The Vitamix Ascent X5 is a high-end full-size blender. It's the most expensive model in the Ascent-X lineup, which includes the Vitamix Ascent X2, the Vitamix Ascent X3, and the Vitamix Ascent X4. Compared to cheaper X-series models, it has more blending programs and a 'Tamper Indicator' that lets you know when to use it during certain blending programs. Otherwise, it has a similar design, with a dishwasher-safe 48oz jar, a wide range of speed settings, and a removable tamper holder.
Our Verdict
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is fantastic for multi-purpose use. It works very well for a variety of recipes since it can smoothly blend fibrous ingredients for smoothies and soups and make snow-like crushed ice and smooth, spreadable nut butter. It can also hot blend. It's very sturdy, quiet for a blender, and easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. However, some blenders can process fibrous ingredients like fruit and kale faster. Its 48oz capacity is on the small side for a full-size blender.
Smoothly blends fibrous ingredients.
Makes snow-like crushed ice.
Hot blends.
Easy to use to make nut butter.
Quiet for a blender.
Some models blend fibrous ingredients faster.
Tamper holder is difficult to clean.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is incredible for single-serve smoothies. It only comes with a 48oz jar, but it's still easy to use for processing small volumes of ingredients for a personal smoothie. It makes a virtually perfectly smooth blend with common smoothie additions, like leafy greens and fruit, and easily crushes ice. However, one 'Smoothie' program isn't quite enough for the best results, and you must continue blending manually for about 15 seconds.
Smoothly blends fibrous ingredients.
Makes snow-like crushed ice.
Quiet for a blender.
Some models blend fibrous ingredients faster.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is great for multiple servings of smoothies. With its 48oz jar filled to full capacity, it quickly makes a nearly perfectly smooth blend with fibrous ingredients like leafy greens and fruit. It also easily crushes ice cubes. However, one 'Smoothie' preset isn't enough for the best results, so you must blend for an extra minute manually for the smoothest blend. Some blenders can produce similar results a little faster. You may also find the 48oz jar on the small side for bigger batches.
Smoothly blends fibrous ingredients.
Makes snow-like crushed ice.
Quiet for a blender.
Some models blend fibrous ingredients faster.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is excellent for ice crushing. The 'Frozen Drinks' preset works very well, and it produces snow-like ice quickly. However, it has a somewhat small 48oz capacity and works best with about six ice cubes at once. Blenders with bigger capacities, like the Vitamix A3500, can produce similar results with about 12 ice cubes.
Makes snow-like crushed ice.
Quiet for a blender.
Works best with smaller batches of six ice cubes.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is excellent for soups. You can use it to blend hot ingredients or heat up ingredients as they blend with the 'Hot Soups' blending program. It quickly makes a very smooth blend with fibrous ingredients like kale or broccoli, although some blenders can produce a similar result a bit faster.
Smoothly blends fibrous ingredients.
Hot blends.
Quiet for a blender.
Some models blend fibrous ingredients faster.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is excellent for professional use. It's very sturdy, is quiet for a blender, and has a versatile performance since it quickly makes very smooth smoothies, snow-like crushed ice, and very smooth, spreadable nut butter. It can be used for hot blending. However, its 48oz capacity is somewhat small for a full-size blender. The tamper holder is hard to clean by hand if it gets dirty.
Smoothly blends fibrous ingredients.
Makes snow-like crushed ice.
Hot blends.
Easy to use to make nut butter.
Quiet for a blender.
Some models blend fibrous ingredients faster.
Tamper holder is difficult to clean.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Vitamix Ascent X5 comes in 'Graphite' and 'Brushed Stainless Steel' color variants. Here's a picture of our unit's label.
If you encounter another variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Blender Comparisons
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is a high-end blender with a fantastic performance for most uses. It's the most expensive model in the brand's X-series, which all have a similar design and come with a 48oz jar. Its controls set it apart from other blenders in the series, like the Vitamix Ascent X4 and the Vitamix Ascent X3, as they include a greater number of automatic blending programs, including 'Non-Dairy Milk' and 'Spice Grinding.' This model also has a 'Tamper Indicator,' which tells you when to use the tamper during certain blending programs.
Like other models in the series, it's particularly good for thicker recipes, like nut butter, and is quiet for a blender. However, its smaller capacity means it can't process as many ice cubes at once as the best ice crushing blenders. It also doesn't process ingredients as quickly as the Vitamix A3500.
If you're looking for more options, check out our recommendations for the best blenders, the best blenders for smoothies, and the best blenders for frozen drinks.
The Vitamix A3500 is a bit better than the Vitamix Ascent X5. The A3500 blends fibrous ingredients a bit faster and without any need to use a spatula. It can also handle bigger batches of ice cubes in its 64oz jar. Its controls include a programmable timer. That said, the Ascent X5 is easier to use for making nut butter in its 48oz jar. It's also quieter and unlike the A3500, its controls include a tamper indicator.
The Vitamix Ascent X4 and the Vitamix Ascent X5 perform very similarly, but the X5 has more features. It has 11 blending programs while the X4 has six. It also has a tamper indicator feature, which tells you when to use the tamper during certain blending programs. Also, both blenders have a metal shell and are very well-built, but the X5's jar handle's rubber cover doesn't slip around like the X4's.
