Inkbird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Thermometer Review: Hands-on Use and Test Results.

In this Inkbird IBT-4XS review, we will look to see if this Bluetooth thermometer is worthy or a waste of time.

We’ve all heard it, ‘real grillers cook by intuition, not technology,’ which might make your next-door neighbor, Dave an alpha male, but it also means his rump steak could resole a boot.

Those of us that know a bit about grilling understand that a serious griller uses technology to advance themselves and their cooks. One of these gadgets is the Bluetooth enabled thermometer that allows you to enjoy the freedom to roam while your grill does its thing.

By taking you through what the Inkbird IBT-4XS does, how it does it, what makes it suitable for you and whether you should buy it, we’re confident we will leave you with no doubt if this is the right thermometer for you.

Pay attention grillers, we think you’re going to enjoy this one.

Our Ratings and Final Verdict

After many BBQ sessions with the Inkbird IBT-4XS thermometer now, I’ve been highly impressed.

The design is sleek looking, and the screen is large, bright, and easy to read. It doesn’t feel as rugged as a handful of other thermometers I own, it feels a bit ‘plasticky,’ but I have dropped it once, and it bounced well without showing signs of any damage, lol.

During use and my boiling water and iced water tests, I found the accuracy of the temperature readings is spot-on, within ±2 °F/±1 °C, so I’m more than happy to rely on it during cooking.

The Bluetooth range is more than adequate. I am able to monitor it anywhere in my house with a strong connection being maintained through multiple walls. Being able to step away from the grill, spend time with family or guests, and still keep an eye on things is important, and it works well. And the smartphone app is intuitive and easy to use, and the interface well designed and good looking.

The stated battery life of 60 hours seems to be true, though admittedly, I have forgotten to time it. However, I have managed two overnight low and slow cooks and a handful of shorter grilling sessions on a single charge. So I’m willing to believe 60 hours is about right. Either way, it’s plenty long enough and simple to charge via USB at any time. I was surprised at it being USB micro, rather than the more modern USB-C. I’m sure this will be upgraded in the next iterations of Inkbird thermometers.

Any downsides? Well you cannot use it while it’s on charge. This has never been an issue to me yet, but I can foresee some people forgetting to keep it charged and this being a disadvantage for impromptu cooking sessions. So do try to remember to keep it charged!

Not having any waterproofing is a shame because I BBQ whatever the weather, and have had to make my own shelter for it once or twice, keeping it out of the rain by placing it under a table or wrapping it in a plastic bag.

Despite these minor drawbacks, I think this thermometer is fantastic value for money. It looks good and performs well. And when you consider user feedback from hundreds or more customers who say it has lasted years, it stands out as a great performer at a highly affordable price.

Who Should Buy This Product

The Inkbird IBT-4XS is a solid choice if you’re looking for an effective leave-in Bluetooth BBQ thermometer without spending much money.

Its accuracy is not the best, but it’s easily good enough for the task at hand. Bluetooth allows remote monitoring from your smartphone as long as you are within range, and you can buy up to four probes to monitor multiple foods at once.

However, this really is aimed at the budget-conscious griller. It has a medium build quality, no waterproofing, and may not stand up well to constant use, and certainly not in all weathers.

You would also want a Wi-Fi thermometer to monitor your cooks if you intend to leave the house while still keeping an eye on things.

Inkbird Bluetooth Grill Thermometer IBT-4XS

A four-probe Bluetooth thermometer you can monitor and control with an app on your smartphone.

Features include high accuracy, wide temperature range, temperature alarms, rotatable display, rechargeable battery, and more.

Check Price on Amazon

Check Price on Walmart

Our Ratings Explained

Here is why I scored the Inkbird what I did, where it won and lost points.

Accuracy & Response Time

I’ve found the Inkbird IBT-4XS is good enough with its temperature readings, within a degree or two Fahrenheit with my boiling water and iced water tests. And the display updates every second or so, which is quick enough for any BBQ task. Though it performed well in my tests, the 2°F off in the ice water test isn’t as good as some other thermometers I’ve tested. It’s not a deal-breaker, but something to keep in mind.

Score: 9/10.

Overall Ease of Use

Setting up and using the Inkbird was as easy as it gets. Connecting to Bluetooth was seamless, and the app is straightforward to use. The large LED screen on the thermometer is easy to read at a glance and large enough to see at a distance. Not being able to use it while it’s charging is a minor annoyance, but nothing that a bit of planning ahead can’t solve.

Score: 8.5/10.

Build Quality and Durability

The thermometer feels solid enough for regular use, though a bit ‘plasticky’ and cheap compared to more premium models. The magnetic back is a nice touch for attaching it to metal surfaces. The probes seem pretty standard, no worse or better than competing products at the price point. However, I’m cautious around rain since it’s not waterproof. It’s durable but requires a bit of care, in my opinion.

