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PopBabies Portable Blender vs. OBERLY Portable Blender Side-by-Side Comparison
Our Verdict
- Performance (60%)2.3/10
- Design (25%)5.1/10
- Usability (15%)4.6/10
- Performance (60%)0.0/10
- Design (25%)5.9/10
- Usability (15%)4.9/10
The PopBabies and OBERLY share a cordless, portable design and intuitive operation, but this comes at the cost of reduced efficiency when compared to traditional corded personal blenders. In all the tests that involve tough ingredients like raw nuts, ice cubes, leafy greens, and frozen fruits, they both struggled to deliver consistent results.
Nonetheless, if you have to choose between these two blenders, the PopBabies would be the better option, especially when it comes to pureeing baby food and soft fruit smoothies.
The OBERLY, unexpectedly enough, failed to pass any test and received an overall performance score of zero points. In contrast, while the PopBabies just received a score of 2.3/10 points, we found it at least can grind oatmeal and process frozen fruits. The OBERLY may appeal to some for its cuteness, but its inadequate capacity may also leave you underwhelmed.
PopBabies Portable Blender Performance
- Protein Shake (40%)2.8/10
- Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)4.0/10
- Fibrous Greens (20%)0/10
- Crushed Ice (10%)0/10
- Protein Shake (40%)0/10
- Frozen Fruit Smoothie (30%)0/10
- Fibrous Greens (20%)0/10
- Crushed Ice (10%)0/10
Protein Shake
- Blending Time: 3 mins 20 seconds
- Result: Very Coarse
The testing of the PopBabies blender resulted in a disappointing outcome. Despite the blending session lasting for three minutes and twenty seconds, the oatmeal and almonds were blended well but the almonds remained largely intact, resulting in a chunky and texturally inconsistent shake.
One potential reason for this subpar testing performance is the blender's 175-watt motor, which appears to lack sufficient power to churn through such a tough ingredient. An inadequate blade design and jar shape can be factors that hinder the blender's efficiency as well.
However, it is important to note that the PopBabies blender had a notable advantage compared to other blenders. During the test, it did not become clogged with food, allowing the blades to turn smoothly and continuously, with minimal disruptions, except for the required idle blending time. Considering this, the PopBabies seems to be not a bad choice for those seeking a quick and convenient solution to make fruity work-out treats. To ensure the best possible results, just make sure to use only soft ingredients.
- Blending Time: N/A
- Result: Failed
The OBERLY is something very different, but not in a good way. Typically, personal blenders are designed for at least a serving of beverage. This OBERLY, however, comes a little bit short on capacity. We were very surprised when our ingredients for the protein shake almost spilled out of the blending cup. The issues, however, didn’t just stop there, things got worse still when we started blending.
Most other blenders we tested produced drinkable shakes in around two minutes. Whereas, the OBERLY couldn’t even have its blade spin since the nuts and dried berries were too solid to churn through. For the most part, they got clogged under the blade. Right after we gave the blender rigorous shakes, it did blend, weakly and in a very short interval. A few more shaking times didn’t help much, either. Finally, we had to admit that our OBERLY couldn’t be up to this test. So we allocated zero points to it.
If you already bought it, fear not: this blender is not a bad choice if your ideal of protein shakes just involves soft ingredients.
Frozen Fruit Smoothie
- Blending Time: 2 mins
- Result: Smooth
- Suction:
The smoothie-making capability of the PopBabies was put to the test using four varieties of berries. Eventually, we found that this blender could achieve a smooth mixture within the allotted time of 2 minutes. That said, the final product did not meet our desired outcome of a thick, icy consistency due to the dilution caused by the fast-thawing nature of frozen fruits. Some other blenders we tested completed the task in only 1 minute so the smoothies they produced were perfectly ice-cream-like (for instance, the Ninja Fit, the NutriBullet, and the Ninja BN401).
Even worse, the blender itself couldn’t run smoothly, as opposed to the prior test with protein shakes. The fruits were so solid that the blades couldn’t power through so we had to intervene multiple times by shaking the cup vigorously. Nonetheless, we believe this blender still makes sense for all of us when it comes to preparing small batches of smoothies as long as our ideas of drinks involve fresh fruits instead of frozen ones.
- Blending Time: 2 mins
- Result: Failed
- Suction:
We tested the OBERLY’s smoothie-making capability by blending and combining different types of frozen fruits together, but this seemed to be an overwhelming task for this blender. Everything happening here wasn’t much different from the protein shake test, except for the fact that with our repeated interference, the blender was able to blend on its own, with huge effort and time consumption, again.
