooler or something and I am trying to maintain internal temp greater than 140F, I want to be able to monitor the ambient throughout the whole rest (which could be a long time if I want to cook overnight in a pellet smoker and hold all day till dinner) and I wind up having to use a separate wired probe. With the extended battery life on the 2 Plus, that could open the possibility of monitoring long holds. Seems like something that could easily be fixed with a software update to the app, as I assume it is not a hardware limitation? Give me that and the ability to not need a separate device to monitor when I leave my house via Meater Cloud and you can shut up and take my money.
James, you probably need to clarify the wifi capabilities of this. The real reason you bought the block is to solve @MEATER bullshit wifi challenges. Im not sure about you but no one has an extra phone or tablet just laying around to connect this to wifi. They should have made the case for the probe a little larger and charged a bit more to actually let it have wifi. So I agree with you they solved a lot of problems. But left one big lingering issue, rendering this almost pointless to purchase if you already have a block.
100%, pinned a comment as in hindsight i should have repeated my previous frustration on clarifying WIFI expectations vs. reality. This does NOT have built in WIFI like the block and still needs a daisy chain of devices to get WIFI second hand
@@SmokingDadBBQ If fireboard ever comes out with wireless probes to connect to the fireboard 2, Meater would be done for! That would be my next and last purchase. Good video I am interested to see how the rest of your testing goes.
Question and comment Love you informative videos. You are one of the best. My question I have the + unit. If I get the 2+. Will I be able to run both on same app? Thank you
Is it just me or is the audio mixed incorrectly for stero? I only hear sound in the left earpiece of my headphones, checked with earbuds as well and it is the same. No sound from the right side....Other videos are working as expected...
Hey! Thanks for the review. At this moment to do a good steak I am missing decent temperature-based recepies (which ofc now I can monitor with this device). Any advices on where to find recepieces/guidence on how and which temperature to keep for the best cooking results?
they can all work with the watch if you daisy chain devices to get on wifi. block is automatic, but this probe needs an old tablet or phone to connect to thats on wifi to broadcast it to your watch remotely
James, could you please perform a comparison between the Combustion Inc and Meater Plus 2 tracking ambient temperature and predictive time to finish the cook? I was wondering which meter probe has the most accurate ambient temperature monitoring. Does having more ambient temperature sensors make a difference? Still on the fence on which one to purchase. Quite a bit of difference in price points Thanks
Great video James! My question is why don’t these probes come with different coloured ends so one can track each one when using multiple units? I’ve got a couple different brands and they work well enough for my needs with the exception of which probe is which. Funny issue I’m sure. Keep up the great work. From Vancouver 🇨🇦
Very happy with the block. Never have used all 4 but 3 probes a few time know. But there will be a time and place that you wanted to have 4 and then i am supplied😅😂
I have the 250 dollar fireboard and love it but, I am so tired of the wires. This is so tempting. No wifi is not a problem for me since I only cook in an offset and a Weber kettle.
Not sure I understand their wireless statements. On one of your cooks could you remove your Meater block completely out of range in case’s it’s the wifi repeater ? What range with brick do you obtain…etc ? I am not a fan of Bluetooth, will only buy if it works with wifi
i wish i was more clear on this... this does NOT gain the blocks built in wifi modem. like before its WIFI enabled requires a device that acts as the wifi modem like a spare tablet or phone etc. that the bluetooth connection is paired too. This is what i meant to say about wishing for the block in the why its not quite perfect section and why i pinned a comment about that
Thank you for your excellent review. After I saw this I bought a new Meater 2 Plus. Will I be able to use the Meater Block to get Wi-Fi connection with the 2 Plus? I assume that you have tried this out by now.
I have the original Meater, and it sucks. It continually disconnects is I'm furghrter than 10 feet away. I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on ANOTHER one...
I have no sound to this video, closed you tube and opened again and tried a number of times but still no sound disappointed as I do line your channel any ideas or advice would like to no about the Wi-Fi or not as the case may be
Thermoworks has come out with their RFX wireless. While the meat thermometer is wireless. They still use a wired thermometer for monitoring ambient temperature. They claim that ambient temperatures measured by combined units like the Meater are up to 75 degrees off. They say the ambient thermometer is to close to the meat. What are your thoughts. Would you test? Thanks!