Score: 8/10.

Wireless Range and Reliability

The 150-foot range promised by Inkbird has been more than enough for my needs. I can wander around, chat with friends, or fix a drink without losing the connection to my grill. I’m able to monitor it throughout my home through multiple walls. Connectivity just has not been an issue for me. Compared to Wi-Fi models that you can monitor anywhere in the world, though, it’s a bit more restrictive. But for monitoring around the house and garden, it’s reliable.

Score: 8.5/10.

Battery Life

The battery life on this thing is stated at 60 hours on a full charge, which covers even my longest grilling marathons. I’ve not timed it from full to empty, but it has definitely gone more than 40 hours combined over multiple cooks for me without a charge. Not being able to use it while it’s charging is a slight hiccup, but the long battery life means it’s rarely an issue. Being rechargeable is definitely a step up from the hassle of constantly replacing batteries in some other thermometers I own, too.

Score: 9/10.

Additional Features

I’m a big fan of the extra bells and whistles on the IBT-4XS. The app’s temperature alarms and meat presets make it hard to mess up a cook. And the auto-rotating display is handy so you can orientate it in whichever way suits you. The lack of data export, cloud services, and no waterproofing are points where I see room for improvement. However, its features still make my cooking easier and more enjoyable.

Score: 8.5/10.

Value for Money

Considering everything it offers, the Inkbird IBT-4XS is a steal. It’s priced right for what it does, making it a great choice for grillers who want a dependable thermometer without spending a fortune. It stacks up well against more expensive options, offering the features and performance I need at a fraction of the cost. It’s a smart buy in my book.

Score: 9/10.

Overview

The Inkbird is a four-channel, Bluetooth enabled thermometer that wirelessly connects to your smartphone via an app to monitor your meat and grill temperature. It is the bigger brother to the IBT-2X that we feature in our roundup of the best Bluetooth grill and smoker thermometers.

The unit is rechargeable via USB and has a free app download pre-programmed with presets for food groups. It also has time and temperature alarms to help you achieve your perfect cook.

Thankfully, it also looks sleek and stylish, so you don’t have to be embarrassed whipping it out in front of your guests.

It comes in 3 bundle options:

• Unit with 2 probes
• Unit with 4 probes
• Unit with 4 probes and a protective case

The probes can be used for both meat and ambient temperatures, and each bundle has two grate clips.

What’s in the Box?

• Inkbird thermometer unit
• 2 or 4 probes with grate clips
• USB charging cable
• User manual
• Optional case

Design and Build Quality

The main unit is of simplistic design, a square soft-edged unit made of durable plastic.

While not looking quite as robust as some other thermometers, it doesn’t look cheap either. The large LCD screen is easy-to-read with red numbers on a black background.

With the capacity for four probes giving you plenty of cooking potential, this unit is built to work, and the simple but intuitive app means using it is a doddle.

The unit is lightweight with a magnetic backing strip that allows it to stick to the side of the grill for ease of mounting. Just bear in mind it has a max heat limit of around 180f, so be careful not to attach it to a hot surface and melt it. It also isn’t certified waterproof, so keep it covered.

Key Features

For a well-priced thermometer, the Inkbird is impressive. Here are the key features we enjoyed the most:

USB Charging

You might think this is an odd feature to start with! But if like me, you have a habit of leaving thermometers on and are constantly having to replace batteries, you probably know that battery-powered gadgets can be a pain in the proverbial.

The unit comes with a 1000mAh lithium battery that charges from dead to full in just 2 hours. Meaning a quick charge of 30 minutes or so should give you a good few hours of use if you need it for an impromptu BBQ.

When fully charged, you will get 60 hours of use, and the in-app display will show you the battery life percentage, so you know when it’s low.

The manual states that it cannot be used when on charge, so keep this in mind.

BBQ GO Mobile App

The Inkbird app is the same app that a few other Bluetooth thermometers use, so you might have already used it. It’s a well-thought-out app that is clear and simple to use. Just open it, scan for devices, and connect.

In the app, you will see sections such as probe configuration, graphs, alarms, and settings. In the probe section, you can choose a preset or design your own and name the probes.

The presets cover 11 meat types and cooks, all with a set temperature. The beef preset also has rare, medium, and well-done options for you to choose from.

The graph feature generates a temp-over-time graph showing heat spikes, or where the temperature is dropping off.

The alarms tab shows when and why the alarms went off for you to monitor and adjust next time you do the same cook.

The settings give you both °F and °C, the choice to switch vibrate off if you want to, and even change the language.

One criticism we have is the lack of data export capability. You cannot transfer or download data like some other apps, so if you want to keep a history, you will need to take screenshots or make old-school notes.

