In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleReviewsThe Bottom LineOther Models We TestedOur TestsCommon QuestionsOur Trusted Expertise
In This ArticleView All
In This Article
View All
Reviews
The Bottom Line
Other Models We Tested
Our Tests
Common Questions
Our Trusted Expertise
Photo:EatingWell / Tiffany Davis
EatingWell / Tiffany Davis
After years of testing personal blenders, I was thrilled to see the newest models from the Nutribullet and Magic Bullet lines. A long-time owner of a Nutribullet original, I am very familiar with the versatility and convenience of these personal blender lines. I often use mine for green juices, cool smoothies, dips, and quickly purée soups and dressings. Perhaps the biggest difference between these new models and my previous versions is that both are full-sized blenders with personal blender accessories. This appeals to the multi-tool chef in me who hates to waste space in the kitchen but likes the range of options multiple blending vessels provide. Pitting the Nutribullet Smartsense Blender Combo against the Magic Bullet Combo Blender was not only fun, it was enlightening (spoiler alert: I loved them both).
Nutribullet Smartsense Blender ComboPHOTO: Amazon$150 at AmazonView on Nutribullet.com$150 at Macy’s
Nutribullet Smartsense Blender Combo
PHOTO: Amazon
$150 at AmazonView on Nutribullet.com$150 at Macy’s
What we like:The Smartsense feature adjusts the time and speed of your blend based on your ingredients.
What to know:At about $150, the Smartsense is significantly more expensive than its competition.
The Nutribullet Smartsense Blender Combo is a striking machine with a matte finish, clean, modern lines, and a digital readout that offers a cheery “Hello!” when powered on. Featuring five variable speeds and a pulse function, the Nutribullet knocked it out of the park with its Smartsense setting, which uses a one-touch sensor that evaluates the weight of the mixture and adjusts the blending speed and time accordingly. When I used it for the first time, I was blown away. The Smartsense cut through hard frozen fruit for my smoothie without overblending, resulting in a perfectly smooth texture. One caveat: the Smartsense function works best for blending, so salsas or soups that require some texture are best made using the pulse function.
The generous 64-ounce pitcher has an integrated, six-edge multidirectional blade, tapered sides for enhanced ingredient circulation and a handy tamper—all the key factors I look for in a high-end blender. The pitcher has a spout that gives you additional control when pouring, and the lid has a removable center piece for venting hot liquids. The pitcher locks into the base with an audible “click,” and silicone suction feet keep the blender firmly in place during use.
For personal blending, the 24-ounce handled cup and 33-ounce cup come with to-go lids and share a twist-on base with multidirectional blades for better blending. I had trouble removing the blade after blending a smoothie but liked that it was secure and didn’t threaten to detach when removed from the base, an issue I did incur with the Magic Bullet. I also noticed that at both low and higher speeds, the Nutribullet is quite noisy, making it less than ideal for early-morning blending.
As part of my tests,I made hummus, a mixture that often stumps even the best blenders. The Nutribullet quickly blended the beans, tahini and lemon juice, but the blade struggled to keep up once the thick mixture was matted to the sides of the blender cup. Scraping down the sides let me achieve a good consistency. The pulse option especially came in handy when finishing the hummus.
Another thing those with a small kitchen should note: The large accessory package and full-sized blending pitcher can create a storage challenge. The parts do not fit together compactly, so they need a decent amount of real estate. However, the spiffy-looking base is nice enough to earn permanent counter space, and the whole blender should fit under most standard upper cabinets or shelves.
Overall, the Nutribullet is a strong full-sized blender that holds its own againstany I have tested before. The blending function, upgraded from previous versions, adds considerable value, and the large personal blending accessory package makes this a great option for avid smoothie makers and those who like to use their blender for soups, sauces, dressings and fun icy drinks. Though the price is steeper than the Magic Bullet, the looks, function and multiple parts add a lot of value, making it an excellent purchase.
Power:1400 watts |Capacity:64 oz. |Dimensions:17.09" L x 13.54" W x 12.36" H |Cup Sizes:32-oz., 24-oz.
PHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany DavisPHOTO: EatingWell / Tiffany Davis
Magic Bullet Combo BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$50$40 at Amazon$56 at WayfairView on Nutribullet.com
Magic Bullet Combo Blender
$50$40 at Amazon$56 at WayfairView on Nutribullet.com
What we like:The Magic Bullet Combo Blender is a compact and affordable option.
What to know:This model is less powerful than the Nutribullet and occasionally struggled with tougher items like frozen fruit.
The cups and pitcher on the Magic Bullet are top-rack dishwasher safe but again, the pitcher was too tall for my dishwasher, and I hand-washed it along with the blade, neither of which was challenging. I liked the easy operation of the Magic Bullet and how small it was, even with a full-sized pitcher. The price, one-third of the Nutribullet, is reflected in its less modern presentation and fewer features. Still, the Magic Bullet delivers where it matters: thorough, reliable blending.