You left out one major problem. The Wi-Fi still only works with a second devise. I have all the ThermoWorks stuff and I find it’s accuracy struggles. Don’t get me started with signals and bellow. I get better results with the vents on my Joe. But that does connect to the Wi-Fi in my house. That is a review. ThermoWorks signal and bellows vs MEATER 2 and the vents
Yes in hindsight I wish I repeated some of that from my previous reviews elaborating on why I said nearly perfect and I wanted a block of this probe in part for the wifi along with extra probes
My only gripe with the meater (I have the meater plus) is that you need the block to make use of WiFi. Would you consider testing the ChefIQ against the meater? Similar price point (for single probe) and comes with WiFi
You don't need the block. I have an old phone or my iPad near the grill, and this serves as the middle man uploading and readings on the cloud live. In practice, it achieves exactly what the block does.
iPhone 15 pro has Bluetooth 5.3. Probably should update your video on iPhones lacking that particular Bluetooth feature. Coded phy was removed in iOS 14 as it was not needed with better Bluetooth iterations. Good video overall.
I bought the block with 4 probes, off your review, I'm not having good luck with, it disconnects all the time, probe to block, I also had two probes side by side, the temp were 8 degrees difference , Not sure if i'm doing something wrong, if you have set temp , it flags you 5 degrees before and locks up,
Reset MEATER Here are some instructions that they sent me to try it sounds like your probes may be paired directly to your phone rather than your Block. May I ask you to try the following steps to reset your MEATER Block? We recommend unpairing the Block from the app before trying these steps, but it's not required Turn off Bluetooth on our smart device. Make sure all 4 of the probes are docked in the Block. Start the Block in Standalone Mode. Hold down the Settings button (the gear icon) for 10-15 seconds until the "Erase All Settings?" notification appears, and select "Yes." Start your Block in Standalone Mode again, and wait for the check mark to appear next to all 4 probes. Enable Bluetooth on your smart device, then start the Block in WiFi Mode to connect to the app.
James. I have a MEATER Block. I’ve had it about 2 years. Love it. I have one problem. All 4 probes never work all at the same time. I rarely need all 4 at the same time. How can I fix this ? I have all the software updated and I use a WiFi extender for all my WiFi cooking tools and grills with the 2.4 or 2.5. What do you think is going on?
I’ve seen this before and it may be that your paired to the probe not the block. Here are some instructions that they sent me to try it sounds like your probes may be paired directly to your phone rather than your Block. May I ask you to try the following steps to reset your MEATER Block? We recommend unpairing the Block from the app before trying these steps, but it's not required Turn off Bluetooth on our smart device. Make sure all 4 of the probes are docked in the Block. Start the Block in Standalone Mode. Hold down the Settings button (the gear icon) for 10-15 seconds until the "Erase All Settings?" notification appears, and select "Yes." Start your Block in Standalone Mode again, and wait for the check mark to appear next to all 4 probes. Enable Bluetooth on your smart device, then start the Block in WiFi Mode to connect to the app.
I bought the block with 4 probes, off your review, I'm not having good luck with, it disconnects all the time, probe to block, I also had two probes side by side, the temp were 8 degrees difference , Not sure if i'm doing something wrong, if you have set temp , it flags you 5 degrees before and locks up,
Reset MEATER Here are some instructions that they sent me to try it sounds like your probes may be paired directly to your phone rather than your Block. May I ask you to try the following steps to reset your MEATER Block? We recommend unpairing the Block from the app before trying these steps, but it's not required Turn off Bluetooth on our smart device. Make sure all 4 of the probes are docked in the Block. Start the Block in Standalone Mode. Hold down the Settings button (the gear icon) for 10-15 seconds until the "Erase All Settings?" notification appears, and select "Yes." Start your Block in Standalone Mode again, and wait for the check mark to appear next to all 4 probes. Enable Bluetooth on your smart device, then start the Block in WiFi Mode to connect to the app.
i wish there was a block version for wifi ... but the probe upgrades are so good on the 2 it feels wrong in some ways not to get the 2. if you don't need the extra probes and you are ok with (improved) bluetooth and or have a spare device to leave nearby which gives you the same wifi functionality as the block then i would get the 2
I checked the website and it says it’s waterproof and sous vide compatible. Do you know if that means I could use it in my pressure cooker? If so count me in!!
Just curious how come they cant add WiFI connection? Love the chef IQ i picked up. Came with 2 probes and wifi range. But I will say the fact they upgraded the temp range helps but seems to make it only really worth it on a charcoal grill. Ty for the review.
