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Bella Rocket Blender 12-Piece Set vs. Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ Side-by-Side Comparison

Tina Pham
Reviewer
Nguyen Ntk
Visual Specialist
Updated
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 22, 2023
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Updated Mar 21, 2023
The BELLA personal blender standing on a table with its additional accessories, including two blending cups with lids, user’s manual, and paper carton box, by its sides.
The Ninja Nutri Auto-IQ personal blender 1000-Watt standing on a gray table with its accessories, including two to-go lids, an additional blending cup, a recipe book & user guide, and a paper carton box, by its sides.
Blenders type
personal
personal

Our Verdict

6.7
Overall Score
  • Performance (60%)
    5.7/10
  • Design (25%)
    7.8/10
  • Usability (15%)
    8.7/10
9.2
Overall Score
  • Performance (60%)
    8.8/10
  • Design (25%)
    9.7/10
  • Usability (15%)
    9.7/10

The Ninja Nutri Auto-iQ is a top-of-the-line blender that delivers strong blending performance. If you love making smoothies with frozen fruits, raw nuts, or even ice cubes, this blender is your go-to choice. 

Our tests revealed that the Ninja outperformed the Bella Rocket in blending various plant-based foods, quickly producing smoothies and protein shakes with better consistency. It also excelled in high-fiber ingredients and crushing ice cubes, while the Bella Rocket Blender fell short in both areas with very subpar results.

Still, the BELLA Rocket is priced much lower and comes with a suite of extra accessories. For those after a blender that offers good value without breaking the bank, the BELLA Rocket is not a bad choice.

Bella Rocket Blender 12-Piece Set Performance

Ninja Nutri Auto iQ Personal Blender Performance: Top-Rated Results
5.7
Performance Scores
  • Protein Shake (40%)7.5/10
  • Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)9.0/10
  • Fibrous Greens (20%)0/10
  • Crushed Ice (10%)0/10
8.8
Performance Scores
  • Protein Shake (40%)8.8/10
  • Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)9.5/10
  • Fibrous Greens (20%)8.0/10
  • Crushed Ice Cubes (10%)8.0/10
7.5

Protein Shake

8.8
  • Blending Time: 1 mins 30 seconds
  • Result: Smooth

In this test, the BELLA blender produced a nearly perfect protein shake in one minute and thirty seconds. There was a small smattering of partially intact berries and almonds found after straining, but the oatmeal was mostly blended well so this didn’t detract much from the overall quality of the drink. With a little bit of tweaking by letting it blend longer or soak the nuts prior to use, we would even get a chunk-free consistency. You’ll find lots of personal blenders in this class, but rarely of them might provide as smooth and quick results. Some took up to four minutes to liquify oatmeal entirely, while others' blades were too weak to churn through such solid fruits (for example, the Magic Bullet, the La Reveuse, and the Icucina).

  • Blending Time: 1 min 10 seconds
  • Result: Silky Smooth

The Ninja Nutri is essentially a single-serve blender but refinements to its blades and motor’s power have brought it many advantages over the competition. 

You might notice the blade assembly looks like nothing else in the market. Design-wise, it is attention to detail with four sharp, sophisticated prongs. Beyonds spinning extremely speedy, the prongs are towards various sides to allow for more food contact at a time. And such combos did make our Ninja Nutri among the fastest blenders in this test, taking one minute and ten seconds to yield a serving of protein shake. Not to mention the 1000-watt motor which helped churn through ingredients like almonds, dried berries, oatmeal, with super ease. 

As efficient as it was, this blender still underperformed by a few seconds against two top competitors (the Ninja Fit and the NutriBullet), though. The texture it delivered also had room for improvement since while the oatmeal was completely broken down, small amounts of almonds and berries remained solid. Considering the price, we had wished for a chunky-free texture which was exactly similar to those we got from its counterparts. 

Overall, unless you’re really interested in its professional look and hi-tech features, there are some alternatives that can actually blend your drink better and do so at less than half the price.

9.0

Frozen Fruit Smoothie

9.5
  • Blending Time: 1 min 10 seconds
  • Result: Silky Smooth
  • Suction:

The BELLA is a classic example of why a cheaper blender isn't always worse because its smoothie-making capability proved to be even on par with those of higher-powered models, namely the Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ. This can be attributed to several factors, including blade design, motor strength, and blending speed.

The sturdy blade spined relatively fast. Working with a 240-watt motor, it took only one minute and ten seconds to blend and mix all the ingredients together. A very quick blending time for this class of blender, this speed is crucial when it comes to blending frozen ingredients as it helps to preserve the ice-cream-like texture that people look for in frozen fruit smoothies. 

