Countertop blenderIt depends
Blender: Ninja or Vitamix?
Ninja's 1000-watt BL610 against the Vitamix 5200. Ice is a tie; thick blends and warranty are not.
Aisle
Blend & Whisk
Blenders and mixers fail in predictable places: the motor, the drive coupling and the speed control. Pricier models mostly buy headroom in those parts, plus a longer warranty that says the maker expects them to last. If you blend once a week, that headroom sits unused. If you blend daily, it is what you are paying for.
Step-Ups in this aisle
Hand mixerSave
Hand mixer: what nine speeds buy
Hamilton Beach's six-speed against KitchenAid's nine-speed KHM926. Range and attachments, not raw power.
Every pick in Blend & Whisk
Ninja Professional Blender (BL610)
Big pitcher, stacked blades, crushes ice. A one-year warranty shows what it expects.
- Motor
- 1000 W
- Pitcher
- 72 oz (64 oz liquid)
- Speeds
- 4 (listed)
- Blades
- Stacked, removable
- Warranty
- 1 year limited (listed)
Vitamix 5200 Blender
A 2-horsepower motor, a variable speed dial, a tamper and a seven-year warranty.
- Motor
- 2 peak HP (1380 W listed)
- Container
- 64 oz, tall
- Speeds
- 10 variable plus high
- Included
- Tamper
- Height
- 20.5 in assembled (listed)
- Warranty
- 7 years (listed)
Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Hand Mixer (62682)
Six speeds, a snap-on case for the beaters, and enough power for cookie dough.
- Motor
- 250 W peak (listed)
- Speeds
- 6 plus QuickBurst
- Included
- 2 beaters, whisk, snap-on case
- Extras
- Bowl rest
- Warranty
- 1 year limited (listed)
KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer (KHM926)
Nine speeds including a slow first gear, plus steel beaters, whisk, dough hook and blending rod.
- Speeds
- 9
- Included
- Turbo Beater II beaters, pro whisk, dough hook, blending rod
- Accessories
- Dishwasher-safe
- Listed power
- 100 W
- Warranty
- 1 year replacement (listed)