The Vitamix Ascent X2 and the Vitamix Ascent X5 are very similar. The main difference is that the X5 has a metal shell and more features. It has 11 automatic blending programs, while the X2 has four. Its digital display shows more information, including what program you've selected and when to use the tamper for certain programs.
The Vitamix Ascent X3 and Vitamix Ascent X5 are very similar. The more expensive X5 has a better build quality because of its motor base's metal shell. It has 11 blending programs while the X3 has four. Its controls also include a tamper indicator that tells you when to use the tamper during certain blending programs.
Test Results
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is slightly smaller than older models like the Vitamix A3500, as its base isn't as deep. Otherwise, it's similar in size and weight to other Vitamix blenders, including lower-end models in the same series like the Vitamix Ascent X4. If you have the tamper holder installed, it's wider.
It has a fantastic build quality. Like the Vitamix Ascent X4, the motor base shell is made of stainless steel, although it has a different, more plasticky feel. The gear on the motor base is made of plastic with metal teeth, while the jar's gear is metal. You can easily remove the dial for cleaning. The motor base feet, jar seal, and centering pad are made of rubber. Like other X-series blenders, the jar handle has a rubber cover. However, unlike the X4, X3, and X2, it has a plug that prevents it from slipping around and from being removed. Here's a photo of the X4's handle for comparison. Since other X-series blenders' rubber handle covers slip around when you handle the jar, the plug is an improvement. Unfortunately, like other X-series blenders, it has no cord storage. Here's a comparison of all four X-series blenders, so you can see the design differences.
The jar's 48oz capacity is on the small side for a full-size blender. It's still suitable for blending multiple servings, but for very large batches, you might prefer a 64oz jar.
The jar and lid are made of dishwasher-safe plastic.
The blades are sharp and cannot be removed from the main jar.
The 2-part lid is made of clear plastic, so you can see down into the blender when it's running. There are clips on each side that secure it onto the jar. The center piece can be removed to allow you to use the tamper or add ingredients mid-blend. It doubles as a 1oz measuring cup.
The power cord is long. Unlike other Vitamix 'Ascent' and 'Legacy' models, there's no way to wrap up the cord when not in use.
- Motor base
- 48oz container with SELF-DETECT
- Tamper
- 2-part lid with removable center piece
- Tamper holder base
- Tamper holder
- Manuals
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is fantastic for processing small batches of fibrous ingredients. The 'Smoothie' cycle isn't quite long enough for the best results, and you must scrape the jar with a spatula and continue blending for about 15 seconds. Still, it's an easy process, and the result is virtually perfectly smooth, with no visible bits of kale leftover.
It's excellent for processing fibrous ingredients at full capacity. A single 'Smoothie' program produces a good result, but some kale gets stuck at the top of the jar. If you scrape it with a spatula and run the blender for about a minute more, it produces a basically perfectly smooth blend with fibrous ingredients.
It's a fantastic ice crusher. The 'Frozen Drinks' preset works very well for making snow-like crushed ice. It's extremely easy and makes very uniform crushed ice. The only downside is that its smaller 48oz jar can only handle about six ice cubes at once for the best results, compared with blenders with bigger pitchers like the Vitamix Venturist Pro or the Blendtec Total Blender Classic.
The Vitamix Ascent X5 is superb for making nut butter. Unlike other X-series blenders including the Vitamix X4, it has a 'Nut Butter' preset, which makes it even easier to use for that purpose than other models in the lineup. You still have to use the tamper to keep the ingredients moving, but the display tells you when to use the tamper during the cycle, and overall, it's a very easy and quick process. The result is very smooth, spreadable nut butter.
It's quiet for a full-size blender. It makes less noise when it's running than many other Vitamix blenders, including the Vitamix Explorian E310.
It has a wide range of speed settings to suit different recipes. The advertised motor power is 1500 Watts, which is likely its peak power since the power on the label is 1440 Watts (120 volts and 12 amps).
The controls include a speed dial with a wide range of settings for manual blending. There are also 10 automatic blending programs — all of the same ones as the cheaper Vitamix Ascent X4, plus 'Smoothie Bowl,' 'Frappé,' 'Nut Butter,' 'Non-Dairy Milk,' and 'Spice Grinding.' There's a dedicated pulse button and a +15 seconds button. There's also an on/off switch on the side of the motor base.
- Self-Cleaning: 35s
- Smoothies: 45s
- Frozen Desserts: 50s
- Hot Soup: 7m30s
- Frozen Cocktail: 45s
- Dips and Spreads: 45s
- Smoothie Bowl: 1m
- Frappé: 41s
- Nut Butter: 1m
- Non-Dairy Milk: 1m
- Spice Grinding: 26s
It's quite easy to clean. The blades aren't removable, so you'll need a brush or sponge to reach and clean under them. Even after running the blender with soap and water, you'll still have to wipe the lid and jar with a sponge, but it's easy to do. However, the tamper holder is difficult to clean if it gets dirty. It can be very difficult to clean even with a brush, and you might want to let it soak first if you are working with sticky ingredients.
