The Ninja BN701 is the best value for smoothies and ice; choose the Vitamix VX1 for finer texture and thick blends.
Ninja's crushing system suits large frozen drinks at a much lower cost. Vitamix provides better manual control and a tamper when the target includes smooth greens, dense frozen mixtures and more than beverages.
Ice is a demanding but incomplete blender test. A machine can pulverize cubes dramatically and still leave spinach strands or berry seeds. The best smoothie-and-ice blender must circulate a mixed load: liquid, frozen fruit, fiber, powder and ice without building a pocket above the blade.
Jar design and batch size determine whether ingredients fall back into the cutting path. Large stacked blades can process a pitcher quickly but may be awkward for small batches. A classic tamper system can manage thick mixtures but costs more and requires active control.
