In this article, we will be pitting two of Vitamix’s next-generation blenders together: The Explorian Series Vitamix E310 vs E320.
Though known as ‘Vitamix’s budget blenders’, this doesn’t mean they’re not as powerful as the rest of their offerings. In fact, they’re just as capable as the flagship C-series 5200 which is about a $100 more expensive.
The cheaper price doesn’t mean lower build quality either. Their blades are made of the same aircraft-grade stainless steel that you’d find on the pricier models like the 7500 and the 750.
In this article, we’re going to be taking a close look at what each model has to offer. So if you’re on the fence right now, this should help you decide whether the Vitamix E310 or the E320 is better for you.
Vitamix E310 vs E320 – A Brief Comparison
Before we dive in-depth into the features of each blender, let’s sum them up briefly:
Vitamix E310 Review
Probably the biggest selling point of the Vitamix E310 is the value for money. It’s got a lot of the features that made the Vitamix Classic line great but at the relatively cheaper price of $350.
Although the E310 costs less than the Flagship C-series 5200, it’s even got the pulse feature which the latter lacks. This makes the E310 just as versatile as most other Vitamix blenders, despite the ‘budget’ label.
The E310 is a little less powerful than the E320 on paper and its smaller container restricts the number of servings per blend.
The Pros
- One of the cheapest Vitamix blenders out there
- The Pulse feature allows you to achieve chunkier consistencies
- The 48-ounce container is ideal for smaller batches of food
- Under-cabinet storage is easy thanks to the low-profile container it comes with
- You get more color options than with the E320 (black, white and red)
The Cons
- Its motor is 10% less powerful than most other next-generation Vitamix blenders including it’s the biggest rival, the Vitamix E320
- It has smaller blades than the E320 which means that it is slightly less efficient at blending
- It lacks the blending presets that some of the next generation Vitamix blenders have
- The container isn’t ideal if you’ve got a large family.
Vitamix E320 Review
At first glance, the Vitamix E320 might seem identical to the E310 but there are a couple of key differences. Probably the biggest advantages that the E320 have over E310 are the more powerful motor and the larger blades. This makes blends slightly more consistent, even though overall performance between the two blenders is still quite the same.
The Pros
- It has a motor that’s 10% more powerful than both the flagship and the E310
- It’s got larger blades than the E310, which means more cutting area and thereby more efficiency
- It has both the pulse feature and the variable speed dial
- The 64 oz container can hold more food.
The Cons
- Slightly more expensive than the E310 at $370 brand new
- It’s an inch taller than the E320, which may make under-cabinet storage slightly difficult
- The larger container makes blending small batches a bit tough
- Like the E310, it lacks blending presets
- It comes in black only.
As you can see, the two blenders are quite identical except for a few minor differences. In the next section, we’ll take a look at what these differences might mean for you.
Features
The Motor and Blades
As we’ve mentioned above, the Vitamix E320 comes with a slightly more powerful motor than the E310, with a difference of 0.2 horsepower. Even though that’s a ten percent increase, the actual performance isn’t too different. You can blend everything from a light soup to a hard block of cheese with either blender. It’s just that the Vitamix E320 might do it a bit more efficiently.
This 10% increment in horsepower is actually a necessity for the Vitamix E320. This is because unlike the Vitamix E310, the E320 comes with a pitcher that’s got a wider-base. Because of this extra area, the E320 requires larger blades (an inch greater in diameter). The additional 0.2 horsepower helps to drive these larger blades.
The blades in both blenders are in-built so no assembly is required.
Cooling Systems
Both the Vitamix E320 and the E310 are fitted with radial cooling fans to protect them against overheating. In addition, both blenders are equipped with thermal sensors and will switch off automatically if they get too hot. If this happens, you’ll have to wait for 20 to 40 minutes before you can use the blender again.
Noise Level
The Vitamix E310 and the E320 are as noisy as any other high-end blender. They’ve got a silicon pad beneath the base of the blender, meaning that you can get rid of the rattle. However, if you’re expecting the relative quietness of models like the Vitamix 7500 and the Professional Series 750, then you’re going to be disappointed.
At the lowest speed setting, you’ll get around 90 decibels while the highest setting will push it up to 100 decibels.
