If you are in a rush and just want to know which is our fav in this Magic Bullet vs Nutribullet showdown, then we would recommend Nutribullet Rx as our top pick.
We want to help you choose the blender that fits your needs and offers you the best value. If you have done a little shopping around already, you may still be trying to decide: Nutribullet vs. Magic Bullet. We checked out all the important features of the available models and put together a buyer’s guide of sorts to help you figure out which model suits you best.
One problem with the online Magic Bullet reviews is that they don’t compare the Magic Bullet to any of the Nutribullets. You’ll see why it is important to look at them both before you make your investment.
Magic Bullet Vs. Nutribullet Features
What it all boils down to is this one question: What do you need?
Just Want to Make Your Own Smoothies?
If the main reason you are considering buying one of these products is for making your own green or fruit smoothies, the Nutribullet 600, Nutribullet 900 Pro, or Nutribullet Balance is probably the way to go.
The Nutribullet 600 is an efficient smoothie maker with a good motor and a nice selection of cups included. It will definitely get the job done, but the manufacturer recommends adding water or some other liquid to your smoothie recipes to avoid overstressing and burning out the motor. You can also buy a milling blade for grinding coffee beans and making flour. We will talk more about this in this product’s review below.
The Nutribullet 900 Pro is a step up from the 600. It features a more powerful motor, which is nice because you don’t have to add any liquids to your fruits or veggies when making a smoothie like you do with the 600. This way, you can make thick smoothies if you want to. A more powerful motor also means better nutrient extraction. The 900 Pro comes with bigger cups so you can make bigger smoothies or share your healthy drinks. With its included flip-top lid, you can make a big one to take with you wherever you go.
Nutribullet’s Balance has an even more powerful motor than the 900 Pro and features hands-free operation. It is controlled by an app that recommends and stores recipes, weighs each ingredient as you build your smoothie and even displays real-time nutritional data.
Just Want A Kitchen Helper?
Go with the Magic Bullet. It isn’t the best at making smoothies, but it is the best at dicing, chopping, and crushing ice. If you crush ice pretty often, get the ice-crushing blade. The Magic Bullet also grinds coffee beans, but it doesn’t grind them as well as the Nutribullet 600 with its optional milling blade. The other Nutribullet models are simply no good at chopping or crushing ice.
Just Want to Make Healthy Homemade Foods?
If this is you, check out the Nutribullet Rx. It is the most versatile Nutribullet model available. It makes the perfect smoothie because its sensors adjust the blade speed throughout the extraction process for optimal consistency. One amazing feature of the Rx is its heating mode. It makes hot soups! Just follow one of the soup recipes in the included recipe book for a fresh, delicious, and healthy veggie soup. The other Nutribullet models can theoretically make soup, but you would have to heat it yourself. The 600 is only recommended for the thinnest soups. Remember, you don’t want to burn out its motor.
If you want to prepare healthier and fresher meals but you don’t care much for smoothies or soups, consider the Magic Bullet. It is great for making fresh salsa, pico de gallo, chopped nuts, and many other fantastic ingredients and healthful garnishes.
Does Motor Size Matter?
No. Motor power matters. Stronger motors provide higher blade RPM and more torque. This allows better nutrient extraction. When making smoothies or soups, you want to emulsify the ingredients so that your digestive system can absorb all of the nutrients more readily. That’s the whole point of a smoothie. Don’t worry about this if you are leaning toward a Magic Bullet. It has all the power it needs for what it does. More powerful motors work better for extractions and emulsifications like smoothies and soups.
Why You Should Care About The Cups
The Nutribullet 600 comes with small cups that are ideal for single servings. If you want cups for bigger servings or smoothies for two, you will have to buy bigger cups separately.
The other Nutribullets come with larger cups and flip-top lids, which is great because you can save some for later or take whatever you don’t drink right away with you wherever you go. Check out the Nutribullet reviews below to see what size cups each model comes with.
Size And Noise
Noise is unavoidable with these types of machines. But they are all quick, so it’s not like you have to hear them for long. They all do their job in just a couple minutes at the most. The Nutribullet Rx operates for almost ten minutes when it is making hot soup, but the blade spins more slowly and quietly during its seven-minute heating cycle.
All of these machines are more compact than the bulky and inefficient food processors of the past. They will all take up about as much counter space as a two-liter soda bottle.
Is There A Nutribullet That Chops Like The Magic Bullet?
No. The Nutribullets are what you would call “extractors,” because they are designed to extract nutrients from the tough fibers and seeds of fruits and veggies, so your body can make better use of them.
