Fire Magic A830i Review: Aurora Gas & Charcoal Combo Built-In Grill
By Matthew Jackson, BBQ Kitchen Pros Ā· We sell, design and install Fire Magic grills Ā· Prices checked October 17, 2026
Our verdict
The Fire Magic Aurora A830i is a 46-inch built-in grill with a gas grill and a separate charcoal grill under two hoods. It is for outdoor kitchen owners who cook on gas most nights and want real charcoal without a second cutout. Skip it if you rarely light charcoal or need a big gas surface. Price: $7,801.20, or $8,397 for the version with a rotisserie.
- āPros: separate hoods per fuel, gas-lit charcoal, cast stainless burners, lifetime coverage on burners, cooking grids and housing.
- ā¢Cons: only two gas burners, needs 120V and an insulating liner in combustible islands, electronics carry a 1-year warranty.
Dealer review Ā· A830i Ā· Aurora series
A-
Our rating
One of the best-built gas and charcoal combos we sell, with a hood for each fuel and a burner that lights the coals for you.
Build qualityA+
Gas performanceB+
Charcoal & woodA
VersatilityA
Ease of useA-
ValueB
46ā³ built-in Ā· 828 sq in main / 1,188 total Ā· 2 cast burners, 50,000 BTU Ā· 304 stainless Ā· $7,801.20 / $8,397 with rotisserie Ā· lifetime warranty on burners, grids and housing
Below: specs, how each side cooks, what wears, how it compares, and what installation takes. Still deciding on the category? Start with our gas and charcoal combo grills.
In this review
- Where the A830i Fits in the Fire Magic Aurora Line
- Specs and Price
- Cooking on the Gas Side vs the Charcoal Side
- Built in California From 304 Stainless Steel
- Pros and Cons
- A830i vs Other Charcoal Combo Grill Options
- Installing a Built-In Gas and Charcoal Grill
- Accessories Worth Adding
- Questions Owners Ask
Where the A830i Fits in the Fire Magic Aurora Line
Fire Magic sells three main lines of gas grills. Choice is the entry line, Aurora is the middle line, and Echelon Diamond is the top line; our Fire Magic brand overview explains each. The A830i is the only gas and charcoal model in the Aurora built-in range we carry, and our product page notes it shares many premium features with Echelon. See every model in our Fire Magic Aurora grills collection.
One welded firebox, two double-walled hoods: a gas grill with two cast stainless steel E-burners on one side, and a charcoal grill with a crank-adjustable tray and a charcoal side engineered around a 26,000 BTU burner that lights the coals. Each fuel has its own hood, so the charcoal side can stay closed and smoky while the gas side runs open.
Specs and Price
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| Spec | A830i |
|---|---|
| Price | $7,801.20 standard; $8,397 with rotisserie |
| Configuration | Built-in only (no freestanding or cart version) |
| Overall size | 52Ā¼ā³ W x 30ā³ D x 25ā ā³ H; 300 lbs |
| Cutout | 50Ā¼ā³ W x 19Ā½ā³ D x 11Ā½ā³ H (51Ā¼ā³ control panel width with countertop overhang) |
| Gas side | 2 cast stainless steel E-burners, 50,000 BTU total, hot surface ignition, flash tube backup |
| Charcoal side | Hand-crank adjustable tray, 26,000 BTU charcoal ignition burner, access door |
| Cooking area | 828 sq in main (432 gas, 396 charcoal), 360 sq in warming racks, 1,188 sq in total |
| Cooking grids | Diamond Sear stainless steel |
| Rotisserie | 8E version only: 13,000 BTU infrared backburner plus heavy-duty kit |
| Fuel | Natural gas or propane (separate SKUs) + charcoal or wood chunks |
| Steel | 304 stainless steel |
| Power | 120V GFCI outlet (ignition and lights) |
| Warranty | Lifetime on burners, cooking grids and housing; 15 yr valves and manifold; 5 yr flavor grids and infrared burners; 3 yr other parts; 1 yr ignition, electronics and accessories |
| Made | Fire Magic says its staff in California build its grills |
Sources: our product pages (prices October 17, 2026) and the Fire Magic A830i installation and use manual. The per-side split comes from the manualās grid sizes: two 18x12 grids on the gas side, one 18x12 and one 18x10 on the charcoal side.
Cooking on the Gas Side vs the Charcoal Side
The A830i is really two grills that share one firebox and one control panel. Here is what each feature does and how it changes the way you cook.
Gas side
Cast Stainless Steel E-Burners
Two 1/4-inch-thick cast 304 stainless steel E-burners put out 50,000 BTU across 432 sq in. Hot surface ignition lights them with a push and turn, and flash tubes let you light them with a match if power is out.
Why it matters: Fast, even heat for weeknight burgers, chicken and vegetables, ready after a 15-minute preheat.
