Texas Star Grill Shop • recteq buying guide
recteq Staq vs. Backyard Beast vs. Flagship
The Staq 1900, Backyard Beast 1200 and Flagship 1600 solve different cooking needs. Compare their rack layouts, temperature ranges and hopper sizes before choosing by the largest capacity number.
Start with your cooking style
A dedicated vertical smoker or one horizontal pellet grill?
Shortlist the Staq when you want several smoking racks and already have a favorite grill for high-heat meals. Start with the Backyard Beast for a horizontal pellet cooker with a wider temperature range. Step up to the Flagship when you will use its added rack space and larger hopper.
Staq 1900 vs. Backyard Beast 1200 vs. Flagship 1600
All three use wood pellets and offer Wi-Fi connectivity through the recteq app. The differences that shape your cooking are where the food sits, the chamber temperature range and how much pellet storage you want.
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| Model | Advertised total cooking area | Cooking layout | Chamber temperature range | Pellet hopper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staq 1900 RT-1900S |
1,924 sq. in. | Five removable grates; 10 rack positions | 150–450°F | 33 lb |
| Backyard Beast 1200 RT-1200BB |
1,220 sq. in. | Main cooking level plus removable upper grates | 180–700°F | 30 lb |
| Flagship 1600 RT-1600FS |
1,667 sq. in. | Multi-level horizontal layout with a third shelf | 180–700°F | 40 lb |
Cooking areas are the manufacturer’s advertised totals across the supplied cooking levels, not the size of one main grate. Leaving room for tall food can mean removing or repositioning racks. Hopper capacity is pellet storage, not a guaranteed cooking time.
Choose the layout you will use
Several racks of low-and-slow food
Staq 1900
Five removable 304 stainless grates and 10 rack positions let you change the spacing for trays, ribs and taller cuts. The vertical chamber has double-wall stainless construction and includes four meat probes.
Choose it for: a dedicated smoking setup and multiple batches. Its 150°F lower setting and 450°F upper chamber limit are different from the horizontal grills below.
Explore Staq →
A versatile horizontal starting point
Backyard Beast 1200
The Beast combines a main cooking level with upper grates, a 30 lb hopper and a 180–700°F range. It is the first model to compare if you want one horizontal pellet cooker for smoking and higher-temperature meals.
Choose it for: the food you cook most often. Check the main-level layout before deciding that you need more total rack area.
Explore Backyard Beast →
More total rack space & pellet storage
Flagship 1600
The Flagship adds a third cooking shelf and a 40 lb hopper. Its 1,667-square-inch total gives you more room across cooking levels, while the 180–700°F range matches the Beast.
Choose it for: regular larger cooks that can use several levels. The upgrade is capacity and hopper size, not a higher specified temperature ceiling.
Explore Flagship →More square inches do not always mean a better fit.
The Staq has the largest advertised total here, but that space is spread across five vertical racks. A tall roast, a pan or a long cut can use the space differently from a tray of smaller foods. Sketch your usual full meal, allow room for airflow and compare the actual rack arrangement.
Before you order
Plan the complete cooking setup.
- Accessories: Staq’s Steak Drawer Kit, Rotisserie Kit, side shelf and cover are sold separately. The Beast’s folding front shelf is an optional add-on. Confirm any bundle rather than assuming accessories shown in a photo are included.
- Space: check exact assembled dimensions, lid or door travel, the delivery route and the manufacturer’s full clearance instructions.
- Power and fuel: these outdoor pellet cookers need electricity and suitable wood pellets. Plan the outlet and safe placement before delivery.
- Your order: confirm the exact grill, compatible cover, desired shelves, probes, assembly and delivery arrangements on the current product listing.
A few questions before you choose
Is the Staq bigger than the Flagship?
It has a larger advertised total cooking area: 1,924 versus 1,667 square inches. The Staq spreads that space across five vertical grates. Compare rack spacing and the shape of your food before treating the totals as equivalent.
Which model should I compare for smoking and higher-temperature cooking?
Start with the Backyard Beast 1200 and Flagship 1600, both listed at 180–700°F. Staq’s chamber range is 150–450°F. A stated chamber temperature does not by itself mean direct-flame cooking at the grate.
Does the Staq include its Steak Drawer or rotisserie?
No. Texas Star’s Staq listing identifies the Steak Drawer Kit, Rotisserie Kit, side shelf and cover as optional accessories sold separately. The optional Steak Drawer is not the smoker’s normal chamber temperature range.
Do I need to use the app?
recteq states that the Backyard Beast and Flagship can be controlled onboard without using the app. The app adds remote monitoring and adjustment. All three models here offer Wi-Fi connectivity; follow the exact model’s setup instructions for its connected features.
How much longer will a larger hopper run?
A larger hopper holds more pellets, but a dependable runtime cannot be calculated from hopper size alone. Set temperature, weather and the cooking setup change fuel use. Use the hopper capacity to compare storage, not as a promise of unattended hours.
Sources & comparison notes
Specifications checked November 11, 2026 against recteq product information and model manuals. This is a focused comparison of these three grills. Recommendations are based on layout and listed features, not independent cooking tests. Follow the complete operating manual for placement, startup, cleaning and shutdown.
- Manufacturer specifications: Staq 1900, Backyard Beast 1200 and Flagship 1600.
- Model manuals: Staq 1900S, Backyard Beast 1200 and Flagship 1600.
- Linked Texas Star Grill Shop listings identify the exact models and current package details. See those listings for current prices and availability.