Head-to-head · Best Portable Ice Makers

Frigidaire EFIC189 vs GE Profile Opal 2.0

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

GE Profile Opal 2.0 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Nugget-ice lovers who want the best soft, chewable ice and smart scheduling, and who can justify a premium countertop appliance. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Portable Ice Makers

Frigidaire EFIC189

4.5

$85as of Jun 7

The Frigidaire EFIC189 is the value champion of portable ice makers — a compact bullet-ice machine that RateMyIceMaker scores 8.1/10 for its consistent ice and fast cycles at around $140. With a 4.4-star average across 14,000-plus owner ratings, it is the go-to for anyone who just wants a steady supply of ice quickly and cheaply. It is loud and makes only hard bullet ice, but on value it is unbeatable.

Strengths

— Excellent value — fast bullet ice for around $140
— Consistent bullet size, shape, and weight with two size options
— Quick ~9-minute cycles; first ice in well under 15 minutes

Watch-outs

— Makes hard, cloudy bullet ice — not nugget or clear cubes
— Loud at about 67 dB during operation
— Awkwardly placed rear control panel and fiddly drain plug

$85 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Portable Ice Makers

GE Profile Opal 2.0

4.6

$147.16as of Jun 7

The GE Profile Opal 2.0 is the consensus best nugget ice maker, producing the soft, chewable Sonic-style ice that buyers crave. CNN Underscored tested it for two months and confirmed it lives up to the hype, calling it whisper-quiet; Wirecutter calls its ice the best of any countertop appliance tested. It is by far the most expensive pick here and needs regular maintenance, but for nugget-ice devotees it is the clear top choice.

Strengths

— Produces the best soft, chewable nugget ice of any countertop maker tested
— Whisper-quiet operation versus most countertop appliances
— First nuggets in about 10-15 minutes; up to 38 lbs/day

Watch-outs

— Expensive at $450-600, the priciest pick by far
— Slower output rate than bullet/clear makers despite fast first batch
— Requires regular cleaning and descaling to stay reliable

$147.16 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Frigidaire EFIC189

The value bullet-ice pick, sharing the hard-bullet-ice format with the Magic Chef MCIM22SV but with a stronger track record and higher owner ratings. It is far cheaper than the nugget GE Profile Opal 2.0 and the clear-cube Frigidaire EFIC452-SS, and a more reliable value than the budget nugget Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255.

GE Profile Opal 2.0

The only nugget-ice maker among the top picks and the premium choice — its soft, chewable nuggets are a different product from the hard bullet ice of the Frigidaire EFIC189 and Magic Chef MCIM22SV or the clear cubes of the Frigidaire EFIC452-SS. The budget Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 also makes nugget ice but with notable durability and noise drawbacks the Opal avoids.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Frigidaire EFIC189	GE Profile Opal 2.0
Ice Type	Bullet (2 sizes)	Nugget (chewable)
Output	Up to 26 lbs/day	Up to 38 lbs/day
Cycle Time	~9 minutes	—
First Batch	Under 15 minutes	10-15 minutes
Noise	~67 dB	Quiet (~44 dB)
Owner Rating	4.4 stars (14,000+)	—
Footprint	Compact countertop	—
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Bin Capacity	—	3 lbs
Connectivity	—	Wi-Fi (SmartHQ app)
Water Supply	—	Side tank + onboard reservoir

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