The Inkbird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Wireless Meat Thermometer Review

This is a review of the Inkbird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Wireless Meat Thermometer. It is a 4-probe Bluetooth meat thermometer that connects to your smartphone or tablet.

See my review of the four-probe InkBird IBT-4XC Bluetooth Meat Thermometer.

You can then track your cooking process via their smartphone BBQ GO app. Ok, this all seems pretty standard if you’ve spent any time shopping for Bluetooth thermometers.

What sets the Inkbird IBT-4XS apart from other multi-probe Bluetooth thermometers? Good question. Let’s find out if it’s worth your hard-earned money.

When I review a meat thermometer I look at some key areas. What features does the thermometer have? Especially features that no others have. Is the thermometer easy to use?  How accurate is the thermometer? How durable is the meat thermometer? And lastly, how does the price of it compare to the competition?

Finally, I will give my opinion on whether you should consider buying the InkBird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Meat Thermometer. Let’s get started!

Inkbird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

Inkbird is a home automation technology brand based in Shenzen, China. They manufacture a wide range of thermometers and other temperature measurement devices.

I’ve done reviews on the Inkbird IBBQ-4BW WiFi Meat Thermometer and the Inkbird IHT-1S Instant-Read Meat Thermometers. They are both incredibly accurate.

This Bluetooth model, the IBT-4XS from Inkbird, is also very accurate.

Other than being accurate, what else does the IBT-4XS feature?

Features of the Inkbird Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

The Inkbird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Meat Thermometer comes equipped with these items:

• A magnetic base unit that comes with a large LCD screen with a display that can rotate if you tap the front power button twice.
• Four probes, 3 meat probes, and 1 ambient temperature probe. The meat probes are 5 inches long and angled at the top for easy gripping. The ambient temperature probe is 3.5 inches. The probes are heat resistant up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit with a temperature reading range between 32 and 482 degrees Fahrenheit.

• The probes are attached to 60-inch Teflon core, stainless-steel mesh cables, heat resistant up to 716 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A built-in rechargeable 1000mAh lithium battery. The battery can last 40 hours when fully charged. It charges using the included 1.64ft USB charging cable that can plug into your phone charger or laptop.
• 2 grill clips to keep your probes off the grates
• The BBQ Go phone app that works with both Apple and Android devices.

The BBQ GO Smart App of the Inkbird Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

BBQ Go is the smart app of the Inkbird Bluetooth Meat Thermometer. It is the same app that a lot of other Bluetooth meat thermometers use. However, unlike the other Bluetooth meat thermometers that can connect to any of the other smartphone apps, the Inkbird will only allow the Inkbird to connect to it.

 

Case in point, I was able to connect to the Tenergy Solis Bluetooth meat thermometer’s smartphone app using the Inkbird thermometer. But when I tried to connect the Tenergy Solis thermometer to the Inkbird, it wouldn’t let me. Not a huge deal, but good to know in case you have multiple Bluetooth thermometers at a bbq.

The app itself has 8 preset meat temperatures and 3 preset smoke temperatures that are adjustable. These preset temperatures are all adjustable up or down according to taste preferences. You can also add your own category preset temperatures if you want. If you were cooking wild game like venison you could add a venison category if you so desire.

The app also has high and low-temperature alerts as well.

There is also a timer that you can set for each probe.

Each probe has its own temperature graph so you can check on the temperature history of your cook. This is handy if you are cooking a brisket that takes over 14 hours. You can look and see how long the stall periods were and make a note for next time.

However, the app doesn’t allow you to export any data to an email or outside account. So any insight that you get from tracking your cook on the temperature graph you will have to write down and make notes. This is true of all the similar Bluetooth thermometers’ apps.

The Usability of the Inkbird Thermometer

The Inkbird comes with three probes to monitor your food as well as one ambient temperature probe to track the temperature of your cooking chamber.

I’ve found the Inkbird’s probes easier to use than a lot of the other Bluetooth thermometers, many of which have silicone handles. The silicon handles of these other meat thermometers’ probes are supposed to keep your hands from getting burned when you touch them. However, you wouldn’t want to touch any of the silicone handles above a certain temperature because they are still extremely hot.

So, they are basically there for show. Another bad thing about those probes is that they will melt above a certain temperature. I don’t feel comfortable using them in an oven over 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

I don’t have this problem with the Inkbird’s probes which are stainless steel and double-crimped at the end where they meet the cable for added durability. Another positive feature of the Inkbird’s temperature probes is that they are curved at a 90-degree angle at the end for easier gripping. This makes them easier to pull out of a roast than the probes with silicone handles, that aren’t angled.

The display is large and easy to read. I’m becoming a fan of the illuminated red numbers against the black screen. You see this on the ThermoPro TP-19 instant-read thermometer as well. This makes it easy to see at night or other low-light situations. It’s a hassle sometimes trying to find the light button on a thermometer.

Another nice feature of the display is that it can rotate around up or down after tapping the front power button twice. This is convenient because the probes all plug into one end and you might need to pivot the display according to your particular home set up.

I’m also a huge fan of the ability to charge the Inkbird’s lithium battery via a USB cable. Buying batteries for meat thermometers constantly is annoying, especially if you forget to turn them off.

