When Vitamix began to make blenders, personal blenders weren’t famous yet. So they put all their efforts into making gargantuan blenders that make lots of power.
From the early generation TurboBlend to the latest Ascent series, here’s one thing that all Vitamix blenders have – power.
The power and torque that their motor produces enable it to make not only smoothies but other stuff as well — things like hummus, frozen dessert, crushed ice, etc.
Now with the new S-series, Vitamix now has brought that same package at a smaller scale to cater to consumers looking for something more compact.
The S50 is an upgraded version of the S30 and now has preset controls for smoothies and power blend recipes.
It won’t be as versatile as a full-sized Vitamix or as powerful because of the smaller motor.
Before I continue, here are the features of the Vitamix S50…
- Has two pre-programmed settings (Smoothie and Power Blend) that provide hands-free convenience and consistency
- Variable speed – up to 10-speed settings
- Out of the box, you’ll get two blending containers – one large 40-ounce pitcher and a smaller 20-ounce container
- Both pitchers are dishwasher safe
- Built-in safety mechanism that shuts the motor off when you lift the pitcher from the base
- Comes with a recipe booklet
- Low profile tamper
- 750-watt motor
- Only 14.55” tall
- 5-year warranty
The good
- Compact size will fit in small homes
- Two blending containers give you options – use the 20-ounce container if you need to make smoothies for one or use the 40-ounce need more
- Long 5-year warranty
- Has variable speed and preset controls
- Excellent build quality
The bad
- Very expensive for a compact blender
- Not as powerful as a full-sized Vitamix
- Small motor will not produce consistent results
What to expect from the Vitamix S50?
Having the Vitamix badge will raise expectations because consumers associate Vitamix to consistent blending results.
The S50 is one of the newest variants in their product line. And it’s an upgrade over the earlier S50 model.
Interface
Here’s a close up look at the interface.
It’s pretty simple, a rotary dial with ten speeds on the right and access to the preset controls and pulse setting on the left.
To turn on the blender, turn the dial on the setting you’d like then push it.
The preset controls are timed features so you can just set it and walk away.
Pre-programmed controls
Both machines are similar, but the difference would be the control. The S50 not only has variable speed but also has two preset controls for Smoothies and Power Blend.
Smoothie setting is self-explanatory. And Power Blend is equivalent to the highest speed setting and great for making hard to blend stuff like green smoothies on the 20-ounce container.
It also has a pulse feature if you want more precision to your blends.
Two blending containers
You’ll also get two blending containers. First is the 40-ounce carafe that resembles what you’ll get from a full-sized Vitamix. What I like about this container is the air vents on top that allow it to blend hot ingredients like soup.
If you need something to make sauces, soups or smoothies for 2 or 3, this would be up to the task.
According to Williams and Sonoma, this container is large enough to hold four cups.
You’ll also get a smaller 20-ounce carafe which is excellent for single serve smoothies or juices. It comes with a sip-and-go lid so you can take this out with you to work or gym.
It will save you time because you don’t need to use a separate container. And you don’t need to wash as much stuff.
Interchangeable blade base
Both containers will use the same blade assembly which is a 4-prong, stainless steel.
If you look close, the blade design is similar to the Nutribullet RX though this is a bit flatter.
It isn’t as big as the blade you’ll see on the Ascent series so it’ll be easier to clean.
What can this blender make?
Don’t expect the same level of versatility as the Ascent or 700 series from this compact blender because it lacks power.
Unlike its bigger siblings that make more than 1,200 watts, the S50 only makes 750 which is less than a Nutri Ninja Auto IQ and Nutribullet Pro. So expect less performance from this.
Watch this video to see how it handles smoothies.
This blender can make smoothies. Yes, even green smoothies and juices. But remember to put denser ingredients closer to the blade like ice or apple for the best results.
Soup maker
Yes, this blender can make soup thanks to the air vents on the 40-ounce container. Though, it doesn’t have any soup preset, making soup is still possible. Just reference the manual how on long you need to rerun the blender for optimal results.
Sauces
Lastly, you can make salsa dips and sauces with this easy with the pulse setting.
Is it easy to clean?
The compact container and blade make this easy to clean even without the clean setting. Just remove the blade after the blending cycle and rinse it over running water. If you want a deep clean, both carafes are dishwasher safe.
Product specifications
| Motor | 750 watts |
| Height | 14.55" (w/ 20 ounce container) 15.66" (w/ 40 ounce pitcher) |
| Jug capacity | 1 - 20 ounce 1 - 40 ounce |
| Blade Type | Hardened stainless steel |
| Max RPM | N/A |
| Preset blending cycles | Smoothies Power Blend |
| BPA Free |  |
| Dishwasher Safe | |
| Tamper/Plunger | |
| Crush ice? | |
| Smoothies | |
| Juice | |
| Nut Butter | |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Warranty
The Vitamix S50 comes with a 5-year warranty. If you purchase this from Amazon though, you can add an optional 4-year extended warranty if you want more peace of mind.
Customer reviews
When it comes to performance, even with less power, this blender still came through. Folks who’ve bought this like how it blended stuff like green smoothies. Lots of people bought this to make smoothies.
But there’s one caveat, using the 20-ounce container can be a little tricky. If you don’t add ingredients in proper order or fail to add enough liquid, it may stall.
There were complaints of chunks of frozen fruit getting stuck under the blades and fragments of ingredients floating around.
All of these issues may be a result of improper loading or not adding enough liquid.
There was one complaint about leaking and a missing knob, but I think those complaints were just one-offs.
Overall the sentiment for this blender has been positive because it was compact, easy to use and blends well.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy this juicer from Amazon for less than $350. And you can get free 2-day shipping if you join in Prime (yes, even the free trial). Extended warranties of up to 4 years are also available if you want that extra peace of mind.
Another option would be purchasing this direct from Vitamix.com.
To Wrap Up
This blender is great for folks looking for a high-quality compact blender with an extended warranty. Don’t let the 750-watt motor deter you from buying this because it has enough power to make smoothies, sauces, and soups.
Yes, this blender can make hot soup! So if you’re a sucker for gourmet quality soups like me, this is an excellent tool to have inside the kitchen.
Some consumers even said that they made nut butter with it, but I wouldn’t push it that far.
The compact design makes this suitable inside smaller homes or single folks who only make smoothies for one. It comes with a 40-ounce and 20-ounce container that can make a variety of recipes.
And you don’t have to worry what recipes to make because Vitamix will give you a recipe book to help you get started.