Canstar Blue’s latest blender review has seen Ninja, NutriBullet, Breville, Sunbeam, Kambrook and Kmart compared on their performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, additional functions, value for money and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Aussies have rated Ninja best in Canstar Blue’s latest blender review, giving it five stars in all categories. These include performance, ease of use and cleaning, additional functions, value for money and overall satisfaction.
While the days of acai bowls and gourmet smoothies may have settled, our schedules are as busy as ever, making blenders a necessary staple of many kitchens. From protein shakes and veggie juices, to purées and sauces, this small appliance is a versatile tool for any occasion, and with many price points on offer, you won’t have to spend a fortune. Even the more basic blenders available in department stores boast outstanding power figures and usability, making chopping through fruit and vegetables in the morning a breeze. Whether you’re about to finally give in and join the bandwagon or looking to upgrade an old model, you’ve come to the right place!
This year, Canstar Blue surveyed more than 570 consumers for their feedback on the blender(s) they’ve bought and used in the last two years. Brands were rated on performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, additional functions, value for money and overall satisfaction. Those that met the minimum survey sample size of 30 responses are featured in our results.
Ninja was rated best for blenders after achieving a stellar five-star streak across the board and taking the top spot for overall customer satisfaction.
Here are the best blenders in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s latest review:
Ninja topped our blender ratings after rating best for overall satisfaction with five stars, ahead of NutriBullet and Breville on four stars. Sunbeam, Kambrook, and Kmart followed behind on three stars overall.
It’s worth mentioning that NutriBullet still impressed in terms of value for money and ease of use, achieving full marks, as did Breville when it came to ease of cleaning.
To help you decide which brand will be best for your blending needs, below is an overview of the brands featured in our latest review.
Nutri Ninja blender review range of popular blenders was originally available through select ‘sales channels’ only, but high demand eventually brought the brand’s line-up into appliance stores across Australia. Prices start from just under $130 for the Ninja Pro Blender ($159.99 RRP*), which features a 900W motor and a one-touch use design so that you can drink straight from the cup once you remove the blades.
Several blenders from Ninja include:
Some Ninja blenders also boast the brand’s Auto-IQ smart programs that let you whip up everything from smoothies, frozen drinks, and alcoholic mixers to soups and sauces. One standout model is the Ninja Foodi Blender Cold & Hot ($399.99 RRP*), which comes with a heated clean function alongside 12 automatic and manual settings.
A brand credited for igniting the nutrient blending craze, NutriBullet made its name in TV infomercials. The most budget-friendly full-size option is the brand’s iconic Magic Bullet model − the Magic Bullet To Go ($49.95 RRP*). Similar to other products in the range, this blender is designed to chop, mix and blend a variety of drinks and dishes. Otherwise, models from the NutriBullet 600 Series are the cheapest personal blenders you can get from the brand (retailing at $89.95).
Some full-size and personal blenders from NutriBullet include:
If you need to whip up multiple servings, NutriBullet also has a couple of full-size blenders such as the NutriBullet Blender Combo ($249.99 RRP*). It comes with a 1200W motor base, multiple speeds, a pulse function and an extract program to break down whole fruits, vegetables and ice.
Breville is generally seen as a premium option when it comes to blenders, with prices starting from the $150 mark and several models exceeding $700. One of the more wallet-friendly blenders is the Kinetix Twist ($189.95 RRP*). Unlike many other blenders on the market, this model features a citrus cone lid for juicing, in addition to central blades that are said to pull ingredients down towards the blades and supposedly aerate the bottom of the jug to provide a creamier consistency.
Some Breville blenders currently available include:
If you prefer to use one-touch appliances, Breville’s the Fresh & Furious ($299 RRP*) comes with nine pre-programmed buttons, such as for chopping, crushing ice, puréeing and making green smoothies. This also has a 1.5L jug, five speed settings, and a maximum 1300W motor power.
Sunbeam produces a large range of blenders for all types of blending applications, with prices ranging from around $60 to $500. Fuelling the ‘grab-n-go’ blender craze, Sunbeam sells the portable FitBlend Rechargeable Blender ($49.95 RRP*) which blends ingredients into a bottle for quick and easy transportation. Other traditional blenders are available, offering various capabilities such as soup making, ice crushing and more.
