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Bertello's current catalog is easy to summarize but hard to shop for: two core ovens now carry the SimulFIRE name, while most search results still describe a 2017 Kickstarter design as if it were current. That gap is exactly why a review needs to start with model identity, not feature count.
The pitch that separates Bertello from Ooni, Gozney, and Blackstone is simultaneous fuel. Bertello ovens are built to keep propane heat running while adding small hardwood splits to the tray, rather than forcing a choice between one heat source and another. That capability defines both the current 12-inch SimulFIRE Everything Bundle and the 16-inch SimulFIRE Rotating, two outdoor ovens that reach roughly 930–950°F at their maximum rated range.
This review covers those two current ovens in detail, explains what changed from the Napoli, Bertello One, and Grande generations, and separates genuine owner-reported reliability concerns from marketing claims. The goal is to give a clear decision path between the compact manual-turn 12-inch and the motorized 16-inch without pretending a legacy model is still the current choice.
If you're shopping "pizza oven Bertello" and you've already ruled out the larger mainstream brands, this is the buyer-neutral breakdown of what each model actually weighs, how the burners work, and which one earns its place for weeknight bakes versus larger batches.
Bertello Current Lineup at a Glance
| Model | Current status | Cooking surface | Stone | Fuel | Unboxed weight | Rotation | What's in the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertello 12" SimulFIRE Everything Bundle | Current platform | 13.39 × 12.36 in / 34 × 31.4 cm | 0.6 in / 15.25 mm cordierite | Propane + wood/charcoal/pellet tray | 41.9 lb / 19 kg | Manual | Oven, wood/charcoal/pellet tray, cordierite stone, gas burner, wood tray for gas burner, hose and regulator, 12" perforated peel, non-contact IR thermometer, weatherproof cover |
| Bertello SimulFIRE 16" Rotating | Current flagship platform | 16 × 16 in / 40.64 × 40.64 cm | 0.66 in / 16.75 mm cordierite | Propane + wood/charcoal tray | 59.48 lb / 26.98 kg | Motorized rotating stone | Oven, rotating cordierite stone, dual burner/wood tray, propane hose and regulator |
Quick verdict: The 12-inch Everything Bundle is the more defensible value pick for solo bakers and smaller pizzas. The 16-inch Rotating is the real upgrade for multi-pizza sessions and larger pies, but it adds weight and mechanical complexity. Neither is a grab-and-go travel oven despite the portability label.
Bertello 12" SimulFIRE — Overview
Lineage matters: Napoli to SimulFIRE
Bertello's product history is more useful than most brand stories because it explains the specs shoppers keep finding in old reviews. The company's roots go back to a 2017 Kickstarter for the Napoli Multi-Fueled Outdoor Pizza Oven. Shark Tank exposure followed in 2020, and the compact 12-inch platform was widely associated with the Bertello One name for several years.
The current 12-inch SimulFIRE is best understood as the present evolution of that same compact platform, not a completely unrelated redesign. Bertello's own FAQ still references a "Bertello One 12" Pizza Oven" manual, which tells you the naming change was never a clean break in the documentation.
What the current 12-inch actually is
The 12-inch SimulFIRE Everything Bundle is Bertello's compact multi-fuel platform with a 13.39 × 12.36-inch cooking surface and a 0.6-inch cordierite stone. The oven body is powder-coated carbon steel with stainless-steel internals, and with the gas burner fitted it measures 30.6 × 14 × 13.9 inches. The complete Everything Bundle configuration weighs 41.9 lb, which is substantially heavier than the older 29.98 lb oven-only figure often quoted in legacy reviews.
The defining feature is SimulFIRE: propane gas and wood can be burned at the same time. A separate supplied tray accepts wood, charcoal, or pellets, though Bertello's own FAQ generally discourages pellets because they can produce sooty black smoke. For wood-only operation, Bertello recommends a charcoal base with natural oak kindling.
