There is no questioning the Vitamix brand when blenders are concerned. Responsible for the production of some of the most loved household and commercial blenders to date, this brand is as close to blender royalty as any can get.
The Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is another blender from these blending giants, and on paper, this blender is everything we all know and love about Vitamix blenders; it’s high-powered, solidly built, and reliable. But is it really?
Does the A3500 live up to expectations, or does it fall short of what we have come to know as the Vitamix experience? In this article, we provide an in-depth Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender review to answer these questions and provide you with all the information you need about this blender.
Meet the Blender: Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender
The Vitamix A3500 blender is a blender from Vitamix’s Ascent Series, the brand’s smart blender collection. Similar blender’s from the brand’s Legacy/Classic Series like the Vitamix 5200, these blenders are said to be just as powerful and reliable, with just one major distinguishing property; they are smart blenders.
The A3500 is one of these smart blenders with a digital touchscreen control that has five pre-programmed icons (for smoothies, hot soups, dips and spreads, frozen desserts, and self-cleaning). It also features a pre-programmed timer which lets you present your blending time allowing you to blend without the need to monitor the process.
Like other blenders from the Ascent Series, the A3500 also features Vitamix’s SELF-DETECT technology which lets the motor base automatically detect the size of the blender jar or cup placed on it and the number of ingredients it contains so as to determine the ideal blending factors.
Simply from all of these, the Vitamix A3500 is already an impressive machine with features that will be considered modern or even futuristic by current market standards. But do these features actually translate into a better blender and performance? Below is an in-depth analysis to answer this question and more.
A Closer Look at the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender
We’ve vaguely described the incredible qualities of this technological marvel. Now, we’re going to be taking it apart to see what makes this machine work the way it does, as well as its price and warranty among other things.
Build Quality of the Blender
Vitamix blenders have always been known for being solidly built and high-quality products. We reviewed the Vitamix 5200 earlier and we had nothing but great things to say about this blender. A quick look at the Vitamix A3500 and you can tell that this blender lives up to that standard.
On closer inspection, the A3500 doesn’t disappoint. Everything from the motor base on this blender to the jar looks and feels durable. Even the blender tamper that comes in the box. They also all fit together perfectly.
Jar
The Vitamix A3500 blender comes with Vitamix’s low-profile 64-ounce container which is designed to fit on the average countertop and easily slides under the average cupboard. Like all Vitamix containers, this jar is made with premium quality BPA-free plastic and is solidly built leaving you with a jar you can count on for years to come.
The low profile design of this jar means a shorter but wider jar, unlike Vitamix’s classic 64-ounce large-capacity container which is taller and narrower. This wider design allows for more ingredients to reach the blades faster and is a great choice for carrying out more tasking blending operations like creating nut butters and crushing ice.
The jar on this particular blender also features the Ascent Series’s revolutionary SELF-DETECT technology which allows the blender base to automatically detect what kind of container is being used. The container also comes with Vitamix’s self-cleaning feature, a program that allows the blender to clean itself in just a few seconds. Add to that the fact that this container is dishwasher-safe, and you get a blender jar that is absolutely a joy to clean.
Along with the jar comes Vitamix’s patented two-part lid which is designed to be leak-proof and features a removable lid plug that can be removed to allow you to add more ingredients to the blender, make use of the blender tamper that comes in the box, or provide ventilation when hot blending. The removable lid plug can also be used as a measuring cup when needed.
This jar is equipped to handle all you need it to from making smoothies, nut butters, and even making soups and carrying out other hot blending needs. It is however not designed for dry blending. For that, you’d need the Ascent Series Dry Grain Container.
Blades
The Vitamix A3500 blender comes with hardened stainless steel blades, designed to cut through tough ingredients. The Vitamix A3500 blades are made through a laser cut to ensure a precise and consistent shape and texture free of any type of imperfection. You also don’t have to worry about sharpening the blade for a while, as they are made to stay sharp even after repeated use.
A mix between sharp and dull edges, the blades on the A3500 blend ingredients by both shreddings and crushing to produce the smoothest of blends possible. This is further helped by the beautiful vortex these blades produce which is further enhanced by the ingenious design of the blender jar which lets ingredients fold in on themselves.
Motor Base
The Vitamix A3500 smart blender features a solidly built motor base that just screams high-tech. Where most Vitamix blenders come with motor bases that feature just two buttons and a dial, the A3500’s motor base features a dial, two buttons, and a touch-control panel and display.
The buttons and the dial on the A3500 do what you’d expect from Vitamix controls; the dial controls blending speed, one button is an on/off switch, and the second pulses the blender. The touch control is where things get interesting. The blender comes with five preset blending programs
; smoothies, hot soups, dips and spreads, frozen desserts, and self-cleaning, as well as controls to increase or decrease blending time.
