BlendJet 2 Review: Over my years of reviewing different gadgets, I realised one simple thing. For a gadget to be truly great, it must check two primary boxes of expectations. First: It should make my life easier. Second: It should be simpler than the box it comes in. Now, having had a chance to review a myriad of devices across genres, this was the first time I got to test out a kitchen appliance to full effect. And I must admit, the BlendJet 2 portable blender not only checks the two aforementioned boxes but also brings in a sense of fine design and care that makes you truly admire a gadget the more you use it.
BlendJet 2 Review: Quick Pointers
What I Love:
- Lightweight yet capable to withstand shocks
- Capable of doing more than just blending fruits
- Surprisingly easy to clean
- Solid safety features
- Definitely a conversation-starter
What I Don’t:
- Lack of grippy bits on the body
- Battery demands regular charging
First Things First, Does It Blend?
In a nutshell, yes. And more.
Co-founded by Bay Area techies Ryan Pamplin and John Zheng, BlendJet brings a certain finesse to portable blenders, simply by adding a super-effective motor that not only blends the harshest of fruits in under 20 seconds, but is also capable of taking care of other cooking chores – like basic blending of products for food batter, paste, and so on.
BlendJet 2 claims to be five times more powerful than the previous iteration. What this means is that I could use the BlendJet 2 to make ginger-garlic paste for a plate of fish fries, and also that my wife was able to prepare the batter for her delectable choco-chip cake within just 20 seconds!
Of course, the BlendJet 2 made her morning smoothies a chore no more. All she had to do was dice up whatever fruits and seeds she desired in small basic pieces, put them in the blender and pack it up for her office where she could blend her morning smoothie easily on her desk.
She also did enjoy the attention the chic-n-neat device garnered from her colleagues. So much so that I had to wrestle the thing off her almost every morning so that I could finish my review if not anything else.
The only thing I noted here was that the blades themselves are pretty small. This isn’t a food processor after all. So, when you are throwing big chunks of ginger or apples, the motor stops working immediately and waits for you to make the pieces a little smaller before you can blend them with ease. So, make sure your cut fruits are not super chunky before you start blending them.
No matter what we threw at BlendJet 2, the output passed with flying colours. Berry-and-chia smoothies had a thick consistency. Typical ice-cream-based shakes were cafe-level smooth. The choco-chip cake batter surprisingly had no lumpy bits when you poured it on your tray. Lastly, the ginger-garlic paste was as smooth and creamy as ever.
However, when it comes to making a ginger-garlic paste, you’d have to take into consideration that for typical pastes that you need to marinate protein, you’d need a smaller blending jar to be able to get the perfect consistency.
In my case, I had to shake the blender a few times to make sure the bits reached the blades properly. However, given the light weight of the blender, that wasn’t much of a hassle.
Each blend cycle lasts 20 seconds on the BlendJet 2 (when you tap the main button once). I found that in most cases one cycle was more than enough.
Lastly, the motor isn’t overtly loud. Of course, it did instigate curiosity in my cat (more on that later), but the sound of the motor is not deafening.
Is It Sturdy?
The BlendJet 2 carries two stainless steel blades. The body is made of ABS and AS plastic, which means that the device is waterproof and can withstand minor falls as well.
I will share a small instance to help understand better. When I was taking some photos of the BlendJet 2 with the motor on, my curious cat suddenly decided to investigate what the queer-looking object was that her dad was so evidently fixated on. Now, as she approached the blender in her tippy-toe mode, I had a flash of naughtiness and turned on the blender just to give her a jumpscare. Of course, as cats often do, she decided to scamper off the table leaving a trail of destruction, accidentally kicking the blender in the process.
The blender toppled over hard, with the motors still running. I expected an absolute mess of fruit bits and juice all over my table and walls. Surprisingly enough, the blender continued working and the lid never popped open. The screw-fix top lid managed to stay affixed, and the overall blender jar didn’t fall apart either.
So, I can certify that BlendJet 2 is safe from sudden falls and inquisitive felines.
Does It Clean Well?
The BlendJet 2 has a neat self-cleaning feature. No matter what you blend inside it, all you need to do is pour in some regular tap water, and a few drops of liquid soap, and then turn on the blender. Within one cycle, your blender becomes squeaky clean.
While the motor throws the water to all corners of the vessel, the liquid soap helps in removing any stink that the previous blend might have left in its wake.
However, I certainly wish my BlendJet unit had some rubber grips on the body. Since it was entirely plastic, opening the lid or the blending jar using wet hands seemed nearly impossible. A strip of rubber here and some undulations there could have gone a long way.
Does It Charge Fast?
BlendJet 2’s inbuilt battery has the capability to deliver roughly 15 spins before you need to charge it again. This definitely leaves a bit more to be desired.
However, the blender itself charges fast enough, via its waterproof USB-C port. I tried charging the device using a regular 5W charger, which took a little over 90 minutes to fully charge. Upon using a 30W fast charger, the blender juiced up fully within just 20 minutes.
However, it is highly advised you stick to regular chargers as fast chargers aren’t really designed for kitchen appliances or general household items, so they might end up reducing your device’s battery life significantly upon repeated usage.
Finally, Is It Safe?
As mentioned earlier, BlendJet 2 comes with several safety features that truly make you appreciate the careful thought that went into it.
For starters, if the blending jar isn’t attached, the BlendJet 2 won’t turn on, even if you press the button.
However, what I found most handy was the lock mode (marked by a full purple halo ring around the button), which you can turn on after one long press. When lock mode is activated, your blender will not turn on, no matter what you do. Given that the BlendJet 2 is a portable blender, adding a simple lock mode makes carrying it around a stress-free experience.
Lastly, as I mentioned in my curious cat encounter, the blender lid and the container itself get latched perfectly fine, making sure there is no accidental spillage whatsoever.
BlendJet 2 Review: Final Verdict
BlendJet 2 is priced at Rs 2,999 and comes in 25 colourways (which includes some Disney-inspired designs as well).
The standard blending jar has a capacity of 450 ml. You can opt for a bigger 590 ml or 945 ml jar for Rs 1,299 and Rs 2,499, respectively. You can also buy a drinking lid for Rs 1,199 if you wish to sip directly out of the blender. Lastly, you can get yourself an insulated sleeve for Rs 1,299.
At this price point, BlendJet 2 faces stiff competition from the likes of Ownair (Rs 2,699), Instacuppa (Rs 2,799), and BlendLife Ultra (Rs 2,999).
However, if you want the sturdiness and smart nuances of a product designed in California (did anyone say iPhones?) without having to burn a Bay Area-sized hole in your pocket, you can stick to BlendJet 2.