One of today’s convenient gadgets is an electric garage door opener. There is no need to get out of your car when it’s dark and raining in order to get into your garage. LiftMaster has a range of garage door openers for all types of doors. In this article, we are going to cover the LiftMaster 3800 vs 8500. The LiftMaster 3800 is no longer manufactured. The LiftMaster 8500 is the upgraded version of the LiftMaster 3800. For this reason, we will focus more on what has changed, rather than which one to buy.
After we have gone over the specific details of the two garage door openers, we will put all of the information in a chart so you can see the LiftMaster 3800 and the LiftMaster 8500 side by side. We will round up with some pros and cons of each and a final verdict.
Video Comparison
Let’s begin with the similarities.
LiftMaster 3800 vs 8500 – Similarities
Power and Compatibility
The LiftMaster 3800 and the LiftMaster 8500 both have a voltage of 240v. They are able to lift doors that weight up to 650 pounds. They are designed for doors with a torsion bar. Before buying any garage door opener, check the size of your door.
Mounting
They are side-wall mounting openers. It makes installation a little easier than mounting on the ceiling, plus it saves ceiling space.
Security
The LiftMaster 3800 comes with Security 2+. The 8500 has Security 2.0. We believe this is the same. Each click to open the door sends a new security code, so nobody else can open your door.
Value for Money
While the LiftMaster 8500 is a little bit cheaper than the older LiftMaster 3800 version, they both have a 5-year warranty.
Differences Between LiftMaster 3800 and LiftMaster 8500
That’s as far as the similarities go. With that, we will move on to how they differ.
LiftMaster 3800 vs 8500: Appearance
Electric garage door openers will vary in appearance depending on the system and brand. The LiftMaster 3800 and the LiftMaster 8500 look very similar but they aren’t the same.
LiftMaster 3800
This is an all-black machine. It weighs 32.2 pounds and it is 24 x 10 x 12 inches.
LiftMaster 8500
The dimensions are exactly the same, however, it weighs a little less at 28 pounds. It is black with burgundy, which adds to the sleek design.
The Winner Is- The LiftMaster 8500
Read next: LiftMaster 3900 vs 8500: Which Garage Door Opener is Better?
LiftMaster 3800 vs 8500: Controls
It’s important that the garage opener you choose is easy to use and has a good connection. Nobody wants to have to attempt 5 different angles with the remote to try and open the door.
LiftMaster 3800
The controls work through the Home Link Control Panel. You will be able to adjust various settings. It has an LCD display to tell you the time and temperature. It comes with two wireless remote controls. The remotes have a blue LED light that comes on when your hand is close. This is very useful when searching for control in the dark.
LiftMaster 8500
There is only one control with the LiftMaster 8500, but more controls can be added. It is compatible with MyQ. You can download the MyQ app and control the garage door opener via your smartphone. The app also allows you to monitor when the door is opened. You will need to buy a separate Internet Gateway in order for the wireless connection to work with your smartphone.
The Winner Is- A Tie
Read next: LiftMaster 8500 vs 8550: Which Garage Door Opener is Better?
LiftMaster 3800 vs 8500: The Motors
The type of motor you will need will again depend on the weight and design of your garage door. Generally speaking, you should find a garage door opener with at least ½ horsepower.
LiftMaster 3800
The motor in the LiftMaster 3800 is ¾ horsepower. This is more than average and should make for easy, smooth motion.
LiftMaster 8500
The new upgrade has P3 motors. These motors are specifically designed for electronic garage door openers.
The Winner Is- The 8500
LiftMaster 3800 vs 8500: Extras
Some garage door openers will have additional features for security or ease of use. LiftMaster has included some with both of these.
LiftMaster 3800
There is a built-in motion sensor in the control panel. This will light up your garage with 200w. You can adjust the time delay of the light. The door will automatically stop closing when it comes in contact with a person or an object. The LiftMaster 3800 comes with a power lock.
LiftMaster 8500
It also has a motion detector light for safety and to make life easier. There is a projector light beam crossing the door. When the beam is broken, the door will stop opening or closing. A nice feature we like is the audio and visual warnings. This makes it ideal for anyone with hearing difficulties or problems with their sight.
The Winner Is- The 8500
Read next: Liftmaster 8355 vs 8550: Which Garage Door Opener is Better?
Pros and Cons
These pros and cons will give you more of an idea of the LiftMaster 3800 and the LiftMaster 8500.
LiftMaster 3800
Pros:
- It opens faster, quieter and smoother than many other garage door opener brands
- It has a soft-start and soft-stop opening and closing feature that adds to the smoothness
- The control panel is really easy to use and it provides you with status updates
Cons:
- The instructions are not straightforward and some of the screws don’t match the size the instructions say
LiftMaster 8500
Pros:
- It’s incredibly quiet and you can’t feel the vibrations in the next room
- It’s very compact so it will fit in smaller places and you save more overhead room
- The installation is much easier and the instructions are better presented
Cons:
- It should come with more than one control. It would also be nice if it had an integrated Internet gateway
The Final Verdict
We discovered that there were some issues with the installation of both the LiftMaster 3800 and the LiftMaster 8500. Remember that this isn’t the same as plugging in other electronic gadgets. If you are not experienced, it is always worth having an expert install the garage door opener.
There are definitely some improvements with the LiftMaster 8500 upgrade. It’s a little bit lighter but quite a bit more attractive. The overall installation and set up appear to be easier too.
Some things are still the same, the security system, lock, and mention sense light are all features that LiftMaster wisely kept.
It’s also nice that LiftMaster has upgraded the auto stop when the door comes into contact with something. Having a projected beam adds more security, which those of us with children will appreciate.
There are some things that could have been better with the upgrade. It’s illogical to send one less remote control than with the older model. This is probably because LiftMaster was assuming that people would use their smartphones. However, for this, you need to buy an additional Internet gateway, which many don’t want to do.
That being said, if you do set up the garage door opener to work with your mobile, you will be able to appreciate the benefits. First of all, it’s one less remote you need to worry about. Secondly, it’s good to be able to control everything from your phone.
Overall, the upgrade is worth it. It is cheaper than the LiftMaster 3800; it has kept the great features and added a few more that make it an excellent electronic garage door opener.
Last update on 2023-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API