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iCucina Portable Bullet vs Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ Side-by-Side Comparison

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iCucina Portable Bullet

$35.97 from Amazon

Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ

Check Price on Amazon
iCucina Portable Bullet vs Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ

Overall Verdict

From an overview, they are two distinct ranges of personal blenders. While the Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ is a top-of-the-line model with high-end features and advanced capabilities that are perfect for those demanding the best in their kitchen appliances, the iCucina Portable Bullet is a basic model that provides a simpler blending solution for those who want an affordable and no-frills option.

Sporting a higher-powered motor, the Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ emerged as the clear winner in all of our tests. It efficiently extracted essential nutrients from a variety of food items, including almonds, dried berries, leafy veggies, and frozen fruits. Its sharper blades could even tear apart 6 ounces of ice cubes, pulverizing them into a snow-like texture in no time. Meanwhile, the iCucina Portable Bullet paled in comparison for it struggled to handle nearly every ingredient and produced uneven results.

However, it’s worth noting that the Ninja’s hefty weight and bulky size may compromise its portability. Moreover, while the intelligent programs are intriguing, their premium price may not be suitable for everyone—some may even consider them gimmicky.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • It’s good for simple plant-based blends.
  • Built quality is mediocre but fine for the price.
  • Simple design allows for straightforward use, cleaning, and storage. 
  • It stands stably, rather than jumping around, while working.
  • A powerful motor allows for heavy-duty blending 
  • Stainless steel extractor blades are exceptionally tough
  • Hands-free operation offers greater convenience 
  • Sturdy motor base ensures stable performance 
  • Blending cups are included with to-go lids
  • The lack of versatility. 
  • Short power cord.
  • It’s heavy and quite bulky
  • The control panel is gimmicky 
  • The feets’ suction is so strong making it challenging to remove the base
  • The premium price tag might be a high barrier for many people

Key Specs

Dimension
H13.6 x W5 inches
H14.2 x W6.4 inches
Weight
2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)
5.4 lbs (2.4 kg)
Number of speeds
1
4
Pulse/Turbo option
No
Yes
Dishwasher-safe wand
Yes
Yes
Accessories
An extra blending cup, two to-go lids
2 to-go lids, and an extra 18-ounce blending cup

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$40.41
$56.94
$35.97 at Amazon
Check Price on Amazon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
4.7
8.8

Protein Shake

6.0
8.8
iCucina Portable Bullet Blender Protein Shake Test
A batch of protein shake packed with dried blueberries, oatmeal, and almonds prepared by the iCucina Personal Blender is checked for smoothness by being drained through a stainless steel mesh strainer, with a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 49 seconds) next to it.
Scooping a spoon of solid chunks including dried blueberries and almonds that the iCucina personal blender was unable to pulverize in the test of preparing protein shake from a stainless steel mesh strainer.
Ninja BL480D Nutri Protein Shake Video
A batch of protein shake packed with dried blueberries, oatmeal, and almonds prepared by the Ninja BL480D is checked for smoothness by being drained through a stainless steel mesh strainer, with a smartphone displaying the total blending time (1 minute and 10 seconds) next to it.
Scooping a spoon of solid chunks including dried blueberries and almonds that the Nutri Ninja 1000-watt personal blender was unable to pulverize in the test of preparing protein shake from a stainless steel mesh strainer.
Blending Time
1 mins 50 secs
1 min 10 secs
Result
Very Coarse
Silky Smooth

Frozen Fruit Smoothie

5.0
9.5
iCucina Portable Bullet Blender Frozen Fruit Smoothie Test
Scoping a spoon of fruity smoothie from a plastic cup that is standing between the iCucina personal blender and a smartphone displaying the blending time (1 minute and 50 seconds)
After finishing blending, the fruity smoothie made by the iCucina personal blender is spread throughout a white paper.
Ninja BL480D Nutri Frozen Fruit Smoothie Video
To check for solid chunks, after finishing blending, the fruity smoothie made by the Nutri Ninja single-serve blender is spread throughout a white paper with a smartphone displaying the total blending time ( 1 minute and 5 seconds) next to it.
A spoon of fruity smoothie packed with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and mango made by the Nutri Ninja single blender with Auto-IQ.
Blending Time
1 min 50 seconds
1 min 5 seconds
Result
Silky Smooth
Silky Smooth
Suction

Fibrous Greens

4.0
8.0
iCucina Portable Bullet Blender Fibrous Greens Test
A glass of water combined with fibrous greens pulp produced by the iCucina Single-Serve Blender.
A glass of water with fibrous green pulp produced by the iCucina Personal Blender sinking from its top to bottom.
Ninja BL480D Nutri Fibrous Greens Video
A glass of water combined with fibrous greens pulp produced by the Ninja BL480D Nutri 1000-Watt.
A glass of water with fibrous green pulp produced by the Ninja BL480D Nutri personal countertop blender sinking from its top to bottom.
Blending Time
20 seconds
20 seconds
Result
Very Coarse
Medium-FineMedium-Fine

Crushed Ice Cubes

0.0
8.0
iCucina Portable Bullet Blender Crushed Ice Test
A black tray of crushed ice produced by the iCucina Single-Serve Blender being on a table.
The amount of unblended ice cubes (4.41 oz) of the iCucina single-serve blender displayed on a scale’s screen.
Ninja BL480D Nutri Crushed Ice Video
A black tray of crushed ice produced by the Nutri Ninja Personal Blender being on a table.
Ice Fineness
Coarse
Coarse
Unblended Ice
73.5% of 6 oz
0% of 6 oz

Design

Overall Design Scoring
7.7
9.7

In the Box

The iCucina Personal Blender with a motor base and blending cup attached lying on a table with a to-go lid, a blending cup with lid, a paper carton box, and a user guide by its sides.
The Ninja Nutri Auto-IQ 1000-Watt lying on a gray table with its accessories, including two to-go lids, an additional blending cup, a recipe book & user guide, and a paper carton box, by its sides.