The box contents are unusually complete: oven, wood/charcoal/pellet tray, cordierite stone, gas burner, wood tray for the gas burner, hose and regulator, 12-inch perforated peel, non-contact IR thermometer, and weatherproof cover. That included thermometer matters, because stone temperature is the most useful launch indicator on a fixed-stone oven.
Specs & What's in the Box
Bertello 12" SimulFIRE Everything Bundle
- Cooking surface: 13.39 × 12.36 in / 34 × 31.4 cm
- Stone: 0.6 in / 15.25 mm cordierite
- Construction: powder-coated carbon steel and stainless steel
- Dimensions with gas burner: 30.6 × 14 × 13.9 in / 77.7 × 35.5 × 35.4 cm
- Unboxed weight: 41.9 lb / 19 kg
- Boxed weight: 50.7 lb / 23 kg
- Fuel concept: propane plus wood/charcoal/pellet tray, with simultaneous gas + wood supported
- Warranty: Lifetime Limited Warranty on stainless-steel body/components for the original purchaser against material/workmanship defects under normal residential use; excludes normal wear, rust, misuse, alterations, and unauthorized components
What works well:
- Simultaneous gas + wood is a genuine differentiator, not a marketing label.
- The included IR thermometer, perforated peel, and weatherproof cover remove typical first-buy friction.
- Gas-only operation is predictable and easy to stabilize.
- The compact footprint fits standard patio tables and small outdoor prep stations.
What asks more from you:
- The cooking surface is tight for a true 12-inch pizza once you account for turning room.
- The rear stone can run much hotter than the front, so active rotation is required.
- Wood-only firing asks for noticeably more fire management than propane.
- The gas burner adds depth and weakens the "small portable oven" impression.
Build Quality & Durability
Bertello's build story is best described as functional rather than premium. The 12-inch uses a powder-coated carbon steel shell over stainless-steel components, which keeps cost down but is less corrosion-resistant than the full 304 stainless bodies found on some competing mid-range ovens. Owners commonly note slight finish deterioration around the rear hatch after extended high-temperature use, which is the kind of cosmetic wear worth knowing before you decide where to store it.
The Lifetime Limited Warranty deserves a careful read. It covers the stainless-steel body and components for the original purchaser against defects in material and workmanship under normal residential use. It is not a blanket lifetime guarantee against every failure or wear item, and it is non-transferable. Normal wear, rust, misuse, alterations, and unauthorized components are excluded, and the owner may remain responsible for shipping and handling. That last point matters if a replacement part is ever needed.
The pellet caveat is also a durability issue, not just a flavor issue. Because Bertello's own FAQ warns against pellets for sooty black smoke, using them heavily is a shortcut to a dirtier oven interior and more burn-off maintenance. Small kiln-dried hardwood splits on a charcoal base are the recommended path.
Performance — Heat, Fuel, and the Real Cooking Window
Bertello's headline temperature numbers are not where the real story lives. The current ovens can reach roughly 930°F, but stone temperature is the number you actually cook with, and it varies across the deck. Owners commonly report a substantial rear-to-front stone-temperature gradient on the compact Bertello platform. The practical result is that 10–11-inch pizzas are much easier to manipulate than a full 12-inch pizza because the mouth is tight and the rear runs hot.
The useful operating point is usually below the maximum stone temperature rather than assuming "hotter is always better." That aligns with what experienced Bertello owners recommend: use the included IR thermometer to check the stone before launch, make the first pizzas smaller than the theoretical maximum, and rotate aggressively. The temperature debate is common enough that Bertello's portability and heat claims are best judged against the pizza oven temperature guide rather than a marketing spec.
Fuel behavior is the second major performance variable. Gas-only operation is the most predictable configuration, which is consistent with a broad pattern across gas vs wood-fired pizza ovens. Adding wood to the tray introduces a rolling flame and some subtle flavor potential, but owners do not generally find smoke flavor to be an automatic improvement. The smart sequence is to learn on propane first, then add small hardwood splits for longer cooks or live-fire flavor.
