The five criteria below are what separated the winners from the also-rans in the kitchen.
Cordless vs. Corded
Cordless units are the point of the category, with 13 to 15+ blends per charge and no outlet in sight; corded machines like the Ninja Fit trade that freedom for more power per dollar.
Blending Power and Ice Crushing
Wattage is easy to compare on corded machines, where the Ninja Fit pulls 700W and the Magic Bullet 250W, but cordless units publish voltage instead, which tells you little. Frozen fruit is the easy test in our kitchen, and cubed ice is the stress test, needing a splash of liquid on most units.
Battery Life and Charging
Expect 13 to 15+ blends per charge and charging times of 1 to 3 hours; look for USB-C, as the Blast Max's proprietary cable is our least favorite detail.
Capacity and Portability
Capacity runs from 16 to 22.6 oz, and one 16 to 20 oz cup covers a single smoothie. Weight matters on the go, where the BlendJet 2 rides at about 1.34 lb and the Blast Max at about 2.45 lb.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Nearly every pick has a top-rack dishwasher-safe vessel, and most self-clean with water plus a drop of soap, though the Beast GO's blades stay attached and Ninja's manual warns against the Blast Max's heated dry cycle.