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Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ (BN701) vs Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Published

Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ (BN701)

$79.99 from Amazon

Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender

$44.79 from Amazon
Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ (BN701) vs Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender

Overall Verdict

The Ninja AMZ493BRN and Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher represent contrasting levels of performance and durability. Packed by a 700-watt motor, the Hamilton Beach is adequate for blending soft, fresh fruits, but it often struggles with tougher ingredients like greens, nuts, and frozen items. Furthermore, its affordability is reflected in its lower build quality, with flimsy components and a container prone to scratching. 

Conversely, the Ninja AMZ493BRN offers a step up in both power and versatility. Its higher-powered 1200-watt motor allows it to crush ice with ease. In our tests, it also achieved smoother blends across a broader array of ingredients, though they were not always flawless.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Modern aesthetic design
  • Intuitive interface
  • Great for ice and nuts
  • Moderate nut and dried berry blending
  • Ease of clean
  • Green smoothies a challenge
  • Subpar build quality
  • Inability to process greens and frozen ingredients
  • Subpar build quality 
  • Hard-to-remove lid 
  • Unintuitive control panel

Key Specs

Dimensions
H17 x L6.6 x W9.3 inches
H14.5 x L6 x W8 inches
Weight
8.0 lbs (3.6 kg)
6.6 lbs (3.0 kg)
Capacity
72 oz
40 oz
Motor Power
1400 watts
700 wattages
Various Speed Settings
Yes
Yes
Pulse Mode
Yes
Yes

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$100.38
$45.53
$79.99 at Amazon
$44.79 at Amazon

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
6.6
1.0

Smoothie

4.6
0.0
Ninja Professional Plus Blender BN701 Smoothie Video
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s motor base and its container stand on a table, accompanied by a glass filled with a green smoothie. Next to it, a white paper features three distinct smoothie samples while a smartphone showcases the blending time of 4 minutes.
A white paper displays three smoothie samples, showcasing the consistency of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender smoothies blended for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, 3 minutes, 3 minutes and 30 seconds, and 4 minutes.
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Green Smoothie Video
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender motor base and its container filled with apple, banana, and kale, stand on a table. Next to it, a smartphone showcases the blending time of 4 minutes.
Blending Time
3 mins
4 mins
Result
Chunky
Failed

Frozen Fruit Smoothie

6.5
0.0
Ninja Professional Plus Blender BN701 Frozen Smoothie Video
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender motor base stands beside a glass bowl which contains a portion of the smoothie it produced. Next to it, a smartphone displays a blending time of 3 minutes and 59 seconds.
A sample of frozen fruit smoothie created with the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender, spread on white paper.
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Frozen Smoothie Video
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher motor base stands beside a glass bowl which contains a portion of the smoothie it produced. Next to it, a smartphone displays a blending time of 5 minutes.
A sample of frozen fruit smoothie created with the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender, spread on white paper.
Blending Time
4 mins
5 mins
Result
Silky Smooth
Failed
Suction

Protein Shake

7.6
6.7
Ninja Professional Plus Blender BN701 Protein Shakes Video
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender motor base stands beside the container. Next to it, a protein shake has been strained through a metal mesh strainer while a smartphone displays a blending time of 3 minutes 49 seconds.
A mesh strainer filters a protein shake made by theNinja BN701 Professional Plus, retaining the unblended solids that fail to pass through.
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Protein Shakes Video
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher motor base stands beside the container. Next to it, a protein shake has been strained through a metal mesh strainer while a smartphone displays a blending time of 4 minutes 30 seconds.
A mesh strainer filters a protein shake made by the Black+Decker Crush Master, retaining the unblended solids that fail to pass through.
Blending Time
4 mins
4 mins 30 seconds
Result
Smooth
Coarse

Almond Butter

7.8
0.0
Ninja Professional Plus Blender BN701 Almond Butter Video
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus is beside a white plate containing almond butter with a spatula, blend assembly, and a smartphone revealing a blending time of 5 minutes.
A sample of almond butter created with the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender, spread on white paper.
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Almond Butter Video
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher is beside a white plate containing almond with a spatula and a smartphone revealing a blending time of 4 minutes.
A sample of ground almond created with the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender.
Blending Time
5 mins
4 mins
Result
Smooth
Failed

