(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: about 267 ratings (4% 1-star + 2% 2-star).
Tom's Guide's top pick, with presets, a self-clean cycle and a 10-year warranty. It is loud and costs about $500-550, and Wirecutter has not tested this newer series.
Top complaints
- Loud
Tom's Guide lists loudness as a con and measured about 81 dB on high (its guide's spec box says 93 dB max). Noise mentions on Amazon are mostly negative.
- Expensive
Tom's Guide's only other con is the price. Amazon's summary says some owners find it worth the money and others find it expensive.
- Low-profile jar and thick dips
Wirecutter hasn't tested the Ascent X series, but says earlier low-profile Ascent models were less effective than the 5200 at forming a vortex and blending small volumes. Tom's Guide found thick dips hard to scrape out from under the blades.
Source: Wirecutter, Tom's Guide best blenders
What owners love
- Extremely powerful
Tom's Guide gave it a rare 5 stars; its reviewer called it the most powerful blender she has used, and its smoothie mode produced very smooth results in about 45 seconds.
- Self-cleaning and dishwasher-safe
It has a self-clean cycle, and the jar, lid, blade base and seal are dishwasher-safe. Amazon owners say it is very easy to clean.
- Presets plus variable speed, 10-year warranty
Soup, smoothie and frozen programs sit alongside a 1-10 speed dial, and it works with Vitamix's other self-detect containers.
Source: Tom's Guide best blenders
- Noise bothers you
- You're on a budget
- You often blend small volumes (Wirecutter found low-profile Vitamix jars weaker at this)
- Hands-off presets (smoothie, frozen, soup)
- Easy cleanup with self-clean and dishwasher-safe parts
- A long 10-year warranty
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide: Best blender overall (guide updated 2026-08-04; review 2025-03-03): effortless on hard ingredients and easy to clean; cons are noise and price.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Not tested; older Ascent models it did test were not as effective as the 5200 at forming a vortex or blending smaller volumes.