The Freedom Of Using Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Bluetooth represents the next wave of grilling technology. While it’s ideal for stovetop cooking, as well, the INKBIRD IBT-6X Bluetooth Thermometer is all but made with grill gurus and pit masters in mind. The ability to connect to a transmitter remotely creates a freedom of movement that you don’t get with traditional thermometers, even instant read models, and digital models.
It has to be said that there are a few disadvantages associated with using a Bluetooth thermometer, but I’ll get to that shortly, and it’s not much of a problem if you cook almost exclusively on the barbecue or smoker.
INKBIRD Has Several Quality Wireless Thermometer Models
The INKBIRD IBT comes in several models. The 6X refers to the number of probes this unit can hold. Other models can contain two and four, respectively and each is designed differently. The 6X is a good choice just because it’s better to have more sensors than you need then to need them and not have them.
The additional sensors allow you to keep a check on half a dozen pieces of meat or pots of liquid. Or several pieces of meat and multiple spots on your grills grate so you know the temperature of everything throughout your cook. You can even insert more than one probe into a single cut of meat, which is helpful if you’re grilling or smoking something with varying thicknesses.
*Disclaimer: “INKBIRD provided me with their thermometer for testing at no charge in return for my honest review and feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and are not influenced by the developing company and/or its affiliates in any way.”
Product Quick Facts
Product Name: INKBIRD IBT-6X Smart Wireless BBQ Bluetooth Thermometer
Made By: INKBIRD
Top 3 Features:
- Able to hold up to 6 probes
- Clear digital display
- Accuracy
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Benefits Of The INKBIRD IBT-6X Bluetooth Thermometer
Convenience is the most significant benefit the 6X has to offer. As if the ability to monitor six different things at once isn’t enough, I just can’t get over how easy it is to use the app. I’m generally open to any device that uses an app to work more efficiently. I’m a bit of a tech nerd at heart. What I love about the INKBIRD, and what you’ll hopefully love, too, is that nearly everything is easily accomplished through the application. The thermometer unit itself is basically just the display and the holding area for the sensors.
That’s not to say that it can’t work as a stand-alone thermometer as well. If you plan to stay close to your grill, there is no need to use the app because the temperature of each probe is cycled through the large display so you know exactly what is going on under the hood.
As I said, the free BBQ GO app is a great thing. That’s where you can do everything. It is one of the better grilling apps I have seen and is very intuitive and easy to use. You can play around with the settings through your phone, set alarms, monitor the cook of your meat, and change your cooking preferences, among other things.
Using the INKBIRD Bluetooth Thermometer
Because this wireless thermometer is enhanced by using the app, that’s where you need to get started. Upon opening the box, worry less about the thermometer unit itself and more about following the instructions to first download the app, and then pair and set up the thermometer. It’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the INKBIRD app in your particular store.
Each probe has its own reading within the app. If you have six things going at once, then the probes will capture all six temperatures and send the separate readouts through to the app. You can also set your desired temperatures in there, so there’s no need to worry that your steaks will accidentally come out well done, or so rare that they’re still mooing. An alert sounds on your phone once the food you’re monitoring reaches its desired temperature.
After you experiment with the original presets and get used to the way the app works, then you can start to play around with the app’s more advanced settings. For example, you can even graph temperature fluctuations to help you on your next cook. That’s extremely helpful for grills and smokers that tend to throw off uneven heat or help you better understand how different vent positioning affects the airflow and heat.
INKBIRD IBT-6X Bluetooth Thermometer Description and Features
Out of the box, you receive the base transmitter unit, six probes and three probe grate clips. You might be confused when you open the box because the unit only has a large LED display, a power button, and six sockets. That’s because the receiver is your phone or tablet. The 6X model also includes six high-quality food-grade probes that are made out of stainless steel. They are easy to clean, for the purposes of sanitation and avoiding cross-contamination.
The base unit is sturdy and in typical INKBIRD fashion, looks cool and modern. It comes in three different colors you can choose from and each one looks better than the last.
Six-in-One
The ability to monitor up to six foods is by far the most impressive feature. It’s so much more convenient when you don’t have to use the same probes for all the food you’re cooking. This benefit is also a boon at the grill or the smoker. You rarely cook just one or two things on the grill, after all. With a 6-probe thermometer, you just have to lie back and wait for perfection.
