Vitamix 7500 vs. 5200: What They Aren’t Telling You

Vitamix has been producing high quality blenders sine 1932, and over 80 years later they are still leading the pack. Vitamix 5200 is the top seller of all Vitamix blenders based on sales reports, reviews and testimonials. The new generation G-Series introduces the 7500 to try and take the top spot.

In this review I will cover the details of these two blenders to find out which one comes out on top. We will take a look together at the features, options, differences and similarities before I tell you who I am crowning as the top Vitamix blender. If you want to get on with your day and just want to know: The Vitamix 7500 is the new blender king.

The Differences of the Blender models

A new generation brings a new set of features and upgrades. Let’s see what is different.

• The 5200 has a 2.0 HP motor where the 7500 motor is 2.2 HP.
• The Vitamix 7500 has a pulse option; the 5200 does not.
• The 5200 has a toggle for high speed only; the 7500 does not.
• The 5200’s pitcher is taller and more slender than the 7500 pitcher.
• The blades of the 7500 are an inch larger in diameter than the 5200.
• Color options vary and the 5200 has two more options than the 7500 does.
• Over all dimensions of the 5200 are taller and skinnier than the 7500.
• Vitamix added fan cooling and noise dampening to the 7500 that is not on the 5200.

The Similarities Of The Blenders

Vitamix does stand by the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality and what has worked for years remains.

• Both blenders have a six foot power cord.
• They both come with the standard Vitamix seven year warranty.
• The pitchers capacity remains the same at 64 ounces.
• The pitchers are BPA free and shatterproof.
• There are ten speed settings on each model.
• The blades are blunt, laser cut stainless steel for both blenders.
• They both come with a plunger to push your ingredients down towards the blades.

Side By Side Chart of Comparison

Let’s take a look at the two models side by side:

	Vitamix 5200	Vitamix 7500
Motor	2.0 Peak Horsepower	2.2 Peak Horsepower
Height (inches)	20.5	17.25
High Speed Toggle	Yes	No
Pulse Toggle	No	Yes
Dial Speed Settings	10	10
Color Options	Red, Black, White, Brushed Stainless, Platinum	Red, Black, White
Blade Width	3 inches	4 inches
Pitcher (capacity)	Classic Tall (64 oz.)	Next Gen Stout (64 oz.)
Motor Cooling	Ambient air flow	Fan assisted
Power Cord (feet)	6	6
BPA Free	Yes	Yes
Plunger	Included	Included
Warranty	7 Years	7 Years
Price	Check on Amazon	Check on Amazon

Features and Options Details

Let’s now take a closer look at the features and options of the two blender models.

1. Motors

The motor in the Vitamix 5200 has been used for decades. The reason is that there is nothing really wrong with it. The peak 2.0 horsepower motor will chop through anything and blend your ingredients just fine. Which is why Vitamix has left it alone for so long.

Even the good things get better though. One issue found was that for longer blends the motor would heat up and occasionally when doing a lot of dry ingredients it would bind for a few seconds. Vitamix decided to do something about it.

Starting with the G-Series they introduced the new generation motors. They increased the output to 2.2 horsepower (a 10 percent increase) and added cooling fans.

This may not sound like a lot, however the cooling fans removed the heat from the motor to allow it to run longer without any problems. The extra horsepower allows the blades to spin through any type of ingredient, even dry good such as nuts.

Bottom Line: The 7500 wins. A more powerful motor and fan assisted cooling is an improvement for the better.

2. Blades

The blades in the two blender models are almost identical. They are made from the same stainless steel and are laser cut. They are dull to the touch, as it is the power of the motor that makes the blades chop and blend.

The main difference in the blades is the size. In the 5200 model the blades are three inches wide and sit at a very slightly higher angle. This is due to the room allowed by the smaller width pitcher.

In the 7500 blender, there is more room in the pitcher and the blades added an inch. The 4 inch blades also sit ever so slightly lower than the 5200 counterpart. The performance is identical though and the blades themselves, even being smaller (5200) or larger (7500) have no difference in operation or performance.

Bottom Line: This is a tie. Even though the 7500 blades are larger, they do the exact same job.

3. Noise Levels

Noise levels from a blender will always be a sore spot for me. Not that they are loud, it’s because they get complaints about being loud. Call me old fashioned, but things move and chop and grind and they make noise. Asking for an ultra quiet blender is like a lumberjack demanding a silent chainsaw.

