Nutribullet Flip review: a powerful, portable blender for smoothies on the go

Blenders have long been the saviour of healthy smoothies or not-so-healthy milk shakes and frappes, but I’ll be honest, most are bulky, a pain to clean and take up way too much space on the kitchen countertop. 

Enter the Nutribullet Flip: a sleek, portable blender that promises to revolutionise on-the-go routines for anyone looking to add more fruit and veg to their diets. Whether you’re heading to the gym, rushing to work or just can’t be bothered with the faff of a full-size machine, this clever gadget lets you blend and slurp all from the same insulated cup - anywhere.

However, if there’s one thing portable blenders have a reputation for, it’s falling short. One thing they often struggle with is ice or frozen fruit, leaving you with a liquid that’s more lumpy than cottage cheese. 

So, can the Nutribullet Flip break the mould? With its high-torque motor, smart blade placement and promise of handling everything from protein shakes to frappes with ease, it certainly sounds promising. And so, I’ve been putting it to the test over the past few weeks, blitzing bananas, crushing ice and whizzing greens like no-one’s business to find out if this is the portable blender we’ve been waiting for, or just another over-hyped kitchen gadget. 

NUTRIBULLET FLIP REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Nutribullet Flip launched in the US in July 2024 with a retail price of $99.99. This was followed five or so months later by a launch in the UK. It can be bough now from Nutribullet’s official website, priced at £99.99. 

The Flip portable blender slots into the mid-tier price range of its category type, sitting between more budget-friendly models like the Ninja Blast ($59.99 / £49.99) and slightly more premium options such as the Smeg Personal Blender (£109.95 / $169.95). While pricier than some competitors, its ability to handle ice and frozen fruit is what perhaps it apart from its lower-priced counterparts.

The Flip is available in black in the UK, but has two extra colour options in the US of stainless steel and white.

NUTRIBULLET FLIP REVIEW: DESIGN

The Nutribullet Flip boasts a modern yet understated look, making it as stylish as it is functional. Its compact size (23.2 x 9.8 x 10.8 cm) and light weight (911g with blending lid) mean it’s easy to sling into your gym bag or tote without weighing you down too much.

What sets the Flip apart, however, is the blade and motor placement in its lid rather than at the base. This clever tweak means that when you flip the cup upside down to blend, any ingredients naturally fall onto the blades for better processing. Once blended, there’s no need to transfer your drink to another container - you simply flip it back, open the sip lid and throw it down your gullet. The lid also features a safety lock to prevent accidents, so you won’t end up with a smoothie explosion in your bag.

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The insulated 20oz (591ml) cup is another standout feature. Not only does it promise to keep drinks cold for 24 hours (more on this later), but inside, there are clear measurement markings to help you keep your ingredients within the recommended levels for optimal (read: mess-free) blending. If you do over fill it (like I did on my first attempt), it won’t function properly and will either overflow and seep everywhere, or refuse to blend at all. This means it’s not suitable for ultra-thick mixes like nut butters or dry grinding tasks, as I found (the hard way).

The Flip also comes bundled with a travel-friendly lid that swaps out the blending mechanism, making it lighter and easier to carry, a safety cap that screws on top of the blades, and a USB-C charging cable for quick recharges.

One minor drawback is its top-heavy feel when the blending lid is attached. While it doesn’t impact performance, it can feel slightly awkward to hold when drinking. That said, the Flip’s thoughtfully designed components work really well together, for the most part. It’s certainly one of the most practical and impressively designed portable blenders that I’ve tried.

NUTRIBULLET FLIP REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

When it comes to performance, the Nutribullet Flip delivers solid results overall, though it does have its quirks. Its high-torque motor is a clear step above many other portable blenders, and means that it can handle ice and frozen ingredients much more efficiently. However, even with its added power, achieving ultra-smooth results can sometimes require a little patience.

Let’s start with the good: The Flip’s single-button operation is really straightforward, making the blender super easy to use. This means that simple recipes like protein shakes, iced coffee or smoothies with softer ingredients are easier and faster to make than ever. For example, a single 30-second blending cycle is often enough to achieve a smooth, consistent texture. This is most likely a result of the blades being positioned at the widest part of the cup because - as I mentioned earlier - it allows ingredients to fall into the blending zone, minimising the need for mid-cycle palm taps, vigorous shakes or countertop knocks when ingredients get lodged.

When you start adding more frozen fruit or larger chunks of fresh produce, however, things change. I found that recipes with a higher fruit load often required at least two or even three blending cycles to achieve a completely smooth consistency. For instance, while blending bananas, spinach, kale, apple, peanut butter and almond milk, a single cycle left noticeable lumps, particularly with the larger fruit pieces. Adding more blending time resolved the issue, but it’s worth noting if you’re aiming for a super silky texture without interruptions.

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Blitzing ice in the flip, while better handled than with most portable blenders, also takes some work. Even small ice cubes often needed multiple passes to be fully crushed. Unlike traditional countertop blenders, which can pulverise ice in seconds, the Flip’s compact motor simply needs more time. That said, the results were still impressive compared to less powerful portable options, like the Ninja Blast, which often struggles to crush ice at all. Noise levels, I found, were surprisingly low, too, with the Flip generating way less racket than most countertop blenders during operation, thank goodness.

According to Nutribullet, the Flip’s insulated cup means it can keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours. While I did notice that my drink was colder than room temperature when left out of the fridge for most of the day, I can’t say it was still ice-cold when I picked it up again, so don’t expect your blended drink to be the same level of cold after 24 hours of taking it out of the fridge. Nevertheless, it’s still a great gadget for taking drinks on long commutes or kept in your bag throughout busy days.

But what I really love about the Flip is how easy it is to clean. With a self-cleaning feature, all you have to do is add soap and water, then blend. For once, the post-smoothie clean-up isn’t a total nightmare.

NUTRIBULLET FLIP REVIEW: VERDICT

The Nutribullet Flip is a great choice for those who need a portable blender that balances power, convenience and smart design. Its innovative lid-mounted motor and blades make blending on the go a rather practical affair, while the insulated cup really does keep your drinks cold for hours. It’s ideal for simple recipes like protein shakes and iced coffee, but when tackling ice or a high volume of fruit, you’ll need a few extra blending cycles to get a smoother, silkier texture. The good news here is that this shouldn’t take more than a minute, so a big a deal in the most part.

While this portable blender is far from flawless - requiring a minimum amount of liquid and struggling slightly with harder tasks - it still outperforms many portable rivals that I’ve tried in the past, such as the Ninja Blast. Plus, the Flip’s ease of use, compact size and easy cleaning make it a must-buy for smoothie lovers with busy lifestyles.

At £99.99, it’s pricier than some alternatives but certainly worth it, especially for anyone juggling health goals and a hectic schedule.