If you’ve been scrolling through blender listings and landed on this ninja bn701 professional plus blender review, you’re probably trying to figure out one thing: does this machine actually earn its spot on your counter? This blender is built for people who make smoothies often, crush ice regularly, and don’t want to babysit the blend button every time. Below, we walk through what the BN701 does well, where it falls short, and who should actually buy one.
Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender Review
The Ninja BN701 Professional Plus is part of Ninja’s Auto-iQ lineup. That means instead of just spinning at one speed until you turn it off, it runs pre-set patterns of pulsing, blending, and pausing. The idea is simple: you press a button, and the machine figures out the timing so you don’t have to stand there guessing.
What sets this apart from a basic blender isn’t just the motor. It’s the combination of a 1400-peak-watt motor, a large 72-ounce pitcher, and three built-in programs. A cheap blender might crush ice if you run it long enough. The BN701 is designed to do it with less manual effort and less chance of a lumpy smoothie.
Ninja BN701 Specifications
Here’s what’s confirmed on the current product listing. Always double-check the manufacturer page before buying, since packaging and specs can change over time.
Feature | Detail |
Model | BN701 / BN701BLBRN |
Motor | 1400 peak watts |
Pitcher size | 72-oz Total Crushing Pitcher (64-oz max liquid capacity) |
Programs | 3 Auto-iQ presets: smoothies, frozen drinks, ice cream |
Blade system | Total Crushing Blades, stacked assembly |
Best for | Smoothies, frozen drinks, ice crushing, family-size batches |
Dishwasher-safe parts | Pitcher and stacked blade assembly (top rack) |
What We Like About the Ninja BN701
Strong motor. A 1400-peak-watt motor is well above entry-level blenders. For crushing ice or blending frozen fruit, that extra power matters.
Large pitcher. The 72-oz pitcher means you’re not running the blender three times just to make smoothies for the whole family. One batch, done.
Auto-iQ programs. You don’t have to guess how long to pulse or blend. The presets handle that timing pattern for you.
Ice crushing. The Total Crushing blade system is designed to break down ice without leaving big chunks floating in your drink.
Everyday ease. Push a button, walk away, come back to a finished smoothie. That’s the whole pitch, and for most home cooks, it holds up.
Dishwasher-safe parts. The pitcher and blade assembly go in the dishwasher’s top rack, which saves you from hand-washing sticky fruit residue every day.
What Could Be Better
No blender is perfect for every kitchen, and this one has real trade-offs worth knowing before you buy.
Counter space. At 17.5 inches tall, this isn’t a small appliance. If your counters or cabinets are already tight, measure first.
Noise. High-power blenders are loud by nature. If you’re blending early in the morning in a small apartment, expect it to wake people up.
Large pitcher, small batches. A 72-oz pitcher is great for a family. If you usually make a single smoothie for yourself, the blades may not fully engage with a tiny amount of liquid, and you might need to add more volume than you’d like.
Not a personal blender. If your main use case is grabbing a single cup and heading out the door, a smaller personal-size blender with to-go cups might actually serve you better than a full countertop model.
Ninja BN701 Performance
We haven’t run lab tests on this exact unit, so the notes below are based on the listed features and how Auto-iQ blenders in this category typically perform for home use. For a full sense of real-world results, it’s worth checking current buyer feedback on the product listing.
Smoothies
For typical home use, a 1400-watt motor paired with the smoothie Auto-iQ preset should handle frozen fruit, leafy greens, and ice without much trouble. The preset is designed to pulse first to break up frozen chunks, then blend smooth.
Ice Crushing
The Total Crushing blade system is designed specifically for this. Based on the listed features, it should turn ice cubes into a fine, drinkable texture rather than leaving jagged pieces, which matters if you’re making frozen drinks or snow-cone style textures.
Frozen Drinks
The frozen drinks preset follows a similar logic to the smoothie setting but is tuned for thicker mixtures, like margaritas or frozen coffee drinks. Expect a slushy, uniform texture rather than a watery one, assuming ingredients are added in reasonable proportions.
Everyday Blending
For basic tasks like blending soups, sauces, or protein shakes, the manual speed and pulse controls give you more direct control than the presets, which is useful when a recipe doesn’t fit neatly into “smoothie” or “frozen drink.”
Ninja BN701 Auto-iQ Programs Explained
Auto-iQ isn’t just marketing language. It’s a set of pre-programmed timing sequences baked into the motor base. Here’s what each one is built to do:
- Smoothie program: Alternates pulsing and blending to break down frozen fruit and greens evenly.
- Frozen drink program: Uses a longer blend cycle suited to thicker, icier mixtures.
- Ice cream program: Designed to churn a thick, frozen base into a soft-serve style texture.
Anyone who doesn’t want to manually pulse and check consistency every few seconds will likely get the most value out of these presets. If you prefer full manual control over every second of blending, you can still bypass the programs and use the standard speed settings.
Ninja BN701 vs Other Blenders
This comparison is meant to show category differences, not exact competitor specs. Always confirm current specifications on each product’s official listing before comparing directly.
