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If your apartment, HOA, or city bans charcoal and gas, electric grills become your only legal option — and the category has gotten genuinely good. The Weber Lumin and Char-Broil's TRU-Infrared electric are the two most-cross-shopped models. Both work; one is clearly better.
Quick Verdict
The Weber Lumin ($429) is the better grill — hotter, more even, and with better build quality. The Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Electric ($349) is fine for occasional use but the Lumin is worth the extra $80 for daily cooks.
The Contenders
Weber Lumin
$429
Apartment dwellers who grill regularly and want the closest experience to gas
Check PriceChar-Broil TRU-Infrared Electric
$349
Occasional grillers and budget-focused buyers in restricted spaces
Check PriceCategory Breakdown
Heat & Searing
Winner: LuminWeber Lumin wins — it produces meaningful sear marks and crusts that the Char-Broil struggles to match. The Lumin's boost mode hits temps that genuinely cook like a real grill. The Char-Broil cooks evenly but at lower peak temps.
Even Cooking
Winner: Char-BroilChar-Broil wins with TRU-Infrared technology that produces remarkably even surface temperatures. The Lumin is good but has slightly hotter spots. For burgers and dogs, both are fine; for delicate items, Char-Broil edges ahead.
Build Quality
Winner: LuminWeber wins. The Lumin uses better materials, has Weber's warranty backing, and feels like a real grill. The Char-Broil is plasticky in places and shows wear faster.
Apartment-Friendly
Winner: TieTied — both are condo and apartment legal in most jurisdictions, both produce minimal smoke, and both store easily. The Lumin's optional stand and griddle insert give it more flexibility for small spaces.
Value
Winner: LuminLumin wins on value despite costing more. The build quality difference is meaningful, and Weber's warranty means it'll outlast the Char-Broil. The $80 premium pays back over years of use.
Final Verdict
Buy the Weber Lumin for any serious apartment grilling — it's the closest thing to a real grill in electric form. The Char-Broil TRU-Infrared is the budget pick for occasional users who want decent results without the premium.
Buying Advice
If you'll grill weekly, the Lumin is the obvious choice. If you grill 6-10 times a year on the balcony for parties, the Char-Broil is enough. Don't overspend on capability you won't use, but don't undershoot either.
