Maverick XR 50 Remote BBQ Thermometer Review
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This is a review of the Maverick XR 50 Remote BBQ Thermometer. The XR-50 is a remote wireless bbq and smoker thermometer that allows you to remotely monitor your meat on the grill or bbq using the included transmitter and receiver units.
I’ve reviewed all of the top remote wireless meat thermometers to see which are the best to help you cook your meat to its proper temperature.
How does the Maverick XR 50 Remote BBQ and Smoker Thermometer compare to the other top models?
Review Summary
- Best Feature- The Insta-Sync Technology. It is one of the better models for reconnecting the receiver and transmitter after losing the transmission signal.
- Worst Feature- The probes. There are no handles and the small colored silicone sleeves aren’t the most visible when smoking.
- Thermomeat’s Opinion- A solid thermometer with a nice signal range. Probes with colored handles and an actual IP waterproof rating would make it even better.
Maverick XR-50 Remote BBQ & Smoker Thermometer Overview
The Maverick XR-50 is a four-probe wireless remote bbq and smoker thermometer with a reported 500-foot RF signal range between its transmitter and receiver devices.
It is designed for people who grill or smoke and need to monitor their cooks from a distance, generally inside the house.
Of the included probes, two of them are smaller, ambient temperature probes that can also function as meat probes due to their pointed tips.
Two ambient temperature probes might seem like overkill to some, so it is nice that they are pointed to add the option of using them as meat probes, albeit with shorter meat penetration lengths.
It would be nice if the probes had actual handles and not just silicone sleeves. I’ve found that it’s harder to pull out these types of probes from meat (think a turkey breast), and puts undo stress on the probe cable.
The build quality is nice and both the transmitter and receiver feel solid in your hands. One thing to note is that only the transmitter is rainproof, not the receiver.
The wireless range is solid and capable of penetrating multiple walls. One of the standout features of this thermometer is its ability to re-sync its transmitter and receiver after the signal has been lost.
And it does a great job of letting you know when you’re out of range by flashing the display and eventually beeping.
So many remote thermometer receivers will just go blank and you have no idea that you’ve lost the signal.
The accuracy is also consistent and similar to many of the other top thermometers in the category.
Overall, the Maverick XR-50 is a good thermometer. Could it be better? Of course. Probes with better handles and an actual waterproof rating would be a start.
But a good remote thermometer nonetheless.
Features of the Maverick XR-50
Here are the important features of the Maverick XR 50 Remote Barbecue Thermometer.
- The transmitter is rainproof, but the receiver is not.
- Four stainless steel temperature probes.
The included probes consist of two-6″ food temperature probes and two-3″ ambient temperature probes that are heat resistant to 716°F. The probe cables are 40″ long. The box states that the probe wires are 4-feet long, mine were all 40″.
- Two grill grate clips
- Four-section temperature displays for both receiver and transmitter.
Both the transmitter and receiver have four dedicated sections displaying separate readings for each probe.
- Backlight
The backlight will stay on for 15 seconds. There is no dedicated light button, the backlight will turn on after pressing any button on the transmitter or receiver.
- A reported 500-foot wireless signal range.
- Link Loss Alarm
A loss of transmission signal will result in silent flashing after 48 seconds on the receiver and will continue until 3 minutes and then an audible alarm will sound.
- Hi and Low Alarms
- Temperature measuring range between 14°F and 572°F (-10° to 300°C)
- Magnetic design
- 4- AAA Batteries Included
Usability
The Maverick XR-50 is relatively easy to use. Channels for probes 1 and 2 on both the transmitter and receiver are set up for monitoring a barbecue with a high temp of 250°F and a low temp of 225°F.
Probe channels 3 and 4 are set up for monitoring meat with a high temp of 160°F.
These four channels and their probe port colors correspond to the temperature probes and their colors.
The colors of probe ports 1 and 2 also correspond to the colors of the ambient temperature probes.
You can of course change the channel temperatures to whatever you want.
Each probe channel has a button by its screen section that you press to select it. Then press it again to select its high-temperature alarm.
You can then adjust the temperature up or down using the arrows on the front of the transmitter. Press the SET button once you’ve got your preferred temperature.
Do the same to set low alarms.
The backlight is nice and bright and will stay illuminated for 15 seconds.
One minor gripe of mine is that there is no dedicated light button, however, the backlight will turn on by pressing any button.
That is any button except the power button, which will turn it off. Or the F°/C° button, which switches between the two. Or the Alarm button, which turns the alarm on or off.
Pressing the SET button is safe, so that has been my go-to for turning on the backlight.
The transmission signal is solid and will penetrate multiple walls. This thermometer does a great job of letting you know if you are in the range of the transmitter and will alert you by first flashing and then beeping after three minutes.
One other usability feature to note is that I found the probe cables to not be the reported 4 feet in length. The food probes had 40″ cables and the ambient probes had 42″ cables.
This is an easy thermometer to use overall with a few minor inconveniences. (no dedicated light button, shorter cables)
Accuracy
To assess the accuracy of the Maverick XR 50 I put it through a series of temperature tests. I also included some other highly accurate meat thermometers in these tests as well.