The Magic Bullet can also be considered an extractor, and it can, in fact, make smoothies, but its design makes it much more efficient and suitable for dicing and chopping.
But what if you want to make healthy smoothies and soups, and you want a machine that can make fresh salsas et al.? Maybe buy a Magic Bullet for its superior food processing abilities, and also get the most suitable Nutribullet for your extraction needs.
Magic Bullet Review
The Magic Bullet is a small and simple food processor. Its simplicity of design and use is perhaps its greatest feature. You don’t have to guess about which one of a dozen different speed settings to use as you do with conventional processors.
Its manufacturer touts it as a unique product that can perform any chopping or pureeing task in seconds. This is an honest claim. Kudos to Magic Bullet for not over-hyping their product.
The basic Magic Bullet kit comes with:
- 250-watt power base
- 1 stainless steel cross blade for chopping and pureeing
- 1 18 oz cup
- 1 18 oz party mug with a comfort lip ring
- 1 12 oz cup with a comfort lip ring
- 2 Stay-fresh lids that fit all of the cups
- 1 Flip-top lid that fits all of the cups
- Ten Second Recipe book. A free recipe app is also included with the purchase.
Assembles with the bigger cup, the Magic Bullet is 12″ tall and 4.75 inches wide.
The operation is simple. You simply load your ingredients into one of the cups, screw the blade assembly onto the cup and press the cup down onto the power base. To puree, hold the cup down until the ingredients are thoroughly emulsified. To chop, press the cup down repeatedly until the ingredients are chopped to the size you want.
The unit is designed to cycle the ingredients up toward the top, away from the blade, as the blades spin. A continuous cyclone action in the cup is the result. This ensures a consistent product. Have you ever tried to make salsa in one of those bulky conventional food processors? To say that the Magic Bullet is an improvement on that would be a huge understatement in our opinion.
Chopping results are consistent enough to finely chop nuts and make chunky homemade salsa. This versatility makes the Magic Bullet ideal for just about any chopping or pureeing task, just as claimed.
To better understand the Magic Bullet’s versatility, here are some uses for it:
- Guacamole
- Smoothies
- Chopping onions
- Sorbet
- Salsa
- Grinding coffee beans
- Coconut whipped cream
- Frozen fruit treats
- Pancake batter with fruit, nuts, etc.
Compared to similar processors, the Magic Bullet is quiet during operation. There is some vibration while in use, but this is to be expected and cannot be avoided. These are advantages of its small motor.
Pros:
- The operation is simple and straightforward.
- The included cross blade works for all kinds of food processing tasks. There is no need to buy multiple blades for most purposes for which you would use the unit.
- There are no complicated electronics that control it. An automatic switch turns the motor on when you push the cup down and off when you let go.
Cons:
- The motor is not very powerful compared to similar processors. This adds time to your prep.
- You can only crush ice in small quantities unless you spend a little extra for the ice-crushing blade.
The Magic Bullet is fantastic for anyone who just needs a basic processor for chopping and occasional pureeing. If you will be making smoothies often, you should look at one of the Nutribullet models. Even though the Magic Bullet crushes ice easily with the ice-crushing blade, its motor is a bit weak for making smoothies.
Nutribullet Balance Review
The Nutribullet Balance is a high-tech smoothie maker that is controlled by an app that is included with the purchase.
It is advertised to help the user build the perfect smoothie based on their needs, nutritional requirements, and what is in their pantry.
Here is what is included with the purchase:
- Black power base with 1,200-watt motor and built-in SMART sensor scale
- 2 32oz cups
- 2 comfort lip rings
- 2 flip-top lids
- 1 stainless steel extractor blade
- 1 user guide and manual with FAQs and tips
When assembled with the large cup, the Balance is about 15 inches tall and 7.5 inches wide.
The Nutribullet Balance is ages ahead of the Magic Bullet in terms of technology and power.
The Magic Bullet features no smart technology that we can compare here.
The Nutribullet Balance’s motor is about five times more powerful than the Magic Bullet’s. You would expect a motor that is more powerful to be louder, and you would be right. While in operation, the Magic Bullet makes a growling noise, but the Balance’s motor sounds more like a high-pitched whine. Although it vibrates a lot more, that point is moot since you don’t normally touch it while it is in operation.
