Nexgrill 720-0888S Review: The Ultimate Midsize Gas Grill

Overview of the Nexgrill 720-0888S

The Nexgrill 720-0888S sits in the practical middle ground that many backyard cooks actually want: enough grilling space and burner flexibility for family dinners, but not so much size that it dominates a patio or becomes a chore to use. In that sense, this model fits the everyday grill buyer better than the once-a-summer entertainer. The strongest case for the 720-0888S is simple: it aims to make weeknight cooking feel easy while still giving you the control to handle steaks, chicken, vegetables, and mixed meals without feeling cramped.

For a review like this, the right way to evaluate the grill is to think in terms of workflow. How fast does it get ready? How evenly does it cook? How much effort does it take to keep clean? Those questions matter more than any single feature. Nexgrill’s own brand positioning emphasizes approachable, value-focused outdoor cooking, and the 720-0888S reflects that idea well: it is designed to be usable rather than intimidating, with a layout that makes sense for people who want dependable gas-grill basics instead of a complicated feature set. Nexgrill describes its products as built for inclusive, real-world gathering around food, which matches the 720-0888S’s practical, no-frills appeal

Performance Highlights

The most important performance question is whether the 720-0888S preheats quickly enough to support real-life cooking habits. Based on the model’s use case and the kind of feedback this grill class typically receives, the answer is yes for most homeowners: it is the kind of grill you can fire up, give a sensible preheat window, and start cooking without waiting forever. That matters because gas grills are bought for speed as much as flavor. If you grill after work or on a busy weekend, a fast warm-up can be the difference between using the grill often and leaving it covered for months.

Temperature versatility is the other major strength. A good midsize gas grill should do two things well: create enough heat for searing and hold a steadier lower zone for foods that need a gentler finish. The 720-0888S is better understood as a flexible cooking platform than as a specialty machine. That means burgers, asparagus, shrimp, brats, chicken breasts, and even thick-cut pork chops are all realistic fits. If you manage the burners thoughtfully, you can create direct and indirect zones, which gives the grill far more range than a simple hot-spot burner setup. That flexibility is especially valuable for casual grillers who do not want to babysit food every minute.

Consumer-facing review coverage and parts resources also suggest that this is a grill people keep using over time, which usually means the fundamentals are doing their job: ignition, grate layout, and burner function. Consumer Reports has published a product page for the Nexgrill 720-0888S, and parts suppliers maintain model-specific listings, both signs that this is a widely recognized, serviceable grill platform rather than an obscure one-off

Design and Features

The design of the 720-0888S is best judged by how little it gets in your way. Its appeal is not luxury trim; it is a layout that supports normal grilling without a steep learning curve. That is where this grill can make a strong impression. A midsize cart, sensible cooking area, and familiar control layout reduce the friction that sometimes keeps newer owners from using their grill regularly. The more intuitive a grill feels, the more likely it is to become part of the weekly cooking rhythm rather than just a backyard accessory.

Feature-wise, buyers should focus on the basics that actually affect cooking. Burner count and grate surface determine how well you can separate direct heat from a cooler holding area. Lid height matters if you cook bone-in chicken, thicker chops, or larger vegetables. Side surfaces and storage may look secondary on a spec sheet, but they determine whether you can season, rest, and plate food without running back into the kitchen. On a practical level, those small conveniences are what make the difference between an enjoyable grill and a frustrating one.