Power:600 watts |Capacity:48 oz. |Dimensions:10.59"L x 8.15"W x 14.17"H |Cup Size:20 oz.
The Bottom Line: Is Magic Bullet or NutriBullet Better?
At the end of the tests, I ultimately preferred theNutribullet Smartsense Blender Combo(view at Amazon). The Smartsense feature simplifies blending anything to a smooth consistency, and the large pitcher is ample for my family-sized batches of soup. It also looks great on my countertop and comes with multiple cups, saving me a daily rewash of a single cup. Though the price is significantly higher than the Magic Bullet Combo, the design, operation and accessories make it worth the added cost.
Magic Bullet Blender($50 at Amazon):Magic Bullet’s original blender is still a top choice for its compact design, modest price, and longevity (one of our editors is going on 15 years with hers). The 11-piece set comes with three cups— a 16-oz. tall cup, a shorter 12-oz. cup and a large 22-oz. party mug, all compatible with the included to-go lid. Great for sauces, puréed soups and dressings, the 250-watt motor is a little too weak to tackle icy beverages, seeds or tougher vegetables like raw celery.
Magic Bullet Portable Blender($40 at Amazon):The most personal of the Magic Bullet blenders, the Portable weighs just over a pound and a half and runs on rechargeable batteries, eliminating the constant need for a plug. Great for fast-paced mornings, this thermos-sized blender is easy to throw in a backpack or purse, allowing you to blend your beverage fresh in the car, on the train, or when you arrive at the office. Unique to this model, a handy infuser holds citrus or herbs above the blades, making it easy to flavor your water (thinkspa water) without adding unwanted texture. The 100-watt motor doesn’t process hard-frozen ice or fruits well, so it’s best to let them thaw a bit for a smooth-textured treat.
Nutribullet Pro Personal 1000 Blender($90 at Amazon):An upgrade on the original, the Nutribullet Pro 1000 has a 1000-watt motor, which is easier to control than its predecessor, allowing for both chopped and puréed recipes. The extra watts allowed us to blaze through ice, frozen fruit and fibrous veggies easily. The smart addition of suction feet keeps the blender firmly in place, so the higher power doesn’t cause the blender to scoot across your countertop while in use. In addition to a 24-oz. cup, this blender comes with an even bigger one that holds a whopping 32 oz. As sleek and compact as the rest of the line, the Nutribullet Pro 1000 comes at a higher price point but makes up for it with enhanced versatility.
Nutribullet Pro+ Personal Blender($130 at Amazon):The NutriBullet Pro Plus features a 1,200-watt motor, the Pro Plus, packing even more power than the aforementioned NutriBullet Pro, literally twice the amount as the Original. Like the Original and Pro versions, the Pro Plus operates via the push-down-and-twist method but also comes with a “pulse” button and an auto-shutoff feature that turns the machine off after one minute, a hands-off option not offered in previous models. Along with its motor base and extractor blade, the Pro Plus comes with one 24-oz. cup, a 32-oz. “colossal cup,” two to-go lids and two cup rings. The only thing that challenged this blender was peanut butter for a smoothie. The increased wattage is also audible: this unit runs loud.
Nutribullet Ultra Personal Blender($150 at Amazon):The upgraded, modern design of the Ultra makes it the most luxe member of the NutriBullet family. With a 1,200-watt motor, illuminated control panel, a 30-second “smoothie cycle,” and separate pulse button and titanium-coated blades, this powerhouse is too strong for simple chopped applications and runs slightly loud. However,my smoothieswere silky, and my guacamole was creamy. With the option of three blending vessels (a 32-oz. cup, 24-oz. cup and 24-oz. handled mug and handy to-go lids), smoothie lovers will rejoice at this blender’s performance.
Our Magic Bullet and NutriBullet Tests
How do you use Magic Bullet and NutriBullet blenders?
Operating each blender depends on the model. Some models in both lines are simple twist-to-start models, while these combo blenders have either buttons or a dial to operate. Working with a Magic Bullet or Nutribullet blender is easy in both instances.
Which is more powerful: Magic Bullet or NutriBullet?
Though you can find some models in each line with similar wattage motors, the Nutribullet line features much higher and, therefore, stronger motors, topping out at 1200 watts, whereas the Magic Bullet line peaks at 600 watts. Additionally, the six-edge blades of the Nutribullet Combo add more blending power than the four-edge blade of the Magic Bullet.
Are Magic Bullet and NutriBullet blenders dishwasher-safe?
There are parts of each blender that can be cleaned in the dishwasher, mostly the cups and lids. However, I found many parts too tall for the top rack of my dishwasher and ended up hand-washing most of the parts.
Tiffany Vickers Davisis a chef, writer, and food entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in high-profile restaurants and the test kitchen ofCooking Lightmagazine. In addition to testing the blenders in this article, she has testedimmersion blendersand otherfull-sized blendersfor EatingWell. She is a proud owner of an old Nutribullet Personal Blender, and an even older Vitamix inherited from her parents. She uses them frequently to make smoothies, purée soups and prepare dips for small gatherings.
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