Vitamix A3500 review — this blender 'excels at nearly everything'

The Vitamix A3500 Blender is a powerful smoothie-making machine that can also crush ice, clean up 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 500+ step-by-step recipe instructions with nutritional information. Given its capability and versatility, it’s no surprise it’s one of the best blenders on the market. However, at $649, it’s also one of the most expensive blenders, too. 

See for yourself in our Vitamix A3500 Blender review if you should spring for this model, or go for a less expensive alternative. 

Vitamix A3500 Blender review: Price and availability

The Vitamix A3500 Blender retails for $649 but it can usually be found on sale for $599 with online retailers such as Amazon and Macy’s. While some retailers will only offer it in graphite and brushed stainless steel, the blender is also available in copper if you purchase it as a bundle with the food processor attachment ($849). 

Vitamix A3500 Blender review: Design

The Vitamix A3500 Blender utilizes a four-blade design – two flat, two angled – that make it especially capable at producing thick drinks with ultra-smooth textures. The five pre-programmed controls are touchscreen-style, complemented with a tactile variable speed dial that allows for precise control. A large plastic tamper also helps to keep things moving along when ingredients need a bit of a push in the right direction. 

At 64 ounces, it’s one of the larger capacity blenders we tested; only the BlendTec Total Blender Classic and the Breville The Super Q Blender had larger containers. The tamper (which is a huge police-like billy club) is helpful when coaxing ingredients into the blades, though it still struggled with nut butter. 

Weighing 14.8 pounds, the A3500 was lighter than the Breville, but almost twice as heavy 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 clean cycle. If you do choose to run the entire 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 while self-cleaning.

Cleaning the Vitamix A3500 pitcher jar after preparing smoothies is a breeze and usually requires nothing more than a quick 10-second rinse. The pulse-to-full speed cadence in the blender’s auto mode efficiently extricates relentless ingredients from the pitcher’s nooks and crannies. Soapy water is pushed from top to bottom through this process, which leaves the blender squeaky clean and ready for its next recipe.

Vitamix A3500 Blender review: Performance

Vitamix is widely considered to be the most professional blender for serious cooks and home chefs, and the A3500 excelled at nearly everything we threw in its ample 64-ounce/6-cup pitcher. Ultra-creamy smoothies were made in less than a minute and had a seriously satisfying mouthfeel that had us scraping the pitcher with our fingers for more. Ice crushing is one of the most challenging tasks for a blender and the A3500 produced such a consistent shape that you might think it came from a proper ice machine.

Oat milk proved to be a challenge, however. While the blender did produce a milk-like texture, it was accompanied by an unappealing chalkiness. It did a better job tackling hummus than most of the blenders we tested but the hummus still wound up either chunky or too watery, there was no smooth intermediate texture. Like a sports car, the A3500 wants to either go really fast and furiously, otherwise, it produces uneven performance at the lower speeds while making hummus. When it comes to smoothies, however, this blender is king.

Though the blender didn’t do particularly well making nut butter, and produced an overheating smell while attempting the task, it still managed to do better than all the other blenders. If you’re dead set on making nut butter, you’ll fare better with a proper food processor but if you want one machine that can do it all, this blender is your best bet.

Vitamix A3500 Blender review: App and smart 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, 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 in your life. At nearly 15 pounds, the blender is on the heavier side (and is nearly 5 pounds heavier than both the Breville Super Q and the Hamilton Beach Professional 1800W blenders), but it does a better job crushing ice and is easier to clean than both. 

Though this blender comes with a premium price, it’s matched by an impressive premium ten-year warranty. If you prioritize ultra-smooth smoothies and perfectly crushed ice, this machine is worth the investment. If you plan to use the 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 nearly everything — and are willing to pay for it — then the Vitamix will not steer you wrong.