Thermomix TM7 vs TM6: Should You Upgrade Your Thermomix?
When the Thermomix TM7 launched in February 2025 - going on to sell 860,000 units in its first year, Vorwerk's most successful launch ever – my inbox filled with the same question from friends and fellow Thermomix lovers: Should I upgrade?
It's a fair question – the TM7 is a seriously different machine. Not just a minor refresh, but the biggest design departure Thermomix has made in years. But different doesn't automatically mean better for you. So let's talk honestly about what's actually changed, what it means for everyday cooking, and whether it's worth the investment if you've already got a TM6 purring away in your kitchen.
What's Actually New: The Big Changes
The first thing you notice about the TM7 is that it looks nothing like the TM6. The classic white casing is gone – in fact, the casing no longer has a back and sides at all. Instead you get a sleek, black, low-rise base with a fresh, modern design that looks properly futuristic – and because it sits so much lower, it can easily be packed away in a drawer. But looks aren't everything – let me walk you through what's actually changed under the hood.
The screen is now a 10-inch multi-touch display, up from the TM6's 6.8 inches – and everything about it is more visual. There are icons for ingredients, pictures showing what each stage should look like, even videos explaining the more technical bits. Everything you need to know about using your Thermomix is right there on the screen – there's no handbook any more, because there doesn't need to be. If you've ever squinted at a small screen mid-cook or fumbled with the TM6's selector dial, you'll notice the difference immediately.
The motor is quieter. On the surface the functions feel very similar to the TM6 – but under the hood the TM7 has been totally re-engineered. The new synchronous motor runs at around 30 dB(A) on low speed – barely a whisper. The TM6 sits at 63 dB(A). That's not a small upgrade; that's genuinely life-changing if you cook early mornings or late evenings when the house is quiet.
You can now cook with the lid off. This one sounds small but opens up real possibilities. Temperatures up to 100°C with no blade rotation – essentially, it's like having a smart stove-top pot. It's perfect for delicate things like noodles, for reducing sauces, or anything where you want precision heat control without the blades getting involved. The TM6 could never do this.
Browning is now a proper mode – with two levels. On the TM6, browning and caramelisation were locked behind guided cooking. The TM7 gives you a dedicated browning mode in manual cooking, with a choice of gentle or intense. Gentle coaxes beautiful caramelisation and sweetness out of onions; intense gets a proper sear on meat or high-water-content vegetables. If you're someone who cooks manually more than you follow guided recipes, this alone is worth a look.
The Varoma is 45% larger – and tidier. The new rectangular steaming attachment gives you 45% more space than the TM6's, so there's room to steam a family's worth of vegetables alongside your main. It stores more neatly too: the Varoma bowl clicks into the base, so the whole thing stacks away efficiently.
The bowl is insulated and safe to touch. The 2.2-litre stainless steel bowl now comes wrapped in a thermal protective cover. It's actually a little heavier than the TM6 or TM5 bowl – but the insulated cover changes how you carry it: you can now pick it up with both hands, one on the outside of the bowl and one on the handle, or even cradle it with an arm. That's a quiet game-changer for anyone with weaker wrists or grip – and your food stays hotter for longer, too.
The Honest Truth: Who Should Upgrade
Right, let's get to the question that matters. I get asked this a lot, and here's my honest take.
You should upgrade if:
Your TM6 is ageing and you're thinking about replacing it anyway. The TM7 is the better machine, and if you've got 3–5 years of cooking ahead, the investment pays off.
You cook manually more than you follow guided recipes. The lid-off cooking, two-level browning, and larger screen make the TM7 far more flexible.
You're bothered by noise. If early-morning smoothies or late-night soups are part of your routine, the quieter motor is worth something real.
You want future-proofing. The honest picture: the TM6 is a fantastic machine and will keep cooking brilliantly for years to come – but it's at the end of its lifespan as far as upgrades are concerned, while the TM7 is just at the start of its journey. Significant software updates are already coming, including AI-assisted cooking (I'm part of the testing group) and voice control on the roadmap – features the TM6 simply won't get. And there's more in the wind: talk of a bigger bowl, and even rumours of a pressure-cooker lid… though you didn't hear that from me.
You can absolutely wait if:
Your TM6 is working perfectly and you're happy with it. The TM7 is better, but the TM6 is still a brilliant machine. There's no shame in keeping it.
Budget is tight. The TM7 is £1,349, and that's a real amount of money. A TM6 will still make brilliant food.
You don't mind the noise level. The TM6 is loud, sure, but if it doesn't bother you, don't pay extra for quiet.
The Price Question
The TM7 costs £1,349 in the UK, £1,180 here in Jersey (that's including GST), £1,124.17 in Guernsey, and €1,599 in Ireland. Flexible finance options are available – the exact deals change from time to time, so ask me for the current offer; plenty of my customers spread the cost monthly.
New from an advisor, that's roughly £300–400 more than you'd pay for a TM6 second-hand – but you get new condition, a full warranty, and real support from your advisor if anything goes wrong.
And a word of warning about "bargain" TM7s. There are scam sites out there offering the TM7 at a lower price, and you'll sometimes see it listed cheaply on Amazon or eBay. Be very careful. If a TM7 hasn't been fully paid off – say the seller is still on a payment plan – or if it's been stolen, the machine can be disabled remotely. At that point it simply stops working, and it can't be unblocked. If you do buy second-hand, make sure you know exactly who you're buying from: ask for the serial number, and you can ring head office to check it's a genuine machine that's been fully paid off. To be absolutely sure you're getting a genuine TM7 with a full warranty, go via the official route – which means through an advisor like me.
What Stays the Same
The TM7 still does what made the TM6 brilliant. Guided cooking with the Cookidoo app is just as seamless. The core tasks – chopping, kneading, steaming, slow cooking, blending – all work beautifully. You're not learning a completely new machine if you've used a TM6 before. The fundamentals are the same; they're just refined and more powerful.
My Take
The TM7 is a genuinely impressive upgrade. It's the biggest step forward Thermomix has taken in years. But "impressive" and "worth it for you" aren't always the same question. If you're on the fence, my advice is simple: book a demo. I can do that in person if you live close by – otherwise we can hop on a quick video call over WhatsApp or Zoom. Get your hands on one, try the lid-off cooking, hear how quiet the motor is, and see whether it feels like a worthwhile leap. That 20 minutes will tell you more than any article I could write.
The TM7 isn't essential if you've got a working TM6. But if you're ready for an upgrade – or if your TM6 is ageing – it's the machine I'd buy today.
Keep reading
If you do take the plunge: your TM7 first week guide. Completely new to Thermomix? Start with the beginners guide. Still comparing across brands? Thermomix vs Kenwood vs KitchenAid – or see the TM7 itself.
Want to see the TM7 for yourself? Reading about lid-off cooking is one thing – trying it is another. Book a free demo and I'll bring the TM7 to you – in person if you're nearby, or over WhatsApp video or Zoom if not. No pressure, just a proper look and a cuppa.
Not ready for a demo yet? Grab the free recipe booklet – five weeknight dinners your Thermomix cooks itself, straight to your inbox.