Hey @Smoking Dad BBQ, thanks for the awesome content. I have a Meater+ and consistently run into connection issues when I close my lid. Do you thing the Meater2 is any better or do you have some helpful tips for a more stable connection?
Unfortunately this still isn’t wifi but the Bluetooth is upgraded for phones that support it. I leave the base within 3 ft of the dome and have access in most of the main level in my house. Otherwise you need to leave a spare device in range to upload to the cloud so that you can get it everywhere
Thanks for the reply. It’s the connection between the probe and base that is losing connection. My phone is still connected to the base. I have noticed that you had the probe facing upwards in your pulled pork video. I might give that a go. Thanks again for the videos!!
yes i used this article as an example - developer.apple.com/forums/thread/665542 So until it comes back (which I couldn't find any mention of) the benefit of the long range won't apply to iOS
We have 2 of the Meater 2 plus and we loose connection constantly, we even tried putting an iPad in the room between the living room and the backyard. Perhaps we need that block (with 4 probes) but we don't need 6 probes and that's a lot more money. Maybe we can send our 2 back and get a discount on the block? Does it really solve the connection problems. Please share ideas.
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Great preview video, interested to understand how this now works without Wi-Fi. Do you need a smart phone or tablet to be in claose proximity to the charging case in order to access meater cloud from when you are away from home? The 1st gen meater block has this inbuilt and took care of this problem. Not sure how this new meater plus 2 handles this if there is no wifi access to begin with.
Thanks for asking this. To be 100% clear the Meater plus still does not come with its own wifi signal like the block does which is why I opted for the block in Gen 1.
This like before is wifi enabled when using your own spare device like a tablet or phone that acts as the wifi repeater vs it being built in.
This is why I listed the block missing as one of my nearly perfect items as this still looks to be a feature that will live exclusively with the block
The meater 2 plus is the same. It can connect to an external wifi device (phone/tablet) through Bluetooth and uses that device to connect to meater cloud. I'm sure just a matter of time before they have a meater 2 block as well....
Really really needs its own wifi
@@SmokingDadBBQ thanks, the problem is the new meater plus requires you to be running minimum ios14 meaning my old WiFi repeater tablet will be useless with this. I have thick walls so Bluetooth only will be an issue.
@@Bob-gs3vi Then how would they up sell you on buying the block?
I forget i ordered one a couple weeks ago until yesterday when i cancelled another order for something else i saw it on the purchase history, luckily i put the box in the bed of my truck and used it for beer bottles then went out of town for a week. It got rained on but still works. It was at the bottom under packing material
For some reason, only on this video the audio comes through only one ear? Anyone else?
my old one broke and i just replaced it and didn't catch it was on this setting (editing SW doesn't play stereo).. i have fixed it moving forward
Yup. One ear
Yup left ear only for me
Yup one ear only.
Thought I was going crazy, thanks for that
I ordered my Meater 2 plus on black Friday. It just came in today. I really thought I would not get it before Christmas. I have my prime rib in the fridge prepped and ready for tomorrow. I can't wait to see how well it works. All I have before is a wired probe, so to say I am excited is an understatement.
How did it work out?
@@torpol Great. It is so nice to use now that I have had it a while. I can be upstairs and check on my phone to watch the internal temps. The external temp is great too so I know my oven actually keeps a pretty steady temp.
After several more prime ribs, I have it down so I can pull from the oven and rest to a perfect medium rare, or less cooked if slicing to have later.
Great in-depth info. Got me excited that you might not need a secondary device for wifi. Unfortunately, these are a waste of money without WIFI in my book. I'm sure a new block is around the corner, though! 🍻
Just contacted Meater and they, since I just got original, are giving me credit and meter 2..... Told them they had my business because of Smoking dad.. which I think made a difference . Also ordered the Meater cutting board... Keep making videos... Just signed up for member ship to your channel BTW they said the Meater two block will be available first of year.. I'm holding out for that
My wife showed me your channel, she thinks I will like it as you explain with a engineering and scientific tilt. She thought that you are some kind of engineer and I will get your explanations. She is right on both accounts, and today you giving out the background working in HP confirms in. Thanks to your channel I am interested to cook now, me and my wife have another activity we do together 😊
Thanks 🙏
The increase in the ambient temperature limit is sufficient to sell me. When I reverse sear a steak I use a small grate and put it directly on the coals. I then insert Meater before finishing the cook. One time I inadvertently touched the grate while inserting the probe. I don't know exactly the temperature of the grate after it was in the air for a few seconds but 400+ degrees F might be a good estimate. It glows bright red when I first remove it from the coals. The damage to my thumb was a bit painful.
