The catch
Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
For an 884-square-inch cooker, the 18-pound hopper is on the small side.
Side by side
Traeger Pro 34 vs Traeger Pro 780: Pro 780 adds connected controls and higher heat, while Pro 34 has more rack area
Quick verdict
Go for the larger total rack area, or for connected controls and a higher chamber ceiling.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Put total multi-level rack area on the same basis for comparison
Pro 34 has 884 square inches and Pro 780 has 780, a difference of 104 square inches, or 13.3% of the smaller figure.
Where this comes from
884 minus 780 = 104 sq in. 104 ÷ 780 × 100 = 13.3%. Both totals count multiple rack levels, so they are not a contiguous pan area. No serving count is drawn from them.
The catch
Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
For very long cooks with a heavy load, an 18-pound hopper is small next to a 780-square-inch body.
Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
- Why pick it
- The 884-square-inch rack total is what you need
- Controls with no Wi-Fi are your preference
- The catch
- For an 884-square-inch cooker, the 18-pound hopper is on the small side.
Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Why pick it
- You are after WiFIRE app access
- You require a 500°F setting range
- The catch
- For very long cooks with a heavy load, an 18-pound hopper is small next to a 780-square-inch body.
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What this page compares
Pro 34 and Pro 780 side by side on usable rack space, pellet capacity, searing setup and cleanup, so choosing a grill is easier.
Go for the larger total rack area, or for connected controls and a higher chamber ceiling.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The largest uninterrupted main grate is what the meal needs
Pro 34 has 884 total square inches to Pro 780’s 780, which means the newer-looking number does not carry the larger stated cooking area. Before you size a crowd cook, check each rack’s dimensions.
- Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
A planned pellet reserve for a long cook
With 18lb in each hopper, nominal fuel capacity is equal. What Pro 780 upgrades is its connected controller and 500°F range. Pellet storage stays the same.
- Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
Regular cooks in which cleanup and movement matter
In this comparison Pro 34 stops at 450°F and has no Wi-Fi. When most of your cooking is low-and-slow and you do need the larger racks, that tradeoff can be reasonable. When remote checks and hotter finishing matter, Pro 780 changes the workflow.
- Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
Pro 34 gives you 104 more square inches overall
Subtract 780 from 884 and Pro 34 comes out with about 13.3% more stated area than Pro 780.
- Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
- Depends
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
Put total multi-level rack area on the same basis for comparison
Pro 34 has 884 square inches and Pro 780 has 780, a difference of 104 square inches, or 13.3% of the smaller figure.
How we worked this out
884 minus 780 = 104 sq in. 104 ÷ 780 × 100 = 13.3%. Both totals count multiple rack levels, so they are not a contiguous pan area. No serving count is drawn from them.
The hopper comparison becomes usable once a pellet-burn assumption is stated
Pro 34 has more total rack area, but it shares Pro 780’s 18lb hopper. Both come to 12 hours at the illustrative rate, so more food area does not mean the fuel lasts longer.
How we worked this out
A steady 1.5lb/h is assumed for both grills only so the hoppers can be compared. 18 ÷ 1.5 = 12h. 18 ÷ 1.5 = 12h. Actual use varies with temperature, weather, food and grill design. It is not a recommendation to leave a grill unattended.
Pro 34 gives you 104 more square inches overall
Subtract 780 from 884 and Pro 34 comes out with about 13.3% more stated area than Pro 780.
How we worked this out
884 minus 780 = 104. 104 ÷ 780 × 100 = 13.3%. Because the total counts upper-level space, you cannot turn it straight into servings.
Option A
Traeger, TFB88PZBO
Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
The cooking area is 884 square inches and the pellet hopper holds 18 pounds.
- Best for
- cook for eight or more people or for a family of four
Facts we checked
- It provides 884 square inches of cooking area.
- Hopper capacity is 18 pounds of pellets.
- Its top listed setting is 450°F.
Option B
Traeger, TFB78GZEC
Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
The pellet hopper holds 18 pounds, and cooking area comes to 780 square inches.