If you are comparing the 720-0888S against higher-priced grills, do not expect every premium feature. Instead, judge whether the core build supports stable cooking and easy cleanup. That is the fair way to review a value-oriented gas grill. Nexgrill’s broader product philosophy emphasizes approachable outdoor cooking for a range of households, and this model fits that pattern: enough function for regular use, without asking the buyer to pay for unnecessary complexity

User Experience and Assembly

User experience begins before the first cook, and assembly is where many grill reviews are won or lost. The 720-0888S is helped by the fact that its instruction set is widely available, which usually makes the setup process more manageable for do-it-yourself buyers. Nexgrill’s manual availability for the 720-0888S indicates that the brand supports this model with model-specific documentation, which is exactly what owners need when they are lining up hardware, gas connections, and burner components

For most buyers, the best assembly strategy is to sort every fastener first, identify the major panels, and assemble on a flat surface with a second person if possible. That sounds basic, but it prevents the most common frustration: mixing up left and right components or tightening parts too early. Once built, the grill should feel straightforward to operate. A clear control panel, predictable lid handling, and uncomplicated cleanup routes are what make a grill feel friendly rather than fussy. That matters because a user-friendly grill gets used more often, and regular use is where value really shows up.

The 720-0888S is therefore best suited to cooks who want a reasonably quick path from box to first burger. It is not about mastering elaborate techniques on day one; it is about reducing friction so that ordinary grilling feels easy and repeatable.

Try comparing two products side by side below to see which fits best:

Maintenance and Replacement Parts

Once you have compared the 720-0888S with another grill, the next question is what ownership looks like after the first season. That is where maintenance matters. A midsize gas grill can last much longer when owners keep grease, ash-like debris from food, and moisture from building up around key components. The good news is that the 720-0888S appears to have a practical parts ecosystem, with model-specific replacement listings available through parts suppliers. That is important because the easiest grill to maintain is the one you can actually service with named parts instead of improvising fixes

The maintenance routine should be simple: brush the grates after cooking, empty and clean grease collection areas often enough to prevent buildup, and check burner performance at the start of each season. If flame patterns look uneven, that usually points to residue or burner wear rather than a mysterious failure. Replacement parts pages for the 720-0888S are useful because they help owners identify what to refresh before small issues become cooking problems. For most grill owners, that means igniters, burners, cooking grates, and hardware should be treated as normal wear items over time rather than emergencies.

If you are unsure about a maintenance step, the operating instructions and assembly documentation are worth keeping on hand. They provide a reference point for safe setup and routine use. Having the manual handy is especially valuable after the grill has been stored for a season or moved to a new location, since propane connections and component placement deserve a fresh inspection before the next cookout

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest mistake with the 720-0888S is treating it like a high-end competition pit and expecting every temperature transition to be instant or every zone to behave identically. It is a practical gas grill, so the right technique matters. Preheating too briefly is another common error. If the grill has not had enough time to stabilize, food is more likely to stick, brown unevenly, or cook slower than expected. A little patience up front usually produces better results than repeatedly turning knobs higher.

Another common issue is ignoring airflow and spacing. Overcrowding the grates blocks heat movement and makes it harder to build proper sear marks. Owners also sometimes skip the first-season inspection because everything looked fine out of the box. That is a mistake. Even a straightforward grill benefits from checking fasteners, burners, and gas connections before the routine of regular cooking sets in. Finally, many buyers forget that replacement parts matter. When a grill is used often, small wear items need attention. Delaying those fixes usually leads to hotter frustration than hotter food.

Final Thoughts on the Nexgrill 720-0888S

The Nexgrill 720-0888S makes the most sense for a buyer who wants a midsize gas grill that is useful, approachable, and not overbuilt. Its strengths are the ones that matter most to everyday owners: practical preheat behavior, workable temperature flexibility, and a layout that does not demand a steep learning curve. It is not trying to be the most premium grill on the market. It is trying to be one you actually use, and that is often the better test.

If your priority is weeknight convenience, a manageable footprint, and the ability to cook a range of foods without fuss, the 720-0888S is a strong fit. If you need heavier-duty construction, specialty smoking capability, or maximum entertaining capacity, you may want to compare it against larger or more specialized Nexgrill options. But for the typical suburban backyard cook, this grill offers a sensible balance of performance and ownership ease, which is exactly what a good midsize gas grill should do.

Sources

• Consumer Reports: Nexgrill 720-0888S grill review