The Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ (model BN701) is a solid pick if you mainly want smoothies, frozen drinks, and crushed ice in large batches, and you don’t want to spend Vitamix-level money to get it. It’s genuinely strong at crushing ice and blending fruit-and-dairy smoothies, and its 72-ounce pitcher makes it easy to serve a family or a small group at once.

Where it comes up short is with fibrous, leafy-green smoothies and very tough whole-food blending — independent testing has found its performance drops noticeably outside of its core “smoothies and frozen drinks” comfort zone. It also can’t blend hot liquids, and the stacked blade assembly takes a little getting used to when cleaning. If your blending habits fall mostly within what it’s built for, it’s a reasonable value buy. If you’re chasing silky-smooth kale smoothies or nut butters, it’s not the right tool.

Ninja Professional Plus Blender at a Glance

Spec	Detail
Model number	BN701
Motor power	1,200 operating watts / 1,400 peak watts
Pitcher capacity	72 oz. total pitcher (64 oz. max liquid capacity)
Blade system	Stacked Total Crushing blade assembly
Auto-iQ programs	3 presets (smoothies, frozen drinks, nutrient extraction/ice cream)
Manual speed settings	Multiple manual speeds plus Pulse
Dimensions	Approx. 6.75″D x 9″W x 17.5″H
Weight	About 8.1 lbs
Voltage	120V, 60Hz
Dishwasher-safe parts	Pitcher, lid, and blade assembly (top rack)
BPA-free	Yes
Warranty	1-year limited
Hot liquid blending	Not supported

Specs above are drawn from Ninja/SharkNinja’s own product documentation and may vary slightly by retailer listing or color variant.

What Is the Ninja Professional Plus BN701?

The BN701 sits in the middle of Ninja’s blender lineup — above Ninja’s basic single-serve blenders, but a step below the larger Kitchen System bundles that include food processor attachments and personal cups. It’s a single-pitcher, full-size countertop blender built around Ninja’s Total Crushing blade design and Auto-iQ automated programs.

The target buyer is someone who wants a “set it and mostly forget it” blender for everyday smoothies, frozen drinks, and ice-based beverages, and who values a large pitcher over a compact footprint. It’s not marketed or built as a hot-soup blender or a professional-grade whole-food processor — Ninja positions it squarely as a smoothie-and-frozen-drink workhorse.

[Good spot for an internal link to your “Best Blenders for Smoothies and Frozen Drinks” guide]

Design and Build Quality

The BN701’s motor base is compact relative to its pitcher, with a simple control panel on the front face rather than a touchscreen. The body is plastic rather than metal, which keeps the unit light (around 8 pounds) but also means it doesn’t have the same reassuring heft as a metal-clad premium blender.

The pitcher locks onto the base with a twist-and-seat mechanism, and the lid has a built-in pour spout so you’re not fighting to get smoothies into glasses without spilling. The blade assembly is a “stacked” design — multiple blade tiers at different heights inside the pitcher — which is part of why it crushes ice well, but it also means there are more nooks for food to get trapped in during cleaning, something to keep in mind before you buy.

Countertop footprint is moderate: it’s not the widest blender on the market, but at roughly 17.5 inches tall, it needs decent under-cabinet clearance if you plan to store it standing upright.

72-Ounce Pitcher and Capacity

The pitcher is labeled 72 ounces, but the practical max liquid capacity is 64 ounces — the extra headroom exists so ingredients don’t overflow when blending, especially with ice or frozen fruit that expands as it’s crushed. That distinction matters if you’re deciding whether this blender fits your household size.

For a family of four, or for batch-prepping smoothies for the week, 64 ounces of usable capacity is genuinely useful — you can make several servings in one go rather than running the blender two or three separate times. For a single person making one smoothie a day, though, this pitcher is oversized. You’ll either be blending small amounts in a large jar (which can affect how evenly ingredients get pulled into the blades) or making more than you need and storing the extra.

[Good spot for an internal link to your guide comparing single-serve vs. full-size blenders]

Ninja Professional Plus Blender Performance

Manufacturer marketing describes the BN701 as capable of “perfectly crushed ice” and smooth, resort-style frozen drinks. Independent testing broadly confirms strong ice performance but paints a more mixed picture once you move beyond that core use case, so it’s worth breaking performance down task by task.

Smoothies

For standard fruit-and-dairy or fruit-and-yogurt smoothies, the BN701 generally produces a smooth, drinkable result, particularly for single or a few servings at once. Independent lab testing at RTINGS scored it noticeably higher for multiple-serving smoothies than for single servings, suggesting it performs best when the pitcher has enough volume to keep ingredients circulating through the blades.

Frozen Fruit

Frozen fruit is one of the tougher tests for any blender, since it combines hardness with volume. Some independent testers have reported average results here — the blender can break down frozen fruit, but not always to a perfectly silky consistency, especially in a single test run without extra pulsing or added liquid.

