The RFX Wireless Meat Thermometer is the newest thermometer from ThermoWorks. This thermometer set has a very reliable and stable connection via their patent-pending radio frequency technology.
The RFX thermometer has 4 internal sensors that can withstand higher temperatures for multiple methods of cooking such as deep frying and high heat grilling. This set also comes with a separate wired ambient sensor monitor for more accurate readings slightly away from the meat.
Table of Contents
RFX Performance
Based on multiple tests and checking out all of the features, I give the RFX meat thermometer a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. Read on to see how I came up with this rating and scores.
| Features: | 10/10 |
| Design: | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use: | 8/10 |
| Performance: | 9/10 |
| Accuracy: | 10/10 |
| Battery & Charging: | 9/10 |
| Maintenance: | 10/10 |
| Overall Score: | 9/10 |
PROS:
- Stable connection
- Accurate & quick readings
- Reduced tip & smaller diameter for less damage to the meat
- Great for different types of cooking methods with the ability to submerge in hot liquids
CONS:
- Mobile App doesn't have as many features as other brands.
- Currently there isn't Bluetooth mode available, although it is a plan in the future. This may be a con for those who would like to cook camping or tailgating, etc.
How We Tested
To put this wireless thermometer to the test I started with an ice bath test and a boiling water test. Then I smoked a whole chicken and also smoked some Ribeyes with a reverse sear on the flat top.
- Ice Bath Test
- Boiling Water Test
- Cook Set Up (on mobile app)
- Distance Test
- Ambient Sensor comparison
- Internal Temperature accuracy
Review & Test Results
Features
Long Range Monitoring: The signal is supposed to reach up to 1,500 ft between the probe and the RFX Gateway (when unobstructed and in direct line of sight).
Worry Free Battery-life: The RFX lasts for more than 50 hours on a quick 10-minute charge.
High Heat Capabilities: The probe handle was designed to withstand temperatures up to 1,000°F.
Reliable Connection: This system boasts that the signal can blast through ovens, smokers, and your home's wall.
Data Connected to the Cloud: When connected to Wi-Fi, your cook's data is synced in ThermoWorks Cloud as soon as you start cooking.
True Ambient Temperature Measurements: The RFX comes with a separate ambient temperature probe that plugs directly into the RFX GATEWAY avoiding any cooling zones around the meat.
Room for growth: As you keep adding probes to your collection for multiple cooks, this system can support up to 50+ probes.
Water proof probe: Can fully submerge these probes for washing, deep frying, or even sous vide cooking.
⭐ Features Rating: 10/10
Design (a lot of equipment, base display would be nice)
Probe
The RFX probe is 4.69 inches with a reduced tip for less damage to your meat. The diameter is .21 Inchs which I felt was a nice smaller diameter compared to some of the other models we have been testing for a wireless thermometer. The length seems perfect for all types of cuts of meat including smaller steaks and or chicken breasts. There also is a recommended immersion line.
They included a hefty amount of colored bands that you can add to the probes to know which probe you are using for your cooks. The amount they give you should cover your additional probes if you ever buy more for a lonnnngggg time.
Note that the bands can only withstand temperatures of up to 600° before having the potential of melting. So use caution or remove for any super high heat cooking such as over a campfire.
Base
The base itself is a slim magnetic block with a LED light that lets you know if it is charging or charged. It does NOT have a display to view your temperatures such as the Typhur Sync Gold Dual that I have come to love. So you will have to open your app up every time for viewing your temperatures. It also requires batteries, unlike some of the other brands ability to re-charge via an USB cable.
The good news though, they come with some so you can get started upon arrival. Also, the Thermoworks manual says that the app will notify you within a year that it is time to change out your batteries.
Gateway
The Gateway is the interface that connects the probe to your phone or the Cloud for data transmission. It operates via patent-pending sub-GHz RFX wireless technology. Currently, you do need Wi-Fi to send real-time data to the ThermoWorks Cloud and mobile app. Currently, there is no offline mode. To clarify up a little confusion, we reached out to their customer service and they were quick to respond. ThermoWorks claims that there will be a firmware update that will allow for direct Bluetooth connection between the Gateway and phone without Wi-Fi.