For the smoothie’s consistency, while there were still small bits of raspberry skin and strawberry seeds present, this is to be expected when blending ingredients of this nature. Overall, these small bits didn’t impair the smoothie’s quality at all.

  • Blending Time: 1 min 5 seconds
  • Result: Silky Smooth
  • Suction:

The Nutri Ninja was excellent at this test. Again, its distinctly-designed blades and higher-powered motor were good things for a quick, even outcome. They allowed the blender to power through all the frozen mango, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries to perfection in just over one minute. And we remember everything was very easy and simple here, which you will rarely experience with other weaker personal blenders. Just noting that the process was fifteen seconds slower than that of the NutriBullet, but this wasn’t a huge gap. You might be willing to wait a bit longer as long as you get good results. 

Initially, we intended to use the Auto-IQ Ultra Blend setting, but the testing trials then suggested us shifting to the regular one. When running on the Auto-IQ Ultra Blend mode, your blender will blend in short intervals in 60 seconds and there will be a unique pulsing and pausing pattern after each interval. This is meant to force all the clogged ingredients back down onto the blades to even out the blend. That being said, we don’t think this is highly necessary in making icy smoothies; frozen fruits need to blend as fast as possible, but the pausing intervals give them time to thaw and then dilute the consistency. Perhaps, the Auto-IQ technology is better for dry-grinding harder ingredients like whole ice cubes and raw nuts.

0.0

Fibrous Greens

8.0
  • Blending Time: 20 seconds
  • Result: Failed

Upon conducting a 20-second blending cycle, we found the BELLA couldn’t perform up to its usual standards being somewhat suboptimal in processing high-fiber foods, including kale, celery, and spinach. Strain analysis of the mixture revealed a substantial volume of greens remaining partially unblended which led to a grainy texture and an inadequate extraction of the green’s nutrients, in the end. 

On the contrary, some other blenders, like the Ninja Fit and the Ninja BN401, produced a smoother outcome with a significantly smaller volume of visible flakes. As such, our conclusion is that your BELLA is not well equipped to handle high-fiber foods and may fall short of the desired performance criteria for such applications.

  • Blending Time: 20 seconds
  • Result: Fine

The blender’s ability to process leafy vegetables was above average. The final drink came out acceptably uniform but with a gritty texture. We don’t think you’ll get too many complaints if you run everything through a mesh strainer before drinking. Given its high-end price tag, however, we expected better results with fewer leafy chunks.

0.0

Crushed Ice

Crushed Ice Cubes
  • Ice Fineness: Coarse
  • Unblended Ice: 79% of 6 oz

The BELLA appeared to lack the necessary strength for such a tough application. As a result, all the ice cubes remained virtually intact despite its significant effort. To be fair, though, this is a common limitation among personal blenders. Should you desire crushed ice with a fluffy, snow-like consistency or intend to incorporate more ice into your smoothies, consider the NutriBullet or anything with at least a 700-watt motor.

  • Ice Fineness: Coarse
  • Unblended Ice: 0% of 6 oz

As a personal blender, this Nutri Ninja didn’t perform half bad, grinding 6 oz of whole ice cubes in just 22 seconds. None of the other blenders we tested could do the same; some took longer to entirely break up the ice while others were simply not powerful enough to churn through such a solid ingredient. (For example, the KOIOS Pro and the Oster)The crushed ice didn’t have a snow-like texture, but would be good enough for your cocktails.

Bella 14-oz Rocket Blender Design

Ninja BL480D Nutri Personal Blender Design
7.8
design Scores
  • Blade (20%)6.5/10
  • Build Quality (60%)7.5/10
  • Blending Cup (20%)10/10
9.7
design Scores
  • Blades (20%)10/10
  • Build Quality (60%)9.5/10
  • Blending Cup (20%)10/10

In the Box of the Bella Rocket Blender 12-Piece Set

In the Box of the Ninja Nutri Auto iQ Personal Blender
  • Motor base 
  • Two blade assemblies
  • Three blending cups
  • Two storage lids 
  • Two lip rings
  • Two shaker lids 
  • Recipe book & user guide
  • Motor base 
  • Extractor blade
  • Two blending cups 
  • Two to-go lids
  • Recipe book & user guide

Dimensions

  • Height:
    11.8" (30.0 cm)
  • Width:
    4.5" (11.4 cm)
  • Weight:
    2.3 oz (65 g)
  • Shaft Length:

  • Height:
    14.2" (36.1 cm)
  • Width:
    6.4" (16.3 cm)
  • Weight:
    5.4 oz (153 g)
  • Shaft Length:

The Ninja Nutri is larger and bulkier than your average single-serve blender. The motor section looks more like a full-sized countertop version, coming in at 14.5 inches tall by 6.2 inches wide. At 5.4 pounds, it’s also heavier than most, so you may find it difficult to move your blender in and out of storage.