Every personal blender in this test has a limited operating time (2 minutes). Because of that, the OBERLY is considered to have failed this test since there were a lot of unblended chunks left behind when it already hit that runtime. Time constraint is necessary since frozen foods thaw quickly at room temperature; if you don’t blend fast enough, the smoothies will come out with a diluted texture rather than an ice-cream-like one.
Nevertheless, if you can live with the compromises on smoothie’s texture and rations, this OBERLY is actually able to process certain frozen ingredients, churning out an icy beverage that may be acceptable enough.
Fibrous Greens
- Blending Time: 20 seconds
- Result: Very Coarse
It is unclear why the PopBabies blade failed to spin at the outset of our test, but it is possible due to the small size of the blending cup and the large amount of greens we used. To get the food to circulate properly, we had to shake the cup vigorously, which was time consuming and left us underwhelmed, though, after several attempts, we finally got the blender to run for the required 20 seconds. Following this, we strained the mixture through a mesh strainer and were dismayed to find a significant amount of pulp still remained. This indicated that the blender didn’t extract the full range of nutrients and flavors from the greens. Apparently enough, if your aim is to maximize the nutritional value of your vegetables, this blender may not be an ideal choice.
- Blending Time: 20 seconds
- Result: Failed
The OBERLY remained an underperformer in this test. It had a hard time liquefying our greens not only because of its weak motor power but also because its blending cup is too small to tackle such an amount of food (2.5 ounces). Most of the veggies didn’t circulate and made the blade stuck even when we undocked the cup and shook it rigorously. As mediocre as this blender was in the earlier tests, this failure wasn’t a surprise anymore, we admitted.
Crushed Ice
- Ice Fineness: Failed
- Unblended Ice: 100% of 6 oz
Given our experience with the blender in previous performances, it would have been reasonable to have low expectations for its capability in this test. However, we still gave it a fair shot.
And again, this blender became obstructed by the ingredients even when we had tried hard to shake the cup repeatedly. To be fair, though, personal blenders like this one are not designed for heavy-duty tasks like crushing ice due to their lack of power. Pushing your device beyond its limits can cause wear and tear that will inevitably impact its overall performance, even in more standard blending tasks. If you want fluffy, snow-like crushed ice or desire to incorporate ice into your smoothies, it may be worth investing in a high-performance blender, such as the Ninja Nutri Auto-IQ.
- Ice Fineness: Coarse
- Unblended Ice: 100% of 6 oz
Because of what we’ve been through with our blender, we shouldn’t expect much from it in this test. Gracefully, we did. To be fair, though, using a personal blender like this to crush ice is not a good idea; any heavy-duty task like this can take a toll on your device and impair its performance in more ordinary blends.
PopBabies Portable Blender Design
- Blades (20%)6.0/10
- Build Quality (60%)6.5/10
- Blending Cup (20%)0/10
- Blades (20%)5.0/10
- Build Quality (60%)6.5/10
- Blending Cup (20%)5.0/10
In the Box of the PopBabies Personal Blender
- Motor base
- Blending cup
- Rubber funnel
- Ice cube tray
- Charging cable
- Recipe & user manual
- Motor Base with Blending Blade
- User guide
- Cup Body
- Cup Filter
- Cup Cover
- Warranty Card
Dimensions
- Height:10.2" (25.9 cm)
- Width:3.3" (8.4 cm)
- Weight:1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
- Shaft Length:
- Height:9.2" (23.4 cm)
- Width:3.2" (8.1 cm)
- Weight:1.0 lbs (0.5 kg)
- Shaft Length:
At only 1 pound, the OBERLY is ultra lightweight—about twice as lighter as a standard personal blender. In terms of height, it is about the same size as a thermal insulated water bottle so you can even hold it comfortably with one hand while it is blending.
Build Quality
The PopBabies blender comes across as inexpensive, with the use of cut-rate materials. There are a lot of plastic parts that look cheap and are prone to scratching. Even after taking care to avoid using abrasive cleaning tools, we found multiple little scratches appeared on both the inner and outer surfaces. We were also disappointed to find that the cup did not hold up well over time as it somehow became cloudy with use, detracting from the overall appearance of the blender. The blade is adequate for the blender's price range, but it still lacks the sturdiness necessary for consistent performance found on higher-priced models.
The OBERLY feels a little cheap with low-quality materials. There’re a lot of hard plastic parts that are prone to scratching, from the motor base to the cup body. Even when we avoided using a scouring pad for cleaning, multiple little scratches annoyingly appeared on both the inner and outer surfaces. The blending cup became cloudy with use and the blade assembly, which looks flimsy and more thinning than most, comes substandard, too.
