I have had both the cheaper and now I have purchased the more expensive oxo mandoline. Pros. The blade is sharp The hand guard is big Cons The julienne spikes aren't sharp, just thin sheet metal. So you can't use for cucumber or anything really. Maybe potato... The cheaper model julienne blades were sharp and good for most veges The hand guard has a spring is way too strong. I think this is the point though. Oxo assumes you will only use the mandoline for semi spherical objects. But you couldn't use with a soft tomato as it would just squash it. I used the old one to hold long veges like carrots and cucumber and the strong spring now won't hold the long veges as they just spring out. Also the julenne can't cut them. If I remove the spring I can't push out the last of the vege like I could with the cheaper model. Overall It really seems like the product testing was non existent, blunt julienne blades don't work and reduced vege capability.