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Update® vs. MTE: Which Paraxanthine Energy Drink Is Better?

6 Minute Read

Intro

Caffeine’s Cooler Cousin: The Rise of Paraxanthine Energy Drinks

Energy drinks have come a long way since the days of sugar bombs and caffeine crashes. Today, some of the smartest brands in wellness are ditching the jitters and rethinking what clean energy really means.

Both MTE and Update use paraxanthine to fuel sharper focus, better mood, and more sustained energy. But that’s where the similarities end.

Update leans into quick clarity and productivity. MTE takes a more holistic approach, pairing paraxanthine with a synergistic blend of nootropics, adaptogens, and superfoods to support energy, mood, stress resilience, immunity, and recovery.

In this breakdown, we’ll explore how both paraxanthine drinks work, what’s inside each one, and what benefits they bring so that you can find the one that fits your goals.

How It Works

How Paraxanthine Powers You Up Without the Crash

Update is a carbonated energy drink designed for fast-acting mental clarity. It uses 200mg of paraxanthine (a pure caffeine metabolite) to give you the sharp focus and alertness you’d expect from a strong coffee, minus the jitters, anxiety, or energy crash.

As a result, you get a smoother, cleaner buzz that helps you zone in quickly and get things done.

MTE also uses paraxanthine (300mg), but that’s just one piece of the puzzle.

Instead of giving you a quick jolt, MTE is a caffeine-free wellness powder built for calm, sustainable energy. Its formula blends 11 ingredients, including nootropics (like theacrine and GABA) and adaptogens (like ashwagandha and holy basil), which work together to support your overall well-being.

Here’s the key difference: Update is all about short-term focus. MTE is about long-term support and stacking benefits over time.

Benefits

Update vs. MTE: Benefits That Go Beyond the Buzz

Sure, both drinks can give you a boost – but are we talking just awake enough to doom scroll at 2AM or energized enough to finish your to-do list and feel human doing it?

Let’s break down the benefits of each and see what kind of powered-up you’re really getting.

Update: Fast Focus, Fewer Side Effects

Update’s biggest draw is its clean, crash-free energy. Thanks to 200mg of paraxanthine, you get rapid mental clarity without the downsides of regular caffeine. You won’t feel wired or overstimulated, just alert and ready to work.

Potential benefits of Update:

Quick mental boost
Improved alertness and focus
Fewer jitters and less anxiety compared to caffeine
No post-energy crash
Light, carbonated format for easy sipping
Mood support

It’s ideal for people who need a fast-acting solution whether it’s a morning pick-me-up beverage or something to stay sharp during back-to-back meetings.

MTE: Energy + Mood + Stress Support

MTE takes a more holistic route. It blends paraxanthine with adaptogens, nootropics, and superfoods to help your body perform better, not just feel more awake. It's a daily wellness blend designed to support energy and recovery with benefits that build over time.

Potential benefits of MTE:

Calm, sustained energy without overstimulation
Zoned-in focus and mental clarity
Improved mood and stress resilience
Better immune and inflammatory response
Healthy metabolism support
No crash, no dependency
Better sleep and nighttime recovery

Instead of relying on a short burst of energy, MTE supports your body’s natural ability to stay sharp, steady, and balanced all day long.

Ingredients

What’s Inside? Paraxanthine and Friends, Compared

They say it’s what’s on the inside that counts, and when it comes to energy drinks, that couldn’t be more true. Some ingredients pick you up and support your system. Others just rev your engine and leave you stranded.

Both MTE and Update use paraxanthine, a next-gen caffeine alternative that delivers clean focus and energy without the crash. But beyond that, these two take somewhat different paths.

Let’s take a closer look at what each one is packing.

What’s in Update?

Update is a carbonated drink that delivers a fast-acting mental boost through a synergistic stack of nootropics and stimulants. It’s designed to improve focus, energy, alertness, and confidence without the crash of traditional caffeine.

