Head-to-head · Best Portable Ice Makers

Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker vs Magic Chef MCIM22SV 27-Pound Portable

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

Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about Home bartenders and entertainers who want clear, square cocktail-style cubes and will trade speed and self-cleaning for ice presentation. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Portable Ice Makers

Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker

4.3

$159as of Jun 7

The Frigidaire EFIC452-SS is the clear-ice specialist — a countertop maker that produces transparent, square cocktail-style cubes rather than cloudy bullets. IceArtisan rates it 3/5 with a B+ grade, praising the clear cubes while noting they emerge fused in sheets. With up to 40 lbs/day and a 2.3 qt tank, it is the pick for home bartenders who want presentation-grade ice, accepting slower cycles and manual cleaning.

Strengths

— Makes genuinely clear, square cocktail-grade ice cubes
— Up to 40 lbs/day with a generous 2.3 qt water tank
— Two cube sizes, first batch in about 15 minutes

Watch-outs

— Cubes come out fused in sheets that must be broken apart
— No self-cleaning — requires manual cleaning and descaling
— Slower 15-18 minute cycles than bullet makers

$159 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Portable Ice Makers

Magic Chef MCIM22SV 27-Pound Portable

4.2

$189as of Jun 7

The Magic Chef MCIM22SV is a budget bullet-ice maker that makes a quick, steady supply of cube ice for around $130. It turns out about 9 cubes every 7 minutes, up to 27 lbs/day, with two size options and simple LED controls. At roughly 20 lbs it is genuinely portable for RVs and boats. It makes only hard bullet ice and has the durability caveats typical of the budget tier, but it is a capable, affordable workhorse.

Strengths

— Affordable bullet-ice maker for around $130
— Fast cycles — about 9 cubes every 7 minutes, up to 27 lbs/day
— Two ice cube sizes via simple LED controls

Watch-outs

— Hard, hollow bullet ice that melts quickly
— Ice can come out wet and clump together
— Short warranty and only average long-term durability

$189 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker

The only clear-cube maker among the picks, making presentation-grade square ice that differs from the bullet ice of the Frigidaire EFIC189 and Magic Chef MCIM22SV and the nugget ice of the GE Profile Opal 2.0 and Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255. It is pricier and slower than the bullet makers but cheaper than the premium Opal.

Magic Chef MCIM22SV 27-Pound Portable

The budget bullet-ice alternative to the Frigidaire EFIC189 — same hard-bullet format and similar fast cycles, but with a thinner track record. It is far cheaper than the clear-cube Frigidaire EFIC452-SS and the nugget GE Profile Opal 2.0, and unlike the budget nugget Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 it sticks to the simpler, more reliable bullet-ice format.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker	Magic Chef MCIM22SV 27-Pound Portable
Ice Type	Clear square cubes (2 sizes)	Bullet (2 sizes)
Output	Up to 40 lbs/day	Up to 27 lbs/day
Cycle Time	15-18 minutes	~7 minutes
Water Tank	2.3 qt	—
Bin Capacity	2.4 lbs	—
Self-Cleaning	No (manual)	—
Noise	Quiet	—
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Weight	—	~20 lbs
Controls	—	LED touch
Features	—	See-through lid, exterior drain
Footprint	—	Compact countertop

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