Rotatable Display

A nifty little feature not seen on many competing thermometers is the ability to rotate the base unit display.

An easy double-tap of the one button it has means you can choose whether the probes are at the bottom or the top of the unit, giving you an extra inch or two on the probe wire length or to stop the wires dangling where they shouldn’t.

Presets and Alarms

The app has eight meat presets and three smoke presets that are all adjustable, allowing you to choose your preferred level of doneness.

When the tracking and target temps are reached, the app will sound an alarm that you can’t miss, meaning you know exactly what’s going on without lifting the lid on your prime ribs.

Manufacturer Specs

• Temperature range: 0~300 °C /32~572 °F
• Temperature accuracy: ±1 °C / ±2 °F
• Wireless range: 50 meters / 150ft
• Alarm: over-temperature alarm; range alarm; time countdown alarm
• Display: LED screen & app
• Probe capacity: up to 4 probes
• Battery: rechargeable 1000mAh lithium battery
• Dimension body: 83 × 83 × 28 mm (3.3 × 3.3 × 1.0 inch)
• Sensor length: approx. 150 cm / 4.9ft
• Net weight: 380 g​
• Gross weight: 410 g​

How is the Range?

The Inkbird claims to have a 150-foot, unobstructed line of sight range. For most people, that will be more than enough to allow them to go indoors and prepare any sides and desserts they have planned while their prize pork-butt slow cooks to perfection.

Do bear in mind that thick walls can reduce the range, but if you don’t live in Fort Knox with thick steel walls, you should be ok. I have a 5-bedroom house, and can monitor the Inkbird in my garden, in any room of my home, though multiple walls

If you do have a particularly obstructed line of sight from the house to the grill, you might be better off with a wireless Wi-Fi thermometer that allows global connection without range limitations.

A Look at the Probes

The probes on this budget Inkbird are impressive, double-crimped at the cable connection means they are more protected than some other more expensive thermometers. So it will stand up to a firm tug when removing from a meat joint.

The probe cables are stainless-steel mesh with Teflon-coated interior wires, heat-resistant to 716f with a right-angle bend in them that makes them easier to grip and remove.

Cleaning and Maintenance

As with all probes, the cleaning process is straightforward. So stick to it, and you shouldn’t have any issues with your probes.

After use, wipe with a clean lint-free cloth and a squirt of non-abrasive cleanser. Do not submerge in water to clean them as they are not certified waterproof, and it will void your warranty.

Probe Issues

Probes can become problematic and damaged if not handled correctly. So, whether you have these probes or some from another product, use these simple steps to keep them in tip-top condition and extend their lives.

First, don’t insert into food over direct heat, you risk maxing their capacity and causing damage to the internals.

Second, make sure you don’t bend or kink the wires when you put them away.

Third, do not submerge them in water.

With these steps, you shouldn’t have any issues, and we cannot see any issues with these probes.

Overall Ease of Use

The Inkbird unit has just an on-off switch and a single button. That coupled with the BBQ Go app make this thermometer super user-friendly, the whole thing is a cinch to set up.

Simply turn the unit on, connect to the app, plug in your probes, and you’re ready to grill. It takes minutes from getting it out the box to ready to grill.

Speed and Accuracy Test Results

Inkbird states the probes are accurate to ±1 °C / ±2 °F, which is good in anyone’s books.

The unit in action appears to read / update its display every second, and when inserted into food goes from air temperature to meat temperature in around 15 seconds.

Ambient temperature in a grill takes anywhere between 15 and 20 seconds to register and level out.

Boiling Water Test

Boiling water sits at around 212 °F at sea level, and I’m only a couple of hundred feet above.

As can be seen in the images above, both food and pit probe measured 212 °F exactly at one stage, though the pit probe did fluctuate between 212 and 214 °F, but this is plenty good enough as you should be checking with a good instant read thermometer when your meat is nearing doneness levels. So at this end of the scale it is easily good enough.

Ice Water Test

Water freezes at 32 °F. Ice water will be ever so slightly above this, because it’s not frozen yet, but should be very close.

As you can see in the images above, both food and pit probe on the Inkbird IBT-4XS measured 34 °F. This is close, and within the 2 °F accuracy that Inkbird claims. So this is a test pass.

Inkbird Bluetooth Grill Thermometer IBT-4XS

A four-probe Bluetooth thermometer you can monitor and control with an app on your smartphone.

Features include high accuracy, wide temperature range, temperature alarms, rotatable display, rechargeable battery, and more.

Check Price on Amazon

Check Price on Walmart

What do Others Say about the Inkbird IBT-4XS?

Warranty and Support

The Inkbird comes with a one-year warranty, which is standard for most accessories of this kind.

The support options can be found in the footer of their website. Available are a phone number, email, and online contact form for any issues you have with the device. There is also a section for downloadable manuals.

