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.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

GE Profile Opal 2.0 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Nugget-ice devotees who want soft chewable ice and app scheduling, and who will keep up with cleaning a premium countertop appliance. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Portable Ice Makers

Frigidaire EFIC189

4.2

2 sourcesall derived$85.82as of Aug 1

The Frigidaire EFIC189 is the value champion of portable ice makers: a compact bullet-ice machine that RateMyIceMaker praises for consistent ice and fast 5-6 minute cycles. A 4.4-star average across 14,000-plus owner ratings backs that up, making it 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. On value, nothing touches it.

Strengths

— Excellent value — fast bullet ice for around $82.78
— 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

$85.82 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Portable Ice Makers

GE Profile Opal 2.0

4.5

3 sourcesall derived$515.56as of Jul 31

The GE Profile Opal 2.0 is the nugget-ice pick: soft, chewable, Sonic-style ice rather than the hard bullets or clear cubes the rest of this group makes. CNN Underscored ran it for two months and called it whisper quiet, and Reviewed rates the ice clean-tasting and the SmartHQ scheduling genuinely useful. It is the most expensive maker here and it needs regular descaling.

Strengths

— Soft, chewable nugget ice that no other maker in this group produces
— Around 44 dB, quiet enough to leave running in a kitchen
— First nuggets in 10-15 minutes and up to 38 lbs a day

Watch-outs

— Expensive at $450-600, several times the cost of a bullet maker
— Sustained output trails bullet makers despite the fast first batch
— Needs regular cleaning and descaling to stay reliable

$515.56 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

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 premium nugget maker among the top picks, and 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 noise and durability complaints 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
Dimensions	15"D x 11"W x 14.5"H	17.5"D x 13.43"W x 16.5"H
Wattage	200 watts	360 watts
Bin Capacity	—	3 lbs
Connectivity	—	Wi-Fi (SmartHQ app)
Water Supply	—	Side tank + onboard reservoir

← See the full ranking of best portable ice makers