Both sides
Diamond Sear Cooking Grids
Both sides use Fire Magicās trapezoid-shaped stainless rods. The wide, flat tops hold heat and give food more contact than round rods.
Why it matters: Deeper sear marks, less food slipping through, and lifetime warranty coverage on the cooking grids.
Charcoal side
Gas-Lit Charcoal Tray
A full-size charcoal tray sits over a dedicated 26,000 BTU burner. Pile charcoal or wood chunks on it, turn the charcoal knob, and shut the burner off after 5 to 10 minutes once the fuel has caught.
Why it matters: Real charcoal and wood flavor without a chimney starter or lighter fluid.
Charcoal side
Hand-Crank Tray Height
A crank on the front panel raises or lowers the whole charcoal tray while you cook, and an access door lets you add or spread coals without lifting the grids.
Why it matters: A heat dial for charcoal: coals up high for a steakhouse sear, down low for indirect cooking on ribs, brisket or whole chicken.
Both sides
Two Double-Walled Hoods
Each fuel gets its own spring-assisted, double-walled hood with its own thermometer, and both open a full 90 degrees.
Why it matters: Close the charcoal hood to hold smoke and steady heat while the gas side stays open for quick grilling. Both fuels can run at once.
Rotisserie model
Infrared Rotisserie Backburner
The A830i with rotisserie adds a 13,000 BTU infrared backburner on the gas side plus a heavy-duty kit with motor, hex spit rod, counterbalance and 4-prong meat holders.
Why it matters: Rotisserie chicken, prime rib or porchetta, roasted by radiant heat while the charcoal side handles everything else. Choose this version at purchase.
Gas side
Backlit Knobs and Halogen Lights
Blue LED knob lighting and dual halogen interior lights on the gas side, with extra-large analog thermometers on both hoods.
Why it matters: You can read settings and see your food after dark, which is when a lot of outdoor kitchen cooking happens.
Putting it together
On a Saturday, sear ribeyes over raised coals on the charcoal side while vegetables and chicken cook on the gas side. On a weeknight, skip the charcoal entirely and use the gas side like any premium built-in gas grill.
Built in California From 304 Stainless Steel
This is where the A830i earns its price. Fire Magic says its staff in California build each of its products, and the A830i is built the way premium grills should be:
- 304 stainless steel throughout. Housing, hoods, burners, cooking grids and flavor grids are 304 stainless, the grade used in premium outdoor kitchens because it resists rust and heat discoloration.
- Cast, not stamped, burners. The 1/4-inch cast stainless E-burners are far heavier than the thin tube burners on lower-priced grills.
- One welded firebox, two double-walled hoods. Built to hold heat in wind and cold and to keep the hoods from discoloring.
- A lifetime warranty on what matters most. Burners, cooking grids and housing are covered for life, valves and manifold for 15 years, and labor up to $120 for two years.
What to maintain
- Flavor grids (5-year coverage) sit over the burners and take the grease, so they are a normal replacement part.
- Igniters, halogen lights and thermometers carry a 1-year warranty. Owner threads online include loyal owners and strong warnings, so weigh them against these terms.
- The charcoal tray and charcoal drip tray (3088) take ash and live coals and are listed as replaceable parts.
- In wind, the manual says not to run the burners on high with the hood closed for more than 15 minutes.
The manual lists parts by number, such as the main burner (3042-50) and flavor grid set (3063-S-2); call us for parts. For Fire Magicās flagship line, read our Fire Magic Echelon review.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- āSeparate hood for each fuel
- āGas burner lights the charcoal
- āCrank-adjustable charcoal tray
- āCast stainless steel burners
- āLifetime warranty on burners, cooking grids and housing
- āRotisserie version available
Cons
- ā¢Only two gas burners, 432 sq in on the gas side
- ā¢Needs 120V power
- ā¢Needs an insulating liner in a combustible island
- ā¢Electronics covered for 1 year
- ā¢Rotisserie must be chosen at purchase
- ā¢Higher price than other combos we carry
A830i vs Other Charcoal Combo Grill Options
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| Grill | Price | Gas power | Cutout width | Key difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A830i (this grill) | $7,801.20 | 2 burners, 50,000 BTU | 50Ā¼ā³ | Separate hoods; gas-lit charcoal |
| Coyote Centaur 50ā³ | $4,899 | 2 burners, 30,000 BTU | 47Ā¾ā³ | Lower price; lump charcoal only |
| AMG Encore 36ā³ | $10,158.72 | 5 burners, 110,000 BTU | 35ā³ | Charcoal or wood over gas burners |
| Fire Magic A790i | $7,470.90 | 3 burners, 90,000 BTU | 37ā³ | Gas only, rotisserie included |
vs Coyote Centaur 50ā³
The Centaur costs $2,902.20 less and also puts gas and charcoal side by side with a crank tray. The A830i adds a burner that lights the coals, more gas power and room for wood chunks; Coyote lists lump charcoal only. Our Coyote Centaur review covers it in depth.
