Ninja BN801 vs. BN805A: Which Professional Plus Kitchen System Rules the Counter?

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of a kitchen remodel or simply reached the point where your old blender smells like burning rubber every time you toss in a frozen strawberry, you know that the “all-in-one” kitchen system is the holy grail of countertops. Ninja has built an empire on this concept—the idea that a single motor base can be a blender, a food processor, and a personal smoothie maker. But as I’ve learned from years of testing these “transformers,” the devil is always in the model numbers.

Today, we are looking at the Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System and its sibling, the Ninja BN805A. On paper, they look like identical twins separated at birth. They both pack a 1400-peak-watt punch, both feature the smart Auto-iQ technology, and both come with enough attachments to fill a dedicated kitchen drawer. However, after swapping these bases back and forth and making enough dough to feed a small village, I’ve found that the choice between them isn’t about power—it’s about the “capacity of your lifestyle.”

Key Difference: The Cup Conundrum

The primary, most significant difference between the Ninja BN801 and the BN805A lies in the Single-Serve To-Go Cups.

• The Ninja BN801 comes with two 24-oz cups. These are the standard Ninja size—perfect for a post-workout protein shake or a standard fruit smoothie.
• The Ninja BN805A steps up the game with two 32-oz XL cups. If you are someone who drinks “meal replacement” smoothies or likes to load up on greens, ice, and protein all at once, those extra 8 ounces per cup are a game changer.

Additionally, the BN801 is finished in a classic Grey, while the BN805A comes in a sleek, modern Black. Beyond these physical shifts and some minor variations in listed footprint dimensions, the core motor intelligence remains the same.

Comparison Table: BN801 vs. BN805A

Feature	Ninja BN801 (Professional Plus)	Ninja BN805A (Pro Plus)
Peak Wattage	1400 Watts	1400 Watts
Main Pitcher	72 oz. Total Crushing (64 oz. liquid)	72 oz. Total Crushing (64 oz. liquid)
Food Processor	8-Cup Precision Bowl	8-Cup Precision Bowl
Single-Serve Cups	(2) 24 oz. Cups	(2) 32 oz. Cups
Auto-iQ Programs	5 (Smoothie, Crush, Extract, Chop, Dough)	5 (Smoothie, Crush, Extract, Chop, Dough)
Color Finish	Grey / Silver	Black / Silver
Blade Types	Stacked, Pro Extractor, Chopping, Dough	Stacked, Pro Extractor, Chopping, Dough
Footprint (DxWxH)	7.38″ x 9.63″ x 18″	6″ x 6″ x 10″ (Base only focus)
View Current Price on Amazon	View on Amazon	View on Amazon

A Lifestyle Strategist’s Perspective: The Deep Dive

1. The Motor Base: 1400 Watts of Raw Intent

When I first plugged in the BN801, the first thing I noticed wasn’t the buttons—it was the weight. At 1400 peak watts, these bases are built with a significant amount of copper and steel. You don’t want a 1.5-horsepower motor housed in a flimsy plastic shell.

Both the BN801 and BN805A use the same “Professional Plus” motor architecture. In my testing, this motor is a beast. Whether I was trying to turn a bag of ice into “snow” for a batch of margaritas or trying to knead a heavy pizza dough, the base stayed planted. Ninja uses high-quality suction feet, and on a clean quartz or granite countertop, these things practically “weld” themselves to the surface. This is vital because when that 1400-watt motor kicks in, the torque is enough to shift a lighter machine three inches to the left.

2. The 72-oz Pitcher: Batch Cooking for the Soul

The centerpiece of both systems is the 72-oz Total Crushing Pitcher. It’s important to note that the liquid capacity is 64 oz, but that’s still enough to serve a family of six.

What sets this apart from a traditional blender like a Vitamix is the Stacked Blade Assembly. Instead of a single blade at the bottom, there is a central tower with three tiers of blades.

• The Advantage: It pulls ingredients from the top and middle down. You don’t need a tamper.
• The Experience: When I made a large batch of frozen lemonade, the blades pulverized the ice at the top just as quickly as the ice at the bottom.

Pitcher Aspect	Performance Note
Ice Crushing	Top-tier; creates “dry” snow in under 20 seconds.
Soup Blending	Good for texture, but the pitcher is NOT for hot liquids.
Cleaning	Blades are removable (and sharp!); be extremely careful.

3. The 8-Cup Processor: My New Best Friend

I’ll be honest: I used to think combo-blenders were “okay” at everything but “great” at nothing. The food processor bowl in these BN-series kits proved me wrong.

The 8-cup Precision Processor Bowl is where the BN801 and BN805A really earn their “Kitchen System” title. I used the chopping blade for a mirepoix (onions, carrots, celery). In a standard blender, the bottom turns to mush while the top stays whole. Here, because of the Auto-iQ “Chop” program, the pulses are timed to let the veggies settle. The result was a uniform, restaurant-quality chop.

The Dough Test:

I pushed both machines with a 2-lb batch of pizza dough. The specialized plastic dough blade doesn’t cut the gluten; it stretches it. In about 30 seconds, I had a ball of dough that was ready for the proofing bowl. The BN805A, with its black finish, looked particularly sharp during this process—it feels like a piece of high-end professional catering equipment.

