Review of Nutri Ninja blenders

We Aussies have taken to blenders like blenders take to chopping up a banana. It’s a natural synergy, and in our busy lifestyles a blender seems like a perfect solution for those always on the move. This is where the Nutri Ninja brand steps in to blow your socks off.

No longer are blenders boring and clunky. With the likes of Nutri Ninja, blending foods has never been so exciting. You can blend all your superfoods – quinoa, chia seeds, avocado and so on – into healthy, tasty concoctions in such an easy fashion. It’s hard to imagine life before full blown blender warfare. So, what does the Nutri Ninja range offer consumers, and how does it compare to other brands?

The Nutri Ninja range

Nutri Ninja blenders are one half of the SharkNinja company – the other half being Shark vacuum cleaners. The brand is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and has proved hugely popular in Australia recently, largely thanks to its infomercials that you’ve probably seen on daytime TV.  Here’s an overview of what the Nutri Ninja range of blenders can offer you:

Nutri Ninja with Auto IQ System (BL682)

This baby is the Starship Enterprise in the Nutri Ninja line-up. It’s a behemoth sure to crush and blend anything you put in its way. It’s also an intuitive fellow, featuring the one-touch Auto IQ system to make blending easy, and not like operating a 747 aircraft. Its key features are:

• Powerful 1500W motor
• Total Crushing Blending System
• Precision Processing System
• One Touch Auto iQ Technology
• 5 Unique settings
• Sip and Seal Lids for drinking on the go

Its food capacity is also nothing to sneeze at, featuring:

• 2.1L blender pitcher
• 1.8L food processor bowl
• Small 500mL cup, medium 650mL cup and the jumbo 900mL cup

You’ll never be left yearning for more smoothies while on the move. With this model, you have enough capacity to see you through the day.

RRP: $349.99*

Nutri Ninja Duo with Auto IQ (BL642)

Similar to the BL682NZ, the Duo packs a punch when it comes to blending, or ‘nutrition extraction’. Its key features are:

• Powerful 1500W motor
• Auto-iQ Technology
• Pro Extractor Blades
• 5 Auto-iQ Programs
• Digital Timer
• Safety Interlock Design
• Sip and Seal lids for drinking on the go
• 3 Speed settings

Like the BL682NZ, the Duo also features a solid range of cup sizes for a variety of different beverages:

• 1L Blender Pitcher
• Small 500ml Cup, Regular 650mL cup and the jumbo 900mL cup

RRP: $299.99*

Other Nutri Ninja models

From the compact models to the gargantuan, there’s like to be a Nutri Ninja out there for everyone.

Models	Power (Watts)	Cup Sizes	Good for
Nutri Ninja (BL450)	900	1 x 500mL cup 1 x 650mL cup 2 x Sip & Seal lids	Those looking for a blender with a smaller footprint who want to make portable smoothies
Nutri Ninja with Auto IQ (BL480)	1000	1 x 500mL cup 1 x 700mL cup 1 x jumbo 900mL cup 3 x Sip & Seal lids	Those looking for a ‘smart’ midrange blender
Nutri Ninja Pro Complete (BL488)	1100	1 x stainless steel 650mL cup 1 x 650mL BPA free cup 1 x 1.4L jug 2 x Sip & Seal lids	Those looking for portable smoothies – a good midrange blender
Nutri Ninja IntelliSense Kitchen System with Auto Spiraliser (CT682)	1200	2L Crushing Pitcher 1 x 700mL cup 1 x 1.8L Processor Auto-Spiraliser	Those looking for a high-performance blender that features a number of automatic programs for a variety of recipes

Is a Nutri Ninja worth the money?

With all this hype around blenders in the last few years, you’d be forgiven for feeling a little bit left out if you don’t have one. If you’re looking for a blender ASAP, then you’ll likely be in safe hands with a Nutri Ninja – they won our customer satisfaction ratings after all! Though, it all comes down to what you can afford, and whether you can justify the price. We’ve broken down what Nutri Ninja blenders cost:

Model	Price
BL450 Nutri Ninja Blender & Smoothie Maker 900W	$129.99*
BL480 Nutri Ninja Blender & Smoothie Maker with Auto-iQ 1000W	$189.99*
BL488 Nutri Ninja Pro Complete Blender & Smoothie Maker with Auto-iQ 1100W	$299.99*
BL642 Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ 1500W	$299.99*
BL682 Ninja Complete Food Processor with Auto-iQ and Nutri Ninja 1500W	$349.99*
CT682 Ninja IntelliSense Kitchen System with Auto Spiraliser	$449.99*

Source: Respective retailer, December 2018

There seems to be a case of ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ even in the blender world. The truth is, you might not need one that can melt your face off with the press of a button or chew through wood faster than a colony of beavers. It’s all about what you need and how a blender can accommodate that. If you have a small family or you’re just after a morning smoothie for yourself, then a Nutri Ninja in the lower end of the price range may be suitable – they are great value. However, if you’re a larger family, or use your blender for everything under the sun, then one with a larger motor could be a good idea. Nutri Ninja have a wide range at a variety of price points, so there could be one out there that suits you perfectly.

Nutri Ninja vs NutriBullet: How do they compare?

It’s a debate that continues to range: Nutri Ninja or NutriBullet. They’re two power houses in the blender world that both shot to fame in the television infomercial market, and then later became available in department stores. They both have catchy names, so where do the similarities end? Let’s compare prices of the NutriBullet to our trusty Nutri Ninjas with The Good Guys.

NutriBullet Model	Power and Price	Nutri Ninja Model	Power and Price
NutriBullet Pro	900W, $119.99*	Nutri Ninja BL450	900W, $129.99*
NutriBullet Select	1000W, $199.99*	Nutri Ninja BL480	1000W, $189.99*
NutriBullet Balance	1200W, $279.99*	Nutri Ninja Pro BL488	1100W, $299.99*
NutriBullet Rx	1700W, $349*	Nutri Ninja Duo BL642	1500W, $299.99*
		Nutri Ninja Complete BL682	1500W, $349.99*

Source: Respective retailers, December 2018 

In Australia, NutriBullet offers eight models while Nutri Ninja currently offers six. We’ve only listed models from each brand that have similar blending power. As you look through the list, it’s Nutri Bullet that seems to offer a better price for the power level offered. If you’re after a top-of-the-range model for intense blending, then the NutriBullet offers a more powerful model for the same price as the Nutri Ninja Complete ($349 RRP*).

Though, blenders are more about price and power. You’ll also have to consider:

• Blade strength and technology
• Interface (e.g. touch technology, dials etc)
• User experience and ease of use
• Warranties
• Attachments and included accessories e.g. cups, lids, recipe books etc

NutriBullet and Nutri Ninja are pretty even at the high-end, but at the low end, Nutri Ninja wins out. Overall, they’re two giant blender brands and for good reason – so it’s up to you and your individual needs as to which blender is right for you.

*Prices taken from Appliances Online and respective retailers, correct as of October 2018

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Lead, Megan Birot. She’s an expert on household appliances, health & beauty products, as well as all things grocery and shopping. When she’s not writing up our research-based ratings reports, Megan spends her time helping consumers make better purchase decisions, whether it’s at the supermarket, other retailers, or online, highlighting the best deals and flagging anything you need to be aware of.

What do customers think about Nutri-Ninja Blenders?

In 2019, Australian customers gave Nutri-Ninja 4 out of 5 stars for overall customer satisfaction for blenders.