7.5

Build Quality

9.5

The motor’s build quality is on par with its price point, with a predominantly plastic housing reinforced by a thin metal layer on the outside. It doesn’t have any glaring flaws in finish, but we'd like things to be a bit sleeker, especially the outside. The same goes for the two blade assemblies. We're just less pleased with the blending cups since they both look less as quality, and feel more susceptible to damage.

Build quality does match the price point. It’s good, with many parts — to include the entire exterior — made of anti-scratch plastic. We haven’t had to deal with problems like discoloration, paint peeling, or inner components wearing out. Additionally, the construction is sturdy enough to hold up frequent use, so you will get stable performance and consistency for many years.

6.5

Blade

Blades
  • Material:
    Stainless Steel
  • Type:
    Sharp and Dull Blades
  • Guard Material:
  • Blade Count:
    4
  • Removable:
    No
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The set includes two blade assemblies: a cross blade and a flat blade. Both pieces have average quality and lack a refined appearance. The cross blade features four prongs, potentially resulting in faster and smoother blending of wet ingredients compared to two-pronged blades. The flat blade, also known as a dry blade, is specifically designed for grinding harder ingredients such as rice, coffee beans, and whole grains.

  • Material:
    Stainless Steel
  • Type:
    Sharp Blade
  • Guard Material:
  • Blade Count:
     6
  • Removable:
    No
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes

The blade features 6 hardened stainless steel prongs. It is super sharp and has a high-quality feel. Unfortunately, the blades can’t be removed from the base, so cleaning their undersides is pretty tricky.

Bella Rocket Blender Motor Base

Ninja Nutri Auto iQ 1000 Watts Motor Base
  • Rated Voltage:
    120V
  • Rated Power:
    240 Watt
  • Working Time:
    ≤ 1 minute
  • Protection:
    No
  • Weight:
  • Cord Length:
    2.3 ft (0.7 m)
  • Extra Feature:
    Silicone feet

The motor is relatively resistant to overheating compared to similar models, but only in case you avoid operating it continuously for more than one minute at a time. If additional blending time is required, you should allow the motor to cool for up to three minutes before starting the next 1-minute interval. Otherwise, a cooling fan alone won't be sufficient to prevent your blender from getting hot. 

Four rubber feet are placed underneath the motor to further enhance stability and reduce movement during operation. It also assists in providing proper ventilation for the motor.

  • Rated Voltage:
    110 - 120 V
  • Rated Power:
    1000 Watt
  • Working Time:
    ≤ 1 minute
  • Protection:
    No
  • Weight:
    4.5 lbs (2.0 kg)
  • Cord Length:
    2.6 ft (0.8 m)
  • Extra Feature:
    Silicon feet, cooling fan, anti-slip pads

The motor comes with many user-friendly components. They include a cooling fan to prevent overheating, suction feet to help the blender stand firm against heavy-duty tasks, and small anti-slip pads to minimize the risk of sliding on wet surfaces. We’re also impressed with the inner parts which are all well-made and detailed. 

Just be aware that the motor should not run for more than one minute continuously. If your recipes demand longer than this timeframe, blending for 1-minute intervals can help you avoid overheating. In the event your machine gets too hot, a built-in thermal switch will engage and stop the motor from running. To reset, you’ll have to unplug and let it cool down for 30 minutes before blending again.

10

Blending Cup

10
  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Capacity:
    13.5 oz, 13.5 oz, and 6 oz
  • Weight:
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Measurement:
    No
  • Suitable For:
    Small batches
  • Accessories:
    Two storage lid, two lip rings, two shaker Lid

This set includes three blending cups, two of which are 13.6 oz and one that is 6 oz. The two blending assemblies work interchangeably with all cups, making it very convenient to switch between different blending needs. The smaller cup is recommended for dry blends, as it comes with sieve lids that allow it to function as a shaker for ground spices and seasonings. There are also two storage lids and two removable lip rings included so you’ll find it easier to sip your drink straight from the tall cup.

  • Material:
    Plastic
  • Capacity:
    18- and 24-oz
  • Weight:
    0.5- and 0.58-lb
  • Dishwasher Safe:
    Yes
  • Measurement:
    No
  • Suitable For:
    Small and medium batches
  • Accessories:
    2 to-go lids

This set includes two blending cups which can be used interchangeably with the extractor blade. Each cup comes with a tight-seal lid featuring a flip-top spout for mess-free drinking on the go.

