I have both the older and the newer.
First of all, the grill, kettle, and lid are the same.
I prefer the older. A little more heavy, meaning substancial. The 5lb tank is nice. I fill around once a year, for a few bucks, at a station right by my house. Very nice!
I never pour the charcoal from the bag into the bin. Seems counterproductive to me. I just put the whole bag in there. Less dust and mess. When I cook with either one, I pull the bag out, fill the chimney, and set it aside. Only when I'm done cooking do I put the coal back into the bin for storage. The "drawback" of clearing off the table to get to more charcoal never becomes an issue.
I like the looks of the stainless steel better than the plastic top.
The older one just seems better quality, even though the kettle is the same.
The new style performer is still the best new charcoal grill you can buy.
Either way, you are set!