A few Sunbeam blenders include:
For those who want to use their blender to crush ice, there’s the aptly named Ice Breaker Blender ($69.95 RRP). This budget-friendly blender has two speed settings, plus a Pulse mode. It can also blend, chop, grind and purée.
Kambrook is one of the leading kitchen appliances in Australia and offers personal blenders − usually under the $100 mark. There’s currently just one model available on the brand’s website, the Kambrook Blend & Crush 600W Blender (KBL330WHT). It retails for $59.95 and features:
This Kambrook blender additionally provides a 600W motor and stainless steel blades.
If you’re a ‘Kmart mum’ (or dad), you would have seen Kmart’s series of food blenders. Known to be the purveyor of ‘cheap and cheerful’ homewares, the Kmart brand produces a range of appliances, including toasters, kettles, and yes – blenders. All of Kmart’s blenders can be found for under $50, with portable blenders coming in at under $20.
Some Kmart Anko blenders include:
While you might not get all the whizz bang features like with other brands, such as hot and cold functionality, you can still get motors offering at least 300W and up to 1000W worth of power. One of the most expensive options is the Kmart Nutritional Pro Blender ($59 RRP*). It’s the most powerful blender from the retailer, producing 1000W of power, and provides a 710ml capacity plus a 530ml cup. This Kmart blender additionally features an ice crush function and pulse mode.
The brands featured in this year’s ratings aren’t the only options worth adding to your cart. Here are several more popular brands to think about.
Kenwood has become a serious go-to brand for kitchen appliances, selling a range of stand mixers, kettles, toasters and more. It also has a small range of countertop and stick blenders, all of which are available for under the $200 mark.
Some of Kenwood’s blenders include:
The Kenwood Blend-X Fresh ($69 RRP*) is the most affordable but still features a generous 1.5L jug in addition to a 650W motor, three speed settings, and pulse function. It’s also capable of crushing ice and includes dishwasher-safe parts.
Philips only has a couple of options available at the time of writing, including the Philips Series 5000 Core Blender (HR3573/92). It retails for $199 RRP* and includes a 1000W motor, six-star blades and ProBlend Crush technology that’s claimed to break down ingredients twice as fast as the brand’s previous models.
Philips blenders currently available include:
The Philips blender additionally offers a family-sized 2L jar, manual speed controls, detachable blades and dishwasher-safe parts.
Braun deals exclusively in stick blenders and has several products to choose from, typically retailing between $60 to $300. Some Braun hand blenders include:
One of the brand’s top-of-the-range models is the MultiQuick 9 Hand Blender (MQ 9187XLI). It retails for $269 and features Active PowerDrive Technology to provide up to supposedly 60% faster performance compared to some of the brand’s previous blenders. It also uses ActiveBlade Technology to move the blades up and down to help break down the ingredients.
These are a few things you can make with a blender:
Just be sure to read the instructions manual of your model which should list the different types of settings you can use. Some brands also offer a free recipe book to help get you started.
Not all blenders can crush ice, but models that can usually have a specific ice crush setting. Do not attempt to crush ice in a blender not designed for it, as ice cubes could get wedged between the blades, and put stress on the motor as well as the blades. This could potentially cause damage to your appliance. That’s why it’s best to check the instructions beforehand.
How do you pick the best blender for your kitchen (and tastebuds)? Before jumping into a purchase, it’s important to think about what you’ll be using a blender for. These four factors can make a huge difference:
There are three main types of blenders, with almost half of survey respondents (48%) purchasing a full-sized option:
Most full-sized blenders come with a 1.5L jug, while smaller personal blenders typically offer a 600ml capacity. If you plan on using the blender for creating smoothies and other goodies, or intend to share the appliance with at least two other people, then it may be better to pick up a larger model.
But if you’re simply whipping up smoothies as part of your health kick, it may be worth considering whether a portable blender is enough. Keep in mind that a blender doesn’t need to have all the bells and whistles to be the best option for you.