Feature | Ninja BN701 | Basic Countertop Blender | Personal/Single-Serve Blender |
Power | 1400 peak watts | Typically 300–600 watts | Typically 300–700 watts |
Pitcher Size | 72 oz | Often 40–48 oz | Usually 16–24 oz cup |
Preset Programs | 3 Auto-iQ presets | Usually none or basic speed dial | Rarely includes presets |
Best Use | Family-size smoothies, ice crushing, frozen drinks | Light everyday blending | Solo smoothies, on-the-go drinks |
Ease of Use | One-touch programs | Manual speed control | Very simple, minimal settings |
Overall Value | Strong for households that blend often | Budget-friendly, less versatile | Convenient but limited capacity |
Who Should Buy the Ninja BN701?
- Families who make smoothies regularly and want to batch-blend instead of doing multiple rounds
- Anyone who wants ice crushed smoothly for frozen drinks or slushies
- Home cooks who’d rather press a button than manually time a blend
- People with enough counter and storage space for a full-size appliance
- Buyers who want dishwasher-safe cleanup instead of hand-washing every part
Who Should NOT Buy the Ninja BN701?
- People blending single, small portions most of the time — a personal-size blender may fit better
- Anyone in a small kitchen with limited counter or cabinet space
- Buyers who are noise-sensitive and blend during early mornings or late nights in shared living spaces
- Those who mainly need a blender for dips, sauces, or small food-prep tasks rather than drinks
- Anyone specifically shopping for a compact, travel-friendly blender
Is the Ninja BN701 Good for Smoothies?
Yes, based on the listed specifications, this is one of the clearer strengths of the machine. The 1400-watt motor combined with the smoothie Auto-iQ preset is built to handle frozen fruit and ice in one go. The 72-oz pitcher also means you can make enough for two or three people at once instead of blending in separate rounds. If your main use case is smoothies, this checks the right boxes on paper.
Is the Ninja BN701 Good for Ice Crushing?
Yes. The Total Crushing blade system exists specifically for this job. Ice crushing is one of the harder tasks for any blender, since ice is dense and can dull weaker blades over time or leave chunks behind. A 1400-peak-watt motor gives the BN701 more headroom for this than a typical budget blender, which should translate to a smoother, more consistent crush.
Is the Ninja BN701 Dishwasher Safe?
Partially, and it’s worth being precise here instead of assuming everything is dishwasher safe. According to the product listing, the BPA-free pitcher and the stacked blade assembly are dishwasher safe on the top rack. The motor base itself, like almost all blender motor bases, should never go in the dishwasher or be submerged in water. Wipe that part down by hand. If you’re unsure about any specific component, checking the current listing or included instruction booklet is the safest move.
Ninja BN701 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 1400-peak-watt motor handles ice and frozen fruit
- 72-oz pitcher works well for families or batch-blending
- Three Auto-iQ presets remove the guesswork
- Total Crushing blades built specifically for ice
- Dishwasher-safe pitcher and blade assembly
- Straightforward, one-touch operation
Cons:
- Bulky footprint for smaller kitchens
- Loud during operation, like most high-power blenders
- Oversized for single small-batch blending
- No included personal cups for on-the-go drinks
- Motor base requires hand cleaning, not dishwasher safe
Ninja BN701 Professional Plus Blender Review: Final Verdict
So, is it worth it? Based on everything covered in this ninja bn701 professional plus blender review, the answer depends mostly on how you actually blend. If you’re feeding a family, crushing ice often, or tired of babysitting a manual blend cycle, this machine is built for exactly that. The motor, pitcher size, and Auto-iQ presets line up well with regular, higher-volume use.
If you mostly want a quick single-serve smoothie and don’t have much counter space, a smaller personal blender is probably a better fit than paying for capacity you won’t use. There’s no single “best” blender for everyone — just the one that matches how your kitchen actually works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ninja BN701 a good blender?
Based on its listed specifications, it’s a solid choice for households that blend smoothies and frozen drinks regularly and want a large-capacity pitcher with preset programs.
Is the Ninja BN701 good for smoothies?
Yes. The smoothie Auto-iQ preset combined with the 1400-watt motor is designed to break down frozen fruit and ice into a smooth texture in one cycle.
Can the Ninja BN701 crush ice?
Yes. The Total Crushing blade system is built specifically to handle ice, which is one of the more demanding tasks for any blender.
How big is the Ninja BN701 pitcher?
The pitcher holds 72 ounces total, with a 64-ounce maximum liquid capacity.
Does the Ninja BN701 have Auto-iQ?
Yes, it includes three Auto-iQ presets: smoothies, frozen drinks, and ice cream.
Is the Ninja BN701 dishwasher safe?
The pitcher and stacked blade assembly are dishwasher safe on the top rack. The motor base is not and should be wiped clean by hand.
What is the difference between the BN701 and other Ninja blenders?
Specific differences vary by model and change over time, so it’s best to compare current specs side by side on the official Ninja/SharkNinja listing before deciding between models.
Is the Ninja BN701 worth buying?
For anyone doing regular, higher-volume blending — smoothies, frozen drinks, ice crushing — it’s a reasonable investment based on its features. For light, single-serving use, a smaller blender may offer better value.






