Head-to-head · Best Blenders for Smoothies

Vitamix 5200 vs Vitamix Explorian E310

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Vitamix Explorian E310 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.8 vs 4.5). Vitamix Explorian E310 is best for: one-to-three-person households who want Vitamix smoothie quality without paying flagship 5200 prices. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Blenders for Smoothies

Vitamix 5200

4.5

1 source$479.99as of Oct 3

The Vitamix 5200 is the best-overall smoothie blender and a longtime America's Test Kitchen favorite. Its 2-peak-HP motor and tall 64 oz container produce the smoothest results in this lineup, and TechGearLab calls it "a smoothie maker's dream." Price, footprint, and noise are the trade-offs. It makes sense for households committed to daily blending, who will amortize the high price over a decade-plus of use.

Strengths

— Top of the pack for smoothie texture in TechGearLab testing — no flakes, chunks, or unblended greenery
— 7-year full warranty (noted by America's Test Kitchen) — longest here — plus friction heating that can cook hot soup
— America's Test Kitchen's longtime top pick across multiple review cycles

Watch-outs

— $449 is by far the most expensive pick
— Tall container won't fit under most upper cabinets while docked, as America's Test Kitchen notes
— No preset programs or auto-iQ shutoff — you run it manually

$479.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Blenders for Smoothies

Vitamix Explorian E310

4.8

2 sources

The Explorian E310 is the value Vitamix. It gives you the brand's signature smooth texture and the same manual variable-speed control as the 5200 for around $100 less. TechGearLab scored it 85/100, above the 5200's overall score in the same rubric, and RTINGS calls it "remarkable for multi-purpose use." The 48 oz container is smaller, so it fits one-to-three-person households better than large families.

Strengths

— Compact 48 oz container fits more cabinets than the 5200's tall jar
— Exceptional at ice crushing and can hot-blend soup, per RTINGS multi-purpose testing
— 5-year full warranty covering parts, labor, and shipping

Watch-outs

— No smoothie presets — you run the dial manually
— Still a $350 machine — a big step up from sub-$200 options

Buy at walmart.com Full review →

How they stack up

Vitamix 5200

The smoothest and most durable pick, and the priciest. The Vitamix Explorian E310 delivers nearly identical texture for less money in a smaller 48 oz jar; the Breville Fresh & Furious and Ninja BN701 are roughly a third the price but leave more grit with berries and greens.

Vitamix Explorian E310

The value-Vitamix: nearly the Vitamix 5200's texture for about $100 less, but in a smaller 48 oz jar. Smoother and far more durable than the Breville Fresh & Furious and Ninja BN701; bigger and far more capable than the single-serve NutriBullet Pro 900.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Vitamix 5200	Vitamix Explorian E310
Power	1491W (2 peak HP)	1380W (2 HP)
Capacity	64 oz	48 oz
Speed Control	Variable 1-10 + Pulse	Variable 1-10 + Pulse
Programs	None (manual)	None (manual)
Container Material	BPA-free Tritan	BPA-free Tritan
Dishwasher Safe	Self-cleaning	Self-cleaning
Warranty	7-year full	5-year full
Footprint	20.5 in tall docked	17.5 in tall docked
Dimensions	8.75"D x 7.25"W x 20.5"H	11"D x 8"W x 18"H
Wattage	—	1380W

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