The Vitamix A3500 blender is a powerful smoothie maker that can also crush ice, cleans easily, and comes with an impressive 10-year warranty.
This Vitamix model can also connect wirelessly to the company’s Perfect Blend app, unlocking seventeen preset programs and more than 500 step-by-step recipe instructions with nutritional information. Given its capacity and versatility, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the best blenders on the market. However, at $649, it’s also one of the most expensive blenders.
See for yourself in our Vitamix A3500 blender review whether you should opt for this model or opt for a less expensive alternative.
Vitamix A3500 Blender Review: Price and Availability
The Vitamix A3500 blender sells for $649, but can usually be found on sale for $599 at online retailers like Amazon and Macy’s. While some retailers only offer it in graphite and brushed stainless steel, the blender is also available. available in copper if you buy it as a bundle with the food processor accessory ($849).
Vitamix A3500 Blender Review: Design
The Vitamix A3500 blender uses a four-blade design (two flat and two angled) that makes it especially capable of producing thick drinks with ultra-smooth textures. The five pre-programmed controls are touch screen style and are complemented by a variable speed touch dial that allows for precise control. A large plastic tamper also helps keep things moving when ingredients need a little push in the right direction.
At 64 ounces, it’s one of the largest capacity blenders we tested; only BlendTec Total Blender Classic and Breville The Super Q Blender had larger containers. The tamper (which is a huge police-like club) is useful for getting ingredients into the blades, although it still had trouble with nut butter.
At 14.8 pounds, the A3500 was lighter than the Breville, but almost twice as light as the BlendTec.
Vitamix A3500 Blender Review: Ease of Use
Of all the blenders we tested, the Vitamix A3500 was the easiest to clean; and we found it unnecessary to even run the entire cleaning cycle. If you choose to run the full auto-clean cycle, you’ll be pleased to know that the machine has an excellent seal and is very stable, so unlike other blenders with less effective auto-clean modes, the A3500 won’t leak. water if left unattended during self-cleaning.
Cleaning the Vitamix A3500 jar after making smoothies is very easy and usually requires no more than a quick 10-second rinse. The maximum speed cadence in the blender’s automatic mode efficiently extracts unforgiving ingredients from the nooks and crannies of the jar. During this process, soapy water is pushed from top to bottom, leaving the blender squeaky clean and ready for your next recipe.
Vitamix A3500 Blender Review: Performance
Vitamix is widely considered the most professional blender for serious cooks and home chefs, and the A3500 excelled at just about everything we threw into its spacious 64-ounce/6-cup jar. The ultra-creamy shakes came together in under a minute and had a really satisfying mouthfeel that had us scraping the jug with our fingers for more. Crushing ice is one of the most challenging tasks for a blender, and the A3500 produced such consistent ice you’d think it came from a proper ice maker.
However, oat milk proved to be a challenge. While the blender produced a milk-like texture, it was accompanied by an unattractive chalkiness. It did a better job of tackling the hummus than most blenders we tested, but the hummus still ended up chunky or too watery, there was no smooth middle texture. Like a sports car, the A3500 wants to go very fast and furious; Otherwise, it produces uneven performance at lower speeds while making hummus. However, when it comes to smoothies, this blender is king.
Although the blender didn’t do particularly well at making nut butter and produced an overheating smell when attempting the task, it managed to do better than all the other blenders. If you’re set on making nut butter, you’ll be better off with a proper food processor, but if you want a machine that can do it all, this blender is your best bet.
Vitamix A3500 Blender Review: Smart App and Connectivity
This is the only blender we tested that also connects wirelessly to the Vitamix Perfect Blend app via Bluetooth for iOS, iPadOS, and Android. Through the app, you can unlock seventeen preset programs, over 500 step-by-step recipe instructions, and nutritional information.
Vitamix A3500 Blender Review: Verdict
The Vitamix A3500 is a powerful, easy-to-clean blender that crushes ice like a pro and will make the best smoothies you’ve ever had. At almost 15 pounds, the blender is heavier (and weighs almost 5 pounds more than the Breville Super Q and Hamilton Beach Professional 1800W blenders), but it does a better job of crushing ice and is easier to clean than both.
Although this blender comes with a premium price tag, it comes with an impressive ten-year premium warranty. If you prioritize ultra-smooth smoothies and perfectly crushed ice, this machine is worth investing in. If you plan to use your blender more to make oat milk and hummus, you’d be better off saving a few hundred dollars and getting the Hamilton Beach Professional 1800W Blender. But if you want a blender that excels at just about everything and you’re willing to pay for it , then the Vitamix won’t steer you wrong.