While the Magic Bullet is simple in design, the Nutribullet Balance may be simpler to operate for you if you are comfortable using smart technology. You don’t even have to touch the Balance to begin its operation. You simply load the cup with ingredients and place it on the power base. Then you click the start button on the app and wait for the app to tell you your smoothie is ready. It really is that simple to operate. This is a nice feature because it takes the guesswork out of making your smoothie. The unit uses its advanced sensors to determine the optimum motor speed, pulse cycle, and length of operation for the best results.
The app functions as a virtual nutritionist. It asks some questions about your wellness goals, dietary restrictions, eating habits, and personal tastes when you first download it. Then, it presents you with personalized recipes for your approval. After you select the recipes you like, it creates a shopping list so you can stock up on the ingredients you need. It even keeps track of your smoothie-related food supplies and notifies you when you are running low. This is great because you will never find yourself unexpectedly out of any particular ingredient.
Here’s how you make a smoothie with the Nutribullet Balance:
To start, you pull up the app and tell it what kind of smoothie you want. Then you follow the app’s instructions as it tells you which ingredients to add to the cup. It displays the weight of each ingredient as you add it so you get the perfect ratio every time. The real-time nutritional value calculator, which updates with the addition of each ingredient, displays the vitamin, mineral, protein, fiber, and caloric content.
After the cup is loaded, you screw the blade assembly onto the cup and put it on the power base. Then, you press the go button on the app and watch your smoothie being made.
The app’s scale and nutritional value calculator ensures that you get the smoothie you want with the nutrient profile you need.
Pros:
- The included app takes the guesswork out of everything
- Powerful motor
- Automatic operation
Cons:
- Some people may find the app a bit confusing
- Motor is a little loud
- Only large cups are included with the purchase
The Nutribullet Balance is an impressive smoothie maker. It lays out precise recipes and displays and tracks nutritional information. Almost anyone who makes their own smoothies on a regular basis will like the Balance.
People who are uncomfortable with smart technology will probably want to go with a different product.
Nutribullet 900 Pro Review
The Nutribullet 900 Pro is a simple and powerful extractor.
It is claimed to quickly break down even the most fibrous fruits and vegetables into a smooth and nutritious meal replacement. These are called “Nutriblasts.” Nutribullet also claims that the 900 Pro makes great soups, dressings, dips, desserts, and more.
Its motor has much more power than the Magic Bullet, which is the current market leader. In fact, it is almost four times more powerful. All of this power drives an extractor blade that is superior to the Magic Bullet’s cross blade when it comes to pulverizing tough foods.
The Nutribullet 900 Pro’s largest available cup holds 32oz, which is a full 14 oz more than the Magic Bullet’s 18 oz large cup. Its party 24oz party mugs are also larger than the Magic Bullet’s, which are also only 18oz.
The following are included with the purchase:
- 1 champagne power base
- 1 Extractor blade
- 1 Flip-top lid
- 1 32oz cup with comfort lip ring
- 1 24oz mug with comfort lip ring
- “Pocket Nutritionist” recipe book
The 900 Pro boasts a few improvements over its predecessor:
- 300-watt increase in motor power
- Larger cup size
- Includes a flip-top lid
When assembled with its taller cup, the 900 Pro is about 14 inches tall and 7 inches wide.
The larger cup size is great because you can use it to make a smoothie big enough to share. This can save some time. If you use the 32oz cup to make the smoothie and pour half of it into the included 24oz party mug for someone else, you will only have two cups and the blade to wash. The cups are safe to put into the dishwasher. That saves a little time too.
You can use this model to make soups the same way you make smoothies. It is great for making thicker soups because, thanks to the powerful motor and awesome extractor blade, there is no need to add water. But be warned: making thicker soups, and condiments like dips and dressings, too often can shorten the motor’s life.
The operation is simple. Just add your ingredients into the cup, put the blade on, place the assembly on the base and push the power button. It is fun to watch the cyclonic action of the ingredients in the bullet-shaped cup as they are liquefied.
There is no pulse option on this model, so you can’t use it to chop. It is only suitable for pureed foods like the above mentioned Nutriblast drinks, soups, and dressings. The upside to this is that you don’t have to hold the cup down for the unit to operate. This simplifies things a bit.
Some people who use the 900 Pro say it is loud, but I don’t think so. Of course, this is a subjective matter. Even if it is a little loud for your liking, the powerful motor works quickly, so you don’t have to hear it for long.
The extractor blade that this model comes with deserves a mention here. It is much better for pureeing than the cross blade that the Magic Bullet comes with. The 900 Pro’s extractor blade seems to work by mashing and chopping at the same time. This kind of blade is essential for making nicely pureed foods. Sure, the Magic Bullet can also puree, but it takes a long time and there are always some little chunks left in the finished product no matter how long you run it.