Being a smart blender, this motor base lets you do so much more than other Vitamix blenders, providing you with controls that let you blend without supervision. Here, you can simply choose a blending program or set how long you want your blender to blend and get to work on something else.
Powering all these smart blending features is a 1641 W motor which is more than enough to handle anything you through at it. From whole fruits to ice to nuts, if it can fit into this blender, you can be sure this blender will blend it.
Noise Level
Another impressive aspect of the Vitamix A3500 blender is its noise level. Despite having a very powerful motor, the blender is moderately quiet for the power it produces. This is because of the blender’s insulated motor housing, which muffles the sound of the motor. At about 88dB, this blender is relatively quiet for a 1641 W motor. This is a big plus for people who would like to use this blender in a shared living space.
Clean Up
Cleaning the Vitamix A3500 blender is incredibly easy, thanks to its self-cleaning feature. To clean the blender, simply fill the container with warm water.
No disassembly is necessary; simply combine warm water and a drop of dish soap, tap on the self-clean icon, and watch it self-clean in 60 seconds.
Storage
The Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is quite large and may take up a lot of counter space. That being said, the low-profile jar that comes with this blender makes it possible to fit most counters and cabinets, so you likely have nothing to worry about.
Warranty
The Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender comes with a 10-year full warranty. The warranty covers defects that may come from the materials used or workmanship, and it provides for free repairs or replacement if the blender breaks down due to a manufacturing defect. You need to note that the warranty doesn’t cover the usual wear and tear, misuse, or abuse of the blender.
Price
Like other Vitamix blenders, the A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender is a high-end blender that comes at a premium price. At the time of this writing, the blender retails for about $700, making it one of the most expensive household blenders on the market. That being said, this blender is most definitely worth the price with its quality build, smart blending features, high performance, and reliable, long-lasting nature with up to 10 years of warranty. If $700 is something you can spend on a blender, then this is definitely a blender to consider.
Want to save some money? You can purchase refurbished Vitamix A3500 blenders at much cheaper prices. You could also get them on sale on Amazon.
What Does This Blender Excel At?
The Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender excels at many things, making it one of the most versatile blenders on the market. Its powerful motor and excellent blades make it an excellent choice for creating smooth blends and pulverizing tough ingredients like nuts, ice, and frozen fruits. We found the Vitamix A3500 an especially great choice for:
Making Smoothies and Shakes
Vitamix blenders are always great at making smoothies and shakes, and the A3500 is no exception. Smoothies made on the A3500 then to have unbelievable consistency with a smooth, even feel. The preset smoothie program makes making smoothies on these blenders even easier.
Making Hot Soups
Everything about the A3500 makes it a great blender for making soups. From its powerful motors which can drive the blades at incredible speeds to the high-quality blades and jar which can withstand high temperatures, this blender turns raw ingredients into steaming soup in 10 minutes without any damage.
Making Spreads
Not every blender can handle making spreads, especially the more demanding ones like nut butters. The A3500 on the other hand makes creating these spreads look easy. Not only does this blender create some of the most consistent homemade spreads you’d ever see, but they also have a preset feature that lets you make these spreads without the need for any supervision. All you have to do is turn on the blender, place the ingredients in the jar, click on the “dip and spread” button, and the blender does all the work for you!
Automated Blending
This is what makes this blender stand out the most. Being a smart blender, the A3500 excels at blending without supervision, allowing you to automate the blending process with ease. If you need a blender that requires very little supervision and allows you to multitask while blending, then this is the blender for you.
Is this Blender a Good Fit for Me?
The A3500 is one of the most versatile blenders you’d ever set your eyes on, making it a great choice for a vast majority of people. The high performance and reliable nature of this blender also makes it a great choice for professional use. That being said, if there is one main disadvantage of this blender, it will be the price. At over $600, this blender costs quite a bit. If you aren’t comfortable with this price point, then the A3500 isn’t the right blender for you. If you have no problem with spending such an amount on a blender, however, then the A3500 is one blender you will not regret purchasing.
A Comparison To Other Blenders
When it comes to comparing the Vitamix a3500 ascent series smart blender to other blenders on the market, it stands out for its powerful motor, smart features, and overall build quality. However, it’s important to note that there are other high-quality blenders available that may better suit your needs, depending on your budget and intended use.
For example, the Ninja Professional Blender is a powerful and affordable option for people who want a blender for occasional use. The Blendtec Classic 575 is another high-quality blender that offers many of the same features as the Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender but allows you to not break the bank.
Final Word
In conclusion, the Vitamix a3500 ascent series smart blender is an exceptional blender that is well worth the investment for anyone who enjoys blending and wants to create healthy and delicious drinks and meals at home. With its powerful motor, smart features, and high-quality construction, this blender is sure to provide you with years of reliable use and enjoyable blending experiences. While it may be expensive, the investment is worth it for the quality and versatility it provides.