The Controls
The interface is identical in both blenders and rather minimalistic. It includes the following controls:
- On/Off switch – gets the blades to start and stop
- Variable speed dial – you can select speeds from 1 to 10, with the latter being the fastest. At their fasters, both the Vitamix E310 and the E320 produce enough friction to actually heat up the ingredients you’re blending. This is quite useful when you’re making soup
- Pulse button – the pulse feature is great for making salsa and sauces. Once toggled, the blades will start to perform a kind of chopping maneuver instead, resulting in a more chunky consistency.
Ease of Use
Operating either blender is quite easy. Here are a few simple instructions and practices to follow:
- Always pour in any liquids first. Then put in the dry and soft foods
- Always make sure the lid is securely snapped on to the container before you switch on the blender
- Ensure that the dial is turned to Speed 1 when you turn on the blender
- Increase to the desired speed setting gradually
- Decrease speed gradually when you’re done blending
- If certain ingredients get stuck to the top of the container, use the included tamper to push them to the bottom.
Cleaning
Note that neither the Vitamix E310 nor the E320 are dishwasher safe. That’s no problem because cleaning them is quite easy. After some light use, all you need to do is fill up the container halfway with water, add a drop of dish soap and then turn the dial to the lowest speed setting.
Gradually increase the speed until the soapy mixture reaches the top of the container. Keep the blender running this way for a couple of minutes.
After some heavy blending, you may have to scrub manually using warm water, dish soap, and a clean sponge.
The Containers
Both the Vitamix E310 and E320 come with shatter-proof, premium quality polycarbonate pitchers. They are both ‘wet pitchers’ meaning that they’re more suitable for blending wet ingredients and come with a spout, which makes pouring much easier. Containers for both blenders also have the same rubber lid. However, there are differences as mentioned before:
- The E310 comes with the narrower 48-ounce container and is more suited for smaller batches of food
- The E320 comes with a larger, wide base 64-ounce container and therefore is more appropriate for large households.
Warranty
The Vitamix E310 comes with a 5-year warranty while the E320 is covered for 7 years. These warranties cover both parts and labor. Plus, Vitamix will cover all shipping costs if you have to send in a blender for repairs!
In addition, the warranties are transferrable, meaning you’ll be protected even if you buy second-hand or refurbished.
Extras
Both the Vitamix E310 and E320 come with tampers when you buy them new. Their sizes differ however: the tamper that comes with the E310 is almost 10 inches long while the E320’s tamper is 12 and a half inches.
The Price
Even though they’re referred to as ‘budget blenders’ when compared to the rest of the Vitamix offerings, both blenders are more expensive than other entry-level blenders. The E310 costs $350 brand new and the E320 is about $20 more.
What Can These Two Vitamix Blenders Make?
Both the Vitamix E310 and E320 are high-powered blenders that can blend pretty much any ingredient you put in them. Here are some of the things you’ll be able to make with either blender:
- Smoothies – thanks to the variable speed setting, you’ll never have to worry about chunks in your smoothies
- Frozen Desserts – you can make all of your favorite ice creams and sorbets
- Juice
- Soup – thanks to the heat generated at the high-speed setting, you won’t even need to warm it up afterward
- Almond nut butter – You may need to use the tamper for this
- Dough – you can knead pizza dough with either of these blenders.
Our Verdict: Vitamix E310 vs E320
As you can see, the Vitamix E310 and the E320 are almost identical, save for a few differences. For the average user, either one of these two blenders will serve you well. You’ll be able to achieve any sort of blend consistency and not worry about overheating. Furthermore, both are quite easy to use.
However, if we had to choose, then we’d go with the Vitamix E310. This is because it’s cheaper, has more variety in terms of colours, is more likely to fit under-cabinet spaces and has comparable performance to the E320 even with its less powerful motor.
Vitamix E310 and E320: Which One Shall You Buy?
While you can’t go wrong with either the E310 or E320, there might be one or two features that make one blender more suited to you.
For instance, if you absolutely must have a red blender to match a certain aesthetic, then that rules out the E320.
On the other hand, if you have to feed a large family for each meal, then the E320 is what you should get. Because of the larger pitcher, you’ll be able to make greater quantities of food.
Lastly, if you don’t feel good about spending that additional $20 for the E320 model, then you’ll be happier with the E310.