Ease of Use
The main unit of the INKBIRD IBT-6X Bluetooth Thermometer is simplicity itself. The app is also geared for an easy user interface. The directions are clear and, once you open the app, it’s impossible to stay confused for long. Following along with the instructions on the screen of your phone or another mobile device should teach you everything you need to know about operating the thermometer.
Temperature Range
The IBT–6X offers a wide temperature range of 32℉~572℉ (0℃~300℃) letting you monitor the heat of both your grill or oven and food. This makes it perfect for both indoor and outdoor cooking, as well as grilling, baking, and brewing.
Accuracy
The thermometer is accurate to within 1-2° Fahrenheit, up to about 400°. The first few times you use it, feel free to double check the temperatures with a dial thermometer or an instant read model, just to be on the safe side. You should find that it’s calibrated to perfection.
Large LDC Display
The face of the 6X is almost entirely the display screen making for a large and bright LCD readout. You’ll love being able to easily see the temperature readout from almost any angle. It is also worth noting that the display does not fade or wash out in direct sunlight similar to many other thermometer displays I have tested over the years.
One thing to point out, in direct sunlight, if you are looking directly over the readout, the display is quite reflective and you will see yourself. This makes it harder to see your temperature. I just simply moved my head aside slightly and that solved the problem.
150 Foot Bluetooth Connection
While the IBT-6X’s 150 Foot Bluetooth connection is somewhat shorter in range than several options on the market, (there are several with up to a 300 foot range), I was very impressed by it’s ability to stay connected without losing a signal while moving throughout my yard and house, unlike many competitors I have tested.
BBQ-GO Mobile App
I’ve already touched on the App above but I feel it is worth pointing out again. It was incredibly fast and easy to pair or un-pair this thermometer to my phone. The app is fully customizable and simple to use. Download the App and you can intuitively figure it out quickly!
You can choose from a wide list of preset meat options (beef, fish, poultry, pork or lamb) and choose the desired doneness for each within the App. The App lets you create and label your own custom settings for each individual probe port as well and your custom settings will be saved when the thermometer is powered off for future cooks.
Advanced features include the ability to graph each cook, change your readout between °C and ℉ and a countdown timer with alerts. Best of all, it is free to download and use, has no bloat/advertisements, and is easy to setup/use.
6 x Food Probes And 3 x Grate Clips
The IBT-6X comes with six 3.77ft/115cm stainless steel food probes. The probes and wires are well made. The actual probes are very long measuring six inches to the base and seven and a half inches including the handle.
The length of these probes can be a good thing and a bad thing. The extra length works great for getting to the center of larger cuts of meat like a brisket or pork shoulder, but are somewhat long for smaller pieces of meat. I didn’t’ have an issue with clearance on my Big Green Egg or pellet grill but people with smaller footprint grills may find that the probes are too long.
Who Is The Inkbird Bluetooth Thermometer For?
Although nearly anyone who cooks can use the Inkbird IBT-6X Bluetooth Thermometer, it’s designed for chefs who rule over the grill or smoke their meats. You can absolutely use it to keep an eye on boiling liquids and things like that, making it ideal for candy making, gravy, sauce, and other foods, but it’s meant to handle lower temperatures. Anytime you’re taking the long, slow approach to grilling, roasting, or smoking, this is the thermometer you want.
Who Should Not Get It?
If you don’t have the need for a 6 x probe thermometer, this unit can also be ordered with only 2 or 4 probes at a lower price. Another great option is the INKBIRD four probe IBT-4XS which I highly recommend as well.
If you are not tech savvy and prefer to use a remote receiver that is not your phone, the Maverick ET-733 and the ThermoPro TP20 both come with their own receivers and have a longer wireless range for about the same price. Neither includes an App though.
Pros And Cons
PROs
- Easy to use
- Accommodates six probes
- Accurate
- Bluetooth enabled
- Extra Long Probe Wires
- BBQ GO App is clear and simple
- Quality Build
CONs
- Battery powered—but no batteries included
- Bluetooth range is not the longest
- Sensors and steel cables cannot handle temperatures higher than 570℉
Things I Really Liked:
#1 Bluetooth Range –
The Bluetooth range exceeded my expectations. If you have used a Bluetooth device and are realistic about its capabilities, you will be impressed with the IBT-6X. When I compared the INKBIRD alongside my iGrill2 Bluetooth range, the IBT-6X performed considerably better. I was able to wander every room in my house and never lost a connection. Side by side, the 6X ‘s range was a lot longer, the connection was more stable and the disconnect alert was quicker. Something that cannot be said of the more expensive iGrill2.