Ice Crushing

This is the BN701’s clear strong point. RTINGS’ testing gave it a particularly high score for ice crushing relative to its other categories, and this lines up with how Ninja markets the Total Crushing blade system. If crushed ice for frozen drinks, snow-cone-style textures, or blended cocktails is your main use case, this is where the blender earns its keep.

Frozen Drinks

Because frozen drinks lean heavily on ice-crushing ability, the BN701 tends to perform well here too, closely mirroring its ice-crushing strength. The dedicated Auto-iQ “frozen drinks” preset is built specifically around this task.

Protein Shakes

Protein shakes with powder, liquid, and maybe a banana or some ice blend easily on most mid-power blenders, and the BN701 handles this combination without difficulty. This is a lower-demand task than crushing whole ice cubes or frozen fruit.

Leafy Greens and Fibrous Ingredients

This is the category where independent reviewers have consistently flagged weaker performance. Multiple third-party test sources report that green smoothies made with kale or similarly fibrous ingredients came out chunkier than expected, sometimes requiring extended blend times or extra liquid to get closer to smooth. If daily green smoothies are your priority, this is a meaningful limitation to weigh, and it’s a fair contrast to Ninja’s general marketing about “smooth, nutrient-rich” results.

Sauces and Other Cold Blends

For simple cold sauces, dressings, or purées, the BN701’s manual speed controls and pulse function give you enough control to get a workable result, though it’s not marketed or optimized as a dedicated food-processor substitute for these tasks.

[Good spot for an internal link to your “Immersion Blender vs. Countertop Blender” comparison, since sauces/dressings is a natural crossover topic]

Auto-iQ Programs Explained

Auto-iQ is Ninja’s automated blending system: instead of you manually deciding how long and how fast to blend, you select a preset and the blender runs a pre-programmed sequence of pulsing, blending, and pausing intervals designed for that specific task. The BN701 includes three Auto-iQ presets, generally labeled for smoothies, frozen drinks, and a nutrient-extraction or ice cream-style program depending on the exact packaging and region.

The appeal is consistency — you press one button and get a repeatable result without guessing at timing. The tradeoff is flexibility: if a recipe doesn’t fit neatly into one of the presets (say, a very small batch or an unusually dense mixture), you may find yourself running the preset and then finishing the job manually anyway.

Manual Controls and Pulse

Beyond the Auto-iQ presets, the BN701 offers manual speed settings and a Pulse function. Manual mode is the better choice when you want direct control — for example, short pulses to break up ice gradually rather than running a full automated cycle, or blending a small, thick mixture where you want to stop and scrape down the sides partway through. Pulse is also useful for coarser textures, like chunky salsas, where you don’t want the fully smooth result an Auto-iQ program is designed to produce.

Is the Ninja BN701 Easy to Clean?

The pitcher, lid, and blade assembly are dishwasher-safe on the top rack, which covers the basics of easy cleanup for most people. The catch is the stacked blade design: because there are multiple blade tiers, food (especially fibrous bits or seeds) can get lodged around and beneath the blades in a way that’s harder to fully clear than with a simpler single-blade pitcher.

For day-to-day use, a quick rinse followed by a spin in the dishwasher generally handles it. For a more thorough clean, or if you notice buildup around the blade base, hand-washing with a bottle brush is worth doing periodically. As with most Ninja blenders, be careful when handling the blade assembly directly — the blades are sharp and exposed when removed from the pitcher.

[Good spot for an internal link to your “How to Clean a Blender Properly” guide]

How Loud Is the Ninja Professional Plus Blender?

Like virtually every high-powered countertop blender, the BN701 is loud, particularly during ice-crushing cycles. This isn’t a defect specific to this model — it’s a byproduct of a motor strong enough to pulverize ice quickly. Multiple buyer reviews mention noise as a downside, especially at higher speeds. We don’t have a verified decibel measurement from a controlled testing lab for this specific model, so rather than quote a number, the honest takeaway is: expect it to be as loud as a typical high-power blender, and plan to use it at times that won’t disturb sleeping housemates or close neighbors in an apartment setting.

What We Like

• Strong, consistent ice-crushing performance
• Large 72 oz. pitcher genuinely useful for families and batch-prepping
• Auto-iQ presets simplify smoothies and frozen drinks for hands-off use
• Dishwasher-safe pitcher, lid, and blades for easier cleanup
• Straightforward controls with a short learning curve
• Noticeably less expensive than premium blenders like Vitamix

What We Don’t Like

• Weaker performance with leafy greens and fibrous ingredients
• No hot-liquid blending capability
• Stacked blade assembly is harder to clean by hand than simpler designs
• Loud during high-speed and ice-crushing cycles
• Large pitcher is excessive for single servings
• All-plastic construction feels less premium than metal-body blenders

Ninja Professional Plus Blender Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Excellent ice crushing	Struggles with fibrous greens
Large-batch friendly (64 oz. usable)	No hot blending support
Simple Auto-iQ automation	Stacked blades are fussy to clean by hand
Budget-friendlier than premium blenders	Loud at high speeds
Dishwasher-safe parts	Oversized pitcher for solo users

Ninja Professional Plus Blender vs. Other Blenders

Ninja Professional Blender 1000: This is a more basic, non-Auto-iQ model. If you don’t care about automated presets and just want manual speed control at a lower price point, it’s worth comparing, but you lose the one-touch programs.

