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OptiGrill vs SuperGrill

Updated: 16 October 2026

The OptiGrill vs SuperGrill decision is about control style, not which badge looks newer. An OptiGrill uses programmes and a thickness sensor to guide doneness, while the SuperGrill 3-in-1 XL uses a manual thermostat and can open flat through 180 degrees. Choose OptiGrill for guided contact cooking. Choose SuperGrill for flexible lid positions and a broad barbecue surface. The [Tefal contact grill comparison](/hub/grills-and-barbecues/tefal-contact-grill) shows the individual models and captured prices behind that distinction. This page is from the Products Compared editorial team on 16 October 2026. It is not a lab test. A qualifying amazon.co.uk purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

The OptiGrill vs SuperGrill decision is about control style, not which badge looks newer.

Our top picks

Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ XL GC722D40

Best overall

Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ XL GC722D40
8.8/10about £129.99
View offer
Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ GC713D40

Alternative

Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ GC713D40
8.4/10about £155.55
View offer
Tefal Tefal SuperGrill 3-in-1 GC520DG1

Alternative

Tefal Tefal SuperGrill 3-in-1 GC520DG1
7.0/10about £114.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What each Tefal grill is designed to do
  2. 2.Programmes versus thermostat and barbecue mode
  3. 3.Plate size, power and cleaning
  4. 4.Price and everyday value
  5. 5.Which should you buy?

What each Tefal grill is designed to do

OptiGrill is a family of automatic contact grills. You choose a programme, wait for preheat, add food and follow a colour indicator or digital prompt. It senses thickness after you open the lid fully and close it. Higher tiers add programmes, but the promise stays guided two-sided cooking. SuperGrill GC520DG1 is a manual 3-in-1: lid on the food, upper plate raised as an oven, or both plates open flat. Three thermostat marks set heat. There is no thickness sensor. Choose SuperGrill to control time and turn food, especially open. Choose OptiGrill for prompts with the lid closed. Neither replaces safe preparation.

Programmes versus thermostat and barbecue mode

OptiGrill programmes help when the foods you cook are on the list and you want the machine to adapt to thickness. After the purple preheat, open the lid fully, load, and close without pressing. The indicator then moves through doneness stages. It does not replace a food thermometer where internal temperature matters. SuperGrill uses one thermostat level. In contact mode both plates cook at once. Flat, you turn food as on a griddle. The oven position leaves space above thicker sandwiches or melting toppings. That flat opening is the decisive difference. Food can spread across the stated 800 cm² if the worktop allows. The researched OptiGrill listings do not establish a 180-degree function. Programme order is in the guide to using a Tefal OptiGrill.
Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ XL GC722D40

Testsieger

Tefal Tefal OptiGrill+ XL GC722D40
8.8/10about £129.99
View offer

Plate size, power and cleaning

Tefal states 800 cm² and 2,200 W for the UK SuperGrill 3-in-1 XL. Comparison material places standard OptiGrills around 600 cm² and larger versions around 800 cm². Check the model code, because retailer sizes can conflict. XL is not a measurement. SuperGrill, OptiGrill+ and OptiGrill+ XL in this set are presented with removable, dishwasher-safe plates. Let parts cool, use non-metallic tools, and keep the body out of water. Wattage should not decide it: either is a heavy load on an earthed socket. Stop if it trips. OptiGrill notes include a short cord. SuperGrill notes include hinge sag. Neither theme proves every unit is affected.

Price and everyday value

In this capture SuperGrill was £114.99 and OptiGrill+ XL was £129.99. That gap is too small to decide how you cook. SuperGrill is not a cheap OptiGrill with the electronics removed. It buys a different lid. It is the stronger value if you will use 180 degrees often. If you leave it closed and wish it would signal doneness, that versatility is wasted. OptiGrill+ XL is the stronger value when automatic guidance is the point. The Tefal contact grill buying guide places both among Inicio and Elite alternatives.

Which should you buy?

Buy an OptiGrill if you want programme guidance, mostly cook with the lid closed, and will follow the preheat-and-load sequence. Match plate size and programme tier to the menu you actually cook. Buy SuperGrill for contact, oven and flat-open cooking in one appliance, including food spread across both plates. You choose the thermostat, turn the food and judge doneness, and you should check the hinge if lid position matters. Skip both until the UK plug, model code and footprint are clear. SuperGrill needs more horizontal space when open. An OptiGrill needs clearance above the raised lid and a socket the lead can reach.

Common questions

Does SuperGrill cook steak automatically like OptiGrill?
No. SuperGrill uses a manual thermostat, so you choose the heat and decide when the steak is ready. OptiGrill uses a programme, thickness sensing and doneness cues. With either machine, apply safe food handling and use a thermometer when an internal temperature check is appropriate.
Which Tefal grill opens flat?
The SuperGrill 3-in-1 XL GC520DG1 opens through 180 degrees into barbecue mode. That exposes both plates as an open cooking surface. The researched OptiGrill listings do not establish this function, so buy SuperGrill if flat opening is non-negotiable.
Do both have dishwasher-safe plates?
SuperGrill and the researched OptiGrill+ models are presented with removable, dishwasher-safe plates. Confirm the exact OptiGrill model because the range varies. Dishwasher-safe parts do not include the powered body or cord, which must never be immersed.
Which is better for a family?
It depends on the meal. A large OptiGrill is better for guided closed-lid batches, while SuperGrill’s 800 cm² open surface is better when you want to turn and spread food. Compare usable dimensions and storage space rather than relying only on the word XL.
Is SuperGrill cheaper because it lacks a sensor?
The missing sensor is one design difference, but price also reflects stock and promotions. In this capture, SuperGrill cost £114.99 versus £129.99 for OptiGrill+ XL. Treat that as a snapshot and choose according to lid flexibility versus automatic guidance.
Can SuperGrill work as an oven grill?
It offers a raised oven position in addition to contact and flat-open modes. This leaves space between the upper plate and food, useful for thicker items or toppings. It is still a countertop grill, not a full enclosed oven with equivalent temperature control.

Related pages

Best Tefal contact grill

Tefal contact grill

Tefal contact grill buying guide: check control first

Clean Tefal OptiGrill plates: cool, wash and refit

How to use a Tefal OptiGrill: preheat, load, colour

Sources

Listing prices and ratings are from the amazon.co.uk files for these eight ASINs, kept on 15 October 2026. The public sources below cover the maker claims, the plug guidance, and the 30-day right to reject.

  1. Tefal shop: OptiGrill+ GC713D40 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. Tefal shop: OptiGrill Elite GC750D40 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. Tefal UK: two-year guarantee (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. Tefal UK: repairability and spare parts (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. Electrical Safety First: portable grills (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. Electrical Safety First: plugs and fuses (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. Tefal UK: PTFE and PFOA-free claim (retrieved 15 October 2026)