Bertello 12" SimulFIRE vs Bertello 16" Rotating — Head-to-Head
The internal comparison matters more than any cross-brand matchup for most Bertello shoppers, because the two current models solve different problems.
| Feature | 12" SimulFIRE Everything Bundle | 16" SimulFIRE Rotating |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking surface | 13.39 × 12.36 in | 16 × 16 in |
| Stone | 0.6 in cordierite | 0.66 in cordierite |
| Unboxed weight | 41.9 lb | 59.48 lb |
| Dimensions with burner | 30.6 × 14 × 13.9 in | 33.46 × 19.80 × 17.99 in |
| Heat architecture | Single gas burner + wood tray | FlameThrower dual gas burners: below-stone and above-pizza |
| Rotation | Manual | Motorized rotating stone, AC or AA power |
| Included tools | Peel, IR thermometer, cover | Base package excludes peel, thermometer, and cover |
| Legs | Standard folding | Wide-stance folding |
Why the 16-inch exists
The 16-inch Rotating is not a renamed Grande. It is an engineering response to the legacy Grande's two biggest complaints: aggressive under-stone heat and the need for constant manual turning. The current 16-inch uses two separate gas burners — one beneath the stone and one above the pizza — plus a motorized rotating stone that runs from a mains cable or AA batteries. That directly removes the quarter-turn workload that defined the older fixed-stone platform.
The rotating stone was not an arbitrary invention. Owner communities were discussing aftermarket rotary-stone modifications for the Grande as early as 2022. Bertello then launched the factory rotating version through Kickstarter in 2024, raising $117,245 from 259 backers against a $10,000 goal. Real customer deliveries followed in 2025, and the oven is currently sold in recurring pre-order batches.
What the 16-inch still asks of you
The rotating stone solves turning, but it does not eliminate active heat management. The below-stone burner can still over-brown the base if the floor runs too hot, and the large 16 × 16-inch surface benefits from a smaller pizza during the learning phase. Rotation also introduces motorized components that the 12-inch simply does not have.
Another detail worth verifying before purchase: the current official base package does not list a Bluetooth thermometer. It was discussed around launch but does not appear in the current box contents. An IR thermometer remains the most sensible add-on, and several working accessories are covered in the best pizza oven thermometers guide.
Recommended Upgrades / Best Accessories
Bertello bundles already cover some of this, but the most useful upgrades are the same whether you buy the 12-inch or the 16-inch.
IR thermometer — highest priority for the base 16-inch package
The current 12-inch Everything Bundle includes a non-contact IR thermometer. The base 16-inch does not list one. Since stone temperature is the launch metric that matters, a separate IR gun is the first add-on for the 16-inch. It also helps verify recovery time between back-to-back pizzas.
Metal launching peel and smaller turning peel
A metal launching peel is included with the 12-inch bundle and available in several 16-inch accessory packages. A smaller turning peel is still useful even with the rotating stone, because you may need to correct placement or retrieve a pizza quickly. Perforated peels shed excess flour and reduce scorched semolina on the deck.
Weatherproof cover
Included with the 12-inch Everything Bundle and the 16-inch Essentials and higher bundles, a fitted cover is the simplest way to protect the powder-coated shell and keep the burner area dry. If your bundle does not include one, treat it as an essential first purchase rather than an optional extra.
Small kiln-dried hardwood splits
Simultaneous gas + wood works best with dry, small oak splits. Wet wood or oversized pieces produce excess soot and make the rear hatch harder to keep clean. A charcoal base plus small hardwood splits is Bertello's own recommended approach for wood-assisted cooking.
What to skip
Aftermarket front doors, fans, and mechanical alterations are discussed in owner communities, but they are unofficial modifications with genuine warranty and safety implications. Bertello's warranty excludes damage involving unauthorized components or alterations, so these are not casual upgrades to recommend on a current oven.
Who Should Buy the Bertello 12" SimulFIRE?
The 12-inch SimulFIRE fits a home pizza maker who wants the option of simultaneous gas and wood, has a small outdoor prep surface, and cooks one or two pizzas at a time. It earns its place when the priority is budget, included accessories, and a compact footprint. If your bakes are mostly 10–11-inch pizzas and you don't mind active rotation, it is the more sensible Bertello entry point.
