With a price as low as the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ (BL482) you almost feel suspicious.
If it were as good as a Vitamix or Blendtec, it wouldn't be as cheap.
And that's true.
The question is, "How good is it really?" And can it save you hundreds of dollars by investing in one of these more expensive machines, because for what you need, the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ (BL482) would do the job perfectly well?
That's the question this review sets out to answer.
Below you’ll find out what it can and cannot do, what exactly the Auto IQ technology is, what other customers have to say about it, and how it compares with other models such as the NutriBullet.
Table of Contents
- In a Rush? Here's The Verdict
- Why Is This Nutri Ninja Blender With Auto iQ Worth Considering?
- What Exactly Is Auto iQ and How Does It Work?
- What is the smooth boost function?
- What is the Nutri Ninja auto IQ complete extraction system?
- What Do Other Reviews of the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ Say?
- How Does It Compare to Other Models like the BL480 and 481?
- How Does It Compare to the Nutribullet by Magic Bullet?
- Where can I find Nutri Ninja auto IQ replacement parts (cups) and accessories?
- Verdict: Is This Ninja Blender For You?
In a Rush? Here's The Verdict
For a "bullet" style blender that can make two smoothies or shakes at the same time, the Nutri Ninja with Auto IQ on Amazon here is pretty hard to beat on price. Some people find it a little loud (all bullet-style blenders are), but the "walk away" presets of the IQ feature and bonus travel cups make it outstanding value for money.
If you want to dive deeper, use the table of contents below to quickly navigate the article or keep reading and find out everything about this blender!
Why Is This Nutri Ninja Blender With Auto iQ Worth Considering?
The Nutri Ninja Blender with Auto iQ was designed for people on the go who want no fuss and no hassle when making smoothies. It’s made for busy professionals and students who want things done quickly and correctly, and who would rather not waste precious time trying to get it right. This brings us to the main point:
Buyers Note: To be honest, the main reason you would want to get the Nutri Ninja with Auto iQ instead of some other blender, is right there on the name of the product: the Auto iQ feature. Simply put, you take the guesswork out of blending.
That said, if you want to do things manually, you also can do that. You have the Start/Stop button to run it continuously, and you just press it again to stop. Meanwhile, the timer counts the seconds you use it so you can gauge when to stop.
The other manual option is the Pulse button. Again, you just press it to run, and releasing the button stops the action. Once more, the timer will show the duration so you can time the rhythm and the length of your pulses.
The motor comes with an auto-shutoff feature that stops the motor when it becomes too hot. All you have to do is to unplug the Ninja iQ and wait 15 minutes, and you can use it again. Of course, you won’t need this feature if you just used the Blend and Ultra Blend buttons, to begin with.
But it also has other attractive features. Your purchase will include a wide variety of different-sized containers, such as the Jumbo Multi-Serve 32-ounce Nutri Ninja cup, the regular 24-ounce Nutri Ninja cup, and the small 18-ounce Nutri Ninja cup for personal use.
The cups are made from a BPA-free plastic called Eastman Tritan, which is extremely durable. These cups are also transportable and will fit in a standard car cup holder. The Sip and Seal lids make sure that you don’t spill and make a mess.
You will also get the specially designed Pro Extractor Blades, which are made from high-quality stainless steel. It is rust-proof, and the blades are powered by a strong 1,000-watt motor that can crush just about anything you put inside the container. With that kind of power, the blades will spin at 21,000 rpm.
As a bonus, you’ll also receive a bunch of reference materials to help you get started. The first is the Getting Started Recipe & Wellness Guide with 30 Delicious Recipes. Then you’ll also get materials from the noted health expert Rachel Beller. One is the 3-day Jump-Start Plan, and the other is the Eat to Lose, Eat to Win Nutri Ninja Edition nutritional guide that’s 250 pages long.
So what can you do with the Ninja iQ Blender? You can chop leafy herbs to make your salsa. You can mix batters and dips. You can create a variety of sauces, including simple sauces, salad dressings, and vinaigrettes. You can blend to create frozen delights such as ice cream. You can also make smoothies from fruits, vegetables, and various leafy greens. With the Ninja Auto iQ, healthier drinks are easier to prepare compared to using a traditional juice extractor.
