Vitamix A2300 vs A3500: Which is the Best Smart Blender for My Kitchen?

While looking at Vitamix Pro 750 and A3500 the other day, we saw Ascent can be a good blender for your smart kitchen. The product line is also the best option if you’d like to invest in the future of blending with the local brand. But then, which will be a much better option to invest in between Vitamix A2300 vs A3500?

As members of the Ascent family, both blenders share various features, starting with the proprietary Self-Detect technology. So, you can use either Vitamix blender for juicing single amounts without needing the bulky adapter.

Verdict: The 5 Reasons Vitamix A3500 is My Pick

• Vitamix A3500 is slightly quieter
• Vitamix A3500 has five metallic finishes
• Vitamix A3500 has a user-settable timer
• Vitamix A3500 has factory preset programs
• Vitamix A3500 has a stylish capacitive display

Vitamix A2300 vs A3500: An Overview on the Features & Specs of the Ascent Blenders

Is Vitamix A2300 Good Blender?

Absolutely! If you need a simple but smart blender for your kitchen, the Vitamix A2300 has the attributes. Of course, it has a more minimalist look than the A3500, but it’s also the cheapest of all the Ascent blenders.

As was mentioned above, the Vitamix A2300 still has the built-in NFC tag to work with the various self-detect containers. Then, there’s also a digital timer that lets you know how long your mixture has been blending.

Other pros & cons of the Vitamix A2300 you should know about include:

Pros:

• It’s easy to use for even seniors
• Handles ice and frozen foods well
• Delivers velvety smoothies with no grains
• Comes with a full 10-year standard warranty
• Easy to see inside the container when blending
• It fits nicely under the standard 18-inch cabinet

Cons:

• The blender is still relatively loud
• It struggles to pair with the Perfect Blend app
• The centering pad makes the containers rock slightly

Is Vitamix A3500 a Good Blender?

If you’re looking for a smarter blender for your state-of-the-art kitchen, the Vitamix A3500 will be my recommendation.

Yes, of course, Vitamix the Quiet One still has the most automated-blending programs, variable speeds, and least noisy. But it’s a commercial blender, whereas the Ascent machine’s specifically for household use.

Also, the built-in wireless connectivity in Vitamix A3500 makes it possible to work on large or small batches without splattering issues.

Other pros & cons of the Vitamix A3500 are:

Pros:

• It has a sleeker styling
• Has presets & settable timer
• Delivers creamy blends & fast
• The lid locks firmly to the container
• Also easier to see inside the blending jar
• It’s slightly quieter than most Vitamix machines

Cons:

• It’s more expensive than Vitamix A2300
• The centering pad makes the containers rock slightly

Vitamix A2300 vs A3500: Comparing the Features & Capabilities of the Blenders

Pricing

Honestly, all Vitamix blenders are expensive. However, the Vitamix A2300 has a regular tag of $449.95, which is usually about two hundred bucks cheaper than the A3500.

Of course, the provider is currently running a holiday offer for the Vitamix A3500 at $562.58 (instead of $649.95). But the deal’s a limited-time thing and still over a hundred dollars more expensive than the A2300.

Winner: Vitamix A2300 as it’s relatively cheaper by up to $200.

Accessories

Since the launch, Vitamix has always offered all the Ascent blenders with a motor base and only the full-size blending accessories. And this includes a low-profile 64-oz pitcher, tamper, plus a recipe book. So, you’ll have to purchase the blending cup & bowl starter kit separately if you’d like to make single smoothies and dips.

Winner: Both as Vitamix offers the blenders with only the basic accessories.

Design & Build

Vitamix kind of created all the Ascent blenders from scratch. If it’s the base, the smart blenders have some sweet curves on the sides, plus a deeper control panel and clean bevel than the previous machines.

However, the Vitamix A3500 still steals the scene differently than A2300 from the touchscreen display and the digital dial. It also has multiple premium finishes, including brushed stainless, copper, and graphite, which are more appealing than the regular colors.

Better yet, the premium finishes comprise a metal shell on top of the tough plastic housing. Thus, you’ll notice the blender is relatively quieter (80s decibel) than the Vitamix A2300 (90s decibels), which has only the standard colors.

Winner: Vitamix A3500 as it has a sleeker style and quieter scene when blending.

Blending Power

Vitamix designed the A2300 and 3500 with the 2.2-peak horsepower motor. And since they’re both dedicated high-power blenders, you can grind coffee beans or make crushed ice and other recipes with tough ingredients without a hassle.

Furthermore, the two Ascent blenders have a built microprocessor speed control. And similar to the Vitamix 750 and 780, this system will protect the motor when blending high loads at very low speeds.

