The Vitamix 5200 blender comes with variable speed settings, allowing you to control the blending process precisely. The "High" setting is a fixed high-speed setting that you can use for maximum blending power. The "Variable" setting, on the other hand, lets you manually adjust the speed of the blender using the variable speed dial. This allows you to start at a slower speed and gradually increase it to achieve the desired texture or consistency for your recipes.