I consider this a major plus in favor of the Inkbird.

The previously mentioned BBQ GO app of the Inkbird is pretty straight forward and easy to set up.

Now I’m going to discuss the Bluetooth range of the InkBird IBT 4-XS and how it relates to the other Bluetooth meat thermometers on the market.

The Bluetooth Range of the Inkbird IBT-4XS Meat Thermometer

The Bluetooth range of any Bluetooth meat thermometer is dependent on many different factors. I tested the Bluetooth range of the Inkbird with my 4th Generation iPad that originally came out 8 years ago. For this test, I placed the Inkbird’s ambient temperature probe in a sous vide water bath in my kitchen. Then I connected to my iPad and took a walk outside to my backyard.

The Inkbird maintained a signal through multiple walls. I went to the back corner of my yard and I would guestimate I was still getting a signal 70 to 80 feet away. Now, it never dropped the signal, and I didn’t leave my yard, so I’m not sure the ultimate range of the Inkbird.

I will update you down the road, but as of right now I would put it a distant second place behind the ThermoPro TP25 Bluetooth meat thermometer in terms of Bluetooth range. However, it still does have a better Bluetooth range than the comparable Tenergy Solis Meat Thermometer.

The Accuracy of the InkBird

I tested the accuracy of the Inkbird’s probes in a water bath set to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. They were spot on at 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

I then tested the Inkbird alongside the Thermoworks Signals 4- Channel Wifi/Bluetooth Thermometer as well as the Enzoo Wireless Meat Thermometer. The Signals thermometer is a best in class thermometer while the Enzoo Wireless thermometer represents a less expensive transmitter to receiver option.

I tested them all together while cooking chicken breasts in the oven. The Inkbird reacted to the increase in the chicken’s temperature right in line with the rest of the thermometers.

As of right now, I would say the Inkbird is extremely accurate.

The Durability of the Inkbird Thermometer

The main body of the Inkbird is made out of hard plastic. It’s not flimsy but doesn’t feel incredibly durable either. The body is magnetic and you can attach it to the side shelf of your grill or a cool, metal surface by your oven. The manual does state that the magnetic body shouldn’t be exposed to temperatures over 186 degrees Fahrenheit.

The probes are well-made. As stated previously, they are double-crimped where they attach to the cables for added durability. If you’ve ever yanked on a probe inserted in your meat before and had the cable come loose from the probe you know how important this feature is.

The probe cables are stainless-steel mesh with Teflon-coated interior wires that are heat resistant up to 716 degrees Fahrenheit. At almost 5 feet long, they allow room for the thermometer’s main body to be kept safely away from the heat.

The Price of the Inkbird IBT-4XS in Relation to Its Competitors

The price of the Inkbird IBT-4XS is comparable to many other Bluetooth thermometers available today. Its price generally hovers around the $50 range. However, it brings to the table many features that the many similar Bluetooth models don’t.

Its Bluetooth range, more durable probes without silicone handles, rotating screen function, and USB rechargeability make it superior to those other Bluetooth thermometers.

Another thing to mention is that Inkbird makes multiple models of thermometers and is a very visible company in terms of customer service. There are many thermometer sellers out there that have little-to-no customer service presence when it comes to dealing with customer complaints.

A Better Alternative

I think the ThermoPro TP25 is a better option for a Bluetooth Meat Thermometer in this price range. It is a little bit more in price but it has superior features to all of the other Bluetooth thermometers discussed in this review.  Clicking on the link above will take you to my in-depth review of this great thermometer.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Inkbird Bluetooth Thermometer

• When is the Inkbird Bluetooth thermometer fully charged? It takes about two hours to fully recharge according to the user’s manual. When the Inkbird is fully charged it can be used for 40 hours before needing recharging.
• Can the Inkbird IBT-4XS be calibrated? No, the Inkbird can’t be calibrated. If you are getting abnormal probe temperature readings then make sure the probe is fully plugged into the probe sockets.
• How do you pair the Inkbird thermometer with an Android or an Apple phone? Go to the Google Play store or the Apple Store and download the BBQ GO app by Inkbird. Make sure you have your Bluetooth enabled on your phone. Another tip is if you are using an iPad you need to go to the iPhone section of the Apple Store to download the app. Don’t worry, it will work with the iPad.

Final Verdict and Thoughts

The Inkbird IBT-4XS is a decent thermometer with a good Bluetooth range. There is no waterproof rating and the mobile app is unspectacular but it does the job.

The display will only show one temperature at a time and there is no way to differentiate between the four probes as they are all the same color.

The accuracy and Bluetooth range are the strengths of this thermometer. Its display and the mobile app are functional if not unspectacular.

While the IBT-4XS does the job, I think there are better Bluetooth meat thermometers out there, most notably the ThermoPro TP25.

Inkbird IBT-4XS Bluetooth Wireless Grill BBQ Thermometer for Grilling with 4 Probes, Rechargeable Battery, Timer, Alarm,150 ft Barbecue Cooking Kitchen Food Meat Thermometer for Smoker, Oven, Drum

Like all of my reviews, I will continue to track the performance and long-term durability of this thermometer and update you as needed.

For more thermometer reviews and information on serving food at its best temperatures just click on the menu at the top. Thanks for reading.