Will the smoothies or soups made using Vitamix 5200 vary from those made using the Vitamix 5300?This is a question many people asked when looking for the best blender to use at home or in commercial establishments. However, you will realize that while this question is being asked often, what buyers are looking for is functionality, reliability, durability and value for money.
Following years of research and experience, it is clear that the Vitamix family of blenders has the most powerful variety of blenders. In its fold, Vitamix has 5200 and 5300 models as its most popular blenders. These blenders are also super powerful and make exceptional smoothies. Both are also part of the C-Series.
However, there are major differences between the two. They include:
Features
Motor
The Vitamix 5200 is powerful and it has a 2-peak horsepower that spins fast crushing your ingredients to make smoothies in seconds.
But, the newer Vitamix model (Vitamix 5300) also wields a lot of power. It has a 2.2-peak horsepower motor which gives the blender more torque; and in combination with the larger blades and a built-in cooling fan, it is more efficient.
You should note that these two blenders don’t exude a big difference in terms of the power in the motor.
Looking at the blending performance, both blenders produce almost similar results although the 5300 creates more consistent smoothies and soups. The reason for this boost in performance could be the extra 0.2 horsepower, the wider base and the diameter of the blades.
Noise Levels
These two blenders have the same kind of housing for the motor. This means that they have the same level of noise dampening. The 5300 blender is, however, slightly louder than the 5200 because of the extra power in the motor.
Containers
These C-Series blenders have containers that are incompatible with each other. The difference between the two blenders is visible with the Vitamix 5200 having a classic container.
On the other hand, the Vitamix 5300 has a low-profile design. You will also note that the 5200 features a small base meaning that it holds small batches of ingredients. The Vitamix 5300, on the other hand, has a wide base and it holds larger batches; making it ideal for larger families and multiple servings.
The size and the design of the containers also affect the storage space. The low-profile Vitamix 5300 fits under most kitchen cabinets, but the Vitamix 5200 may fail to fit under the kitchen cabinet. The 5200 model is 20 inches tall while the 5300 model is 17.5 inches tall.
The only similarity between these two blenders is the presence of a tamper that makes it easy to evenly crush and add ingredients.
Other than the container, you will also note that the lid in either the 5200 or the 5300 blenders is exceptional. It fits snug making the blender spill-proof. The lid is also 2-part vented and it has a removable and a twistable plug. Therefore, you can add ingredients without making a mess.
Blades
Both blenders have hardened and laser-cut stainless steel blades. The blades are dull to the touch, but they are tough to consistently cut through your ingredients with the help of the brute motors. There is a difference though: the blades of the 5200 are 3 inches in diameter while the ones in the 5300 are 4-inches. As a result, the Vitamix 5300 blender has a larger cutting area which results in a higher level of efficiency.Interface
The ease of use varies between the two blenders. The Vitamix 5200 comes with a high feature that is lacking in the Vitamix 5300 blender. Therefore, the 5200 is easier to use and manipulate than the 5300.
However, both blenders feature the pulse function, the 10-level variable speed knob and the on/off toggle. They are fairly easy to use. The variable speed control function gives you control over the speed of the blending process. Also, the variable speed is ideal for cutting large chunks of your ingredients. 1 is the lowest speed, and 10 is the highest speed.
The location of the control panels vary. It has three knobs with the speed control in the middle, the power button on the right side, and there is another button on the left. In the 5300, the left button is the pulse function while this left button allows choosing between the high and the variable speed in the 5200 Vitamix model. The 5200 model lacks a pulse function, and this is the 5200 blender’s biggest downside.
Ease Of Cleaning
You can clean both blenders by manually scrubbing it with a cleaning sponge. Manual cleaning of a Vitamix 5300 is easier than cleaning the 5200 because the 5300 has a wider base which makes it easy for your hands to maneuver the bottom part of the blender.
Also, these blenders can self-clean. For self-cleaning, you’ll need to add some warm water into the blender then add a drop of dish cleaner. You’ll have to run the blender at low speed gradually increasing the speed until the container is clean.
However, you have to be careful not to get used to self-cleaning because minerals tend to accumulate leaving the container cloudy and displeasing.
Safety And Efficiency
Both blenders have built-in radial cooling fans which prevent overheating increasing the machine’s lifespan. The Vitamix 5300 is, however, superior to the Vitamix 5200 blender as it comes with a thermal protection system on top of the radial cooling fan.
Price
The Vitamix 5300 blender is cheaper than the Vitamix 5200 blender.
Verdict
The Vitamix 5300 is the newer version and an upgrade of the 5200 Vitamix model. It comes with a few extra features. These additional features are the ones that make the Vitamix 5300 a clear winner in its battle with the Vitamix 5200.
Both blenders have a 64-ounce capacity, but the 5300 has a low-profile, hence fits under kitchen counters easily compared to the classic Vitamix 5200.
The 5200 blender is also cheaper, more powerful and it has a higher blending power.
