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Blendtec Designer 650 CTB1 review

High performance blender. Priced at $1099.

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CHOICE Expert Rating

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What is the CHOICE Expert Rating?

CHOICE Expert Rating

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

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Good points

The product's best features and benefits

Bad points

Drawbacks or issues you need to know about
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Blender type View more details.

Standard blenders are cheaper; core functions are to blend soups and smoothies and crush ice. High-performance blenders are more powerful and can cost over $1000; suitable for nut butters, sorbets and making hot soups from raw ingredients using friction. To be classified as a high-performance blender it must be at least 1200W and come with a tamper. Personal blenders are ideal for single-serve smoothies and can come with chopping attachments. Scores are only comparable by type.

High performance
Recommended View more details.

We recommend blenders that score a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 80%. The CHOICE Expert Rating scores are only comparable by type (high-performance, standard or personal blender).

CHOICE Expert Rating View more details.

This overall score is made up of performance (60%) and ease of use (40%). Scores are comparable across types (it's unfair to expect a cheap blender to be as powerful as a high-performance, professional blender).

Performance score View more details.

Overall performance is based on how each type of blender performs its core tasks. All are tested for blending a soft food, crushing ice and blending kale. Extra tests include: chopping carrots for standard blenders and green smoothie for personal blenders. High-performance blenders are tested on both of these, plus nut butter and sorbet.

Ease of use score View more details.

We check how stable the jug is on the unit as well as how heavy it is to lift, how easy the controls are to use and how easy the blender is to clean.

Green smoothie score View more details.

A green smoothie full of fruit and vegetables is processed and put through a fine sieve to see how well the blender performs.

Kale score View more details.

Kale and a small amount of water is combined, and the blenders are assessed to see whether the material is evenly blended.

Nut butter score View more details.

How well blenders that claim this as a core function can process nuts to form a smooth paste.

Sorbet score View more details.

How well blenders perform if they claim to do this.

Blend a soft liquid score View more details.

How smooth a soft liquid blends.

Crushing ice score View more details.

How well the blender crushes ice.

Chop score View more details.

We assess the blender's ability to chop carrots in a uniform manner that doesn't leave large chunks behind or, conversely, turn them into a puree.

Dough score View more details.

How well the blender mixes dough (if this is one of its core functions).

Dry milling nuts score View more details.

Only tested and scored on models that state this as a core function.

Parmesan cheese score View more details.

How well the blender grates parmesan cheese.

Raw soup score View more details.

Some high-performance blenders can cook soup from raw vegetables. Raw vegetable soup test results include consistency and temperature. We don't incorporate this into the final score.

Availability View more details.

Whether the product is a current or discontinued model.

Tested model
Price View more details.

This is the manufacturer's recommended retail price. You can often get a better price by shopping around.

$1099
Jug capacity (L) View more details.

Typically refers to the main jug. Some blenders are compatible with smaller/larger jugs.

1.1
Noise level (dB) View more details.

Our in-house measurements. For comparison, a typical conversation is carried out at about 60dB, while city traffic is measured at around 80dB.

88
Blender construction
Stainless steel
Jug type
Plastic BPA free
Number of speeds View more details.

Doesn't include pulse or pre-programmed settings.

6 auto programs plus 10 speeds and pulse
Dimensions (cm, H x W x D)
41 x 17 x 24
Wattage (W)
1560
Weight of blender (kg) View more details.

Weight of blender including jug.

4.6
Weight of jug (kg) View more details.

Weight of jug (or jugs)

0.8
Website
blendtecaustralia.com.au
Cord storage
No
Pulse option View more details.

The pulse option delivers a quick burst of power when the button is held down.

Jug lock
No
Removable blade housing
No
Speed cut out View more details.

Safety feature: speed cut-out time.

Lid lock View more details.

Safety feature: does the blender have a lid lock.

No but sits firmly in lid
Measuring cap lock View more details.

Safety feature – does the measuring cup/cap lock into the lid.

No
Some parts dishwasher safe View more details.

Check the manual for specific dishwasher-safe parts, as these vary.

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