Once you’re done, your blend container will become your portable cup. You won’t need to use another container (and add to your cleanup). You can just bring it with you anywhere you go.
Except for the motor base, all the other parts are dishwasher-safe. That includes the cups, lids, and blades. Just put them on the top rack.
There are some limitations, however. The Nutri Ninja iQ is not recommended if you want to blend hot ingredients. Also, the containers are not usable in the microwave oven. Sometimes the base will move when you overload it, and the manual advises that you should keep the base and the countertop surface dry. The Nutri Ninja AutoiQ also comes with a limited 1-year warranty.
What Exactly Is Auto iQ and How Does It Work?
AutoiQ is a feature that will give you a set of automated blending programs so you can get the best results. These programs have automatically configured the Nutri Ninja Auto iQ blender to mix continuously, pulse, and pause according to a set pattern, and it will automatically stop when the timer runs out.
You have two options: Blend and Ultra Blend. You will literally just need to push a button and it will do everything else for you. Instead of figuring out a complicated pattern of actions and pauses, it’s already been figured. Just use the Blend button for softer ingredients, and the Ultra Blend for hard, fibrous, and frozen ingredients. It’s that simple. We recently reviewed the Nutri Ninja duo, which also has the Auto IQ feature.
Here's a nice video showing you the Auto IQ in action and how to actually use it:
What is the smooth boost function?
Ninja’s Smooth Boost® Technology is a trademarked technique that allows you to further customize your blending. With the touch of a button, this technology detects the degree to which the ingredients are blended so that you get the perfect drink every time. In addition to this, the technology also allows you to not only blend, but whip super creamy frozen drinks, like smoothies.
This will give you a frothy blend for a nice, cool treat any time of the year. And with this technology, the Ninja will do all the work for you, so that you do not have to worry about any complicated settings or operations.
What is the Nutri Ninja auto IQ complete extraction system?
Much like the “Smooth Boost” function, the Auto-iQ® makes it extremely easy to use the blender. With this technology, not only does it detect levels of consistency, but the Nutri Ninja will proceed through a series of blends, pulses, and pauses to perfectly mix your drink. This is like having a servant stir, shake, and mix up your drinks for you. This technology is all preprogrammed, so you only have to hit a button, and the blender takes care of the rest.
What Do Other Reviews of the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ Say?
Other Nutri Ninja Auto IQ reviews on other websites said very similar things about this blender. Customers who practiced the vegan lifestyle praised the powerful motor, the well-designed blades, the simplicity of the Auto IQ feature, the portability of the cups, and the ease of cleanup.
They have however mentioned that it can be quite noisy, which is surprising for such a small machine. They also didn’t like how it can rattle sometimes, and they didn’t care much for its plastic material.
Several smoothie fans also wholly recommend it for any blender user who’s always multitasking or on the go.
On Amazon, it has earned an impressive 4.6-star average and 74% of the Ninja Auto iQ reviews gave it a perfect score. Only 3% of the Nutri Ninja iQ reviews gave it the lowest rating. The comments were all very similar in pointing out the pros and cons which we have mentioned earlier.
How Does It Compare to Other Models like the BL480 and 481?
The BL482 belongs to the Nutri Ninja Auto iQ lineup, just like the BL480 and the BL481. There are just very few differences between them. They share the same power settings and they all have the Auto iQ feature.
One difference is that the BL481 and the BL482 come with the Jumbo 32-ounce Nutri Ninja Cup. You won’t get that with the BL480. You’ll also get 3 Sip and Seal lids with the BL481 and the BL482, while you’ll only get 2 with the BL480.
| In Short: What’s the real difference between the BL481 and the BL482? Not much, with the BL482 you’ll get an extra cook book. The BL482 costs a bit less than the BL481. That means with the BL482 you get the extra cookbook for less! |
How Does It Compare to the Nutribullet by Magic Bullet?
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There are several key differences between the Nutri Ninja with Auto iQ and the Nutribullet. Of course, the main difference is that the Nutribullet doesn’t have the Auto iQ feature.
In addition, the Ninja Blender iQ is powered by a 1,000-watt motor while the Nutribullet has 900 watts. The containers of the Nutribullet are also not able to fit many types of cup holders. Also, the Ninja is dishwasher-safe, while the Nutribullet is more difficult to clean.
