It is, however, the best immersion blender I’ve used, and well worth the cost. Like the ONE, I couldn’t perform all of the same tests with it, like processing nut butter or using it to cook soup. Accessories like a blending cup, whisk, and mini-chopper attachment make it even more useful in the kitchen. The two-button controls are really intuitive: one powers the machine on, and the other is a pressure-sensitive variable speed button that increases blending power the harder you press it. It makes quick work of even the most fibrous of frozen fruits (looking at you, frozen pineapple!) and veggies. The blending wand is narrow, fitting nicely into wide-mouth mason jars, or any vessel with a 3” wide mouth. Where some models feel a little wobbly, even after locking the blending wand to the handle, the Vitamix immersion blender feels like one solid unit. For starters, it has the most comfortable handle and sturdiest locking mechanism I’ve seen. However, of all of the immersion blenders I’ve used in pro kitchens and at home over the past decade, it’s the best one I’ve ever used. This model wins this category by default, admittedly, since it’s the only immersion blender Vitamix offers. It also has the longest warranty period of all the blenders tested: a whopping 7 years! Because of the wider, low-profile blending container, this model had the same issues with blending almond butter. The A3500 is tied for most expensive Vitamix blender, along with the Pro 750.

Convenience and aesthetics do come at a price, though. It has a beautiful digital touchscreen, and comes in multiple colors and finishes. You can easily perform these tasks manually on other models, but I have to admit that I’ve become a little dependent on being able to just dump in ingredients, hit a couple of buttons, and let it go. What I love about it are the preset functions, including ones for handling smoothies, hot soup, nut butter, and self-cleaning with the touch of a button. It has the same 2.2 HP motor as the Pro Series 750, so it performs just as well, though it is a bit louder than both the 5200 and 750. This is the first Vitamix I bought, and while my eyes have now wandered to the 5200, I still love it.

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