Head-to-head · Best Portable Ice Makers

Frigidaire EFIC189 vs Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker

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 EFIC189 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Value buyers who want a steady, fast supply of ice for drinks and coolers without paying for nugget or clear-ice machines. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #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 →

Ranked #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 →

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.

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.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Frigidaire EFIC189	Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker
Ice Type	Bullet (2 sizes)	Clear square cubes (2 sizes)
Output	Up to 26 lbs/day	Up to 40 lbs/day
Cycle Time	~9 minutes	15-18 minutes
First Batch	Under 15 minutes	—
Noise	~67 dB	Quiet
Owner Rating	4.4 stars (14,000+)	—
Footprint	Compact countertop	—
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Water Tank	—	2.3 qt
Bin Capacity	—	2.4 lbs
Self-Cleaning	—	No (manual)

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