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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.

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The short answer

Frigidaire EFIC189 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.2 vs 3.5). 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.

Frigidaire EFIC189
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Portable Ice Makers
Frigidaire EFIC189
2 sourcesall derived$89.99as of Sep 25

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 makes only hard bullet ice, and reports on its noise level vary. 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 5-6 minute cycles per RateMyIceMaker; first ice in well under 15 minutes
Watch-outs
  • — Makes hard, cloudy bullet ice — not nugget or clear cubes
  • — Noise is disputed: some sources cite up to 67 dB, but IceArtisan measured about 45 dB
  • — Awkwardly placed rear control panel and fiddly drain plug
$89.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker
Ranked #5 in Best Portable Ice Makers
Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker
2 sources1 derived$159as of Sep 25

The Frigidaire EFIC452-SS is the clear-ice specialist here, making transparent square cubes instead of cloudy bullets or soft nuggets. IceArtisan rates it 3 out of 5 and IceMakerSpot 4 out of 5, both praising the clarity while noting the cubes emerge fused in sheets you have to break apart. Up to 40 lbs a day and a 2.3-quart tank suit a home bar; slower cycles and manual cleaning are the price.

Strengths
  • — Makes genuinely clear, square cocktail-grade cubes
  • — Up to 40 lbs a day, per IceArtisan, from a generous 2.3-quart tank
  • — Two cube sizes with a first batch in about 15 minutes
Watch-outs
  • — Cubes come out fused in sheets that have to be broken apart
  • — No self-cleaning, so descaling is a manual job
  • — 15 to 18 minute cycles are slower than a bullet maker's
$159 · Check Price on AmazonFull 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.

Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker

The only clear-cube maker among these picks, producing presentation 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 costs more and runs slower than the bullet makers but far less than the Opal.

Specs side-by-side

SpecFrigidaire EFIC189Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker
Ice TypeBullet (2 sizes)Clear square cubes (2 sizes)
OutputUp to 26 lbs/dayUp to 40 lbs/day
Cycle Time5-7 minutes15-18 minutes
First BatchUnder 15 minutes—
NoiseAbout 45 dB measured by IceArtisan (some sources cite up to 67 dB)Quiet
Owner Rating4.4 stars (14,000+)—
FootprintCompact countertop—
Warranty1 year1 year
Dimensions15"D x 11"W x 14.5"H14"D x 11"W x 15"H
Wattage200 watts120 watts
Water Tank—2.3 qt
Bin Capacity—2.4 lbs
Self-Cleaning—No (manual)
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