It is less suited to those who want large New York-style pies, batch cooking for a group, or a hands-off bake. The tight mouth and rear-heavy stone mean a true 12-inch pizza is workable but not the natural comfortable size. Similarly, people who plan to travel with the oven should compare it against the lighter options in the best portable pizza ovens roundup before committing to 41.9 lb.
Who Should Buy the Bertello 16" Rotating?
The 16-inch Rotating is the better choice for multi-pizza sessions, 14–16-inch bakes, and anyone who wants to reduce the physical turning workload. The motorized stone, over/under burner layout, and wider floor make it more forgiving for beginners who want a larger margin for launch and repositioning. It also makes sense for people who specifically found the legacy Grande's constant quarter-turns frustrating.
The trade-offs are weight, cost, and mechanical complexity. At nearly 60 lb, it is a movable outdoor oven, not a portable appliance. The rotating drive adds a failure point that the manual 12-inch does not have, and current ownership signals include reports of shipping damage and rotation failures that are worth taking seriously without treating them as proof of a widespread defect. If you prioritize proven gas simplicity over multi-fuel flexibility, it's worth cross-shopping the best gas and propane pizza ovens before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which Bertello pizza oven is current in 2026?
Bertello's current catalog centers on two platforms: the 12-inch SimulFIRE Everything Bundle and the 16-inch SimulFIRE Rotating. The Napoli, Bertello One/Original, and non-rotating Grande are legacy generations that still appear in older reviews and used listings.
Q: Can you really burn gas and wood at the same time?
Yes. That is the core SimulFIRE feature — propane heat stays running while you add wood, charcoal, or other suitable solid fuel to the tray. This is different from ovens that convert between fuels or use one at a time.
Q: Does adding wood actually improve Bertello pizza flavor?
The flavor benefit is subjective. Gas-only operation is generally easier to control, and smoke flavor is not an automatic improvement. Many owners use propane for consistency and add wood for longer cooks or live-fire experience rather than as a guaranteed flavor upgrade.
Q: Are pellets recommended for the Bertello 12-inch?
No. The supplied tray can accept pellets, but Bertello's own FAQ generally discourages them because they can produce sooty black smoke. Small kiln-dried hardwood splits over a charcoal base are the recommended wood-only path.
Q: Is the Bertello 16-inch portable?
Not in the grab-and-go sense. It weighs 59.48 lb unboxed, and the 12-inch Everything Bundle weighs 41.9 lb. Both are movable outdoor ovens rather than genuinely portable travel appliances. For weight comparisons, see the best portable pizza ovens guide.
Q: Does the Bertello Lifetime Warranty cover everything?
No. The Lifetime Limited Warranty applies to the original purchaser for stainless-steel body/components against material and workmanship defects under normal residential use. It excludes normal wear, rust, misuse, alterations, and unauthorized components, and shipping costs may remain the owner's responsibility.
Conclusion & Final Verdict
The Bertello lineup occupies a narrow but real niche. It is the brand to consider when you specifically want simultaneous gas + wood in an affordable outdoor oven, and when you are willing to manage stone temperature with an IR thermometer rather than rely on a single dial. The current 12-inch SimulFIRE Everything Bundle is the more defensible budget pick because it includes a thermometer, peel, and cover, and because its manual platform has the longer ownership track record.
The 16-inch Rotating is the more interesting oven if you regularly cook for groups or want to reduce turning. Its motorized stone and over/under burner arrangement are a direct response to the Grande's heat-management problems, but they also add weight and moving parts. Current owner reports of shipping damage and rotation failures are reason to check bundle contents and support responsiveness before ordering, not reason to assume the mechanism is unreliable.
For a broader look at where Bertello fits among its competitors, start with the pizza oven brands compared guide. If you're still deciding between fuel types, the gas vs wood-fired pizza ovens comparison will help, and the pizza oven temperature guide is the right next read before your first launch.
