The catch
Vitamix 5200
No dedicated Pulse switch is on the assembled 5200, which is 2.5 inches taller.
Side by side
Vitamix 5200 vs Explorian E310: E310 fits under lower overhead space, and 5200 holds more
Quick verdict
The Vitamix 5200 is the pick for its larger 64-ounce jar and direct High switch, provided the tall assembled machine fits your kitchen. The E310 is the pick for a shorter 48-ounce setup with a dedicated Pulse control. Automatic food programs are absent on both, so the decision is mostly about batch size and physical fit.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
One-third is the jar difference in nominal volume
Relative to the E310 jar, the 5200 adds 16 ounces, or about 33%. Larger recipes may benefit from that extra headroom, but it does not authorize filling either vessel above its applicable limit.
Where this comes from
These are manufacturer container capacities, not measured finished servings: 64 - 48 = 16 ounces, and 16 / 48 = 33.3%.
The catch
Vitamix Explorian E310
Its supplied jar holds 16 nominal ounces less.
Vitamix 5200
- Why pick it
- Make larger recipes in the supplied 64-ounce jar
- A dedicated High switch and a longer six-foot power cord
- The catch
- No dedicated Pulse switch is on the assembled 5200, which is 2.5 inches taller.
Vitamix Explorian E310
- Why pick it
- Assembled height falls from 20.5 to 18 inches
- Short bursts run on a dedicated Pulse switch
- The catch
- Its supplied jar holds 16 nominal ounces less.
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What this page compares
Jar capacity, cabinet clearance, pulse control and manual blending are what set Vitamix 5200 and Explorian E310 apart. Go for the size you can use day to day.
The Vitamix 5200 is the pick for its larger 64-ounce jar and direct High switch, provided the tall assembled machine fits your kitchen. The E310 is the pick for a shorter 48-ounce setup with a dedicated Pulse control. Automatic food programs are absent on both, so the decision is mostly about batch size and physical fit.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
My blender, assembled, has to fit under a 19-inch shelf
E310 is 18 inches, though room is still needed separately to open the lid. 5200 exceeds that body-height limit.
- Vitamix 5200
- Not suitable
- Vitamix Explorian E310
- Better fit
I often need the larger jar that is supplied
Against E310's 48 ounces, 5200 supplies 64 ounces. Recipe limits still apply.
- Vitamix 5200
- Better fit
- Vitamix Explorian E310
- Caution
I want a Pulse control of its own
Pulse is on the E310, while the 5200 uses a Variable/High selector instead.
- Vitamix 5200
- Caution
- Vitamix Explorian E310
- Better fit
I want to press a smoothie preset and have it stop by itself
Manual operation and stopping are required on both.
- Vitamix 5200
- Not suitable
- Vitamix Explorian E310
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
One-third is the jar difference in nominal volume
Relative to the E310 jar, the 5200 adds 16 ounces, or about 33%. Larger recipes may benefit from that extra headroom, but it does not authorize filling either vessel above its applicable limit.
How we worked this out
These are manufacturer container capacities, not measured finished servings: 64 - 48 = 16 ounces, and 16 / 48 = 33.3%.
A 19-inch storage gap tells the assembled machines apart
The 20.5-inch 5200 cannot sit within a 19-inch gap, but an 18-inch E310 body can. Treat that as a storage check, and pull the machine forward if lid or tamper access is obstructed.
How we worked this out
Any clearance needed above the appliance during use is excluded from the calculation: 18 < 19 < 20.5 inches.
Manual stopping is avoided by neither
The 5200 has no recipe-program feature that the smaller E310 gives up. Both are manually supervised, and the meaningful control difference is Pulse versus the High switch.
How we worked this out
Variable speed with no food presets is what both official control descriptions list. Their separate switches do different jobs.
Option A
Vitamix, Black, classic 64-ounce container
5200
This long-running manual Vitamix is valued for a narrow tall jar, a responsive dial and the ability to cope with modest and large loads alike.
- Best for
- Make larger recipes in the supplied 64-ounce jar
Facts we checked
- Supplied jar: 64 ounces
- Height when assembled is 20.5 inches
- Direct controls: Variable-speed dial and High switch
- Automatic food programs: None
Option B
Vitamix, E310 Black
Explorian E310
This 48-ounce Vitamix is controlled manually, with ten speed settings, pulse and a mini tamper in the box.
- Best for
- Assembled height falls from 20.5 to 18 inches
Facts we checked
- Supplied jar: 48 ounces
- Height when assembled is 18 inches
- Direct controls: Ten variable speeds and Pulse switch
- Automatic food programs: None
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Vitamix 5200 | Vitamix Explorian E310 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplied jar | 64 ounces | 48 ounces | Base the vessel size on the recipes you prepare, and follow ingredient-specific fill guidance. |
| Assembled height | 20.5 inches | 18 inches | Lifting the lid and using the tamper require additional access, but E310 needs less vertical storage space. |
| Direct controls | Variable-speed dial and High switch | Ten variable speeds and Pulse switch | E310 provides a dedicated control for short bursts, and the 5200 provides immediate High selection. |
| Automatic food programs | None | None | Neither picks a complete recipe cycle and stops on its own. |
| Included tamper | Classic tamper | Mini tamper | A tamper matched to the original jar and lid comes with both. Sizes should not be assumed interchangeable. |
| Power cord | 6 feet | 4.5 feet | Keep cords away from heat, water and the edge of the worktop. The 5200 has 1.5 feet more listed reach. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Vitamix 5200
- A better result on small recipes is not established by its larger nominal jar.
With Vitamix Explorian E310
- You still have to judge and stop each manual blend.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
My storage gap is over 18 inches and under 20.5 inches
Go with Vitamix Explorian E310. The assembled body is shorter on E310. Lid access should be checked separately.
The supplied 64-ounce jar is what the recipe needs
Go with Vitamix 5200. Nominal ounces are 16 more on 5200.
You need automatic recipe stopping
Neither model fits. Automatic food programs are not included on either model.
Decision guide
How to decide
Weigh the Vitamix 5200's larger 64-ounce jar and direct High switch, which come in a tall assembled machine, against the E310's shorter 48-ounce setup and dedicated Pulse control. With no automatic food programs on either, batch size and physical fit drive the decision.
Let the jar come before the motor label
Each lists a two-horsepower motor, and that settles nothing about texture, noise or usable recipe size. Begin with the supplied 64-ounce and 48-ounce jars. A larger jar helps when the recipe needs it, but keeping an oversized appliance around for small daily drinks can become inconvenient.
Size up the assembled machine
A cabinet fit can come down to the height difference, which is substantial. Measure from the worktop up to the obstruction, and think about where the lid and tamper will go while you use it. Fitting beneath a shelf doesn’t mean you can operate the machine there comfortably.
Get the control style you like better
On the 5200, variable-speed blending is separate from its High setting. The E310 gives you a dedicated Pulse switch. Both reward watching the mixture and adjusting time yourself, so don’t buy either as an automatic smoothie machine just because it has a premium motor base.
What this page can’t tell you
- No tests of ours compare blending texture, noise, durability or small-batch performance. Those outcomes are not established by nominal capacity or motor horsepower.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the high-end blenders we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamix 5200 |
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| Vitamix Explorian E310 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Vitamix 5200
Make larger recipes in the supplied 64-ounce jar
See price & reviews on AmazonVitamix Explorian E310
Assembled height falls from 20.5 to 18 inches
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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