Thanks for this review as I don't think I would have learned this fact another way.
Great example of where reviewers driving positive benefits in new features for consumers. Congrats. Great review.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good detailed analysis James!
Thanks Al
Perhaps your best video yet. Thank you for all the useful content!
Glad it was helpful!
Like you say not everyone needs 4 probes and can justify spending 4 or 5 hundred dollars for a meat thermometer.
Meater should come out with an expandable type system that would be WiFi capable.
The base model would come with 1 probe with the option of being able to purchase a 2nd probe later if needed, and perhaps a base price in the $225-$250 range.
I'm pretty sure they sell a block with 2 probes that you can upgrade with more probes later if needed.
I contacted meat and they said they will have a Meater block refresh in 2024. So lets hope they bring all the feature of the plus 2 version to this new block
thats awesome, thanks for sharing
Great video, I'm one of the (few) people who actually don't like Meater at all, connectivity never seems to work for me on any device but primarily the quality of the probes I find atrocious, I bought a block and 2 out of 4 probes broke within a year and then the block itself stopped working and the whole thing ended up in recycling.
This certainly look better, but I'm still vary abiutbrhe quality of this brand...
I've got the meater block. I can't wait till they release the meater block 2. Awesome video and I depth review on this product
Thanks for the detailed review! I can’t wait for the block to come out. This would definitely addresses a lot of the issues I face with my current Meater block.
what issues, just got mine. Yes I wish I had two also but not the big block.
@@gg80108 They aren’t really issues, but more so limitations. I wish they were waterproof, would allow me to use it in more ways. They aren’t dishwasher safe (which isn’t really the biggest deal). You can’t sear with them and you have to be careful with open fire cooking on the Joetisserie as it can easily get past the maximum cooking temperatures. The thinner the probes the smaller the hole left behind in the meat (not the biggest deal). Battery life and charging apparently improved a lot on the new model. You can still be perfectly happy with the Meater Block, it’s just the improvements on the next gen ones are definitely convenient.
EXCELLENT review ! I've been on the fence for about a year about getting one. You just may have pushed me over. So true about "spec's". As a long time advanced amature photographer I have explained numerous time to numerous people it not all about "pixel " count. Soccer mom doesn't need a McClearen to go to the grocery store.
Ordered one today from your link ! Thanks ! My old Meater was ok, this one looks GREAT !
Rock on!
Hope they come out with this in the block, with usb charging and multiple probes.
Hi James, looks like Thermoworks is coming out with a wireless meat thermometer called the RFX. Would love to see you do a future review of it and the Chef IQ. Cheers,
I will check it out
I have the standard Meater. I like it well enough, but I still use my Smoke, too. I'll be waiting on a block version with it's own wireless for the Meater 2.
Appreciate your measured approach to reviewing new products. More features != better.
Thanks
Love these analysis/review videos by James….. i bought my Meater Probe after watching him review it a while ago…
Thanks
Thank you, James, for another great video. I have both the MEATER Block and Fireboard devices. I’m waiting to see if the Block will be updated with the new probes and hopefully they will move forward with USB Type-C instead of the micro USB connection (a better location of the port would be great also). Ultimately, my decision to go with the Block a few years ago was the ability to connect WiFi without having to use another phone/tablet for internet cloud monitoring.
Fireboard user here. I tend to use the wired probes all the time because the Meater probes are fragile. I’ve burned out several … I do love the convenience of wireless… Like you, have the block, but the ambient temp probes can be damaged at 500 degrees, not even reaching the max. Looking forward to the meater block being updated.
Cant wait for a full review. Very excited about this upgrade. Wifi doesnt phase me. Tho i may hold out for the eventual meater 2 block
I had remembered your fantastic review of the various thermometers, and so when I saw that meater had come out with a new model, I was super curious to see what you thought of it. Thanks for the review.
Hope you enjoy it!
Whoa, an unrelated callout to the HP Touchpad? That's wild. I bought two of them at midnight on the $99 firesale and they were awesome at that price! I later installed Android on it and it was pretty good as an early Android tablet as well. You're right though, specs on paper competed with iPad at the time, but just didn't succeed. I think the head start that Apple had on apps at the time was the biggest factor in the WebOS/Touchpad downfall.
