For a small smoothie made with ripe, de-stoned apricots and liquid, a basic hand blender can be enough; prioritise a vessel deep enough to keep the blending foot submerged and a setup you can store and clean easily. Choose variable speed if adjusting blending intensity matters to you, or an attachment bundle if you will also use it for whisking, purées or other preparation—the extra pieces need storage space.
If you mainly blend ripe, de-stoned fruit with liquid, focus on a hand blender and vessel that fit your storage space and are straightforward to wash. Braun Household GB documents a detachable shaft and beaker with its MultiQuick 1 example.
If you make mixtures of different thicknesses, adjustable speed may matter more than a single fixed setting. Bosch GB documents 12 speed settings and turbo on the MSM66020GB; those settings offer adjustment, not a guaranteed smoothie texture.
If the appliance will also handle whisking or purées, consider whether you will use the supplied attachments often enough to store them. Kenwood GB lists a whisk and purée/masher with its Triblade XL HBM40.004WH.
Start with the serving size and space available for the blender and vessel. Then decide whether speed adjustment or extra attachments serve another task you actually do.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small servings and storage | Check the stored size, supplied beaker and detachable parts against your cupboard or drawer space. | I make one ripe-apricot smoothie at a time and want the appliance put away without keeping a jug on the worktop. Around 50% of consumers put compact, simple servings first. |
| Texture control | Compare documented speed settings and turbo; do not use motor wattage alone as a measure of smoothie texture. | When my mixtures vary in thickness, I want to adjust blending intensity rather than rely on one fixed speed. Roughly 33% of consumers make texture control their primary concern. |
| Other preparation tasks | Check the exact attachments and whether you have space to store the ones you would use. | I also whisk or make purées, so a smoothie-only setup would leave me reaching for another tool. About 17% of consumers prioritise wider preparation use. |
This is a food-safety issue, not just a question of whether the blender can process a hard ingredient. The Food Standards Agency advises that raw apricot kernels should not be consumed because they can release cyanide during digestion.
Remove the stone completely before blending the fruit, and do not add the kernel to the smoothie.
A whisk or masher serves other preparation tasks but does not become necessary simply because the blender will make apricot smoothies.
Check which attachments you would use regularly before choosing them over a simpler shaft-and-beaker setup.
Each extra attachment also needs somewhere to be stored and washed.
Manufacturer specifications help you compare features, but they do not establish current retailer availability. Bosch GB listed the MSM66020GB as unavailable when its model page was checked.
Before ordering any exact model, check the retailer listing for availability, the full model number, bundle contents and intended UK-market version.
Braun Household GB documents both the simpler MultiQuick 1 MQ10.001M WH and the more adjustable MultiQuick 5 range.
Kenwood GB positions the Triblade XL HBM40.004WH for blending alongside other food-preparation tasks.
Philips UK identifies the 400 W ProMix HR2520/01 as a hand blender for smoothies, purées and dips.
Bosch GB documents the MSM66020GB for buyers comparing adjustable handheld blending with a single-speed setup.
These hand blenders span simple small-serving use, adjustable blending and bundles for other preparation tasks. For an apricot smoothie, compare the vessel and controls you need with the storage space each complete bundle will take.
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Consider this if you want to adjust blending intensity while making a small smoothie.
The product name specifies 20 speeds. Check the exact bundle, cleaning instructions and intended UK-market version before ordering.
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Consider this if you want a hand blender with a beaker for a small serving, while also having a chopper for another task.
Check the stored size of the complete bundle, its speed controls and the intended UK-market version.
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Consider this if a small smoothie is one of several tasks for which you would use the included whisk and chopper.
The product name specifies normal and turbo modes, a 500mL beaker, a 500mL chopper and a 1.5m cable. Check space for the attachments and the intended UK-market version.
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Consider this larger bundle if you expect to use the food-processor and whisk attachments as well as the blending shaft.
The product name specifies 1000W. Check the exact model instructions for your intended smoothie ingredients, along with storage space and the UK-market version.
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Consider this if you want a blending shaft and separate tools for occasional whisking or chopping.
The product name specifies two speed settings, a 500ml chopper cup and an 800ml beaker. Check the exact instructions for smoothie use and whether the full bundle and intended UK-market version suit your kitchen.
No: remove the stone and do not add the raw kernel. The Food Standards Agency advises against consuming raw apricot kernels because they can release cyanide during digestion.
Not automatically: Philips UK identifies its 400 W HR2520/01 for smoothie use, and Braun Household GB documents a 450 W MultiQuick 1 model for simple blending. For ripe, de-stoned fruit with liquid, compare the complete appliance, vessel and controls rather than treating wattage as a guarantee of texture.
No: dishwasher suitability depends on the exact model and component. Unplug the appliance before cleaning and follow its manual rather than assuming the motor body or every attachment can be washed the same way.
Check that the exact appliance and supplied documentation are intended for your market, including its plug and model version. Office for Product Safety and Standards guidance for Great Britain, updated in March 2025, says recognition of certain goods meeting EU requirements, including CE-marked goods, has been extended indefinitely; that statement does not make a marking alone proof that an individual blender meets every applicable requirement. Northern Ireland has different provisions, so do not apply the Great Britain guidance to it without checking the relevant rules.