Millo Smart Portable Blender Review
Magnetic Air Drive makes this different to every other blender
Verdict
The clever Magnetic Air Drive means that the Millo Smart Portable Blender has a completely closed base, making it easier to clean and nicer to look at than a standard blender. With app control providing a way for the blender to be updated, this model is very different to the others I’ve reviewed. Sadly, it’s expensive, and performance in my tests lagged behind that of the competition.
Pros
- Very neat
- Wire-free operation
- Funky controls
Cons
- Doesn’t blend all ingredients well
- Struggled to blend ice
- Expensive
Availability
- EuropeRRP: €298
Available from getmillo.com
Key Features
- AccessoriesAlong with the rechargeable base, you get just one set of blades and travel cup with this model
- Battery lifeLasts for around 15 blending cycles on a full charge
Introduction
The Millo Smart Portable Blender is a different type of blender. Rather than use an exposed motor base to drive the blades, it uses a Magnetic Air Drive, so no part of the motor is exposed. Throw in some neat-looking controls and an app, and this battery-powered blender is quite different to other models on the market. Performance isn’t as good as I’d hoped, particularly given that this blender is expensive.
Design and features
- Clever charging base
- Integrated battery
- Easy to clean
As the name states, the Millo Smart Portable Blender is designed to be portable. It has an integrated battery that charges via USB-C, and which will last for around 15 cycles. The blades come in a travel container with a screw-on lid.
I’m not particularly convinced that you’d want to travel with this model, viewing the integrated battery as more a feature of convenience, so you can use it without wires in your kitchen. It’s worth pointing out that you need a 60W charger or higher, and a suitable one is provided in the box.
I’m quite taken with the Millo Smart Portable Blender’s design. This model uses a Magnetic Air Drive, so there’s nothing exposed on the base, which makes it easy to wipe down.
To use the blender, you attach the blades to the 500ml travel cup (this also has a travel lid), which magnetically attaches to the base. Magnets then drive the blades, without the need for physical contact. It’s very futuristic, although I found it a little fiddly to line up the cup with the base so that it was recognised: it takes a little practice to get things right.
Once the cup is in place, you can use the on-body controls. Tap the base anywhere and a set of LEDs will light up. The row of 12 is used to select a manual speed, and you just swipe your hand up to set the motor power.
The three other LEDs are programmed for individual blender modes: Silent (the blender runs slower and more quietly), Smoothie and Pulse.
If you prefer, there’s a smart app that connects to theblender via Bluetooth. This provides the same range of controls, although since they’re labelled here it’s a bit clearer to see what you’re selecting. Using the app will allow upgrades in the future, with new modes and smarter firmware.
Millo is also planning to release a coffee grinder that will attach to the same base, further expanding the system.
Both the cup and travel lid are dishwasher-safe, but the blade assembly should be washed by hand. The base should only be cleaned with a damp cloth.
Performance
- Very quiet
- Deals with fruits well
- Smaller items didn’t blend so well
When I first unpacked the Millo Smart Portable Blender, I found a sticker on the blades saying that it isn’t suitable for dry ingredients, so you definitely can’t grind herbs or spices in this model.
I started my tests by trying to crush ice, using the maximum speed setting. Although the blender is technically capable of the job, the cup doesn’t provide a lot of room, so the lower ice cubes were crushed, but the top ones became stuck where they were, leaving large lumps in tact.
I then moved on to my smoothie test, using pineapple junks, coconut milk, yoghurt, ice, coconut chips and mint leaves.
I used the Smoothie programme to do this automatically, but found that there were still quite a few chunks remaining in the mixture.
So, I turned to the manual controls to give the mix an extra blitz. Pouring it out into a glass, I could see that the mint wasn’t as finely cut as it is using other blenders, such as the Ninja Foodi Power Nutri Blender 3-in-1 with Smart Torque & Auto-iQ 1200W CB350UK.
Drinking it, the fruit was largely dealt with, with only a few smaller pineapple chunks. The blender hadn’t done very well with the coconut chips, though, since these were largely whole in the mixture.
In all cases, the blender was very quiet, peaking at 75.7dB on maximum speed while mixing my smoothie. That’s still loud, but not unpleasantly so: the same can’t be said for standing next to a Ninja blender operating on full pelt.
Latest deals
Available from getmillo.com
Should you buy it?
If you want a blender that you can take everywhere for smaller jobs, such as individual drinks, then this futuristic model could be for you.
It’s expensive, and doesn’t perform as well in my tests as other models. Cheaper blenders may not be as attractive, but you’ll likely see better results.
Final thoughts
The app and cool design of the Millo Smart Portable Blender make it stand out from the competition, but performance-wise, it disappoints. It’s an interesting bit of kit, but when you consider its price, the final results aren’t as good as the competition. Read my guide to the best blenders for cheaper and better-performing options.
How we test
Unlike other sites, we test every blender we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
Used as our main blender for the review period
We make the same smoothie in all of our blenders so that we can compare the results between different models.
We crush ice in each blender to see how strong it is, and if it crushes evenly.
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FAQs
It will last between 10 and 15 cycles.
The travel cup and lid are both dishwasher-safe, but the blades should be hand-washed.
Full specs
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