It does have a green light showing that it is on. Also, on the back it lets you know what the light signals mean. Which is helpful to someone like me. You don't have to refer to a manual or hop online to see what the lights mean. Bonus points. It is rather clunky and large not quite a sleek design.
Gateway Probe
The RFX ambient sensor is a WIRED probe that connects to the gateway. The wire itself is over 4 feet long which is a decent length. It also comes with a clip that will hold the probe in place inside of the smoker or grill.
Now since this internal sensor probe is wired, it may not be suitable in a situation where you can't monitor the temperature, such as searing in a fire box. There aren't too many situations where you would be approaching the 1000 degrees that the RFX probe can handle.
Something else to consider on the wireless range is that the ambient probe is wired directly to the gateway itself. This means if you're monitoring ambient temperatures, you'll need to keep the gateway physically close (the wire is 4 feet).
⭐ Design Rating: 7/10
Ease of Use (easy to set up but no bells and whistles)
Start Up
When I first open the box, I was a little surprised/ overwhelmed with everything that was in there. To be honest, wasn't sure what some of the items were. Not that that is a bad thing- just was surprised. After a little reading on their website and the brochure, I was able to get started.
What I loved was that everything was charged so you can get everything up without needing to do a full charge on the base like other models usually require. It did say to plug in the gateway for pairing.
When I actually got to the testing and cooking part, I was easily walked through the steps of set up on the ThermoWorks app. First I had to pair the gateway and then the probes which actually worked quickly in SECONDS. I did not have any connection issues or loading screens. It was a fast set up for sure.
You pick a color band (which they give you tons of) and set that up as your channel.
Mobile App
The ThermoWorks mobile app works as your display, it is not an additional tool. That being said, I think there is a lot of room for improvement on the technical side. Did it do its job? Yes. But the majority of other wireless thermometers on the market have a pretty detailed app with a lot more options as far as predictive cooking and options to help get you started quicker.
Here you can see your probes temperatures from the main screen and then click through to the graph that has a little more detail.
There is NOT an option to set up a particular type of cook, such as selecting a brisket under beef category. Or a whole chicken under poultry such as other apps like the Meatstick, Typhur, or Meater. It has one drop down menu that shows you the Chef Recommended temperatures so that you know what to aim for, but you can't click it. You have to manually set your High Temperature alarm to the temperature you are looking for.
There are only about 3-4 scrolling feature content images at the bottom where you can click through to ThermoWorks website for some recipes and articles. This wasn't as detailed as the Typhur app where there is an entire section in the app dedicated to recipes and tips and you stay in the app to explore it.
⭐ Ease of Use Rating: 8/10
Performance (solid connection & interesting ambient monitoring)
The RFX Meat probes has the ability to monitor 4 internal sensors. This is great when you are cooking large cuts of meat and looking for precise monitoring. This system also provides the separate Pro-Series Air Probe for more accurate ambient temps. The ThermoWorks website says (with some testing displayed) that when there are internal ambient sensors built in such as in some of the other thermometers that we have been testing such as the Meatstick V and the Typhur Sync Gold Dual, that there is a chance for inaccurate readings due to the evaporating zone around the cool meat.
My Traeger was giving me a reading of 277° (which I had it set to 275° for the chicken). The RFX was reading 265°.
On a separate cook, I tested the ambient readings between the Traeger, the RFX, and the Typhur. The Traeger and the RFX were reading 228° at the same time the two separate wireless probes for the Typhur were reading 219° and 230° degrees.
According to independent testing and manufacturer insights, wired probes tend to provide more accurate ambient temperature readings. Wireless probes inserted into the meat often read lower due to the cooling zone caused by evaporative moisture coming off the meat — especially during the early stages of a cook.
While wired probes can read slightly higher, since they’re placed away from the meat and the metal wire can conduct heat into the sensor, they still offer a more reliable picture of the overall cooking environment compared to wireless probes measuring ambient temp from inside the meat.
