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.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The Opal 2.0's claim to the top spot is ice quality. Wirecutter calls it the best ice of any countertop appliance it has tested, and CNN Underscored — which ran it for two months — confirmed it is worth the hype, producing perfectly chewable nuggets. This is the soft, porous, Sonic-style nugget ice that absorbs flavor and is pleasant to chew, a fundamentally different and more sought-after product than the hard bullet or clear ice the other machines here make.
Output is fast off the line and steady thereafter. Taste of Home found it takes about 25 to 30 minutes to start producing solid cylindrical nuggets and fills the bin in just over two hours, while GE rates it at up to 38 lbs per day with a first batch in 10-15 minutes. The bin holds 3 lbs at a time. The one caveat is that nugget ice is inherently slower to produce than bullet ice, so the sustained rate trails the bullet makers even though the first batch arrives quickly.
Smart Features and Convenience
The Opal 2.0 is the only genuinely smart maker in this roundup. Reviewed notes the SmartHQ app lets you schedule ice production, monitor filter status, and control the interior light, all over your home Wi-Fi. The scheduling is the feature owners keep using past the novelty stage — set it to have a full bin ready before guests arrive or before you get home, and the machine starts itself.
The 2.0 generation adds an included side water tank that extends run time between refills, plus voice control through Alexa and Google. The ice also tastes clean: Reviewed reports it tastes crisp and clean, a sign of good filtration. For a buyer who wants their ice maker to be a set-and-forget smart appliance rather than something they babysit, these features are a real part of the value.
Noise and Design
Despite the price, the Opal 2.0 earns consistent praise for being quiet. CNN describes it as whisper quiet, a notable contrast to the loud, growling operation reviewers report from cheaper nugget makers like the Frigidaire EFIC255. At around 44 dB it is quieter than most countertop appliances at its output tier, which matters because an ice maker often lives in a kitchen or entertaining space where constant noise would be intrusive.
The stainless design is handsome and compact for a nugget machine, with a removable bin and a clear, modern look. The side tank attaches cleanly, and the whole unit is built to sit out on a counter as a permanent fixture rather than be stored away — which, given the price, is how most owners use it.
Where It Falls Short
The obvious drawback is price: at $450-600 the Opal 2.0 is far and away the most expensive maker here, several times the cost of a bullet maker. It is a serious investment for a countertop appliance, justified only if you specifically want nugget ice and will use it often.
Maintenance is the other consideration. Multiple reviewers note the machine requires regular cleaning and descaling to keep running well, and some owners report occasional sensor problems or reduced ice output over time. Nugget makers are mechanically more complex than bullet makers, so there is more that can need attention. Built into ownership is a cleaning routine that the simpler bullet and clear makers do not demand to the same degree.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The Opal 2.0 makes a different product from most of this lineup. The Frigidaire EFIC189 and Magic Chef MCIM22SV make hard bullet ice quickly and cheaply; the Frigidaire EFIC452-SS makes clear square cubes for cocktails. None of those are substitutes for soft chewable nugget ice — if that is what you want, the Opal is the benchmark.
Its only direct nugget competitor here is the budget Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255, and the comparison is lopsided: reviewers find the EFIC255 louder, harder-pelleted, and dogged by durability complaints, with only a 3.1-star Amazon average, while the Opal is quiet, reliable, and smart. You pay a large premium for the Opal, but you get the nugget ice done right.
Who It's Best For
The Opal 2.0 is for the nugget-ice enthusiast — the buyer who specifically wants soft, chewable, flavor-absorbing ice and is willing to pay a premium and keep up with cleaning to get it done well, with smart scheduling as a bonus. If you just want a lot of ice cheaply, the bullet makers are the value play; if you want clear cocktail cubes, the EFIC452-SS is the pick. The Opal earns the top spot specifically on nugget-ice quality.
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
- +SmartHQ Wi-Fi app reliably schedules ice ahead of time
- +Included side tank and clean, neutral-tasting ice
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
- −Some owners report sensor issues or reduced output over time
How it compares
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.
Who this is for
At a glance: Nugget-ice lovers who want the best soft, chewable ice and smart scheduling, and who can justify a premium countertop appliance.
Why you’d buy the GE Profile Opal 2.0
- 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.
Why you’d skip it
- 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.
Rating sources
“CNN tested the GE Profile Opal 2.0 for two months and confirmed it's worth the hype; the machine produces perfectly chewable nuggets and is whisper quiet.”
“Ice from the Opal 2.0 tastes crisp and clean, with the SmartHQ app allowing you to schedule ice production, monitor filter status, and control the interior light.”
“It produces a substantial amount of ice in just over two hours, taking about 25 to 30 minutes to start producing solid, cylindrical nugget ice.”
Our 4.6 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
