Before I got this, I had always owned a mixer from a competitor and I thought that it's lowest speed was what was "normal" for hand mixers. It broke and I decided to get this mixer, as it was recommended to me. This is LEAPS and BOUNDS better than the comparable competitors mixer. The lowest speed doesn't throw flour or powdered sugar AT ALL. The flex edge beaters are quiet but work very well and the whisk attachment made making whipped cream from scratch super quick and easy. Although there is an attachment to put on the mixer to store the beaters and whisk in, I wish there was a plastic cover that enclosed them to further protect them. Overall, this is my favorite hand mixer I've owned so far.