I like all the new upgrades. Thanks for the in depth review.
My pleasure!
I love my Meater 2+ but I wish they made a WiFi device like the block for this probe but for 1 or 2 probes. I don’t need 4 probes but I would like to have WiFi without needing a second Apple device.
Great video. Have you looked at the Typhur Sync?
I just bought a Meater plus from Amazon. Got it Saturday. I then just watched your video comparing all the thermometers and checked your channel...low and behold you put this video out! Great timing 👏. So the block has more tech...what's the main advantage? It's only me so I didn't purchase the block. Very informative 👏 Well done video. Thankfully the meats weren't cooked the same 😂
lol no. Medium rare for the steak and medium well for the pork
@SmokingDadBBQ thank you 😊. So the block just has more tech...but one is ok overall like my meater plus?
Thanks again! Blessings 🙌
If they do a Meater Block 2 I'll probably upgrade. I'm not even remotely interested without the block.
Ditto. The block is the deal breaker for me too
I don't need the multiple probes, I just want the ability to monitor via WiFi without having to use a spare device as a piggyback.
I agree wholeheartedly. A “mini block” would be my dream. I have a Meater block now, but even with family of 5, 99% of the time I’m using 2 of my 4 probes. I RARELY use more than 2 at a time; a block with all the functionality and 2 probes would be perfect for me!
Most peoples biggest gripe with meater is the range and connectivity issues. It doesn't seem like that's been fixed. We all have walls, furniture etc that will block the bluetooth. So the range has been improved slightly. My smokers on my patio and if I go to my kitchen which is within the range they state and disconnects. I'll probably get the new version and hope for the best.
correct, the "improvement" is a solution that isn't supported as of now on my phone's operating system (Coded PHY 5.2) leaving WIFI as the best option... which this doesn't have built in the same as the block does which is why I gave it nearly perfect.
I think evenly distributet 8 sensors in the Combustion Inc. are a better aproach.
Thank you for the comprehensive review. How do you think the Meater 2 Plus compare with the new Inkbird INT 11P-B?
Thanks for the review! New to smoking. Have a 4 probe wired ThermoPro I like, but really want to get a wireless one. Was on the fence with meater + and meater 2. Definitely pushed me to the meater 2.
Be sure to keep the probe very clean, tip use baking soda to clean the probe. This is especially after a long smoke, since it gets a lot of residue from the smoke on the probe. I was having issues with the probe charging, but after I was able to get it perfectly cleaned it started charging. So if your getting disconnect issues on the Meater 2 plus or charging issues, it is likely due to the probe not being clean. It is extremely sensitive to anything on the probe. Just my recent experience, but when it works it works amazing.
I normally just spray with dawn power spray and let sit for a min or two before wiping with a green scour pad and it’s clean in seconds
@@SmokingDadBBQ nice. Yeah I had to return mine because it wasn’t holding a good charge and only used it three times. So hopefully the replaced one will work correctly. I want to love it. I did when I worked at first. But their tech support is pretty bad. I’m hopeful that the replacement will work better. Anyways. Great video. Ty
great informative vid on the new probe. thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Good video, audio channel is messed up though. Only coming in on the left side.
Thanks. I replaced the faulty mic set after
Another great video review! I can't help but ask? Are you using a prompt of some type or do you just remember everything you want to cover! Great job either way!
I want Meater to allow me the option of seeing the ambient temp all the time instead of blanking it out when the ambient temp is less than the internal temp when resting/holding. This has been my biggest gripe with my original Meater Plus. I don't have a fancy warmer that gets down lower than the min 170F my home oven does, so if I am resting/holding in an oven or cooler or something and I am trying to maintain internal temp greater than 140F, I want to be able to monitor the ambient throughout the whole rest (which could be a long time if I want to cook overnight in a pellet smoker and hold all day till dinner) and I wind up having to use a separate wired probe. With the extended battery life on the 2 Plus, that could open the possibility of monitoring long holds. Seems like something that could easily be fixed with a software update to the app, as I assume it is not a hardware limitation?
Give me that and the ability to not need a separate device to monitor when I leave my house via Meater Cloud and you can shut up and take my money.