Blades
- Material:Stainless steel
- Type:Cross
- Guard Material:
- Blade Count:4 blades
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The PopBabies features a stainless steel blade assembly that is noticeably short and not very sharp compared to other personal blenders. While it may offer some benefits, we questioned whether this design could provide sufficient contact between the blades and ingredients for quick and even blending, and our experience with the blender confirmed that it was not as impressive as it may have appeared on paper. Furthermore, the blade assembly is permanently attached to the motor base, unlike most personal blenders. This makes it more challenging to clean the blades thoroughly, especially on the undersides.
- Material:Stainless Steel
- Type:Cross
- Guard Material:
- Blade Count:6 blades
- Removable:No
- Dishwasher Safe:No
The blade has six prongs: 4 are sharp and the others are serrated. Such a blade’s design is exclusive and showed prominence for heavier-duty tasks if the prongs were thicker, for the least. Unlike conventional personal blenders, the blade assembly is permanently attached to the motor base. This makes it more difficult to clean thoroughly, especially on the blade’s undersides.
PopBabies Blender Motor Base
- Rated Voltage:N/A
- Rated Power:175 Watt
- Working Time:N/A
- Protection:Yes
- Weight:0.8 lb
- Cord Length:NaN" (NaN cm)
- Extra Feature:No
The motor has a peak power output of 175 watts. It has a 20-second idle blending time and shouldn’t run continuously for a long time per interval. In case it goes beyond the idle time frame, the blender will automatically stop and you will have to press the switch again should you want to continue blending. The safety mode is critical in preventing overloading and subsequent damage to the blender's components. Other blenders may rely on silicone feet for stability, but this model defies convention. Despite lacking this feature, we found it remained remarkably stable on the counter during all of its testing performance, with no significant movement to report. It's a small detail, but one that speaks to the blender's usability.
- Rated Voltage:N/A
- Rated Power:175 Watts
- Working Time:90 seconds
- Protection:Yes
- Weight:0.5 oz (14 g)
- Cord Length:NaN" (NaN cm)
- Extra Feature:Silicone feet
The 175-watt motor is certainly insufficient for solid ingredients. It has an idle blending time of 5 seconds and a maximum continuous runtime of 90 seconds per interval. If the idle time or the single working time runtime is exceeded, the blender will stop automatically, with the blue light switched off. These protection modes are considered necessary since without them your blender would get hot and become overloading, which then results in permanently damaged components.
There are three silicone feet on the bottom meant to provide stability, but we found they didn’t help much in our testing. Our blender walked around on the counter anyway.
Blending Cup
- Material:Plastic
- Capacity:16.0 fl oz (473.2 ml)
- Weight:0.5 oz (14 g)
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
- Measurement:Yes
- Suitable For:Small batches
- Accessories:A funnel
The blender comes with a 16-ounce capacity cup made of AS material. After rigorous testing, we found some areas being scratched, but it didn't affect the blender's performance in any way. The cup's lid provides a tight seal that prevents leaks, even during vigorous shaking or when the cup is turned upside down. To ensure optimal safety, it's essential to keep the lid securely closed and avoid adding ingredients while the blender is in operation. Additionally, the cup's small opening can make adding ingredients a bit challenging, but the included rubber funnel helps to prevent mess and spills.
- Material:Plastic
- Capacity:380 ml
- Weight:1.0 oz (28 g)
- Dishwasher Safe:Yes
- Measurement:No
- Suitable For:Small batches
- Accessories:Lid, filter
The cup has 380ml (13 ounces) capacity and uses PC (polycarbonate) material. After rigorous testing, it was damaged in some areas, but so far, this hasn’t impaired the blender’s performance. The lid and filter are both made of PP (polypropylene). They’re designed to seal the cup nicely so we didn’t experience any leaking even when we shake the cup vigorously or turn it upside down.
Note that when the blender is working, it is imperative to open the lid or put anything into the cup for optimal safety. Your machine will stop working when its cup is separated. However, since the cup is a hollow piece with dual openings, remember not to remove the cup from the motor base when liquid is still inside.
Speed and Controls of the PopBabies Portable Blender
- Control Type:Button
- Min Speed:N/A
- Max Speed:N/A
- Presets:No
- Noise Level:86 dB
- Digital Display:No
- Pulse Mode:No
The blender features a single-speed function that can be easily activated through a touch button. While it doesn't have a dedicated pulse function, you can still achieve a similar effect by rhythmically tapping the button in short bursts. Since the button requires only slight pressure to operate, you can get control over the blending process with ease.
- Control Type:Button
- Min Speed:N/A
- Max Speed:N/A
- Presets:No
- Noise Level:65 (db)
- Digital Display:No
- Pulse Mode:No
The OBERLY allows you to get its single-speed through a touch button, which demands just slight pressure to activate. It doesn’t feature a particular setting for the pulse function, but you can simulate this mode by pressing and releasing the button in short intervals.