Ninja Professional Plus Blender DUO (BN750): The DUO builds on the BN701’s design by adding a single-serve cup and extra Auto-iQ programs for that cup. If you want both large-batch and personal-serving flexibility in one purchase, the DUO is the closer comparison, at a higher price.

Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System (BN800 series): This steps up further by bundling a food processor bowl alongside the blender pitcher. It’s the better choice if you also want to chop, shred, or process food, not just blend liquids.

Vitamix 5200 (or similar premium alternative): Vitamix blenders are built with metal drive systems, commercial-grade motors, and typically handle hot soups, nut butters, and fibrous greens far more capably. They also cost roughly three to five times as much. The BN701 is a reasonable stand-in if your needs are mostly smoothies, frozen drinks, and ice, but it’s not a like-for-like performance replacement for a Vitamix if you regularly push a blender to its limits.

Who Should Buy the Ninja Professional Plus Blender?

• Families who want to make multiple smoothie or frozen-drink servings at once
• Anyone whose main blending tasks are fruit smoothies, frozen drinks, or crushed ice
• Buyers who want automated presets rather than manually timing every blend
• People who host or entertain and appreciate a large-batch pitcher
• Shoppers who want solid performance without paying premium-blender prices

Who Should Skip It?

• People who primarily make single servings, where the 72 oz. pitcher is overkill
• Anyone who wants to blend hot soups directly in the pitcher
• Buyers focused on ultra-smooth green smoothies with kale, spinach, or other fibrous greens
• Households where blender noise is a significant concern (small apartments, early-morning use around sleeping family members)
• Anyone expecting premium, metal-body build quality and multi-year heavy-use durability comparable to high-end blenders

Ninja Professional Plus Blender Review: Final Verdict

The Ninja Professional Plus Blender with Auto-iQ does what it’s designed to do well: crush ice, make smoothies and frozen drinks in large batches, and simplify the process with automated presets. It’s a sensible pick if your blending habits line up with that use case, and its price point makes it accessible compared with high-end blenders that cost several times as much.

It’s not the right choice if you need a do-everything blender — hot soups, dense nut butters, and consistently smooth fibrous green smoothies are outside its comfort zone, based on both manufacturer positioning and independent testing. Buy it for what it’s built for, and it’s a dependable, good-value countertop appliance. Buy it expecting Vitamix-level versatility, and you’ll likely be disappointed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ninja Professional Plus Blender worth it?
For smoothies, frozen drinks, and ice crushing in larger batches, yes — it performs well in those specific areas at a moderate price. If you need broader versatility (hot blending, tough greens), it’s less worth it.

Is the Ninja BN701 good for smoothies?
Yes, particularly for fruit-and-dairy smoothies made in multiple servings. Performance with leafy greens is weaker than with standard fruit smoothies.

Can the Ninja BN701 crush ice?
Yes — ice crushing is the model’s strongest performance category in independent testing.

Can the Ninja Professional Plus blend hot liquids?
No. It’s not designed or rated for hot-liquid blending. If you want a Ninja blender for hot soups, look at Ninja’s dedicated hot-and-cold blender models instead.

Is the Ninja BN701 dishwasher safe?
The pitcher, lid, and blade assembly are dishwasher-safe on the top rack. The motor base itself should never be submerged or placed in a dishwasher.

How big is the Ninja Professional Plus pitcher?
It’s labeled as a 72-ounce pitcher, with a 64-ounce maximum liquid capacity.

Is the Ninja BN701 good for frozen drinks?
Yes, thanks to its strong ice-crushing performance and a dedicated Auto-iQ frozen drinks preset.

Is the Ninja BN701 loud?
Yes. Like most high-powered blenders, it’s loud during high-speed and ice-crushing cycles. There’s no independently verified decibel rating specific to this model.

What is the difference between BN701 and BN750?
The BN750 (Blender DUO) adds a single-serve cup and additional Auto-iQ programs for personal-sized blends, on top of the same large pitcher functionality.

What is the difference between the Ninja Professional Plus and Ninja Professional Blender?
The Professional Plus (BN701) adds Auto-iQ automated programs and a slightly more powerful motor compared with Ninja’s original Professional Blender line, which relies on manual speed control only.

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Sources referenced: Ninja/SharkNinja official product page, Ninja owner’s guide and technical specifications, RTINGS independent blender testing, HealthyKitchen101 side-by-side testing, and ShouldIt in-depth review. Prices and availability change frequently — verify current pricing before publishing.