Blades come in various designs, each better suited to different tasks. These are the two most common:
Some brands like Bamix and Magimix also offer removable blades that can be switched out depending on what you need to make. Although this mainly applies to stick blenders.
And while wattage is important, the quality of the blades also plays a huge part in how powerful and efficient your blender will be. Keep in mind that all blenders are going to have sharp blades when you first use them, but these will dull over time and in turn affect the performance and longevity. That’s why it’s a good idea to opt for strong blades.
If you want to crush ice and lots of solid foods, such as vegetables, then you might want to aim for anything between 1200W and 1500W. For less heavy-duty work, 600W is a happy medium.
Powerful blenders with high wattage can make the process quick and easy. The level of power you need will depend on how frequently you plan on using your blender and the type of ingredients you want to blend.
Prices for blenders typically start from $50 and reach up to over $1,200 for high-end models. Our survey revealed Aussies tend to look at budget-friendly options and spend an average of $129 on a new model, typically having kept their previous model for about five years before purchasing. This may explain why value for money was seen as the most important factor of overall satisfaction. Price was also listed as the number one reason consumers chose to buy a certain model (41%), followed by features (29%), brand (19%) and capacity (9%).
In any case, no matter how much you fork out, it’s going to be a waste of money if you don’t actually use your new blender! That may be the case for the respondents who admitted they don’t use their countertop appliance as much as they originally thought (20%). A similar number of people even said they bought their blender as an impulse purchase (17%).
Smoothie makers (otherwise known as personal blenders) are designed to produce one serving for each use, while regular blenders can blend larger quantities. Smoothie makers also tend to have limited functionality, fewer automatic functions (if at all), and one or two speed settings. You can buy small personal blenders that are portable and cordless so you can create and drink smoothies on the go. How convenient!
Blenders, on the other hand, are more versatile and can often chop, purée, liquefy, juice, crush ice and mix a wider range of cold and hot foods, rather than just fruits and liquids.
Blenders and food processors share a few similarities, but blenders tend to be better at producing smooth textures and handling liquids. Food processors are alternatively more suitable for dealing with heavier ingredients like dough and chunky vegetables and usually come with a bowl that can fit more ingredients. Food processors also require a bunch of attachments to perform functions, with chopping, shredding, slicing, mixing, and puréeing being the basics. Meanwhile, blenders can switch it up with just the press of a button.
Some people scoff at the thought of a blender and will try to get all their nutritional needs through their three square meals a day. However, for those with a tight schedule, or who don’t feel like stomaching a cup full of kale, a blender is clearly a very useful grab-and-go option. They can also make food preparation much easier.
Blenders might even be a staple appliance, especially as they become increasingly versatile and easy to use. You can expect auto-clean functions and multiple modes like juice, chop, mix, purée, chop and grind. These are available at a wide range of price points, with the number of automatic settings often dictating the price. But that’s not to say you won’t find a cheap blender packed with a ton of programs (and vice versa!).
Putting price aside, Aussie shoppers want a blender that’s simple to handle and can get the job done without a hitch. One in four consumers (25%) we surveyed also make sure to purchase a model with dishwasher-safe parts. Below are the key factors that influence customers’ overall satisfaction:
So, before spending $100+ on a blender, consider if you actually need or really want one. If you’re just buying a blender to fit in with the trend, you’ve probably bought a $100 paperweight. But if you can see yourself making smoothies, soups and juices, then it should be a worthwhile investment!
Whatever your decision is, we hope our ratings have provided a useful tool to help you decide which brand you should go with.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
Picture credits: Lidante / Shutterstock.com, Drazen Zigic / Shutterstock.com, Photographee.eu / Shutterstock.com, Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock.com.
*Prices are taken from respective retailers and Appliances Online, correct as of January 2022.
Canstar Blue surveyed more than 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased a new blender in the last two years (note: this excludes Thermomix) – in this case, 571 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
Here are the top-rated blenders, as rated by Aussies in Canstar Blue’s 2022 review:
Here are the previous winning brands of Canstar Blue’s blender ratings:
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