#2 Large LCD Display –
The LCD display was bright and easy to read. It did not wash or fade out in the sunlight. It did great in both bright light and low light conditions. Except for the mirroring effect when looking directly into the display in bright sunlight, the display was a winner.
#3 Accuracy –
I tested the IBT-6X simultaneously against several other leave-in thermometers including the Weber iGrill2 and it performed just as well or better than each of them. I also tested it against the best of the best when I tested it against my Thermoworks MK4 instant read thermometer and it measured up well.
#4 Base Design And Overall Quality –
Don’t let the cool design fool you. The IBT-6X is also a well-made device. With quality probes and wires and a nice base design, I really liked the look and feel of this thermometer. The fact that it looks awesome is just a big plus.
Areas Where I Would Like To See Improvements:
#1 No Ambient Temperature Probe –
The same issue applies to the IBT-6X as I pointed out in my review of the INKBIRD IBT-4XS:
“I would really like to see INKBIRD exchange one of the meat probes for a shorter, snub-nosed ambient probe. When using the meat probe with the included grate clips, the probe is a little long making it harder to position right. With a little experimenting, I was able to make it work well though. This is something I hope they consider in the future.”
#2 Cord Wrap System –
One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to wireless probes is when they do not include a cord wrap system for safe storage and for taking the thermometer on the go. Storing wired cabled probes can be tricky. A cord wrapping system goes a long way in preserving the life of the probes and make it much more convenient. Again, I hope that INKBIRD considers this in the future.
#3 Probe Length –
The extra-long 6” probe length can be difficult for smaller grills with low headroom. I think an option to choose different length probes when purchasing would be a great thing ensuring everyone can meet there needs.
Just like the IBT 4X Thermometer, the pros far outweighed the cons on this device in my humble opinion. The cons are mostly minor and do not affect the overall quality and solid performance of this thermometer. While none of these issues are deal breakers for me, I hope that INKBIRD will consider making these slight changes.
Prices and Warranties
You can get the INKBIRDS IBT 6X Bluetooth thermometer for $59.99 on Amazon, which is about $30 less than the iGrill2 Bluetooth thermometer and offers better performance in my opinion. With that said, you get a one-year warranty and responsive customer service on the unit in case anything goes wrong.
The Final Verdict
The price is realistic for a mid-range wireless thermometer, and given what the Inkbird IBT-6X Thermometer can do, it’s a good value. The warranty offers some peace of mind, but while the unit is helpful in any kind of cooking environment, it really shines for low and slow meat smoking and cooking.
The INKBIRD IBT-6X Bluetooth thermometer is a well-built and easy to use wireless grilling thermometer. It has many helpful features, and for the price is a solid option. It would make a great addition to your meat smoking toolbox.
If you would like to leave a comment or have a review of your own to share on the INKBIRD IBT–6X, please do so below. We always welcome your input.
Cheers,
Patrick
INKBIRD IBT-6X Bluetooth Thermomete
Pros
- Accommodates six probes
- Accurate
- BBQ GO App is clear and simple
- Easy to use
- Quality Build
Cons
- Batteries not included
- Bluetooth range is not the longest
- Probe length may be too long for some users
I would rather have “Batteries not included” than have a USB charged unit that if not charged, I have to wait on. We keep rechargeable batts in a charger for our Inkbird and it rocks.
I couldn’t agree more. It is a solid remote thermometer and super convenient.
My 6 probe unit has 5 longer probes and 1 snub nose. What is the snub nose probe for?
That is called the ambient temperature probe and is used to measure the heat of the grill itself, or more precisely, the temp of the area around the cooking grate next to where the actual food is located. It attaches to the grate with a little clip that should have been included. Check out this video for a closer look. Although this clip is for the iGrill, the ambient temperature probes are pretty universal and yours should look very similar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiuSJe6K3iY