Battery
- Status Indicator:Yes
- Full Charging Time:3-4 hours
- Quick Charging Time:N/A
- Charger Adapter:N/A
- Charger Adapter Pin:USB-C, 5 V output
- Charger Length:
The PopBabies is equipped with a 4000mAh rechargeable battery, which requires a 3-4 hours charging time to reach its full capacity. The package doesn't include a charger, but you can charge the blender through any USB-C port using the supplied charging cable. This provides flexibility, allowing you to charge the blender using a variety of devices, including power banks and smartphone chargers.
- Status Indicator:Yes
- Full Charging Time:3 hours
- Quick Charging Time:N/A
- Charger Adapter:N/A
- Charger Adapter Pin:USB-C, 3.7 V output
- Charger Length:2000 mAh
The OBERLY blender sports a built-in 2000mAh rechargeable battery that demands a full 3-hour charging session for maximum 12-time using. There isn’t a charger included in the box, but the supplied charging cable fits into any USB-C port so you can easily charge your blender through a power bank, smart phone charger, or other USB device.
PopBabies Portable Blender Usability Review
- Hands-Free Operation (60%)3.0/10
- Assembly (20%)7.0/10
- Cleanability (20%)7.0/10
- Hands-Free Operation (60%)3.0/10
- Assembly (20%)7.5/10
- Cleanability (20%)8.0/10
Hands-Free Operation
The PopBabies personal blender simplifies the blending process by allowing users to hit the power button instead of continuously holding it, as required by most traditional personal blenders. However, the device's cross blade is prone to clogs, which may impede the blending process when using solid ingredients such as hard nuts and root vegetables. Therefore, close monitoring of the blending process is necessary to detect obstructions early and prevent damage to the device.
In addition, the blender's automatic shut-off feature after 20 seconds of operation may inconvenience users as they have to press multiple times to resume blending, leading to a potentially impaired end-product quality. All things considered, hands-free operation alone cannot guarantee optimal convenience, and users must remain vigilant throughout the blending process.
To blend, you only need to hit the power button rather than pressing and continuously holding it during the operation like you have to do with most traditional personal blenders. Despite this, we couldn’t get the full advantage of the hands-free operation feature since there was barely a time we could stop shaking the blending cup. Otherwise, clogged food would prevent the blade from turning.
Assembly
Assembling the lid, cup, and motor is a simple task. Our recommendation is to attach the lid to the blending cup first, then secure the cup to the motor. However, keep in mind that the force required for tightening may pose a challenge for individuals with oily or wet hands. Furthermore, there is no audible "click" or visual cue to indicate whether the assembly was successful. The only way to know for sure is to press the power button. It's also important to note that simply tightening the cup to the motor for operation can be a safety risk, as it can easily be done by a child.
Disassembling the blender is equally effortless, just reverse the assembly process.
Attaching the lid, the filter, and the cup together is a breeze. We recommend screwing the filter onto the top of the blending cup first, then tightening the lid afterward.
To finish the assembly process, just fasten the open end of the blending cup to the motor body so that the arrow on the cup is lined up with the arrow on the base. This takes some getting used to, but will be easier to do after practice. In case the jar isn’t aligned with the base properly, your blender won’t run while the red and blue light flash alternatively.
Parents with young kids will appreciate this locking function of the OBERLY. After several uses, however, it no longer works efficiently. Sometimes, we didn’t align the arrow on the cup to match the arrow on the base, but our blender was still able to blend.
Separating all the pieces is easier. Simply do the reverse of the assembly process.
Cleanability
The lid, funnel, and blending cup can be safely placed on the top rack, but it's recommended to wash them by hand with warm, soapy water to prevent rapid degradation. However, it can be a bit challenging, especially when it comes to cleaning the blade's undersides. The blade is permanently attached to the cup, making it difficult to clean its nooks and crannies. Not to mention, the small opening of the cup makes it hard to reach the blade. In this case, a bottle-cleaning brush is essential to ensure that the blade assembly is entirely free of any food debris.
We've also tried a water-only cleaning method, where we fill the blending cup half full with water and let it blend itself to remove food residues from the blade. However, we found that this method wasn't as effective as manually cleaning the blade under running tap water with a brush. This is especially true if you're dealing with tougher residues that the self-blending action alone can't remove.
The lid, filter, and blending cup are top-rack dishwasher safe. It’s advised to wash them by hand with warm, soapy water,though, so they don’t degrade as quickly. The motor body shouldn’t be immersed in water so we cleaned its exterior surface with a soft cloth and then scrubbed away food tailing in the blade assembly with a bottle-cleaning brush. So far, we haven’t have any trouble in doing this, but for those with large hands, cleaning the blade’s undersides may become a little bit trickier, especially when there isn’t a brush available.