Vitamix E320 vs E310 (2021): Comparing Vitamix Explorian Blenders

Known for their premium blenders, Vitamix is also keen to please the budget-conscious demographic. The Vitamix E320 and E310, for instance, come from the brand’s relatively lower-priced Explorian range. While they don’t have more advanced features like pre-programmed speeds or upgraded noise-reducing systems, both models are just as capable as their flagship siblings. Here, we take a closer look at these budget blenders to help you decide which is best for your home.

Vitamix E320 vs E310 Comparison Chart

Model	Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender	Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender
	Amazon product	Amazon product
Price	Amazon product	Amazon product
Platform	Explorian	Explorian
Dimensions (H x D x W)	18″ x 11″ x 8″	18″ x 11″ x 8″
Weight	10.5 lbs.	10.5 lbs.
Horsepower	2.2	2.0
Electrical Rating	120 V	120 V
Blade	4 in. stainless steel	3 in. stainless steel
Container	64 oz.	48 oz.
Self-cleaning	Yes	Yes
Dishwasher safe container	Yes	Yes
Colors	Black, Red	Slate, Black, Red
Pulse Feature	Yes	Yes
Tamper	Yes	Yes
Cord Length	4.5 ft.	4.5 ft.

Design

With identical bases and control panels, the E320 differentiates itself from the E310 thanks to its wider, 64 oz. low-profile container.

Placed side-by-side, these entry-level blenders from Vitamix look largely the same. Both the E320 and E310 come with a boxy base with curved bevels on the side. You also get similar dimensions and weight, plus the same 4.5 ft power cord. Even the layout of the control panel is the same. With the E310, however, you get the additional Slate color variant which has been discontinued on the E320.

Containers

Where the key difference lies is in the container. On the E320, you get a wider, low-profile 64 oz. pitcher while the E310 comes with the narrower, classic 48 oz variant. Given the size difference of their pitchers, the E310 is more suitable for processing small to single-serve portions. On the other hand, the E320 will blend larger batches of ingredients better. Although both pitchers come with cup measurements, vented lids, and lid plugs, the E320’s pitcher sports a soft-grip handle. This makes pouring or using the tamper while blending much more manageable. Both containers, however, are BPA-free and shatter proof. And if the spout isn’t enough notice, these pitchers are also specifically designed to process wet ingredients. While you can certainly grind or knead dough on these blenders, Vitamix recommends using their dry-blade containers instead.

Power and Performance

The Vitamix E320 comes with a 2.2 HP motor and 4-inch blades while the E310 sports a 2.0 HP motor and smaller, 3-inch cutters.

Vitamix blenders are equipped with aircraft-grade blades (left), and a cooling system (right) to prevent overheating.

In terms of power, the Vitamix E320 comes with a 2.2 HP motor while the Vitamix E310 peaks at 2.0 HP. This ten-percent increase, however, is largely due to design changes. With a narrower container, the E310 comes with 3-in diameter blades. On the E320’s wider body, you get 4-in cutters instead. And to drive these larger blades, you’ll need extra power. When it comes to performance, the blenders are comparable. They’re more than capable of handling a variety of ingredients—from tough nuts to thick creams. Both the E320 and E310’s blades are aircraft-grade, too. Each prong comes with blunt edges and a specific angle, designed to deliver a slicing and pulverizing mechanism simultaneously.

Noise and Overheating

Despite having a silicon pad at the base for increased stability, these machines are quite loud. At 90 decibels, the E320 and E310 are at the top of the noise levels among Vitamix blenders. Since they are budget blenders, it doesn’t come with vibration dampening technology found in more premium models. Nonetheless, the E320 and E310 motors are equipped with Vitamix’s Automatic Overload Protection. This safety feature automatically shuts off your blenders when its running hot to prevent overheating.

Controls

The Vitamix E320 and E310 both have variable speed settings and a pulse button.

The controls on the Vitamix E320 and E310 are identical, and the layout is even the same. You get a 10 Variable Speed knob at the center flanked by a Pulse toggle and an On/Off switch. While these budget blenders don’t come with pre-programmed speeds available in premium models like in the Ascent series, you do have more control with the variable speed settings. And with the Pulse button, you get the ability to make recipes requiring a coarser texture or chunkier consistency.

Ease of Use

These Vitamix budget-blenders are easy-to-operate and clean. 

Here’s a look at the Vitamix E310 on self-cleaning mode.

Because of the simple, intuitive controls, operating either the Vitamix E320 and E310 is easy. This makes the budget blenders highly-recommended for beginners who want a food processor but without all the complicated implements. Assembling the machine takes no time, and the package includes clear instructions courtesy of their respective manuals. The containers, lids, and tampers on both models are dishwasher safe as well. After light usage, you can also opt for the blender’s self-cleaning mode. For manual scrubbing, the wider E320 does allow for more comfortable hand movements inside the containers, especially when you’re working around the blades. However, the upkeep of these blenders is minimal, and it should be a welcome addition to any household looking for an entry-level food processor.

Verdict

Between the two budget blenders, the E320 is the better deal with its larger capacity and refined components.

Amazon product Put beside each other, the Vitamix E320 and E310 look quite the same—except of course for the containers. But on paper, the differences in horsepower are largely due to design changes, which doesn’t mean one machine performs better than the other. Both are equipped with Vitamix-engineered motors and blades, so you’re guaranteed high-efficiency performance from a durable machine. Despite being budget blenders, the E320 and E310 are capable—albeit loud—food processors. However, we recommend getting the more recent model—the E320—if you are canvassing for an entry-level blender. While the upgrades from the E310 are minimal, you do get larger handling capacity, plus some internal refinements that makes it slightly more future proof.  If you really are on a budget, then the lower price tag of the E310 will make it an attractive choice. There’s no shame in opting for this model, however, since it does deliver a comparable performance. At the end of the day, both budget blenders are a great gateway to the Vitamix ecosystem.

FAQs