NutriBullet Blender Combo review—w&h tests this versatile and affordable blender

For those who’ve ever looked at their NutriBullet and wished it was a bit bigger, or who can’t justify buying a personal blender as well as a larger one, the NutriBullet Blender Combo might be the blender you're looking for. 

The Blender Combo brings together everything that won the original NutriBullet so many fans—a speedy smoothie maker that blends into on-the-go lidded cups, with a full-sized blender for everyday tasks. In fact, this alone is one of the reasons this product has made it to our tried and tested best blenders guide. But this model also has a great range of extras—such as large cups and a tamper for frozen ingredients, plus a jug that can blitz hot liquids.

And, considering that an original Nutribullet costs around $39.99-$79.99 (£50-60), the Blender Combo’s average price tag of $149.99 (£150) doesn’t seem much of a leap, especially given that it functions as two appliances. Our tester reviewed the product over the course of a few days though—to assess everything from its design, value-for-money, and functionality. 

What is the design of the NutriBullet Blender Combo like?

The shape of the Blender will be instantly familiar to those who’ve owned a NutriBullet before. It has a slightly squat, rounded base that’s a nod to the personal blender’s bullet form. The reference to the original design continues with the three cups—a 500ml short cup, 700ml travel cup, and 900ml colossal cup. 

There are six buttons located on a panel on the front, which might feel crowded. All the buttons are clearly labeled, though, which is great for anyone who doesn’t want to search for their specs before whipping up a morning smoothie. 

Suckers on the compact base keep it firmly planted while in use, and both the jug and cups twist into the base. The jug’s 1.8-liter capacity is generous for a machine of this size, too, and the lid comes off easily when you’re finished, thanks to a handy pull loop. On the downside, there’s no cable tidy so its 1m length tends to trail, there are only two lids for three cups, and no recipe book in the box—you’ll have to head online for inspiration.

What is the functionality like?

There’s only one program on the NutriBullet Blender Combo but it’s the one you’d probably use most often anyway; Extract. This is the same program you’ll find on the original NutriBullet, which whizzes its way through fruit, vegetables, and frozen ingredients. This program can be used with both the cups and the jug, and automatically stops when your drink is ready. Alongside this, there are three speeds: low for whisking and batter-making, medium for soups and frothy milkshakes, high for thick mixtures. 

Beyond the Extract program, the automatic stop doesn’t interfere with jug blending, so you can work your ingredients until you are happy with their consistency. There’s also a pulse button, which is good for chopping when you don’t fancy hauling out a large food processor or even your best hand blender—and an on/off button nestled at the front. It’s worth bearing in mind that when it comes to hot liquids, only the vented jug—not the cups—can be used for blending. 

How did the NutriBullet Blender Combo perform? 

Considering its small base unit, the NutriBullet Blender Combo manages to pack in a sizeable 1200W of power. This helped the machine breeze through our testing. Our green smoothie was consistent in color and didn’t feature any pear grit, fruit fibers, or particles of spinach, while the pulse turned cubes of ice into snow in about 30 seconds. 

We used the medium speed to blitz soup, which took less than a minute to turn warm cooked ingredients into a hearty, creamy blend with just a little texture remaining. In terms of noise levels, it’s loud on all settings, but not unbearably so. Plus, as blending times are relatively short, we didn’t find this intrusive. If you want a step-by-step guide on getting the best from your blender, see our guide on how to use your blender effectively. 

What is the weight like?

The NutriBullet Blender Combo isn’t too weighty for a multifunctional machine—coming in at just under 5.7kg, it can be moved around the kitchen easily. Where it might present an issue is finding somewhere to store the amount of kit that comes with it, especially the handled cup that can’t be stacked into the others.

What was the blender like to clean?

If you're wondering how to clean a blender, the Nutribullet Blender Combo is a great blender for easy cleaning. The jug, cups, and lid can all be cleaned in the dishwasher, although they’re not any trouble to keep clean without this option. It’s suggested that the tamper and cup blades be cleaned by hand, so you’ll need a brush to remove debris safely first. 

What is the NutriBullet Blender Combo's warranty?

The Nutribullet Blender Combo has a guarantee of one year, which is about average for blenders, which are smaller electrical devices.

But it’s best not to read too much into the guarantee of a year on the NutriBullet Blender Combo. While it’s not as long as some of the warranties on other brands and models, the blender appears to be pretty solidly built, as are the cups and lids. Properly maintained, it should outlast the basic cover.

w&h's overall verdict on the NutriBullet Blender Combo

There’s a lot to like about this small but mighty blender: a reasonable price point, plenty of functionality for everyday use, and most blender recipes and smoothie recipes, as well as easy one-touch buttons. It doesn’t skimp on performance either. Perhaps the only area we could see some improvement would be in its design; the curvy base could look out of place on a sleek kitchen countertop, plus it’s only manufactured in one color. 

This blender would also benefit from including an extra lid for that third cup—a small niggle, but one that seems like a reasonable request. Otherwise, this machine offers a great-value package, and it's certainly worth considering for your home.