So the warranty is pretty standard for a thermometer at this price point, and the company easily reachable.

Summary of Our Findings

Well, what can we say, Inkbird have arrived without fanfare and in truly understated fashion, but have done good.

What We Like

With features like a wide temperature range, rechargeable battery, and a user-friendly app, this thermometer makes outdoor cooking easier, more consistent, and more enjoyable.

The Inkbird is easy to set up and use. Getting it up and running could not be more straightforward. It pairs easily with your smartphone, and the app is intuitive and really easy to get into and use without guidance.

The inkbird is accurate and fast enough for any grilling and smoking tasks that require a leave-in probe thermometer. I’d recommend an instant-read thermometer for more accurate readings when food is nearing done to complement the Inkbird, though.

The rotatable display, rechargeable battery, and the capacity for four probes all add to the convenience and usability of this thermometer. The app’s alarms and presets also make monitoring your cooking easier as you can program up your cook and wait to be notified when temperatures are reached without continually checking.

The design is also stylish and — evidently from countless user feedback that I researched — built to last. Many users have had this thermometer last for years.

What Could be Improved?

A waterproof or at least splashproof rating would have been great as we use this kind of thermometer outdoors in all weathers and near to sauces and drinks.

Other than this, you cannot expect any more at this price than it already provides.

Will I Get Value for My Money?

We are convinced you will.

This unit comes in at a lower price point than most, and with the option of four probes and a stunningly easy-to-use app it will make you grill more and improve your skills no end.

Do We Recommend this Product?

We recommend this for anyone that doesn’t already have a wireless thermometer. It’s great value for money, does what it is supposed to easily, and without fanfare.

Sure, there are more expensive, more technologically advanced wireless thermometers out there, but if you want one that is accurate and doesn’t break the bank, you will do well with this one.

Inkbird Bluetooth Grill Thermometer IBT-4XS

A four-probe Bluetooth thermometer you can monitor and control with an app on your smartphone.

Features include high accuracy, wide temperature range, temperature alarms, rotatable display, rechargeable battery, and more.

Check Price on Amazon

Check Price on Walmart

Alternative Products

Weber iGrill 2

The Weber iGrill 2 is a viable alternative to the Inkbird, with a different look and similar features, and is backed by a huge international brand.

The iGrill 2 gives 200 hours of run time on 2x AA batteries, directly addressing the issue of not being able to use the Inkbird while charging. If the batteries have run out, replace them, and you are ready to go instantly, whereas with the Inkbird, you need to wait for it to charge. Of course, this does mean ongoing battery costs with the iGrill2.

Like the Inkbird, the iGrill2 also supports up to four probes but adds professional-grade, color-coded meat probes. This distinction aids in better organization, instantly seeing which probe is connected to which meat without having to trace wires.

The iGrill 2 also has excellent connectivity and a smartphone app with a well-designed and intuitive user interface, with guided cooks and real-time alerts. It also boasts a durable build quality and magnetic backing.

The iGrill2 is typically more expensive than the Inkbird, but the difference reflects a superior build quality and the brand value associated with Weber.

For more details, check out our in-depth iGrill2 review.

Thermoworks Signals

The ThermoWorks Signals is a top-of-the-line, professional-grade thermometer in every sense. If you want the best and are willing to pay for it, this should be your first choice. It has features above and beyond the Inkbird, addressing all of its shortcomings.

First of all, it has dual Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options, so you can monitor your cook from your smartphone anywhere you have an internet connection, not just within Bluetooth range.

The accuracy and speed of reading are second to none, and the four probes are professional grade, color-coded for instant recognition, and are known for durability and long lifespan.

It is splashproof, so it can be used in more challenging environments, and the overall build quality screams high-end. This thing will last…and in fact, my own one has been going strong for a good 2 years of constant use now.

The battery life is good, rechargeable, and can be used while plugged in, unlike the Inkbird.

The app is well designed and intuitive, highly customizable, and has graphing features, data export, and sharing of cook data as features.

You can also add-on temperature controllers to automatically control your cook on many grills and smokers, making cooking hands-off with the Thermoworks not just monitoring temperatures but actively holding them steady for you.

When it comes to price, the ThermoWorks Signals is considerably more expensive than the Inkbird IBT-4XS. However, the Signals’ superior features and build quality can justify the additional cost.

You can get the low down on all features and test results in our hands-on review of the Thermoworks signals.

Conclusion

Thanks for taking the time to read our in-depth Inkbird IBT-4XS review. This thermometer stands out in the budget-friendly category for its well-balanced approach to build quality and features at a great price.

Do you have any questions, comments, or an opinion of it? Please share them below, good or bad, we promise to engage and chew the fat with our readers, that’s what we’re here for.

Until next time: Happy grilling!