Ooni have recently launched a new version of the Karu 12 pizza oven range and added a G to its name – the ooni karu 12G.

The Ooni Karu 16 has a 16-inch cooking surface which is perfect for cooking bigger pizza. 

The Ooni Karu 12G has a slightly smaller cooking surface of 12 inches, making it a more compact option.   The Karu 12G is lighter in weight and more portable than the Karu 16.  The Karu12G weighs 15.5kg (34.2lbs) and the Karu 16 weighs 28.4kg (62.6 lbs) that is nearly double the weight.

So lets find out what the other key features are between the Ooni Karu 12G and the bigger version, the Ooni Karu 16. 

They both have foldable legs and the relative compact size of these ovens mean that storing them is easy to do.  You can remove the chimney, the stone and the grate burner to store separately from the oven and this makes the ovens lighter to carry.

They both are fuelled by wood and lump wood charcoal with the option of buying the gas burners as an option.  Having these multi- fuel choices give you the opportunity to cook differently based on your preferences and the environment you are cooking in.

Setting them up is quick and straightforward.  The new 12G has a powder coated exterior shell that fits in with the look of the other Ooni pizza ovens and matches the Karu 16.  Both are easy to wipe down and clean.

They both reach a high temperatures quickly, up to 932°F (500°C). This heat is crucial for achieving that authentic Neapolitan-style pizza with a crispy crust and beautifully charred toppings.

The cooking experience with both these ovens are fun and enjoyable. Just heat up your pizza stone to 430c/810f in the centre and you are ready to cook. It takes just a minute or two to cook a pizza, thanks to the intense heat generated by the flames at the back. 

There are some differences in size however.  

They both have good sized grates for both lump wood charcoal and real wood logs.  

They both have a clear glass door.   I love to see the pizza cooking and the glass lets you do that with ease.  It is a good size on both ovens and you can easily see inside.  It keeps itself clean and I love it.  I just wipe down with a dry cloth after cooking.  

Even though they look structurally similar in style they are different in size, they still offer similar options and features.  The new 12G measurements are on the screen, 74.5 x 72.8 x 42.7 cm (29.7″ x 28.7″ x 16.4″) and the  Karu 16 measurements are: 81 x 50 x 83cm (31.9 x 19.7 x 32.7″)

The pizza cooking stone area for these ovens are: Karu 16 = 42.42 x 42.42cm (16.7 x 16.7″) and Karu 12G is :33.7cm x 33.7cm (13.27” x 13.27”).