Best personal blenders for smoothies

Top pick: Nutribullet Ultra. It's the one I'd buy for daily smoothies — 1,200 watts to break down frozen fruit and ice, and it comes with 32-oz and 24-oz cups plus a handled cup and two to-go lids, so you blend and drink from the same cup. The blade has a longer warranty than the motor, which tells you what usually wears out.

Who the others suit:

• Nutribullet 600 (24 oz): the classic, simplest version — fine for softer blends and smaller kitchens.
• Ninja Nutri Pro Compact: strong ratings and a compact footprint if you want a Ninja instead.
• Ninja BlendBoss: more power and a bigger cup if you like thick, chunky blends.
• Ninja Detect Duo: a full-size jar plus a single-serve cup, if you also blend for two.
• Magic Bullet / Mainstays / Chefman: budget starters for protein shakes rather than frozen fruit.
• Beast Mighty 850 / Mega 1200: heavier-duty motors for very thick blends.

Skip the little USB-rechargeable bottle if you want real smoothies — it's for soft fruit only.