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I had a great first impression with the Intellisense Ninja Blender. It features a modern design and over the top functionality. It’s not just a countertop blender—it’s also a food processor, a personal blender, and a spiralizer.
It’s a smart blender that wears many hats (in a literal sense).
Unfortunately, the company stopped selling this series. The only variant available at Amazon is a refurbished CT680SS without a Nutri Ninja cup.
If you’re not a fan of preloved items, you might want to check Ninja’s new product offerings—Ninja Foodi Blender, Ninja Kitchen System, Ninja Professional Blender, and the Power Nutri Duo.
Otherwise, if you’re curious about this classic machine, it’s available in four different variants when it was launched.
| CT680 | CT680SS | CT680SSCCO | CT682SP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 oz. slim cup | 24 oz. standard cup | (Two) 24 oz. standard cups | 24 oz. slim cup |
| Food processor container and accessories with closed lid | Food processor container and accessories with feed chute lid, plus slicing and shredding discs | Food processor container and accessories with feed chute lid, plus slicing and shredding discs | Food processor container and accessories with feed chute lid |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Spiralizer Attachments and Accessories |
As you can see, the only difference between those four main models of the Ninja IntelliSense Blender is the complimentary accessories.
Here’s the catch:
Don’t assume that the accessories are cross-compatible. The brand doesn’t like making the attachments interchangeable. If you want a feature, it would be wise to pick the model which has it. Or you can double-check from their website if a future upgrade is possible with the variant that you’re going to choose.
Now, let’s head to the pros and cons section.
PROS
- Touch control panel
- Reasonably priced
- 11 automatic blending programs depending on which container is on
- 3 manual speed control (including pulse)
- Up to 64-ounce max liquid capacity
- Also doubles as a personal blender, food processor, and spiralizer, depending on the product model
- 1200-watt motor
- Powerful enough to crush ice
- Built-in timer
- Dishwasher safe
- BPA-free
CONS
- A lot of negative feedback
- Old product, no new model available
- Can’t make hot soups
- Bulky profile
- Loud
- It’s not a straightforward product
- 1-year warranty
Intellisense Ninja Blender Features
Application
Since it belongs to Ninja’s Kitchen System, it’s normal to expect that it can do a lot, right? You bet! It’s not just for making green smoothies or protein shakes.
Here’s a full list of its capabilities:
*Kneading dough is only possible with the food processor attachment.
You can also use it to mince, chop and slice fruits and veggies when the Precision Processor attachment is on.
Here are a few things that it can’t do:
Hot Soups—You can use the Ninja CT680SS to puree ingredients, but it’s not designed for hot items. Never pour hot liquid into it. If you badly need this feature, that is something that the Ninja Foodi blender can offer.
Turn Wheat into Flour—While you can knead your dough with the food processor, the blender itself doesn’t have the ability to pulverize dry grains. If you need a blender that also works as a grain mill, you might want to consider the Vitamix Explorian Series.
On top of that, the crushing blade and pitcher have a bad reputation for blend quality. If you want a silky smooth blend, you need to use the single-serve cups. The bad news is you need to purchase it separately.
I know, it’s not looking good for the Intelli-Sense Ninja Blender.
Now, let’s proceed to the usability section.
Ease of Use
If it’s your first time using the total crushing blender, it’s going to be a little tricky. It’s not as simple as snap-and-go like other competing products. You have to master the art of assembling it.
Take a look at this quick tutorial, it applies to all models with Total Crushing blades and pitcher like the Ninja CT680.
After you mastered the technique, you can call yourself a true ninja.
Kidding aside, it’s just going to take a few tries.
For safety reasons, never open the lid when it’s running and take the blade assembly out when transferring your smoothie, or use the spout. The stacked blade assembly isn’t fixed to the pitcher. It’s sharp, so treat it with respect.
In terms of maintenance, you won’t have any issues with the Intellisense Ninja blender. All the attachments and accessories are top-rack dishwasher safe.
Technology
The way I see it is that the company tried to rebrand Auto-IQ to Intelli-Sense. To be frank, Intelli-Sense is more catchy and has more ring to it. But, apart from the touch display, it works pretty much the same way.
Take a look at the picture on the right; those are the options when the 72 oz pitcher is on. You have a button for making smoothies, ice cream, frozen drinks, and snow cones. Plus two manual speed levels and pulse control.
Ninja CT680 will automatically detect the container. Those options won’t be the same for the single-serve cup and food processor attachment. The blending cycle should be relative to the container’s size, and that’s the smart thing about this blender. It eliminates most of the guesswork.
See the Ninja IntelliSense blender in action:
Don’t take my word for it, here’s a full demo video of the Ninja Intelli-Sense Kitchen System. Please note that the accessories will vary depending on the model you’ve chosen.
Technical Specifications
| Type | Countertop & Personal Blender, Food Processor, Spiralizer |
| Brand/Series | NinjaKitchen Intelli-Sense Series |
| Price | $$ |
| Ratings | 3.9 out of 5 |
| Speed | 11 automatic programs |
| Wattage | 1200 Watts |
| Blades | 6-stacked blades |
| Container capacity | Up to 64 oz. |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| BPA Free | Yes |
| Colors | Black |
| Dimensions | 9.8 x 7 x 17.6 inches |
| Cord length | 2.5 ft. |
| Application | Home & Personal Use |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
Verdict
The Ninja Intelli-Sense Blender Kitchen System didn’t pass our mark. So go ahead and pick another product. You might want to check the latest Ninja Kitchen System; it’s a similar blender with identical capabilities.
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