Is it possible, yes (Vitamix actually has one called the Quiet One), but is it practical? No, not really. I cook and bake and spend a lot of time in my kitchen, I blend a lot. I make batters and doughs as well as ice creams and smoothies. Blenders make noise. I can’t puree 3 cups of ice cubes and expect silence. I am slightly dumbfounded by those that do.

However, Vitamix has your back, even if I don’t. The 7500 model has noise dampening insulation in the base station and the motor housing. This results in a (reported) 40 percent reduction in noise levels.

It is still loud though. You won’t be able to hear your television over the blender for those few seconds, and my heart weeps for you. Quieter is better though and the reduction in noise between the 5200 and the 7500 is audibly noticeable.

Bottom Line: The 7500 wins. Even attempting to reduce the noise is a win.

4. Pitchers

One of the first things you will visually notice that is different about the two models is the pitcher itself. The 5200 has a tall, slender pitcher that when attached to the base with the lid on measures a whopping 20.5 inches tall.

This was one of the chief complaints from owners about the 5200 C-Series blenders. Storage was the biggest issue with most people finding it difficult to store the blender on the counter under the cabinets easily.

The other complaint was in the use. Most of the time (for me anyway and I assume you are similar), the blender stays plugged in and at the ready. When I need it I just remove the lid, add my ingredients and turn it on. With the 5200 adding ingredients was difficult unless I pulled it all the way out from under the cabinets.

In the 7500 model, as well as the G-Series as a whole, Vitamix introduced a new pitcher. The same BPA fee and shatterproof plastic but in a more stout appearance. It is wider by just over an inch and shorter by over three inches. When assembled the 7500 stands 17.25 inches tall.

This height difference has quieted most of the complaints about the 5200 pitcher, and rightfully so.

Bottom Line: The 7500 wins. Vitamix does listen and take action. The smaller pitcher is perfect for under-cabinet storage.

5. Controls

One of the next things you may notice is the control knobs and toggles. They have a very similar appearance and in fact, they aren’t much different. The same layout (looking at the base from right to left) is a toggle, a dial and a second toggle.

On the 5200 model, the right toggle is your On/Off switch. This is a two-position toggle that will supply power from the electrical cord to the motor. It will stay in either position until you manually switch it to the other.

The dial in the middle is a ten position turn dial that will adjust the speed of the motor and therefore the blades. Setting one is the lowest and ten is the highest. Unless you have the leftmost toggle in the up position, the dial will control the speed of the motor.

That leftmost toggle is a spring toggle. This means it only stays in the “up” position for as long as you hold it. What this toggle does is override the speed dial and puts the motor into high speed. This is useful when you are blending at a lower speed and need a second or two of high power. Without having to adjust the dial, you just press the switch up and the motor hits peak power.

The 7500 is slightly different. One of the other major complaints about the 5200 was that there was no pulse action. Pulsing is common in recipes that need a blend of a good puree while adding chunky pieces as well. Salsa, for example makes good use of a pulse. You can add the base salsa and blend it up then add the onion and peppers to pulse them to a smaller chunk.

Vitamix answered by removing the high speed variable toggle and replacing it with a pulse toggle. Like the high speed toggle, the pulse is also a spring loaded single position switch. It will only rev up the motor for as long as you hold it (which shouldn’t be very long).

The only way to replicate the pulse on the 5200 is to flick the On/Off toggle repeatedly, which, is a pain.

Bottom Line: The 7500 wins. Pulse is going to be more useful to you than high speed, which you can do with the dial anyway.

6. Cleaning

Both models are “self-cleaning” models. However, don’t expect to walk away after a session of blending an orange strawberry smoothie with kelp and lime zest and expect to come back in the morning with a clean blender (not unless your husband is well trained.)

What this means is that you can fill the pitchers to about half full of warm water and add a few drops of dish soap, put the lid on and run the blender on low. You will slowly increase the speed until the soapy water reaches the lid and cleans the walls of the pitcher.

Once this is done you will need to rinse the pitcher out and it is ready to go. Two important notes I need to throw in here: 1) You need to manually clean the pitchers and 2) it is not dishwasher safe.

Do not put your pitcher in the dishwasher. You will ruin the seals and void your warranty. However, you should regularly hand wash your pitcher with a sponge and some elbow grease. As good at removing build up and gunk under the blades as the self-cleaning operation is, bacteria and particles will still build up inside. A weekly or bi-weekly hand cleaning will take care of that issue easily.

Bottom Line: This is a tie. The same procedure is used for both models.