Here’s a closer look at the key ingredients:

Paraxanthine – A potent caffeine metabolite known for boosting alertness, confidence, and executive function without the jittery side effects of caffeine itself.
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT) – A dopamine and epinephrine precursor that helps with focus, alertness, and stress resilience. The acetylated form helps it cross the blood-brain barrier more efficiently.
Alpha GPC – A choline compound that supports memory, learning, and even muscular power output—great for both mental agility and physical performance.
L-Theanine – Found in green tea, this amino acid promotes relaxed focus and smoothes out the stimulating effects of paraxanthine.
Taurine – A neuroprotective amino acid that supports mood regulation through its interactions with calming neurotransmitters like GABA.
5-HTP – A serotonin precursor sourced from tryptophan, aimed at lifting your mood and improving emotional resilience.
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) – This active form of B12 supports nervous system health, energy metabolism, and cognitive performance.

You can find the full list of ingredients in Update’s whitepaper – it’s packed with details, so definitely worth a read.

What’s in MTE?

Next to paraxanthine, MTE packs 10 more powerhouse ingredients to help you feel good, focus better, and recover faster:

L-Theanine – Promotes calm, crash-free focus when paired with paraxanthine. No jitters, just clarity.
Maca – Boosts mood, stamina, and cognitive function (and yeah, it’s great for libido too).
GABA – Helps take the edge off stress while keeping you sharp, not sleepy.
Eleuthero – A no-nonsense adaptogen that supports endurance, immunity, and focus under pressure.
Saffron – Naturally uplifts mood and supports emotional balance. Big impact from tiny doses.
Chicory Root – Great for digestion, gut health, and keeping inflammation in check.
Spirulina – A nutrient-dense superfood that supports energy, recovery, and immune health.
Amaranth – A gluten-free grain loaded with protein, fiber, and micronutrients for lasting vitality.
Ashwagandha – Legendary adaptogen for stress relief, recovery, and hormone balance.
Holy Basil – Supports mood, immunity, and stress resilience—your mind-body harmony herb.

Pricing & Packaging

Powder or Pop Top: How MTE and Update Stack Up at Checkout

MTE comes in 24 single-serve powder packets you can mix with water, smoothies, or your go-to morning drink. A one-time purchase runs $69.95, which comes out to $2.91 per serving.

Go for the subscription, and you’ll pay $2.48 per serving, which is less than a can of most mainstream energy drinks, but with way more feel-good ingredients (and none of the sketchy stuff). Free delivery included.

Available in Mandarin Orange, Lemon Lime, and Pineapple Mango, MTE is all about convenience with a conscience. The powder format cuts down on weight and bulk, and it ships in recyclable cardboard with no plastic clamshells or extra landfill fodder. It’s part of MTE’s commitment to sustainability on both a micro and macro level.

In comparison, Update comes in 12 oz carbonated cans, available in Berry, Lime, Mandarin, and Peach, plus a variety pack if you want to try them all. A single box of 12 cans costs $34.99, or you can subscribe and pay $31.49 per box.

You can order as many boxes as you want at a time, and since the cans are aluminum, they’re fully recyclable (a win for the planet).

Other Highlights

Extras That Matter: Flavor, Portability, and the Daily Vibe

Let’s be real, if a wellness drink doesn’t fit into your daily rhythm, it’s not going to last long. Thankfully, both Update and MTE make it easy to stick with the habit.

Update comes ready to drink in sleek, 12 oz cans – perfect for tossing in a bag or grabbing on the go. It’s zero sugar and zero carbs, which makes it keto-friendly and safe to drink while fasting (pretty cool if you’re the intermittent fasting type). The flavors are clean and refreshing, and the vibe is productivity meets performance.

MTE, on the other hand, gives you a scoop (well, a packet) of flexibility. Mix it with water, blend it into a smoothie, or even throw it into a wellness shot – it’s your ritual, your rules.

The flavors hit just right without overwhelming your taste buds. It’s portable, lightweight, and fits into nearly any dietary lifestyle: keto, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and free from sugar, caffeine overload, and artificial additives.

Best of all? You don’t have to pick just one.

MTE and Update actually complement each other pretty well. Use MTE daily to build long-term support for energy, mood, recovery, and focus, and reach for Update when you’ve got a big test, a tight deadline, or a brain-heavy task that needs a fast, clean jolt of focus.