Simply put, the “microprocessor control” helps control the power and maintain the speed during the blending before reaching the maximum speed. Hence, avoiding the risk of stressing up the motor.

Winner: Both as they’re high-power blenders and with a 2.2-peak horsepower output.

Speed Control

As I’ve just said, Vitamix designed the A2300 and A3500 with the 2.2-peak horsepower motor. And this is the same motor innovated for the G-Series blenders to operate the low-profile container (which has longer blades). So, you’ll notice the blending speed for the two Ascent blenders is pretty much the same.

Furthermore, Vitamix A3500 and A2300 have a soft start, which means the motor start running slowly, then ramps up high. Thus, it has less risk of splattering when you start blending on high, unlike the classic Vitamix 5200 with no soft start.

That said, though, A3500 has a digital knob that always reset back to “0” after completing blending. Then, Vitamix A2300 has the traditional knob, but is larger and also with more visible numbers than on the C-Series and G-Series blenders.

Winner: both since they have ten variable speeds and similar blending speeds- 23,000RPM.

More Containers

First, all the Ascent blenders have their low-profile container with a clear lid, which gives a better view of the mixture. The lid cover also locks on the pitcher with a click.

Meanwhile, the pitcher and also the power base of the blenders have built-in NFC wireless connectivity. So, you can blend with either the self-detect 64-ounce, 48-ounce, or even 20-ounce and 8-ounce cups by mounting them directly to the motor. No need for the bulky adapter as with the C-series and G-Series blenders

In 2016, Vitamix also promised to introduce more self-detect containers for its family of smart blenders. And in 2020, the team released an attachment that you can use your Vitamix as a food processor for chopping, dicing, shredding, and slicing thin or large pieces more consistently.

Winner: Both as their base units can only work with self-detect containers.

Ease of Use

As mentioned earlier, all Vitamix blenders have a dedicated high-power motor that blends by pummeling through the ingredients. It can even handle whole foods like carrots and bananas, plus halved apple chunks and regular ice cubes.

However, when we now compare the Vitamix A3500 vs A2300 controls, the latter has physical switches for the Pause and Start/ Stop. So, it’s a perfect piece if you’d like to add a classic touch to your smoothies or gift a senior.

On its end, the Vitamix A3500 has all capacitive touch controls for Pause, preset programs, Timer, and Start/ Stop function. So, it’s a perfect option if you’d like to add trendy technology to your kitchen.

Winner: Vitamix A3500 as it has cool touch controls and digital speed dial

Walkaway Convenience

Last but not least, you’ll notice both Vitamix A3500 and A2300 claim to support automated blending via the Perfect Blend App. The free mobile app has up to seventeen programs that you can send to the ascent blenders via Bluetooth.

Nonetheless, the app still requires a massive improvement to do away with the constant crashes. It is also a hassle to pair the app with an Android device. So, there’s no guarantee of walkaway blending with the A2300 since the integrated timer is not user-settable- only counts up.

As for the Vitamix A3500, the integrated timer has the option to set your desired blending time (up to 6-1/2 minutes). It also has five default preset programs for making frozen desserts, smoothies, soups, and spreads.

Winner: Vitamix A3500 as it has factory preset programs and a user-settable digital timer

Related Questions

Is Vitamix A2300 dishwasher safe?

Before, Vitamix claimed only the compact S-series can be washed in the dishwasher. However, the new manual now says Vitamix A2300, A2500, A3300, and A3500 are dishwasher safer. But even then, I’ll still recommend hand washing with soap water to maintain the desired longevity.

How loud is Vitamix A3500?

The acclaimed premium finish on Vitamix blenders comprises a thin layer of metal on the tough plastic housing. So, you’ll notice the Vitamix A3500 has a noise level of 80s decibels, which is not as loud as the A2500 blasting 90+dB.

What can Vitamix A3500 do?

Simply put, Vitamix A3500 can do all the tasks other regular blenders tend to struggle. Such tasks include making a simple smoothie, crushing dry ice for snow cones, plus grinding coffee and grains for flour. In the newly-released food processor attachment, you can also use the Vitamix A3500 to chop or shred fine consistent pieces of veggies for salads and straws.

In Conclusion

Both Vitamix A2300 and A3500 are great picks if you want a smart blender you can use with various containers without the adapter. Either machine also has a high-power motor that allows you to blend even the toughest ingredients without leaving any chunks or grains.

That said, though, Vitamix A3500 is still my favorite pick. True, the Vitamix A2300 is cheaper, but it only supports automated blending via the mobile app, which isn’t very reliable.

The A3500 already comes with factory-default preset programs and also a timer you can set your preferred blending time. So, the programs on the app will be to expand the “full potential of the blender”.