I'm a miniature painter and I bought a cheaper vortex mixer thinking that I don't really need an expensive version. I was very wrong. The switch mechanism in the cheaper version broke so that it never shut off, so I had to unplug it after each use. Also, the cheaper unit doesn't shake enough to mix up some of my thicker paints or paints that had been sitting for a long time.I finally broke down and bought this mixer. This model is obviously more expensive, but the difference in quality is immediately apparent. The motor is much more robust and shakes my paint bottles very thoroughly, regardless of how thick or old they are. It also has a smaller footprint than the cheaper model, slightly less than 4" in diameter. It also stays in place when being used; it doesn't "walk" across the table.The durability remains to be seen as I've only used it a few days, but it mixes small paint bottles very thoroughly. Even the most stubborn paints only take 20 seconds to mix at most. This type of item is certainly a luxury, but it works beautifully. Strongly recommend.