Good ideas
James, you probably need to clarify the wifi capabilities of this. The real reason you bought the block is to solve @MEATER bullshit wifi challenges. Im not sure about you but no one has an extra phone or tablet just laying around to connect this to wifi. They should have made the case for the probe a little larger and charged a bit more to actually let it have wifi. So I agree with you they solved a lot of problems. But left one big lingering issue, rendering this almost pointless to purchase if you already have a block.
100%, pinned a comment as in hindsight i should have repeated my previous frustration on clarifying WIFI expectations vs. reality. This does NOT have built in WIFI like the block and still needs a daisy chain of devices to get WIFI second hand
@@SmokingDadBBQ If fireboard ever comes out with wireless probes to connect to the fireboard 2, Meater would be done for! That would be my next and last purchase. Good video I am interested to see how the rest of your testing goes.
Question and comment
Love you informative videos. You are one of the best.
My question
I have the + unit.
If I get the 2+. Will I be able to run both on same app?
Thank you
Is it just me or is the audio mixed incorrectly for stero? I only hear sound in the left earpiece of my headphones, checked with earbuds as well and it is the same. No sound from the right side....Other videos are working as expected...
Great recap James. If it’s 100% waterproof, can it be submerged in a water bath as well for sous vide so u know one your meat reaches temp?
Likely not as water would block RF signal.
Hey! Thanks for the review. At this moment to do a good steak I am missing decent temperature-based recepies (which ofc now I can monitor with this device). Any advices on where to find recepieces/guidence on how and which temperature to keep for the best cooking results?
Nice video once again! Did you say this worked with your smart watch as did the original MEATER? What was the booster you were talking about?
they can all work with the watch if you daisy chain devices to get on wifi. block is automatic, but this probe needs an old tablet or phone to connect to thats on wifi to broadcast it to your watch remotely
James, could you please perform a comparison between the Combustion Inc and Meater Plus 2 tracking ambient temperature and predictive time to finish the cook? I was wondering which meter probe has the most accurate ambient temperature monitoring. Does having more ambient temperature sensors make a difference? Still on the fence on which one to purchase. Quite a bit of difference in price points Thanks
Is there a Golden's Kamado review in the near future?
lol I gotta be more careful with my camera angles lol
Great video James! My question is why don’t these probes come with different coloured ends so one can track each one when using multiple units? I’ve got a couple different brands and they work well enough for my needs with the exception of which probe is which. Funny issue I’m sure. Keep up the great work. From Vancouver 🇨🇦
Thanks. They have numbers embossed in them so I can tell probe one for example. This is on my block which comes with 4 identical looking probes
Santa is coming! 🎅🏻 Great video!
Excellent vid James.
thanks
This is a great video and covers everything I was hoping...but my god...the mono left audio was PAINFUL. Please fix.
Very happy with the block. Never have used all 4 but 3 probes a few time know. But there will be a time and place that you wanted to have 4 and then i am supplied😅😂
Link doesn't give the discount on checkout. It says it's not valid for metar 2 plus.
Great video! Thanks James
My pleasure!
The meater 2 block will probably come out in 6 months. It’s bad for sales to release all your new products at once.
I'm curious what stops the battery from degrading in the heat. If anyone can answer this, I'd appreciate it.
7:36 „for those who don’t have wifi“?
I have the 250 dollar fireboard and love it but, I am so tired of the wires. This is so tempting. No wifi is not a problem for me since I only cook in an offset and a Weber kettle.
Not sure I understand their wireless statements. On one of your cooks could you remove your Meater block completely out of range in case’s it’s the wifi repeater ? What range with brick do you obtain…etc ? I am not a fan of Bluetooth, will only buy if it works with wifi
i wish i was more clear on this... this does NOT gain the blocks built in wifi modem. like before its WIFI enabled requires a device that acts as the wifi modem like a spare tablet or phone etc. that the bluetooth connection is paired too.
This is what i meant to say about wishing for the block in the why its not quite perfect section and why i pinned a comment about that
Likely going to get this only because it's cheaper than the combustion inc and actually available in canadian currency.
I would like to see a review about Meater Customer Service!!
Did you have a bad experience? Any outreach I’ve had has been good but that’s just one
Thank you for your excellent review. After I saw this I bought a new Meater 2 Plus.
Will I be able to use the Meater Block to get Wi-Fi connection with the 2 Plus? I assume that you have tried this out by now.
Do you have a recommendation for something a little more budget friendly?
My meater+ has some real issues when I put it in the offset smoker. How do I clean that and does this new meater address those issues?
