Buying guide
Broil King Imperial QS 690i
vs S 690i
Two ovens. One upgrade worth understanding.
The decision
Would you use temperature control as much as cooking space?
The Broil King Imperial QS 690i and Imperial S 690i start with the same appealing idea: two independent cookboxes, a substantial grilling surface and a complete island with granite worktops and stainless-steel storage. The QS adds iQue temperature control for the main cookbox, two food probes and an infrared side burner. Those are the reasons to consider the upgrade.
Choose Broil King Imperial QS 690i if…
You want help holding the main cookbox at your chosen temperature, with food-temperature monitoring and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. Longer cooks and meals with several things to watch give those features a useful job to do.
Choose Broil King Imperial S 690i if…
You enjoy managing the heat yourself and chiefly want the two-oven layout, cast stainless-steel grids, included rotisserie and island storage. You retain those fundamentals without buying the iQue controls.
Two cookboxes, two jobs
The smaller oven is more than extra grilling space.
Both islands divide their 750 square inches of primary cooking area into a 500-square-inch main cookbox and a separate 250-square-inch cookbox. Think about a normal dinner before thinking about the largest gathering you might host: the small side gives you a separate place to cook without opening the larger lid. For a bigger meal, the two lids let you manage separate stages of cooking.
The important QS distinction is where the automation applies: Broil King specifies iQue control in the main cookbox. Do not plan the smaller oven as a second independently automated iQue zone. You are comparing the way the main oven is managed, rather than buying two smart ovens.
At a glance
What changes when you choose the QS?
| What changes | Imperial QS 690i | Imperial S 690i |
|---|---|---|
| Primary cooking area | 750 sq. in., split 500 + 250 | 750 sq. in., split 500 + 250 |
| Main burners | Six Dual-Tube burners | Six Dual-Tube burners |
| Main-oven control | iQue digital temperature control; Smoke, Roast and Grill presets | Manual heat control |
| Food monitoring | Two electronic meat probes | No included iQue probe system |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | No iQue connectivity |
| Side burner | Infrared side burner | Conventional side burner |
| Cooking grids | Cast stainless steel | Cast stainless steel |
| Rotisserie | Rear burner and premium rotisserie kit included | Rear burner and premium rotisserie kit included |
| Evening cooking | Oven lighting and illuminated control knobs | Oven lighting and illuminated control knobs |
| Island package | Granite countertops and stainless-steel cabinets | Granite countertops and stainless-steel cabinets |
The upgrade in use
What iQue changes during a meal.
iQue controls across the Broil King range. See the comparison for the QS 690i island’s equipment.
Watch the food and the cookbox
A cookbox temperature tells you what is happening around the food; a probe tells you what is happening inside it. The QS supplies two electronic meat probes and adds temperature monitoring through the iQue system. That combination is more useful than connectivity alone when you are following a roast through a longer cook.
Use the controls your way
The QS has an on-island digital control with Smoke, Roast and Grill presets, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Broil King’s iQue app supports remote temperature control, food-temperature monitoring and timers. The app is not required to operate the grill, so your phone does not have to become the center of every meal.
Picture a roast in the main oven while a second dish cooks under the smaller lid: iQue helps manage the main-oven temperature, and its probes let you follow the food without lifting that lid just to take a reading. We would weigh the upgrade most heavily if that sounds like the way you cook. If your routine is a short cook with you beside the grill, the S already gives you the same main cooking area and two-lid layout. Connected control is not permission to leave a lit gas grill unattended.
The side burner is a separate reason to choose the QS
The QS pairs its main-oven controls with an infrared side burner. That gives searing a dedicated place beside the grill while the main cookbox handles the rest of the meal. The S has a conventional side burner, useful for a pan or sauce alongside the grill. Choose around what you cook: an infrared searing station and a conventional pan burner serve different jobs.
Equipment you do not have to upgrade to get
Both islands include the rear rotisserie burner and premium kit, cast stainless-steel grids, oven lights and illuminated knobs. If rotisserie meals or evening grilling lead your wish list, the S already has the equipment to support them.
Plan the whole island
A complete outdoor kitchen still needs a proper site.
