Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender, Professional-Grade, Self-Cleaning 48 oz. Container, Black

Why it's worth it

The E310 runs the same 2 HP motor and laser-cut stainless blades as the 5200, in a 48-ounce container. For one or two people, you give up batch size and two years of warranty and get nearly everything else Vitamix makes.

The E310 is the least complicated recommendation in this guide. It's a Vitamix with a smaller jar. Same 2 HP motor, same laser-cut stainless blades, same ten-speed variable dial, same self-cleaning routine that finishes in under a minute. Published blind comparisons have struggled to separate its smoothie texture from the 5200's, and the specifications explain why — the parts doing the work are the same parts.

If you're blending for one or two people, the smaller container is genuinely better, not just cheaper. Forty-eight ounces is about two large smoothies. It's lighter to lift, easier to rinse, and it doesn't leave a lonely puddle of ingredients rattling around a jar built for a family. The 18-inch height also gives you a real shot at under-cabinet storage, which the 5200 doesn't.

From our review of 5 countertop blenders for smoothies, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +The E310 is the least complicated recommendation in this guide
• +If you're blending for one or two people, the smaller container is genuinely better, not just cheaper
• +Owner feedback on this model is the strongest in the lineup, and the pattern is consistent: people who cycled through a few…
• +The trade-off is warranty length

What to know

• –The 48-ounce jar is a hard ceiling
• –It's exactly as loud as the 5200
• –It doesn't work with the Ascent line's self-detecting containers and attachments, so there's no path to personal cups or a…