Nutri Ninja Auto iQ (BL480D)

I had the predecessor to this Ninja for approx 10 years. It was great. I finally wore the motor out, but it did a great job for a long time. I bought the updated model as a replacement. This one is even better. The old model had two minor issues - 1) It tended to "walk" all over the countertop due to vibrations. 2) You had to put the container lid down, and then twist it to lock it in place. And sometimes it would vibrate and it the container would turn just enough to unlock itself, and I had to go put twist and lock it and usually just hold it into place.This model solves both of those issues in a big way. The suction cups solve the walking issue, and there's a different mechanism in place to lock the container and lid into place. I haven't once had an issue with the container.This thing crushes through ice and frozen fruits like it's a day in the park. I make smoothies most days with ice, frozen fruit, almond/walnut milk, and very powdered concoctions. Very smooth and delicious.Negatives? I'm not going to lie. This thing would wake the dead if it was near a graveyard. It's loud. But I think it has to be to crush through the ice.All in all, highly recommended.

If I could give 10 STARS for Ninja's improvements on the Nutri Ninja Auto - iQ I would. I begin every day with a protein shake with 8 different ingredients. I've been doing this for over 20 years. Started with my cuisinart blender. Loved the drink, but hated the clean-up! Then in 2010ish I discovered the Ninja Bullet. That was like going from propeller airplanes to a small Jet engine. But it had its limitations...Needed more power. Then I bought my first Nutri Ninja, thought I had died and gone to heaven! But, on occasion it would loosen the top blade assembly and leak creating a mess. It didn't matter how high you filled it or how tight you screwed on the top, once a month it would leak. So when it was time to replace it I switched brands and went with an Aicock. Same thing, was great most of the time, then it would leak....Finally, I was smelling burnt rubber, time to shop again. Meanwhile Ninja was listening to the leaking complaints and fixed the problem. With all the old units, you fill up the blender cup-screw on the blade assembly-drop into slots, then twist it into place. Now, the base is totally closed in, and no more twisting. You just drop into the slots and you know you have a connection when 0 shows up on the screen. Perfect every time! Cleanups about 10 sec. no messes, and I'm flying the concord!! Ninja, thanks for listening and actually making it better instead of cheaper.

I would give credit to another reviewer who said to use a paper clip to remove the silicone gasket, but it might've been for another product and I haven't found that same review here. Basically you just need a thin, stiff and long enough wire with a tiny little hook at the end so you can slide the wire into the crevice (on either the inner or outer side of the gasket works), turn the hook into or under the gasket to catch it, and pull the gasket out from the lid. Just cut/break the paperclip at one of the curves to make a hook, extend the rest of the clip and bend it to an angle so it's easier to twist. It works easily and consistently after you see how it works. It also seems to help if the gasket in the lid is wet, so if the gasket is dry and seems stuck, run it under water and try again. I've been doing this for over a year and while the gasket has abrasions from this removal process, it is still sturdy and functions just as well without any problems. I'm guessing the gasket might outlast any other part of the blender. Also, there doesn't seem to be a wrong way to put the gasket back in, but it seems to fit naturally with the ridged side out.

I got this for my boyfriend for Christmas and he has used it almost twice a day, every day since. It's very sturdy and durable. Make sure you put it on a stable surface before using. We originally put it on top of our roll-away dishwasher and it was so strong that it made the entire thing shake and move around. IT has suction cups on the bottom to keep it from scooting across the counter though so that's a good feature. I love the auto-IQ buttons. This blender does an amazing job of juicing fruits and veggies. I am impressed with the pulverization of strawberry seeds. I'm not sure why but it doesn't seem to work as well on black berry seeds. Maybe they're tougher? It does a great job with fibrous stuff like apples and celery. I personally like it for my keto diet because I can mix almond milk with strawberries and have a yummy treat. I haven't had an leaking problems with the blade or lid attachments. I will say though, don't put either attachment on too tightly or you may struggle to get it off. It seems to suction itself onto the cup. A few times I got worried that I wouldn't be able to get the lid off. I also find all the pieces easy to clean. Overall, great product! Worth every penny!

Works well. Powerful. Noisy.Pro tip: Use adequate amounts of liquid. The thicker the mix, the less easy it will be for mixing and drinking.The base will get warm, so don’t over do it. Did I mention make sure you use enough liquid?