These are island packages with worktops and storage, rather than grill heads awaiting a custom enclosure. Measure the assembled island against your site plan and use the exact installation instructions for required clearances. Overall appliance size alone does not establish where the island can safely go.
Confirm the fuel before the finish
Both models are offered in factory propane and natural gas versions. Choose the version that matches your supply and have the gas connection planned before delivery. The shopping cards below select natural gas on both models so the comparison stays consistent; open each product page for current fuel choices and availability.
Leave room to use what you bought
Allow for the lids, drawers and cabinet doors to open, and for the cook to move around the island. Plan access to the rotisserie equipment as well as the main worktop. Confirm clearances, ventilation, electrical requirements and utility access from the exact instructions with your installer.
The stainless-steel cabinetry and granite counters are part of both island packages. A built-in grill head or another Imperial cart configuration has a different equipment and installation scope. If you are comparing a lower-priced Imperial listing elsewhere, first check that it includes the same island cabinets and counters.
Our take
Buy the upgrade for the cooks you actually do.
Broil King Imperial QS 690i
We like the QS for someone who wants the two-oven Imperial layout and will put the main-oven temperature control to work. The two food probes make the upgrade tangible; the infrared side burner adds another distinct cooking station. We would choose it when longer cooks and dedicated searing are regular parts of the menu.
Broil King Imperial S 690i
We would keep the S on the shortlist for an experienced griller who enjoys adjusting the heat. It already provides the separate small oven, cast stainless-steel grids, rotisserie and finished island. You give up the QS control system and infrared side station, but retain much of the equipment that makes these islands worth considering.
What Imperial owners talk about
The ratings below combine feedback across the Imperial gas-grill family. Use them for broader ownership context alongside the specific QS-versus-S equipment comparison above.
Ratings cover the Broil King Imperial gas grills family.
What owners say
Owners particularly appreciate the freedom of separate ovens on the larger Imperial models, whether that means cooking different foods or using only the smaller side for dinner. Even heat and rotisserie results also stand out in their accounts. There are practical reservations: one owner needed thermometer attention, another discussed lighting repairs, and another noticed uneven heat with time. These experiences point to a capable cooking platform whose supporting components still deserve a careful setup and a clear service plan.
Shop the ranges
Continue with the exact configuration.
Current Shopify prices below are for the exact natural gas islands, including their granite counters and cabinets. Both models also offer a factory propane version; check its current availability on the product page. Plan fuel supply and installation separately.
Broil King
Imperial QS 690i · natural gas island
Broil King Imperial gas grills family rating
$9,799.00 $10,299.00
Natural gas island with iQue main-oven control and infrared side burner.
Broil King
Imperial S 690i · natural gas island
Broil King Imperial gas grills family rating
$8,999.00 $9,499.00
Natural gas island with manual heat control and conventional side burner.
Warranty and documents
Long coverage where the cooking happens.
Broil King’s current Imperial coverage chart lists 15-year limited coverage for the cooking grids and burners, a useful benefit for two components central to everyday grilling. The chart lists five years for electronics and lights. Keep that distinction in mind when considering the QS controls; the component terms are not one blanket period for the entire island.
Coverage is subject to the written terms, including eligibility and normal domestic use. Read the complete documents for what is supplied under a claim and any labor, freight or installation responsibilities.
Before ordering
A few details worth settling first.
Let’s find the right fit for your project.
Tell us about your fuel supply, available patio space and the meals you cook most often. We can help you compare the two island packages and locate the right documents.
Speak to an Expert
Good questions
A clearer choice.
Does iQue control both cookboxes?
Broil King specifies iQue burner control in the main cookbox. The separate smaller cookbox should not be treated as a second independently automated iQue oven.
Is the rotisserie an extra on the S?
Both of these island packages include a rear rotisserie burner and premium rotisserie kit. Do not assume a different Imperial package has the same inclusions.
Do I need the app to use the QS?
No. Broil King states that the app is not required to operate an iQue grill. The QS also has its on-island digital controls.
Can I buy propane instead of natural gas?
Both models have factory propane and natural gas versions. The cards here select natural gas for a like-for-like comparison. Open the product page to check the other fuel choice and current availability.