iCucina Portable Bullet vs. KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet Side-by-Side Comparison
iCucina Portable Bullet vs. KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet comparison. There are some similarities in their efficiency, but the KOIOS is proven to be a better choice overall.
Specifications
Design
We aren’t much impressed with this blender’s quality, but overall, built materials are fine for a machine at this price and we really like the simplicity the iCucina provides. Nevertheless, the mid-range segment is a tough market to compete in, simply because there’s so many products to choose from, and therefore it’d be better if iCucina emphasized on eye-catching style. Some improvements on the blade assembly would help increase its appeal as well.
The KOIOS Bullet comes standard with a compact motor base and stainless steel blades. It features only one speed setting, which is not unusual for this type of machine. Sleek and shiny looking, it has a cute, distinctive personality you won’t find in many rival personal blenders. Unfortunately, its motor base has some poor-quality inner components — we expect better even at this price point.
Usability
Locking the cup with the blade attached in the motor base may be disruptive and requires a bit of practice. Otherwise, the iCucina doesn’t disappoint too much when it comes to ease of use. Cleaning it is also not much of an issue especially when the cups, lids, and blade assembly are all dishwasher-safe.
The KOIOS didn’t receive a higher usability score because it doesn’t allow for hands-free operation. However, it is still among the most user-friendly personal blenders out there on the merits of its straightforward operation, easy assembly, and effortless cleaning.
Performance
We were more than a little surprised at the results yielded by this iCucina since they didn’t come out as good as we expected. The 300-watt motor and fast spinning blades weren’t enough to help it overcome our challenges.
In the protein shake test, it was among the worst, leaving a mass of partially unblended food chunks. It also failed to power through whole ice cubes or create a smooth mixture of fibrous greens. And as weak as it was in processing frozen fruits, we assure this blender is only suited to blend softer ingredients.
The KOIOS Bullet did relatively well in three out of our four tests. It couldn’t power through ice cubes in the final round, but that didn’t worry us — the same is true for most mid-range blenders. The blended fruity drinks were above average. However, the fibrous greens should be blended longer than our 20-second time limit if you want decent results.
Overall Scores
Pros & Cons
- It’s good for simple plant-based blends.
- Built quality is mediocre but fine for the price.
- Simple design allows for straightforward use, cleaning, and storage.
- It stands stably, rather than jumping around, while working.
- Competitive price tag
- Extra extractor blade for dry blending
- Powerful motor allows for a wide range of tasks
- Two blending cups are included
- Intuitive to use
- The blades can be removed from the base for thorough cleaning
- The lack of versatility.
- Short power cord.
- No option for hands-free operation
Conclusion
After thorough evaluation, we strongly recommend the KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet over the iCucina Portable Bullet for those in need of a budget-friendly personal blender that can handle a variety of tasks.
While both blenders fall within the same price range, the KOIOS 850W Bullet offers wider versatility. In our testing, some of its outputs still contained small chunks, particularly with the fibrous mixtures, but overall its products were all smoother blends than those of the rival.
Furthermore, the KOIOS Pro 850W Bullet has a sleeker and more modern design that adds to its overall appeal. Its extra accessories, including the flat blade assembly for dry grinding and the sieve lid for seasoning, make it a more practical tool in the kitchen as well.
Behind the Comparison
Tina Pham is a staff writer and reviewer, with five years of experience in the industry. As a passionate amateur home cook, she loves to discover practical cooking solutions, and has made it her mission to bring her findings to every kitchen. Her ultimate goal is making cooking more of a pleasure for all.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Tuyet Pham is an award-winning Saigonese chef passionate about delicious and healthful foods. At HealthyKitchen101, she develops recipes and collaborates with our Research, Testing, and Review lab to evaluate the performance of cooking appliances. Her assessments add a strong authoritative voice to our product scoring process.
