KitchenAid ups its iconic mixer with exact-speed control

KitchenAid just boosted its iconic mixer with exact-speed control.

The Artisan Plus Stand Mixer gets a serious upgrade: a new half-speed setting, a redesigned exact-speed lever, and a bowl-scraping beater, all pitched as the biggest upgrade since 1955. The update aims to answer one true baking frustration—finding the right tempo for delicate folds and gentle incorporations—without forcing users into guesswork. The new model is priced at $599.99 and goes on sale today in 11 of the brand’s color options, plus four fresh hues including Sundried Tomato.

What’s new, in plain terms: instead of relying on a fixed ladder of 11 speeds, the Artisan Plus adds a precise, intermediate setting between those steps. The lever now lets you dial in a specific speed between presets, so whisking meringue or folding berries can be gentler and more predictable. There’s also a redesigned beater that can scrape the bowl, minimizing the need to pause and scrape down sides by hand. In practice, that combination should help bakers coax more consistent texture from whipped toppings and delicate mixtures, while keeping heavier batters in check.

From a consumer standpoint, the price tag is the anchor. At $599.99, this isn’t a mid-range upgrade—it's pitched as a premium enhancement to a fixture many home cooks already treat as a long-term companion. And with four new hues joining 11 established colors, KitchenAid is betting the style choice matters as much as the speed control for many buyers. The company notes the product is available today through KitchenAid’s own channels and other retailers.

Setup and everyday use aren’t expected to be far from standard for a tilt-head stand mixer: you unbox, attach the bowl and beater, and you’re ready to go. The precise-speed dial is a new muscle memory to learn, but it’s designed to live alongside the familiar 11 presets rather than replace them entirely. The real-world impact will depend on your recipes and your rhythm in the kitchen. There’s no subscription or ongoing software fee to worry about, which is a relief for anyone who cringes at hidden costs in “smart” kitchen gear.

Practical insights for prospective buyers:

Precise speeds aren’t just a novelty. If you regularly fold delicate ingredients or whip at low volumes, the intermediate setting can reduce overmixing and improve texture without stopping to adjust for every tiny change.

The bowl-scraping beater promises less manual scraping and fewer interruptions, a real-time saver for bakers juggling multiple bowls and stages of a recipe.

The upgrade is a meaningful premium over the baseline Artisan experience. If you’re happy with your current mixer and don’t routinely do very delicate folds, you may feel the extra cost isn’t necessary.

Weight and footprint stay in the same ballpark for a 5- to 6-quart stand mixer; plan for the slightly busier workflow if you frequently clean up between batches.

Head-to-head with the obvious alternative—the traditional Artisan mixer with 11 speeds—the Artisan Plus’ standout is the exact-speed control and the bowl-scraping beater. The standard model offers reliability and familiar performance, but without the mid-step precision and the new scraper accessory. For serious bakers who want the closest control to a seasoned kitchen pro, the Plus makes a compelling case; for casual bakers, the upgrade may feel like a luxury rather than a necessity.

Verdict: if you bake with any frequency and value consistent folds, delicate whipped textures, or reduced cleanup time, the Artisan Plus’s speed-control refinement and scraper beater are worth the premium. If your routines are more about occasional cake mixes or heavy batters, you might be better served by sticking with a less expensive option or waiting for a deeper discount on the older model.

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KitchenAid redesigned its iconic mixer so you can set an exact speed