I recently tested the $200 Ninja HydraSense water filtration system against a much cheaper $50 Waterdrop electric water filter. Both promise cleaner, better-tasting water, so I wanted to see how much difference there really was between them and whether the Ninja was worth the premium.
Where to Purchase
Below are links where you can pick up either of these products:
Ninja HydraSense vs Waterdrop
I started by setting up both units according to their instructions. The Ninja HydraSense required four rinse cycles before use, while the Waterdrop only needed one. Neither setup was particularly difficult, although the Ninja has a much more elaborate control system.
The HydraSense includes a digital display that shows filter life, water usage, average daily consumption, and other information. It also lets me choose preset dispensing amounts of 2, 8, 16, 24, or 32 ounces. Once selected, I could press the button and walk away while it dispensed the exact amount.
The Waterdrop is more basic. One button starts dispensing and another press stops it. There are no preset quantities, so I had to watch the glass and stop it manually.
The Ninja was also noticeably faster. The Waterdrop dispensed water considerably more slowly, although I don’t think speed is necessarily the most important consideration when buying a water filter.
One advantage of the Waterdrop is portability. It has a rechargeable battery, so it doesn’t have to remain plugged into an outlet. Its reservoir also has a convenient carrying handle. The Ninja has to be plugged in, although its reservoir is still relatively easy to carry.
Taste Test
My first impression was that both filters produced noticeably better-tasting water than my Las Vegas tap water. The difference between the Ninja and Waterdrop, however, was much smaller.
To remove as much bias as possible, I did a blind taste test with four samples: Ninja filtered water, Waterdrop filtered water, bottled water, and tap water. I made sure they were all at the same temperature and then ranked them without knowing which was which.
My final ranking was bottled water first, Ninja second, Waterdrop third, and tap water last.
I could easily identify the bottled water and tap water. The Ninja and Waterdrop were much closer together. I thought the Ninja tasted slightly better, but the difference was small enough that I probably would not notice it without tasting them back-to-back.
Water Test Strip Results
I also used a consumer water test strip kit to compare bottled water, tap water, Ninja filtered water, and Waterdrop filtered water.
Most of the readings between the Ninja and Waterdrop were very similar. The biggest difference I noticed was hardness. The Ninja water tested at roughly the same hardness level as the bottled water, while the Waterdrop sample was considerably harder and closer to my tap water.
Interestingly, this matched my taste test, where I slightly preferred the Ninja water.
I repeated the strip test a second time because I wasn’t happy with my original camera angle. The second test produced essentially the same results, so at least within the limitations of these consumer test strips, the hardness difference appeared consistent.
Neither One Chills Water
One important limitation is that neither machine actually chills the water. If you want cold water, you’ll need to start with cold water, refrigerate the reservoir full of water, or add ice. The Ninja does include a recirculation feature designed to circulate water around added ice, but it still isn’t a true refrigerated water dispenser.
Filter Costs
There is also a significant difference in ongoing filter costs. The Ninja filter is rated for approximately 120 gallons and costs around $40. The Waterdrop filter is rated for about 200 gallons, and at the time of my review I could purchase a three-pack of replacement filters for around $44. That gives the Waterdrop another substantial advantage when it comes to long-term cost.
Which One Would I Choose?
Both filters worked well in my testing, but they appeal to different buyers.
The Ninja HydraSense is clearly the nicer machine. It dispenses faster, lets me select exact quantities, remembers my previous setting, tracks water consumption, monitors filter life, and offers several additional convenience features. I also gave it a slight edge in taste.
The Waterdrop is much more bare-bones, but it costs about one-quarter as much. It is rechargeable and portable, its replacement filters are much cheaper, and the filtered water tasted surprisingly close to the Ninja.
If I were shopping on a budget, I would have no problem choosing the Waterdrop. The Ninja is the better overall machine, but I’m not convinced the relatively small improvement in the final water is worth paying four times as much.
For someone who values the extra features and convenience, the HydraSense is a nice system. For someone who mainly wants inexpensive filtered water, the Waterdrop offers a lot of value.
Video Review
Check out my full review below.