Dimensions

The iCucina personal blender standing on a gray table, with the length of its motor base being noted to the side as 5.7 inches, and the total length and width of the unit as 13.6 inches and 5.0 inches, respectively.
The Ninja Nutri 1000-watt personal blender standing on a gray table, with the length of its motor base being noted to the side as 8.2 inches, and the total length and width of the unit as 14 inches and 6.5 inches, respectively.
Height
13.6" (34.5 cm)
14.2" (36.1 cm)
Width
5.0" (12.7 cm)
6.4" (16.3 cm)
Weight
2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)
5.4 lbs (2.4 kg)
Length
Shaft Length

Build Quality

7.5
9.5
The motor base and cup assembly of the iCucina single-serve blender lying side by side on a table.
The motor base and blending cup of the Ninja BL480D Nutri single-serve blender lying side by side on a white table.

Blades

6.0
10
A close-up of the blade assembly sporting 4 stainless steel prongs of the iCucina blender
A close-up of the blade assembly featuring 4 stainless steel prongs of the Ninja BL480D Nutri Auto-IQ personal blender.
A close-up of the blade assembly featuring 4 stainless steel prongs of the Ninja BL480D Nutri Auto-IQ personal blender.
The blade assembly featuring 4 stainless steel prongs of the Ninja BL480D Nutri Auto-IQ personal blender being on a gray table.
Material
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Type
Cross
Cross
Guard Material
Blade Count
4 blades
4 blades
Removable
No
No
Dishwasher Safe
Yes
Yes

Motor Base

iCucina Portable Bullet Blender Motor Base
iCucina Portable Bullet Blender Motor Base
A close-up of the iCucina Motor Base
A close-up of the front interface of the Ninja BL480D Nutri Motor Base.
A close-up of the front interface of the Ninja BL480D Nutri Motor Base.
A close-up of the Ninja BL480D Nutri Motor Base.
A close-up of the underside of the Ninja BL480D Nutri Motor Base.
A close-up of the power cord featuring a 2-plug of the Ninja BL480D Nutri countertop blender.
Rated Voltage
120 V
110 - 120 V
Rated Power
300 Watts
1000 Watt
Working Time
≤ 1 minute
≤ 1 minute
Protection
No
No
Weight
2.0 lbs (0.9 kg)
4.5 lbs (2.0 kg)
Cord Length
NaN" (NaN cm)
2.6 ft (0.8 m)
Extra Feature
Silicon feet, a cooling fan
Silicon feet, cooling fan, anti-slip pads

Blending Cup

10
10
Two blending cups of the iCucina personal blender standing on a table, with the width of their top and bottom being noted to the side as 2.8 inches, and the total length of the unit as 8.6 inches.
Two blending cups of the Ninja BL480D Nutri on a table, with dimension measurements written to the side. The first cup is measured 3.7x9x2.5 inches, and the second cup is 3.7x7.3x2.5 inches.
Two blending cups of the Ninja BL480D Nutri on a table, with dimension measurements written to the side. The first cup is measured 3.7x9x2.5 inches, and the second cup is 3.7x7.3x2.5 inches.
The blending cup of the Magic Bullet personal blender standing on a table with dimension measurements written to the side (3.7x9x2.5 inches).
The blending cup of the Magic Bullet personal blender standing on a table with dimension measurements written to the side (3.7x7.3x2.5 inches).
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Capacity
28.0 fl oz (828.1 ml)
18- and 24-oz
Weight
0.4 oz (11 g)
0.5- and 0.58-lb
Dishwasher Safe
Yes
Yes
Measurement
Yes
No
Suitable For
Small and Medium batches
Small and medium batches
Accessories
To-go lids
2 to-go lids

Speed and Controls

Someone is measuring the noise level of the Icucina personal blender with the noise meter (97 dB).
Someone is measuring the noise level of the Ninja BL480D Nutri personal blender with the noise meter (103.6 dB).
Someone is measuring the noise level of the Ninja BL480D Nutri personal blender with the noise meter (103.6 dB).
A close-up of the control panel of the Ninja BL480D Nutri which features the Start/Stop, Pulse, Auto-IQ Blend, and Auto-IQ Ultra Blend button.
Activation
Button
Button
Min Speed
N/A
N/A
Max Speed
19,814 RPM
18,637 RPM
Presets
No
No
Noise Level
97 dB
103 dB
Digital Display
No
No
Pulse Mode
No
No

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
9.3
9.7

Hands-Free Operation

10
10

Assembly

8.0
9.5

Cleanability

8.5
9.0