I have the original Meater, and it sucks. It continually disconnects is I'm furghrter than 10 feet away. I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on ANOTHER one...
I have no sound to this video, closed you tube and opened again and tried a number of times but still no sound disappointed as I do line your channel any ideas or advice would like to no about the Wi-Fi or not as the case may be
Saw you figured it out above with the only one channel working. This mic is gone and the new one works fine
Im just sad they dont have a gen 2 meater block yet. Would have been the perfect christmas gift to me. lol
Nice upgrade , wish connectivity with my meater block
You and me both!
This might just be me, but the sound only comes on the left side? Might be an error somewhere?
Thermoworks has come out with their RFX wireless. While the meat thermometer is wireless. They still use a wired thermometer for monitoring ambient temperature. They claim that ambient temperatures measured by combined units like the Meater are up to 75 degrees off. They say the ambient thermometer is to close to the meat. What are your thoughts. Would you test? Thanks!
I have one coming to test
@@SmokingDadBBQ great, thanks!
Great video very detailed as always please try fix audio tho :D
It is unclear if the new Meater 2+ works in the Meater Block since the block is built for the older, thicker Meater. Did you try this
No it can’t work with the block. I tried
Audio only comes from Left Speaker on this video, something got messed up with your recording audio settings
You left out one major problem. The Wi-Fi still only works with a second devise. I have all the ThermoWorks stuff and I find it’s accuracy struggles. Don’t get me started with signals and bellow. I get better results with the vents on my Joe. But that does connect to the Wi-Fi in my house. That is a review. ThermoWorks signal and bellows vs MEATER 2 and the vents
Yes in hindsight I wish I repeated some of that from my previous reviews elaborating on why I said nearly perfect and I wanted a block of this probe in part for the wifi along with extra probes
Who makes that offset grill?
Also, great review. Thanks.
My only gripe with the meater (I have the meater plus) is that you need the block to make use of WiFi. Would you consider testing the ChefIQ against the meater? Similar price point (for single probe) and comes with WiFi
You don't need the block.
I have an old phone or my iPad near the grill, and this serves as the middle man uploading and readings on the cloud live. In practice, it achieves exactly what the block does.
Anyone else expect the price to come down or that there will be promo codes after the new year?
Does the application require any sort of subscription service?
no, its free to use. you do need an email / account
iPhone 15 pro has Bluetooth 5.3. Probably should update your video on iPhones lacking that particular Bluetooth feature. Coded phy was removed in iOS 14 as it was not needed with better Bluetooth iterations. Good video overall.
I have a 15 pro Max. I don’t believe the issue is hw but is the OS removal of support
Just got an email from Meater... At last they are about to start selling the 2+ in sets of four on the 15th of August!!!
Finally yay
I bought the block with 4 probes, off your review, I'm not having good luck with, it disconnects all the time, probe to block, I also had two probes side by side, the temp were 8 degrees difference , Not sure if i'm doing something wrong, if you have set temp , it flags you 5 degrees before and locks up,
Reset MEATER
Here are some instructions that they sent me to
try
it sounds like your probes may be paired directly to your phone rather than your Block. May I ask you to try the following steps to reset your MEATER Block?
We recommend unpairing the Block from the app before trying these steps, but it's not required
Turn off Bluetooth on our smart device.
Make sure all 4 of the probes are docked in the
Block.
Start the Block in Standalone Mode.
Hold down the Settings button (the gear icon) for 10-15 seconds until the "Erase All Settings?"
notification appears, and select "Yes."
Start your Block in Standalone Mode again, and
wait for the check mark to appear next to all 4
probes.
Enable Bluetooth on your smart device, then start the Block in WiFi Mode to connect to the app.
James. I have a MEATER Block. I’ve had it about 2 years. Love it. I have one problem. All 4 probes never work all at the same time. I rarely need all 4 at the same time. How can I fix this ? I have all the software updated and I use a WiFi extender for all my WiFi cooking tools and grills with the 2.4 or 2.5. What do you think is going on?
I’ve seen this before and it may be that your paired to the probe not the block.
Here are some instructions that they sent me to
try
it sounds like your probes may be paired directly to your phone rather than your Block. May I ask you to try the following steps to reset your MEATER Block?
We recommend unpairing the Block from the app before trying these steps, but it's not required
Turn off Bluetooth on our smart device.
Make sure all 4 of the probes are docked in the
Block.
