Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher
Score: 81/100
Ninja BN301
Score: 70/100Rankings
The Hamilton Beach Wave Crusher is a 40-oz glass-jar blender with a powerful 700 W peak motor and 14 preset functions, excelling at ice crushing and easy cleanup. Its lower continuous power and occasional reliability issues limit heavy-duty use. Ideal for budget-conscious families needing everyday smoothies and frozen drinks.
The Ninja BN301 Nutri-Blender Plus is a compact personal blender featuring a 900-peak-watt motor and three 20-oz to-go cups, delivering strong ice-crushing performance. Its single-speed, press-to-blend operation and limited 20-oz capacity restrict batch size and convenience. Ideal for solo users seeking portable smoothies.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
385 W | 700 Wbest | |
1.18 Lbest | 0.591 L | |
3 yearsbest | 1 years | |
700 W | 900 Wbest | |
6best | 3 | |
0.94 HPbest | 0.94 HPbest | |
120 Vbest | 120 Vbest | |
14best | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Warranty & Support(1) | ||
Warranty (years) | 3 years | 1 years |
Power & Performance(2) | ||
Motor Power (W) | 385 W | 700 W |
Peak Power (W) | 700 W | 900 W |
Controls(1) | ||
Number of Speed Settings | 6 | 3 |
Accessories(1) | ||
Included Accessories | 4 | 7 |
Design & Build(4) | ||
Jar Capacity (L) | 1.18 L | 0.591 L |
Product Weight (kg) | 3.18 kg | 2.423 kg |
Dimensions (H×W×D) | H×W×D: 37.6×20.1×20.3 cm | 35.0×12.5×13.6 |
Blade Material | stainless steel | Stainless steel |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Wave~Action system for delivering consistent, stir-free blending and note the Ice Sabre blades' impressive ice-crushing capability, tested on two tons of ice. They also appreciate the dishwasher-safe parts and three-year warranty, though they caution that the 385 W continuous power and lack of overload protection may limit performance on heavy loads, and some units have been reported to fail early.
Everyday users generally love the smooth results, strong ice-crushing, and easy cleanup, especially valuing the durable glass jar for family batches. However, a recurring theme of early failure and occasional inconsistent performance on tougher jobs tempers the overall enthusiasm.
“doesn't work”
“unfortunate purchase”
Select Hamilton Beach if you value a glass jar and patented ice-crushing blades; select Ninja for more presets and higher wattage.
Professional reviewers commend the BN301 for its strong ice-crushing and ability to blend fibrous ingredients into smooth textures while maintaining a reasonable noise level. However, they criticize its single-speed, press-to-blend operation, limited 20 oz capacity, and motor performance that falls short of true professional-grade expectations.
Everyday users love the smooth, creamy results and the convenience of the three portable cups that fit car holders, noting easy cleanup thanks to dishwasher-safe, BPA-free parts. Recurring complaints focus on durability concerns, the need to keep the unit plugged in, and occasional blending inconsistency requiring extra pressing.