How did the XR-50 perform?
As you can see in the picture above, the X-50 is displaying a temperature similar to the other thermometers in measuring the temperature of a water bath.
The X-50 also kept pace with the other thermometers in responding to elevating and declining temperatures.
I rate the food probes as accurate.
What about its ambient temperature probes?
Again, as you can see in the above picture, the Maverick is right in line with the other thermometers in measuring the temperature of an oven.
The ambient temperature probes are accurate as well.
I rate the Maverick X-50 as accurate.
Durability
The Maverick X 50 states on its box to have waterproof probes and rainproof casings on its devices.
The transmitter does have recessed probe jacks that help keep out the rain.
Maverick’s website also claims the probes to be water-resistant.
A closer examination reveals that the probe tips can be cleaned with water and that only the transmitter can be used in the rain.
There is no actual IP waterproof rating for this thermometer. Many other remote meat thermometers will include some type of waterproof rating, letting the user know if they should trust their thermometer out in the rain.
Reading the instruction manual uncovers that the receiver is not rainproof, and shouldn’t be exposed to rain. It also states that the transmitter is rainproof but not watertight.
To test the transmitter’s rainproof abilities, I put it outside in the rain for an hour. What happened?
I brought it inside and wiped it off, and it is totally fine. Would I leave it in the rain overnight?
Maybe. I’ll let you know if I do.
I’m a big fan of documentation and certification of certain standards of performance, so an actual IP rating would ease my mind a bit.
I will give the X-50 credit for handling a good amount of rain outside.
The rubber sleeves around both units are also a nice touch and add some shockproof protection should you drop them.
As for the probes, every probe is waterproof at its tip, so stating that the probes are waterproof in large font on the box is a bit misleading.
Water can get into any thermometer probe where the cable meets the probe, so you need to be careful when rinsing them off to not expose that area to water.
Stating that it has waterproof probes and rainproof casings is a bit misleading, and an actual IP rating would be nice.
Semantics aside, the Maverick X 50 impressed me with its ability to withstand some rain outside.
I have to go with the actual performance of the thermometer in the rain and it has held up so far.
Durability is measured over time and the X-50’s performance is encouraging so far.
Price
The average retail price for the Maverick XR-50 is $89.99. This puts it toward the middle-to-higher end of what you can expect to pay for a remote thermometer.
Here is a selection of other remote thermometers in this price range.
 | ThermoPro TP829 Wireless Meat Thermometer fo | View on Amazon | |
 | ThermoPro TP27 500FT Long Range Wireless Meat Thermometer | View on Amazon | |
 | SMARTRO X50 Wireless Meat Thermometer 4 Probes 500ft Long Range BBQ Alarm Thermometer for Smoker Grilling Kitchen Food Cooking Thermometer for Meat | View on Amazon |
Alternatives
Here are some other remote meat thermometers that I’ve reviewed and recommended.
The Thermoworks Smoke X4 is the best remote meat thermometer you can buy. The best signal range you’ll find along with Thermoworks signature accuracy and build quality make this my top choice.
See my review of the Thermoworks Smoke X4.
The ThermoPro TP829 has a reported signal range of 1000 feet with an IPX4 waterproof rating, when you combine this with its low price it equals a great value.
See my review of the ThermoPro TP829.
Thermomeat’s Verdict
The Maverick XR-50 has a solid wireless range between its transmitter and receiver units. It is one of the better remote thermometers in terms of reconnecting the signal between the two units.
Also, its accuracy was in-line with many of the other top remote meat thermometers during testing.
Although there is no actual IP waterproof rating, the transmitter did survive outside for an hour in a rainstorm.
The receiver isn’t rainproof at all, which you wouldn’t know until you delve into the details in the manual.
More clarity on its rainproof abilities would be nice.
I don’t like the probes. They don’t have handles making it difficult to extract them from meat.
Curved handles would be a welcome enhancement. Maverick makes over 30 types of replacement probes, so this is definitely an upgrade that’s feasible.
Overall, it is a solid thermometer that could use a few adjustments to enhance its value, but it should be up to the task for most grilling and smoking scenarios.
I rate it a good buy.
- EASY TO USE: PRO Series XR-50 - So Easy to Use! After a few minutes you’ll understand how to program all features. Includes zonoz Z-Cloth
- 4 TEMPERATURE PROBES, GREAT FLEXIBILITY: The PRO Series XR-50 has 4 WATERPROOF probes that measure meat or BBQ. Hi/lo alarms can be set between 14-574 F (10-300 C).
- SUPER LONG 500 FT RANGE: With 500 ft range line of sight the XR-50 breaks records! MUCH better range than the typical 150-300 ft. Use any probe for either BBQ or Food Temperatures; and user can set HIGH or LOW alarms for each probe.
- EXTRA LARGE EASY TO READ LED DISPLAYS with backlight. LCD with backlight shows ALL information for each probe. All controls on transmitter; receiver has simple alarm on/off.
- Power source type: Battery Powered - New INSTA-SYNC operating technology: Faster connection and reduced connection drops.