Start the Block in Standalone Mode.
Hold down the Settings button (the gear icon) for 10-15 seconds until the "Erase All Settings?"
notification appears, and select "Yes."
Start your Block in Standalone Mode again, and
wait for the check mark to appear next to all 4
probes.
Enable Bluetooth on your smart device, then start the Block in WiFi Mode to connect to the app.
How do I get the app meater pro 2 on my smartwatch?
I bought the block with 4 probes, off your review, I'm not having good luck with, it disconnects all the time, probe to block, I also had two probes side by side, the temp were 8 degrees difference , Not sure if i'm doing something wrong, if you have set temp , it flags you 5 degrees before and locks up,
Reset MEATER
Here are some instructions that they sent me to
try
it sounds like your probes may be paired directly to your phone rather than your Block. May I ask you to try the following steps to reset your MEATER Block?
We recommend unpairing the Block from the app before trying these steps, but it's not required
Turn off Bluetooth on our smart device.
Make sure all 4 of the probes are docked in the
Block.
Start the Block in Standalone Mode.
Hold down the Settings button (the gear icon) for 10-15 seconds until the "Erase All Settings?"
notification appears, and select "Yes."
Start your Block in Standalone Mode again, and
wait for the check mark to appear next to all 4
probes.
Enable Bluetooth on your smart device, then start the Block in WiFi Mode to connect to the app.
Great review, I'm in the market to buy one but one question regarding WiFi/Cloud, is it subscription based? Is there a monthly fee? Thanks
Isn’t the iPhone 15 Pro Bluetooth 5.3 ? Don’t should work with it for long range ?
Yes but they removed support in iOS 14
Would you recommend the meater 2 plus or the block?
i wish there was a block version for wifi ... but the probe upgrades are so good on the 2 it feels wrong in some ways not to get the 2. if you don't need the extra probes and you are ok with (improved) bluetooth and or have a spare device to leave nearby which gives you the same wifi functionality as the block then i would get the 2
I checked the website and it says it’s waterproof and sous vide compatible. Do you know if that means I could use it in my pressure cooker? If so count me in!!
At 10:13 you mention a full-depth review in the weeks and months ahead. It's now been 6 months. Do you still have plans for this?
i do as i have been trying to gather together updated probes for a multi probe battle with everyones new tech
Just curious how come they cant add WiFI connection? Love the chef IQ i picked up. Came with 2 probes and wifi range. But I will say the fact they upgraded the temp range helps but seems to make it only really worth it on a charcoal grill. Ty for the review.
Heck I just got the block about 2 months ago and haven't used it yet. I guess the Meater 2 plus will be coming in a block soon?
Updated meater block coming Q4 I understand
oh i hope so... with wifi this would be killer
Hey @Smoking Dad BBQ, thanks for the awesome content.
I have a Meater+ and consistently run into connection issues when I close my lid. Do you thing the Meater2 is any better or do you have some helpful tips for a more stable connection?
Unfortunately this still isn’t wifi but the Bluetooth is upgraded for phones that support it. I leave the base within 3 ft of the dome and have access in most of the main level in my house.
Otherwise you need to leave a spare device in range to upload to the cloud so that you can get it everywhere
Thanks for the reply. It’s the connection between the probe and base that is losing connection. My phone is still connected to the base.
I have noticed that you had the probe facing upwards in your pulled pork video. I might give that a go.
Thanks again for the videos!!
Man I was about to order the original 4 probe Meater and now I see this!!
Why don't they make a 4 probe Meater 2 plus yet????
I think it won’t be far behind … at least I hope
@@SmokingDadBBQ 8 months later and they are still not selling sets!!!
i´m really sure that the apple iphone 14 supports BT 5.3 on relaese, later was removed by fw update
yes i used this article as an example - developer.apple.com/forums/thread/665542
So until it comes back (which I couldn't find any mention of) the benefit of the long range won't apply to iOS
Can the plus 2 go to the cloud for networking without an extra device?
No. Same as before still not native wifi
We have 2 of the Meater 2 plus and we loose connection constantly, we even tried putting an iPad in the room between the living room and the backyard. Perhaps we need that block (with 4 probes) but we don't need 6 probes and that's a lot more money. Maybe we can send our 2 back and get a discount on the block? Does it really solve the connection problems. Please share ideas.
FYI, your sound seems all in the left to me (at least on my iPad Pro)
Sorry. I will look into what’s going on