- Best for
- cook for a crowd of eight or more as well as a family of four
Facts we checked
- Cooking area comes to 780 square inches.
- Hopper capacity is 18 pounds of pellets.
- Its top listed setting is 500°F.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill | Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking surfaces | 884 sq in total | 780 sq in total | Pro 34 has 884 total square inches to Pro 780’s 780, which means the newer-looking number does not carry the larger stated cooking area. Before you size a crowd cook, check each rack’s dimensions. |
| Pellet supply | 18lb hopper | 18lb hopper | With 18lb in each hopper, nominal fuel capacity is equal. What Pro 780 upgrades is its connected controller and 500°F range. Pellet storage stays the same. |
| Chamber ceiling and searing | 450°F, indirect cooking | 500°F, indirect cooking | Chamber settings, localized flame heat and separate side stations measure different things. Match the cooking method along with the temperature. |
| Controls and smoke mode | Local controls without Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi app access | Connectivity helps only where the network reaches. No advantage in flavor or temperature accuracy is inferred from a named mode. |
| Cleaning and installation | Separate grease bucket and periodic internal ash cleaning | Separate grease bucket and periodic internal ash cleaning, 150lb dry weight | In this comparison Pro 34 stops at 450°F and has no Wi-Fi. When most of your cooking is low-and-slow and you do need the larger racks, that tradeoff can be reasonable. When remote checks and hotter finishing matter, Pro 780 changes the workflow. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
- Neither Wi-Fi nor direct-flame access is offered.
With Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Food can't go directly over flame for a seared finish.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
The 884-square-inch rack total is what you need
Go with Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill. Pro 34 has 884 total square inches to Pro 780’s 780, which means the newer-looking number does not carry the larger stated cooking area. Before you size a crowd cook, check each rack’s dimensions.
WiFIRE app access is on your list
Go with Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill. In this comparison Pro 34 stops at 450°F and has no Wi-Fi. When most of your cooking is low-and-slow and you do need the larger racks, that tradeoff can be reasonable. When remote checks and hotter finishing matter, Pro 780 changes the workflow.
Decision guide
How to decide
The decision is a larger total rack area against connected controls and a higher chamber ceiling.
Measure the food against each rack
Pro 34 has 884 total square inches to Pro 780’s 780, which means the newer-looking number does not carry the larger stated cooking area. Before you size a crowd cook, check each rack’s dimensions.
Pellet capacity and heat range are different questions
With 18lb in each hopper, nominal fuel capacity is equal. What Pro 780 upgrades is its connected controller and 500°F range. Pellet storage stays the same.
Look at your day-to-day cooking and cleanup
In this comparison Pro 34 stops at 450°F and has no Wi-Fi. When most of your cooking is low-and-slow and you do need the larger racks, that tradeoff can be reasonable. When remote checks and hotter finishing matter, Pro 780 changes the workflow.
What this page can’t tell you
- Treat the pellet-duration estimates as illustration only. They use a stated illustrative burn rate, so they are not measured runtime or permission to leave a grill unattended.
- Totals for rack space do not settle how many people a grill serves or if a single large item fits.
- Nothing here claims a smoke-flavor, temperature-stability or searing-performance test.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the pellet grills and smokers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
17 of the 22 models checked meet every need here: “Run a brisket overnight” and “Cook for a family of four”.
17 models fit, out of 22 checkedThe gap in numbers
Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill lists 884 sq in for listed cooking area, 13% more than the 780 sq in on Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill.
- Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
- 884 sq in
- Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- 780 sq in
- Models with this figure
- 17 of 22
Show the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Run a brisket overnight” and “Cook for a family of four”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
How we calculatedFigures are the maker's total cooking area. Upper racks and odd-shaped layouts do not give you the same direct-grate space. For context, 17 of 22 models publish comparable figures.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill |
|
| |
| Traeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
The 884-square-inch rack total is what you need
See price & reviews on AmazonTraeger Pro Series 780 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
You are after WiFIRE app access
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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