Smeg Retro Immersion Blender
The style tax of this category, cross-shopped on looks alone and expensive for what it does. Under a build-and-longevity lens it offers no mechanical advantage over the Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender, which costs meaningfully less in spirit and blends better in every expert test it appears in.
Consolidated from 3 independent outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 3 positive sources
6 of 12 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.
A style tax: cross-shopped on looks alone and expensive for what it does, with no mechanical advantage over the Breville Control Grip, which blends better in every expert test it appears in.
Flagged 16 September 2026
Pros & cons
- ✓ Rated a top performer in Consumer Reports lab tests
- ✓ Distinctive 1950s retro shell design
- ✓ Survived rigorous durability testing where other brands' blades broke
- ✓ Named one of the top performers in Consumer Reports lab tests
- ✓ Outperformed tested units from Blendtec, Breville, Cuisinart, GE, KitchenAid and Mueller in CR's tests
- ✗ Expensive for what it does
- ✗ No mechanical advantage over better-built rivals
- ✗ Heavy design premium for the retro styling
- ✗ Matched as a performer by the Vitamix at similar money and by the Braun MultiQuick 5 for far less
- ✗ Thinner service network than Braun or Vitamix
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
Evidence 2 articles and 1 community source
3 positive sources
Consumer Reports Article · Nov 2022 If you love a good bowl of soup, the Smeg Retro HBF11 could be the right choice. It earns an excellent score in our tests of how smoothly it blends vegetables and water. It also does a very good job of blending fruit and yogurt for smoothies, so you don’t necessarily have to rely on a full-sized blender. Smeg says this blender has five speeds, but, unlike some other immersion blenders, it doesn’t come with any accessories.Read I Instagram Instagram post
Meanwhile, the SMEG Hand Blender HBF11 provides versatility and control through its variable speed, Turbo function, and ergonomic design for perfect texture and consistency.View post R
Radionacka Article Si buscas una batidora que sea bonita, potente y que te dure años, la SMEG HBF11 es una auténtica maravilla.Read
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #11 of 15 on our immersion blenders tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 3 independent outlets.
None of the 3 sources with a clear view is critical of it. Expensive for what it does. No mechanical advantage over better-built rivals. Heavy design premium for the retro styling. Matched as a performer by the Vitamix at similar money and by the Braun MultiQuick 5 for far less. Thinner service network than Braun or Vitamix.
Ranked nearby in Immersion Blenders
S tier #1 Braun MultiQuick 7 Immersion Hand Blender MQ7035
D tier #6 3 of 12 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. KitchenAid Two-Speed Hand Blender
D tier #7 3 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. All-Clad Immersion Blender
D tier #8 2 of 8 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender
D tier #9 2 of 8 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Nutribullet Lite Immersion Blender
D tier #10 2 of 11 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. All-Clad Cordless Immersion Blender
F tier #12 6 of 12 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender
F tier #13 3 of 5 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. OVENTE Immersion Hand Blender
F tier #14 4 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 2-Speed Immersion Blender
F tier #15 4 of 5 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.