On the other hand, the Nutribullet uses 2 blades instead of 1, and it does seem more stable.
vs Ninja BL491
These two blenders by Nutri Ninja are fairly comparable, though the BL482 is significantly less expensive, both have more or less the same functionality. Both have the same ability to make quick work of ice and vegetables to deliver a smooth healthy drink in about 60 seconds. The BL491, however, has a bigger capacity as it has the 48-ounce jar, while the maximum capacity for the BL482 is 32 ounces.
This is both a positive and negative for both. If you have a small kitchen then you will want a smaller blender, but if you want to have more smoothies in one blend, you need a bigger blender. So if you want a more affordable blender that takes up less space, the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ BL482 is the better option. But for a multi-serve, the BL491 would be the better option.
vs Ninja 1200
These are both really strong blenders that will give you smoothies in seconds and they both have intelligent blending technology so the machines do all the work. Though the 482 has only 2 auto programs and the 688 has 3 but the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ BL482 makes up for that with more containers for blending while the BL688 is a standalone blender. It is convenient that with the BL482, you can blend and then pour into your portable cup and go off to the gym or work and not have to spend extra to get a bottle for your smoothie.
However, when it comes to power, the BL688 is greater with its 1200 watts which makes it faster than the BL482. It also has a much bigger capacity for large serving sizes at 72 ounces. So there is much more from a single blend. In terms of price, the Nutri Ninja IQ BL482 is less expensive than the BL688, if budget is a big concern.
vs Ninja Ultima
The first thing to note is that the Ninja Ultima (BL810) is much more expensive than the Nutri Ninja Auto IQ (BL482), and that means it comes with more features and more power. It has 10 different speed options, which means you can go from making a salad mix to a very liquid drink. It is equipped with a 1500-watt motor with 2.5 horsepower, but that translates into a much louder blender than the BL482. It also has a maximum capacity of 9 cups but has smaller blending containers.
The Ultima does not come with a timer or the Auto IQ technology like the Nutri Ninja BL482. If you are looking for a professional blender, then the BL810 would be the better choice over the BL482. But for simple smoothies on the go, the BL482 is the best option.
vs Blendtec
The Blendtec is a high-end commercial blender, so it will come with a higher price tag than the Nutri Ninja. However, that also means the Blendtec has more features than the Nutri Ninja model. You can make just about anything with the Blendtec using preprogrammed cycles. It is, however, not the kind of blender you would give to Grandma, as it has a lot of options that can be somewhat confusing if you do not know what you are doing.
The two blenders are really in two different leagues. The Blendtec is more of a commercial blender, while the Ninja BL482 is for your simple kitchen at home. But with 3 horsepower, the Blendtec makes really smooth juices, and it does it fast. If you have the space for it in your kitchen and you will be making more drinks than the average person, then the Blendtec might be right for you. But if you just want a quality blender without all the commercial power, then the BL482 is a great option.
vs Calphalon Blenders
Here you're talking about upgrading on price slightly for a much bigger (glass) jar, a little extra power, and some extra settings like for Milkshakes and frozen foods.
I wouldn't criticize you for making either decision here. If you really want the travel versatility of the smaller cups, and the overall smaller more compact machine, go with the Auto IQ. If you want a similar price with more capacity, power, and blend options, go with the Calphalon Precision.
Where can I find Nutri Ninja auto IQ replacement parts (cups) and accessories?
If you are looking for replacement parts for your Nutri Ninja Auto IQ, you should first check with Nutri Ninja to make sure that the parts are not covered by your warranty. If, however, you do need to buy these parts separately, you can find a lot of the replacement parts from Amazon or directly from Nutri Ninja through their website.
Verdict: Is This Ninja Blender For You?
If you’re looking for a personal blender that doesn’t require you to figure out the correct settings every time then the Ninja BL482 may be what you need. With this blender, you just press a button and voila, you get a delicious and healthy smoothie that you can bring with you to work.
It’s simply great for multi-tasking because you can do other things in the kitchen while you wait for it to be ready. There’s no need to press a button or to figure out the perfect pattern of pulses, pauses, and continuous blending. That’s all been done for you!
What’s more, the Nutri Ninja Blender with Auto iQ is perfect for people on the go. Once you’re done, you can use the blender container as your portable cup. Just seal it with the lid and you’re all set.
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