Are you unsure whether you should choose the Ninja BL456 or the BL480D? These fantastic Ninja blenders look a lot alike, so, naturally, you might be a little confused.
Looks can be deceiving, though. There are more differences to these blenders than meets the eye.
We’ll be pitting them against each other in a head-to-head comparison in this post. We’ll guide you through a brief overview, followed by their similarities and differences. Finally, we’ll describe which factors will help you make your choice.
Let’s take a closer look…
Ninja BL456 vs. BL480D Summary
In many ways, the BL456 can be considered a sort of introduction to Ninja blenders in general. Because of its one manual setting, which you access by pushing down on the pitcher, it’s perfect for beginners. Plus, because you blend directly into personal portion-sized cups, it’s an excellent pick for smoothie fans.
With the Ninja BL480D, you’re diving deeper into the potential for what a Ninja blender can be. You still blend into single-serve pitchers, but it also comes with convenient Auto IQ settings that take the trial and error out of blending. In addition, it has a built-in countdown timer that shows you how much longer you have to wait before it’s finished blending.
As smoothie aficionados, we’d say go for the BL480D. It’s basically like the BL456, but it makes some major functional upgrades. The addition of two Auto IQ settings makes it even easier to create the perfect drink, and the pulse setting gives you manual control when you want it.
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Best For Flexibility And Accuracy
Ninja BL480D
- Has Auto IQ settings that take any guesswork out of blending.
- Includes manual controls that give you total power over blending.
- The powerful 1000-watt motor can slice through all your fruits and veggies.
Great For Beginners
Ninja BL456
- Easy-to-understand push control system.
- It comes with dishwasher-safe parts for an easy cleanup
- Nutrient extractor blades will pull vitamins and nutrients out of your ingredients.
If you’d like to learn more about Ninja blenders, be sure to check out the guide to the best Ninja blender.
Similarities
Single-Serve Cups with Lids
One of the best things about either one of these blenders is how convenient they make smoothies. Each one comes with to-go cups that you can blend right into. Two cups come with the blenders: an 18-ounce cup and a 24-ounce cup.
And once you’re finished blending into them, you can twist on the spout lids. With the lids in place, you can truly take your smoothie on the road with you.
Dishwasher-Safe Parts
The last thing anyone wants to do is spend time jamming a washcloth or sponge into the cups or around sharp blades to clean leftovers off them. The good news is, with either of these Ninja models, you won’t have to do that anymore.
Because the parts are dishwasher-safe, you can just rinse them out and then run them through your dishwasher. This makes cleaning them effortlessly, so you won’t need to make excuses not to use them in order to avoid the cleanup.
BPA-Free Parts
Many people try to avoid drinking or eating out of anything made from plastic. This is because many plastics contain a chemical called BPA, linked to adverse health effects in children and higher blood pressure.
This isn’t something you need to be concerned about with the BL456 or BL480D. As both are BPA-free, you can safely drink right from the cups without any concerns.
Nutrient Extraction Technology
If you’re into smoothies, you probably care about making the healthiest possible beverages. In this regard, the BL456 and BL480D are outstanding.
They have nutrient extractor blades specifically created to draw all the vitamins and nutrients out of your fruits and veggies. With either of these blenders, you can be confident that each smoothie will be both tasty and as healthy as can be.
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Differences
Motor Power
Housed within the base of every single blender is the motor. This component affects your blender’s power, so motors with a higher wattage will make it easier for your blender to slice through ingredients.
Power is one aspect in which these blenders differ, although slight. The BL456 is 900 watts, while the BL480D is 1000 watts.
If you were to blend in both blenders at the same time next to each other, you might not notice a drastic difference. However, the 10% extra power in the BL480D may be enough to tip the scales in its favor if power is your greatest concern.
Dimensions
Counterspace is important, and they’re often isn’t enough of it in the kitchen. When you’re low on room, you’ll want to pay attention to the size of any appliance you get, including blenders.
Of these two blenders, the BL456 is just a teensy bit bigger. It measures 11.73 x 6.69 x 13.82 inches. The BL480D, on the other hand, is 15.5 x 6 x 6 inches.
So if space is going to be an issue for you, you might prefer the BL480D simply because it won’t take up as much room as the BL456.
Ninja BL480D Auto IQ Settings
With some blenders, there’s a bit of guesswork involved in how to use them. Whether they just have numbered buttons or dials, it takes some fussing to figure out what you need and how long to blend for.
The BL480D simplifies blending with Auto IQ settings. It has four buttons: start/stop, pulse, blend, and ultra blend. The blend and ultra blend are the Auto IQ buttons, which means the Ninja will blend for a specific amount of time when you press them.
No more guessing. All you need to do is press a button and wait.
Ninja BL456 Push Operation
Unlike the BL480D, the Ninja BL456 has pared-down functions. It doesn’t have any buttons or settings to play with, just a simple push control.
Once your blending cup is screwed into the base, you just push down on it to blend. To stop blending, release the pressure.
This makes using the BL456 amazingly easy. Even if it’s your first time ever using a blender, you can figure it out within seconds.
Ninja BL480D Timer
Timing is everything when it comes to cooking, and it’s no different with blending. If you don’t blend long enough, you’ll be left with a chunky mess, and if you blend too long, you could end up with something watery.
The BL480D makes keeping track of time a cinch. It has a timer built right into the front panel.
When you use one of the pre-programmed Auto IQ settings, the timer counts down so you can see how much time is left before you can remove the pitcher. While using one of the manual settings, such as pulse or start/stop, the timer counts up so you can see exactly how long you’ve been blending.
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Which is Better?
So, which Ninja blender is better for you? Although they have a lot in common, a few differences make them each better suited for different situations.
If you’re just looking for a basic, user-friendly blender, the BL456 might be the better option for you. It’s easy to control because you only need to push to use it. You won’t need to mess with any buttons or settings.
When it comes to flexibility, the BL480D is the winner. Those who are more experienced with using blenders or who want more options will love the Auto IQ and manual settings it has.
If you want a stronger blender, you’ll also probably prefer the BL480D. It has a little more power than the BL456 because of its 1000-watt motor, which means it will have a slightly easier time chopping through food and ice.
And if what you’re looking for is the more petite blender, so you won’t have to rearrange your kitchen to find room for it, then once again, we’d have to recommend the BL480D. It’s a bit smaller than the BL456, so finding room for it is a painless experience.
In this matchup, our overall recommendation is the BL480D. It makes some improvements to the classic Ninja design seen in the BL456, like the timer and the Auto IQ buttons. These additional settings make it more flexible, so you’ll be able to use it for a greater range of recipes.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