Speed of readings
For a wireless probe, I found the readings to come in pretty quickly. Readings would change between 4-8 seconds during the cooks and change of temperature when opening the smoker, etc. The ice bath test took about 15 seconds to come down to 32 degrees. That was pretty fast compared to the TYPHUR probe that took about 40 seconds.
Range
As far as the connection range I took a long walk away from the Gateway and had no issues with readings at a long distance which is expected with using the radio waves. In the house, I didn't have any connection issues either.
Then I took the Gateway with me in a few different directions away from the probe and made it about 300 ft before losing connection. That was through one wall and around a few blocks with houses and trees. So not quite a clear shot for that 1500 ft range that they boast. Their website does say approximately 560 ft obstructed. I did find that it took a long time to find the reconnection back toward the house.
⭐ Performance Rating: 9/10
Accuracy (spot on results)
Ice Bath Test
Upon receiving this product, I wanted to start off with an ice bath test. So I filled up a large glass with ice and water. The readings came in pretty quickly for both probes to 32 degrees F.
Boiling Water Test
I also wanted to check on the boiling water point. So I fired up a pot of water to a rolling boil and tested both probes. The highest they came to was 210°. ThermoWorks websites has a whole page dedicated to learning how to properly do this. They also tell you to put in your elevation and it will give you your point of boiling according to your location. I am in Michigan- and it says 210° so spot on.
The Cooks
For the first cook, I decided to smoke a whole chicken. The chicken was cooked perfectly and read within a few different degrees in a few different spots throughout the meat.
We smoked up some juicy Ribeyes and then tossed it on the flat top for a reverse sear. Same thing, the steaks were cooked perfectly.
⭐ Accuracy Rating: 10/10
Battery & Charging (Longer life & pre-charged)
The RFX boasts that the probe will last for more than 50 hours on a single 10-minute charge. I liked that it came readily charged and ready to use. I made it through both cooks with the battery. Then I left it off of the charger for a few days before I performed the boiling water test. It needed to be charged before the boiling water test.
The base comes with a AAA battery that will need to be replaced in the future unlike some of the other wireless thermometers that we have been testing that come with a USB cable for recharging. Their website says you can get about 175+ full charges per AAA battery.
The Gateway needed to be plugged it with the provided cord in order to pair the device.
⭐ Battery& Charging Rating: 9/10
Maintenance (Dishwasher safe)
The probe is fully submergible so you can easily toss it into the dishwasher if you want to just wash it with some warm soapy water. I assume over time the ambient sensor probe will get brown/be a little harden to wipe clean after multiple cooks.
⭐ Maintenance Rating: 10/10
Value
This ThermoWorks product is on the higher side starting at $168 for the starter set which includes the gateway and probe. There are other options that go up from there. The set that we tested (with 2 probes) is listed at $239.00. If you were just purchase an additional probe you are looking at $89.
Our Video Review
Common feedback
Positive Feedback:
- Many users are finding the connection very reliable.
- The majority of the users say that their results are very accurate.
- Some of the users enjoyed the simple set up process.
Negative Feedback:
- Many negative comments are on the higher price point but justify it with the quality and accuracy after receiving it.
- There are a few complaints on the products not being rechargeable via a cable.
- Some say the app can use some work and more features.
FAQS
What kind of battery does the probe's base need?
The RFX base comes with an AAA battery that will need to be changed one a year. The ThermoWorks app will notify you when it is time to replace.
Can you use the RFX without WIFI?
Currently you do need Wi-Fi to use this system. In the future when the "offline" mode becomes available, you will be able to have a direct connection from the Gateway to your smartphone Bluetooth connection.
Should you buy?
Overall I thought that the accuracy, stability in the connection, and the design of the RFX Meat probe itself is very valuable. If you are looking for more accurate ambient sensor readings, this may be the product for you.
The ThermoWorks brand is very trusty and I have faith they will make some improvements in the future to help this be one of the best wireless thermometer kits on the market. If you are looking for a more sleek, portable design with a display on the base, this product is not for you.
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