Pros:
- Quickly purees
- Can be used to make soups, dressings, and dips
- Simple to operate
- Blade is made for pureeing
- No need to add water to most recipes
Cons:
- Motor is somewhat loud compared to other models
- Cannot be used to chop food
- No pulse function
The Nutribullet 900 Pro is a good choice for people who need a simple yet powerful pureeing machine. The soups that this model can make is a good way to add vegetables to the diet, making it great for those who may need more fiber.
It’s not suitable for anyone who needs a more versatile machine that can chop and dice in addition to pureeing.
Nutribullet 600 Review
The Nutribullet 600 is a basic and compact juicer and smoothie maker. It can also be used to mill grains and seeds into flour and grind coffee beans when paired with the available milling blade.
Nutribullet does not make many claims about this model, but they market it as a versatile food processor. The Nutribullet 600 does not actually need a bunch of claims. It is one of few products in its class that offers the milling option.
It comes with the following:
- Black and stainless power base
- 1 24oz cup with comfort lip ring
- 1 18oz cup with comfort lip ring
- 2 lids
- 1 emulsifying blade
- 1 milling blade
- Pocket recipe book
When assembled with the 24oz cup, it is about 13 inches tall and 9 inches wide.
This machine is similar to the Magic Bullet, but it cannot be used for chopping and dicing because there is no blade made for this model that will slice.
Like the Magic Bullet, the Nutribullet 600’s cup must be pushed down to run the motor. This is a useful function, especially for milling and grinding.
You would think that a less powerful motor would make less noise. But the 600-watt motor on this model has the same noise level as Nutribullet’s 900-watt version. Still, I would not say that it is noisy. It is definitely quieter than the big old-time blenders and food processors of the past.
Think of this model as a small smoothie maker that can also be used to make juice and doubles as a miller and grinder.
You have to add water to whatever it is you are processing to avoid over-stressing the motor. This is not a concern for smoothies since some kind of liquid is normally added to them anyway, but this can pose a problem when making some juices. You can’t make soups or anything thicker than a smoothie with this model, or you risk burning the motor out.
One advantage here is size. It is only 15 inches tall when the largest cup is attached to the power base. It will fit and can be operated under every kitchen cabinet that I have ever seen. Its size also makes it portable. That’s a great feature if you want to take it to work for a lunchtime smoothie or a mid-morning juice break. You can even take it to the gym to make a pre-workout protein shake.
With no buttons or switches on the power base, it is easy to clean. All you have to do is wipe it down with a damp cloth. Everything else, except for the blade, can go into your dishwasher. The blade is easy to wash in the sink with mild detergent.
The milling blade is great for making flour out of any grain you can think of. It can even be used to powder culinary herbs like oregano or medicinal herbs like kava. This blade also makes grinding coffee beans pretty easy. The bad thing is that you have to gently shake or agitate the unit while grinding the beans in order to get a consistent grind. The milling blade sure does make the Nutribullet 600 versatile.
It does not produce as consistent a grind as an actual coffee bean grinder, but it gets the job done. You will be happy with its grinding capabilities as long as you are not very particular about consistency. But take note: the milling blade cannot grind coffee beans fine enough for making Turkish coffee.
Pros:
- Easy to operate
- Easy to clean
- Compact and portable
- Milling blade included
Cons:
- Cannot be used to chop like the similar Magic Bullet
- Motor is a bit weak
- Cannot be used to make soup
- Water must be added to most recipes
This would be a great choice for someone who wants a simple juicer or smoothie maker. Anyone who likes to make flour or grind their own coffee beans will also be happy with it.
Anyone who wants to make soups or anything thicker than a smoothie should look at one of the other models with a more powerful motor.
Nutribullet Rx Review
The Nutribullet Rx is a versatile machine that makes fruit smoothies, green smoothies, dressings and dips, nut butters, and even hot soups. That is not a typo at the end of that last sentence. It actually makes heated soups.
Nutribullet claims that it is the most technologically advanced model in the Nutribullet family and that it is the best-performing nutrient extraction machine of its kind.
The following accessories are included with the Rx:
- 1 Black and silver high-torque power base
- 1 extractor blade
- 1 Souperblast pitcher with a 2-piece lid
- 1 32oz short cup
- 1 45oz oversized cup
- 1 stay-fresh lid
- 1 comfort lip ring
- 1 user’s guide
- “Nature’s Prescription For Optimum Health” book
When assembled, the Rx is about 15 inches tall and 13 inches wide.