Crushed Ice

10
0.0
Ninja Professional Plus Blender BN701 Crushed Ice Video
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender is beside a black tray containing its crushed ice.
Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Crushed Ice Video
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender is beside a black tray containing its crushed ice.
The scale's screen shows 9.48 oz of uncrushed ice cubes remaining from the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender.
Ice Fineness
Very Fine
Failed
Unblended Ice
0% of 12 oz
79% of 12 oz

Design

Overall Design Scoring
6.1
4.7

In the Box

A display of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender blender and its accessories, including the user manual and a carton box, on a table.
Unboxing the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender
A display of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender, along with the user manual and carton box, arranged on a table.
Unboxing the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender

Dimensions

Illustrated dimensions of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender showing the height, length, and width in inches
Illustrated dimensions of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender blender showing the height, length, and width in inches.
Height
17.0" (43.2 cm)
14.5" (36.8 cm)
Width
9.3" (23.6 cm)
8.0" (20.3 cm)
Weight
8.0 lbs (3.6 kg)
6.6 lbs (3.0 kg)
Length
6.6" (16.8 cm)
6.0" (15.2 cm)
Shaft Length

Build Quality

5.5
5.0
A closeup of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender motor base and container
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender Motor Base and Container
A closeup of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender blender’s motor base and container.
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Motor Base and Container

Blades

6.0
4.5
A closeup of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender stacked blade assembly
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender Stacked Blade Assembly
A closeup of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender stacked blade assembly
A closeup of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender stacked blade assembly
A closeup of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s container, stacked blade assembly, and lid.
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender’s blade assembly
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Assembly
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender’s blade assembly
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender’s blade assembly
Material
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Type
Stacked
Stacked
Guard Material
Blade Count
6 sharp blades
4 sharp blades
Removable
Yes
Yes
Dishwasher Safe
Yes
Yes

Motor Base

A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s motor
A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s motor
A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s motor
A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s motor
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender’s motor base
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Motor Base
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender’s motor base
A close-up of the underside of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender’s motor base
Rated Voltage
120 Volts
120 Volts
Rated Power
1400 Wattages
700 Wattages
Working Time
N/A
N/A
Protection
Yes
No
Weight
5.3 pounds
3 pounds
Cord Length
2.8 ft (0.9 m)
2.2 feet
Extra Feature

Blending Container

Illustrated dimensions of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender container showing the height and diameter in inches.
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender’s Container
Illustrated dimensions of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher showing the height, depth, and width in inches
Material
Plastic
Glass
Capacity
72 oz
40 oz
Weight
2.7 pounds
3.5 pound
Dishwasher Safe
Yes
Yes
Measurement
Yes
Yes
Suitable For
Large batches
Small to medium batches

Lid

A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s lid
A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s lid
A close-up of the damage caused by blade assembly misalignment
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher two-part lid
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Two-Part Lid
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Closing Type
Lock Mechanism
Friction
Features
Pouring Spout with Cap
Slot

Control Panel

8.5
4.0
A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s control panel
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender’s Control Panel
A close-up of the Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender’s control panel
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Min Speed
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Max Speed
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender control panel
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher Blender Control Panel
A close-up of the Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender control panel
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender motor base on table, hand pressing digital tachometer attached to tripod, different blenders in background.
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher blender motor base on table, hand pressing digital tachometer attached to tripod, different blenders in background.
Activation
Touch button
Press-button
Min Speed
4,269 RPM
16,103 RPM
Max Speed
5,101 RPM
19,966 RPM
Presets
Yes
Yes
Digital Display
No
No
Built-in Timer
No
No
Pulse Mode
Yes
Yes

Extra Accessory

Material
N/A
N/A
Dishwasher Safe
N/A
N/A
Removable
N/A
N/A

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
6.7
6.5

Ease of Blend

6.0
5.0

Noise Level

7.1
7.7
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus blender is on a table, accompanied by a sound level meter displaying its recorded noise level. In the background, other blenders that we tested sit on a nearby shelf.
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender in Our Noise Level Test
The hamilton beach wave crusher blender blender is on a table, accompanied by a sound level meter displaying its recorded noise level. In the background, other blenders that we tested sit on a nearby shelf.
Max Level
99.3 dB
96.3 dB

Assembly

8.5
6.5

Cleanability

6.5
8.0