Speed and Controls of the Bella 12-Piece Rocket Blender

Speed and Controls
  • Control Type:
    Twist
  • Min Speed:
    N/A
  • Max Speed:
    N/A
  • Presets:
    No
  • Noise Level:
    96 (db)
  • Digital Display:
    No
  • Pulse Mode:
    No

The BELLA is a single speed design and doesn’t have a pulse function. This may make it difficult to control the consistency of blends, but is convenient for those who prefer a straightforward blending experience.

  • Control Type:
    Button
  • Min Speed:
  • Max Speed:
  • Presets:
    No
  • Noise Level:
    103 dB
  • Digital Display:
    No
  • Pulse Mode:
    No

The front interface is intuitive, featuring four buttons that correspond to four different options. As a visual aid, this model also has a digital display which indicates the elapsed blending time or counts down to the end of a preset program. 

If you want continuous blending, press the Start/Stop button. To avoid chopping ingredients too finely, use the Pulse function. For fresh or softer ingredients, the Auto-IQ Blend button will help you create consistent results without relying on guesswork. There is also the Auto-IQ Ultra Blend button, which runs the blender at its fastest speed tobreak ice cubes, fibrous greens, whole grains, or frozen mixtures down to a lump-free consistency. 

We found that the speed settings work very well. Each step gives you a noticeable change in power level. For the most part, however, we agree with some reviewers that it feels a bit gimmicky because single-speed blenders generally work just as well.

Note that regardless of the speed setting, this Nutri Ninja is terribly noisy. If noise is a major factor in your buying decision, this one’s not for you.

Bella Rocket Blender 12-Piece Set Usability Review

Nutri Ninja Auto iQ Personal Blender Usability Review: Excellent Blending Comfort
8.7
usability Scores
  • Hands-Free Operation (60%)8.6/10
  • Assembly (20%)9.0/10
  • Cleanability (20%)8.5/10
9.7
usability Scores
  • Hands-Free Operation (60%)10/10
  • Assembly (20%)9.5/10
  • Cleanability (20%)9.0/10
8.6

Hands-Free Operation

10

The BELLA personal blender boasts a convenient hands-free feature, which enables blending once the cup is locked in place, eliminating the need to continuously hold the cup and activate the motor. However, it may struggle with heavy-duty tasks as it can't draw ingredients towards the blade on its own. During the smoothie test, there were brief pauses every 20 seconds to shake the cup as the frozen fruits got stuck under the blade and caused jamming. This is a common issue among personal blenders and wouldn't pose a significant problem if one is willing to spend an extra minute or two in the kitchen. In fact, some other models tested required multiple shakes to achieve a smooth blend.

This blender is more convenient to use than others because the cup can be locked in place; you won’t need to hold the cup continuously to engage the motor. Additionally, once activated, it draws almost everything toward its blades, creating a homogeneous mixture without extra shaking or stirring.

9.0

Assembly

9.5

The BELLA is designed for easy assembly, with clear and concise instructions included. To put all the components together, just screw the blade assembly to the blending cup, insert it into the motor, and then make a quick clockwise turn to lock it in place for blending starting. Some people might find it’s a little bit frustrating to secure the blade assembly to the cup, but most of them would get the hang of it after a few tries.

To set up the blender, simply attach the extractor blade to the cup, turn the whole assembly upside down, and place it on the motor base. Once the display reads “0,” press one of the buttons to start blending. When your drink is complete, simply pull the cup out from the motor base and serve. Note that you must pull with quite a bit of force compared to other blenders we tested, so it may be tougher to remove when your hands are wet or oily.

8.5

Cleanability

9.0

Except for the motor body, all the pieces are safe to put in the dishwasher, though we decided to clean them by hand and noticed that part of the cleaning process was performed with ease, as any remaining residues of the cups and lids are removed simply by wiping the surface with a damp soapy cloth. 

The blades, on the other hand, required more attention due to their intricate design and close proximity to the assembly’s surface. As such, we had to use a straw-cleaning brush so that all remnants of food or other substances can be removed entirely.

We cleaned the cups, lids, and blade manually with soapy water, but they’re also safe to put in the dishwasher. Of all those parts, the blade’s backsides were the trickiest to clean, so make sure you have a straw-cleaning brush available. 

The motor base only took us a couple of minutes to wipe down. Unplug the device and use a dish cloth dampened (but not soaked) with soapy water to wipe down exterior surfaces and the inside of the cup receptacle. We never had any leakage during our tests, so we didn’t have to contend with stubborn food on the actuator tabs or other components.