The Nutribullet offers many features and advantages not found in the Magic Bullet. At 1,700 watts, the Rx’s motor is nearly seven times more powerful than the Magic Bullet’s. That is a truly impressive amount of power for such a small motor of any type. Although every recipe found in the provided recipe book calls for the addition of water, this is not necessary with such a strong motor. For example, if you wanted to try to make a concoction of your own using pineapple, ripe mango, and other naturally juicy fruits, you could just process the fruit in the unit without adding water. The resulting smoothie would be thick, but the motor would not overheat in the process.
One outstanding feature not found in the Magic Bullet, or most other machines of this type for that matter, is the heating function. More on this later.
Unlike the Magic Bullet and the Nutribullet 600, the cup does not have to be held down to operate the unit. It doesn’t have to be twisted down or manually secured in any way. You simply place the assembled cup and blade down onto the power base and turn it on. The machine does all the work from there.
The Rx comes with larger cups than any other machine of its kind, including the Magic Bullet and all the other Nutribullet models.
When making green or fruit smoothies, the Rx functions just like the other Nutribullets, but you don’t have to hold anything down or even push a button. Everything is automatic.
The smart technology of this device is impressive. Its sensors choose the perfect starting blade speed. As the material you are processing begins to break down, the motor automatically slows to the right speed at the right time. The company claims this feature optimizes nutrient extraction. I don’t see how, but it sure does produce a drink with fantastic consistency. You will find no chunks in your smoothie.
Now, let’s talk about soup. The Nutribullet 900 can make soup, but you would have to heat it after making it. The Rx has an optional heating function. After the machine completes its extraction cycle in the soup pitcher, you push the button on the front of the unit. It then gently heats and stirs the soup for seven minutes. The result is a fresh soup that is evenly heated to the perfect serving temperature. This is a convenient and time-saving feature because the soup pitcher can be taken from the power base directly to the table. You can also make soup ahead of time for a later meal. Store it in the fridge, sealed with the included stay-fresh lid, and just place the pitcher onto the power base and press the start button about seven minutes before you intend to serve it.
Pros:
- Super-powerful motor
- Automatic operation
- Self-adjusting blade speed
- Makes hot soup
- Comes with larger cups than other models
Cons:
- Motor is loud when extracting
- Cannot be used for chopping
- Does not come with a flip-top lid — This would be perfect for sipping hot soup!
This is a fantastic machine for soup lovers! If you have never had homemade vegetable soup, you have to try it. You can taste the freshness. This is also the best model for smoothies because the powerful motor makes the smoothest and most consistent end product.
Anyone who does not plan on making soup might as well choose a less expensive machine to save a little money.
Conclusion
I have spent quite a bit of time really getting to know the products reviewed here. I have noticed all of their individual flaws and all of their unique features. But now, it is time to choose a winner. Let me tell you, it was not easy to choose one for a place on the pedestal because each model is perfect for one or more particular functions.
Without any further ado, the winner is the Nutribullet Rx!
The Magic Bullet excels at one thing that none of the other products here can do. It chops. It makes salsa and chopped nuts quickly, efficiently, and without any fuss. It also crushes ice very well when used with its ice-crushing blade, which has to be purchased separately. It can make smoothies, but it takes much longer than any of the other machines reviewed here and the end result is inferior. The smoothie ends up with small chunks in it, no matter how long you run it. It cannot make soup because its motor is just not powerful enough.
The Nutribullet 600 is a step up from the Magic Bullet, but it has the same power limitations and, therefore, the same drawbacks. Its motor will burn out before its time if it is used to make thicker smoothies.
I am impressed with the Nutribullet 900 Pro because it has a powerful motor, but it is still necessary to add water to most recipes to avoid damaging the motor. This model is a contender, but it still falls short of the blue ribbon because it lacks some of the awesome features of the Balance and the Rx.
Nutribullet’s Balance is an amazing machine that will set the future standard for smart nutrient extractors and food processors. The app is awesome in its own right. There are many good virtual nutrition consultant apps available for both Apple and Android devices, but this one fully controls all aspects of the Balance’s operation in addition to making shopping lists and tracking nutrient and caloric intake.
The Nutribullet Rx lacks app connectivity, but still possesses impressive, smart technology. The automatic motor speed control ensures a consistency that is rarely found in homemade smoothies. Its performance and end product rival the Balance in every way, and its motor is 500 watts more powerful to boot.
The clincher is its soup-making ability. Its hot soup-making ability, mind you.