vs American Made Grills Encore and Muscle
American Made Grills puts multi-fuel trays over five gas burners, so the whole surface can be gas, charcoal or wood, and it includes a rotisserie, griddle and drop-in infrared burner. Choose the A830i if you want the fuels physically separated. Our hybrid grills guide explains both designs.
vs Fire Magic A790i (gas only)
If you will not use charcoal, the Aurora A790i built-in gas grill gives you three burners, 90,000 BTU, 792 sq in of main area and a rotisserie for $7,470.90. For more combos ranked side by side, see our best gas and charcoal grill combos guide, and for a brand matchup read Twin Eagles vs Fire Magic.
Installing a Built-In Gas and Charcoal Grill
The manual says a qualified technician must install it. Like any built-in grill, it has to meet the manualās rules. Key points (not a substitute for the manual or local code):
- The grill is not insulated. A combustible island needs Fire Magicās insulating liner.
- The enclosure needs four vent openings of at least 10 sq in each, two near the top and two near the floor.
- Rear clearance is 4ā³ to a non-combustible wall or 18ā³ to a combustible one, 24ā³ to side walls, and 5 feet to any non-combustible overhead structure.
- It needs a 120V, 15-amp GFCI outlet.
- It ships set up for one gas. Order the natural gas or propane version you need; converting later means new orifices, a regulator change and a new label, per the manual.
We do not list the A830i liner online; call us for it. Fire Magic says its grills are built in California, which puts it on our list of made in USA grills.
Accessories Worth Adding
These are the A830i accessories we stock, including pizza and rotisserie add-ons.
Accessory
Pizza Stone Kit
The Fire Magic Pizza Stone Kit sets a 14-inch cordierite stone in a stainless frame with handles, and includes a wooden peel.
Why it matters: Pizza night on gas for steady heat, or over live charcoal for a wood-fired style crust.
- A830 built-in cover (3649F), $172.80. Of all the grill covers we sell, this is the one cut for the A830.
- A830 heavy-duty rotisserie kit (3614G), $348.30, for the gas side; it turns up to about 60 lbs. Ask us before fitting it to a grill without the backburner.
- Rotisserie chicken holder, $47.40, and flat rotisserie basket, $55.80.
- Replacement cooking grids and flavor grids: call us. The infrared sear burner we list (3056A) does not name the A830 as a fit, so we do not recommend it here.
Accessories carry Fire Magicās 1-year warranty. See all Fire Magic gas & charcoal combo grills.
Questions Owners Ask
Is Fire Magic a good brand?
Yes, for buyers who want long-lasting built-in grills. Fire Magic uses 304 stainless steel and cast stainless burners, and it covers burners, cooking grids and housing for life. The trade-off is price and a 1-year warranty on ignition and electronics.
Which is better, DCS or Fire Magic?
Compare burner material, ignition and warranty side by side. The A830i has cast stainless burners, hot surface ignition and lifetime coverage on burners, grids and housing. We do not sell DCS, so check its current warranty directly.
Why are Fire Magic grills so expensive?
Heavy 304 stainless construction, 1/4-inch cast stainless burners, double-walled hoods, hot surface ignition and lifetime coverage on core parts. Fire Magic also says its grills are built by its staff in California.
What is the most reliable grill brand?
Judge reliability by burner material and warranty terms. Cast stainless burners with lifetime coverage, like Fire Magicās, are a strong sign.
What are the downsides of an infrared burner?
Fire Magic rates its infrared sear burner at up to 1,000Ā°F, so food can char fast and there is little low-heat range. On Fire Magic grills, infrared burners carry a 5-year warranty instead of lifetime. On the A830i, infrared appears only as the rotisserie backburner on the rotisserie version.
How do you light a Fire Magic grill?
Turn on the gas, press the knob in for about 5 seconds until the igniter glows, then turn it to HI LIGHT. If it does not light within 5 seconds, turn it off and wait five minutes. You can also light it with a long match through the flash tube. On the charcoal side, light the charcoal burner for 5 to 10 minutes, then turn it off.
Planning an island around the A830i?
Call 888-678-3530 for free outdoor kitchen design help. We will size the cutout, liner and venting with you.
Matthew Jackson
At the heart of our business is Matthew Jackson, the founder and owner of BBQ Kitchen Pros. With an impressive 20 years in design, construction, and implementation of outdoor kitchen spaces, Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge, skill, and a deep-seated passion to the table. It's not just about selling products; it's about crafting a lifestyle. Outdoor cooking isn't just our business; it's our way of life, ingrained in every recommendation we make and every product we offer.