Frequently Asked Questions With My Answers

Now it is time for my favorite part of the program. I will answer all of the most common questions you have about the Vitamix 5200 and 7500 blenders.

Q1: I heard there was a recall!

A1: Okay, so not really a question, but let me explain what has happened. Yes, Vitamix issued a recall for the 5300 (NOT the 5200), the 750 and the 7500 G-Series models and the 300 Pro Series. The issue was that small specs of Teflon from the seals and o-rings would chip off and end up in your smoothies. (shock, awe and disgust! I know. Relax.) This happened in August of 2015. At that time, Vitamix replaced the pitchers with ones that didn’t flake and offered free replacement for the models affected.

I should note that these specs are small, and ingesting them along with your smoothie will not cause you harm (also note, for legal reasons, I am not a doctor). Teflon will enter your body, refuse to breakdown and exit your body. Not unlike a raisin or piece of corn.

Every model sent to market after August 2015 is not affected. Refurbished models are not affected. However, if you feel you have one of these models, you simply contact Vitamix and they will send you a new pitcher free of charge.

Q2: What size box does it come in?

A2: Large enough for your cat, smaller than your car. Again, I don’t know why this question comes up so often, but it does, so allow me to answer it. The shipping box approximately 17 x 12.5 x 15 inches (give or take a quarter inch each). If it is repackaged through a third party seller, their box will be larger to fit the blender box inside.

Q3: How in the world does a blender heat up soup?

A3: Science. A little force we call friction. Running the soup contents in the blender for about five to ten minutes (noise, you better pause your DVR) will result in serving temperature soup right out of the blender. The friction of the blades will eventually heat the soup and allow you to have a warm meal. That being said, it is faster to use your stove or microwave, but that means another dirty dish, so it is up to you.

Q4: Will it then heat up my smoothie, I don’t want a hot smoothie!?

A4: No, it won’t heat up your smoothie. Smoothie blending takes just a few seconds. Not near enough time to heat it up. Unless you are making a walnut and tree bark smoothie, the blades won’t have enough running time to heat up like they do running for ten minutes with your soup.

Q5: I live in {Not the United States} can I use this blender with my power supply?

A5: Nope. You cannot. The blenders sold in the US are wired for 110 volt input. European 220 volt will kill the blender. You do have a couple of options though.

First, you can search locally for a European model that is specifically wired for your outlets. I have not done this personally but I do know that even with the exchange rate the European Vitamix blenders are even more expensive (by about a converted $200 USD).

Your second option is to get the US version and purchase a high quality power adapter. You will need a minimum of 3kw adapter or you will burn out the unit. These will cost you about $150 USD, but is a cheaper option.

On a personal note, I wouldn’t get the adapter. While a lot of people have, the safety, precautions and power sources just aren’t reliable for my own peace of mind. If they are for yours, go for it.

Q6: Are there other pitcher options? I do a lot of dry goods, will these pitchers work?

A6: Slow down. One at a time, please. Yes, there are many other pitcher options. You can buy different pitchers for different needs. The pitchers that ship with the units are wet blend pitchers.

To answer your other question, yes, they will blend dry goods. However, if you do this a lot, I would highly recommend you purchase a dry blend pitcher. Wet blend pitchers have slightly thinner walls and over time the dry goods will scratch them. This increases the bacteria build up and makes them more difficult to clean.

What I Like About the Vitamix 5200

• Laser cut, stainless steel blades.
• Seven year warranty.
• Multiple color options to match your décor.
• Will mix anything in seconds.

What I Like About the Vitamix 7500

• Stout pitcher for easier storage and use.
• Pulse option makes chopping easier.
• Fan cooled motor with noise dampening insulation.
• Can heat soup without using the stove.
• Higher power motor blends anything quickly.

That’s A Wrap

Vitamix is at the top of the blender game for a reason: They make high quality products. The 5200 and 7500 models are just a couple in a long line of great blenders. But which one is right for you?

If you have higher cabinets or a spot to store a taller blender, don’t plan on running the blender for longer than a couple of minutes (to avoid heating) and want more color choices while saving a little bit of cash, then the 5200 might be your choice.

However, if you have the need for a wider and shorter pitcher, want a higher powered motor to blend less often and need the use of a pulse option, then the 7500 should be at the top of your list.

The Vitamix 5200 is the best selling Vitamix blender of all time. However, with the new G-Series and the 7500, I don’t think that will last much longer. The Vitamix 7500 is a superior machine in every way and it is my pick for the winner of this head to head battle.