4. Single-Serve Versatility: 24 oz vs. 32 oz

This is the “Strategy” part of the review. The BN801’s 24-oz cups are standard. They fit in every car cup holder I tested. If you’re a “protein powder and water” kind of person, 24 oz is plenty of room.

However, the BN805A’s 32-oz cups are massive. I used these for “green goddess” smoothies—the kind where you’re stuffing in half a head of kale, an entire apple, a cucumber, and ginger. In the smaller 24-oz cups, you have to pack the ingredients down so tight that the blades struggle to get a grip. In the 32-oz XL cups, the ingredients have room to “tumble.”

Pro-Tip: If you frequently travel or use a bicycle bottle cage, the 32-oz cups might be too wide or tall. Stick with the BN801 if portability is your #1 priority. If “Volume” is your priority, the BN805A is the king.

Performance Metrics: Auto-iQ Intelligence

Both models feature 5 preset programs. I spent a day testing the “Extract” vs. “Smoothie” settings to see if the AI actually mattered.

1. Smoothie: A shorter cycle with fewer pauses. Best for fresh fruit and yogurt.
2. Extract: A longer, more aggressive cycle. This is what you use for “tough” items like kale stems, flax seeds, or frozen ginger.
3. Frozen Drink: Turns the motor into a high-frequency pulverizer.

The Auto-iQ isn’t just a timer; it’s a rhythm. The machine “revs” up, then stops completely. This allows the air bubbles to rise and the solid chunks to fall back onto the blades. It’s significantly more efficient than just running a blender on “High” for a minute.

Ninja BN801 Professional Plus Kitchen System

Pros:

• Standard Cup Size: 24-oz cups are universally compatible with cup holders.
• Aesthetic: The Grey finish is more forgiving with water spots and flour dust.
• Compact Storage: The cups take up slightly less shelf space.

Cons:

• Capacity Limit: Can feel small for those making “jumbo” meal-replacement shakes.

View on Amazon

Ninja BN805A Pro Plus Kitchen System

Pros:

• XL Capacity: 32-oz cups allow for massive, calorie-dense smoothies without overflowing.
• Modern Look: The Black finish looks incredible in modern kitchens with dark hardware.
• Power-to-Size Ratio: Feels like a slightly more “premium” bundle due to the cup upgrade.

Cons:

• Cup Size: 32-oz cups can be cumbersome to carry around all day.
• Smudges: The black plastic base shows fingerprints and “smoothie splashes” more easily than the grey.

View on Amazon

Maintenance and Daily Cleanup: A Hands-On Warning

If you’ve used older Ninja models, you know the “Stacked Blade” is a double-edged sword (literally).

In both the BN801 and BN805A, the blades are not fixed to the bottom. When you go to pour your smoothie out of the 72-oz pitcher, if you haven’t removed the blade assembly first, it will fall out. I learned this the hard way with a previous model.

My Cleaning Routine:

• The “Self-Clean” Hack: After use, I fill the pitcher or bowl halfway with warm water and one drop of dish soap. I run the “Smoothie” cycle. This cleans 95% of the debris under the blades where your fingers shouldn’t go.
• Dishwasher Safety: While everything but the motor base is dishwasher safe, I found that the clear plastic of the cups stays “clearer” longer if you hand wash. The high heat of a dishwasher can eventually cause the “clouding” effect.

Final Recommendation: Which System Fits Your Life?

After weeks of pulses, chops, and extractions, my verdict is based on your “smoothie ambition.”

The Ninja BN801 is the perfect choice for the traditional family. The 24-oz cups are the industry standard, and the grey finish blends seamlessly into most kitchen palettes. If you want the power of a professional system but don’t need “super-sized” portions, the BN801 is a reliable, high-torque workhorse.

The Ninja BN805A is for the High-Volume User. If you are a bodybuilder, a vegan who relies on massive green smoothies, or someone who just wants the latest “Pro Plus” iteration in a sharp black finish, the BN805A is worth the hunt. Those 32-oz cups take the “frustration” out of packing your ingredients, allowing for a better blend and a longer-lasting drink.

Regardless of which you choose, the 1400-watt motor is the real star. It bridges the gap between “cheap kitchen toy” and “professional culinary tool.”

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is 1400 watts too loud for an apartment?

It’s loud. There’s no sugar-coating it. A 1400-watt motor sounds like a small jet engine taking off on your counter. If you have thin walls and a 5 AM workout routine, you might want to place a silicone mat under the base to dampen the vibration.

2. Can I buy the 32-oz cups separately for my BN801?

Yes! Most Ninja Professional Plus accessories are cross-compatible within the BN series. You can usually purchase the 32-oz XL cups and use them on the BN801 base without any issues.

3. Does the food processor replace a dedicated Cuisinart?

For 90% of home tasks (chopping, dough, grating), yes. However, it does not have a “feed chute” like a traditional stand-alone food processor. You have to put everything in, lock the lid, and then blend. If you need to drizzle oil in slowly for mayo or add ingredients mid-process, it’s a bit more cumbersome.

4. Why does my blender smell like it’s burning the first time I use it?

This is common with high-wattage motors. It’s typically just the “break-in” period for the carbon brushes in the motor. It should disappear after the first 3-4 uses.

5. Are the blades sharp enough to cut through frozen nuts?

The “Pro Extractor” blades in the single-serve cups are designed to pulverize. They will handle frozen almonds, cashews, and even ice with ease, turning them into a smooth liquid consistency.