Pros
-
Quiet
-
Crisp Ice
-
Excellent Smart Features
Cons
-
Expensive
-
Slow
About the Opal Nugget Ice Maker 2.0
2025's GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker 2.0.
- Dimensions: 17.5” x 16.5” x 13.43” (D x H x W)
- Ice capacity: 3 pounds
- Ice per hour: Approximately 14 ounces
What is nugget ice?
Nugget ice has more surface area, meaning it can cool drinks faster.
Nugget ice is a type of chewable ice that was popularized by the fast-food chain Sonic. Essentially, it involves crushing or flaking ice and then compressing it into pellets or nuggets.
Nugget ice has two advantages over traditional ice cubes. First, it’s chewable. People like to munch on ice chips for a variety of reasons, and nugget ice has a pleasant mouthfeel. Second, having a bunch of small nuggets cools a drink faster than big, clunky ice cubes.
What we like
It makes a quality nugget ice
The filter and UV light helps create clean-tasting ice.
Ice from the Opal 2.0 tastes crisp and clean. We attribute the freshness to the water filter and the sanitizing UV light built into the unit.
The ice nuggets themselves have a good mouthfeel, crunchy without being hard. One good crunch and they instantly turn to water on your tongue.
The automatic refill works well
As the Opal 2.0’s ice nuggets melt, excess water drips back into the unit’s reservoir to be made back into ice. Pulling the bin out signals the Opal to make more ice. This is important for parties and gatherings where the need for ice comes in waves.
During testing, we left the Opal 2.0 on over the weekend and came back to find a full ice bin. We should point out that the ice it made was starting to clump after sitting there for 48 hours, and that you should replace the water daily; however, it’s impressive nonetheless.
The side tank is a bonus
The side tank allows you to make three times as much ice as the reservoir alone.
The Opal 2.0 also comes with a side tank to hold extra water, which was a separate purchase for the original. This extra water tank allows you to create up to three times as much ice. It magnetically sticks to the side of the unit and can be easily filled via the faucet.
As of 2025, the Opal also offers an XL side tank option, which holds one gallon of water.
It connects to GE's smart app for more convenient operation
From the app, you can check the machine’s filter status, schedule ice to be automatically made, and even turn the internal light on and off.
The original Opal Nugget Ice Maker had its own app. This time around, you can use the GE's SmartHQ app, which interacts with all of GE, Café, Monogram, and Haier’s current-generation smart appliances (Haier is GE and Opal’s parent company). From the app, you can check the machine’s filter status, schedule ice to be automatically made, and even turn the internal light on and off.
What we don’t like
It’s expensive for most people
At the time of this review, the unit we tested retails for $600. This is a lot for an ice maker, and it’s certainly more expensive than Newair’s version, which produces more ice more quickly, but lacks the smart features or automatic refill.
It produces ice slowly
Under ideal conditions, the Opal 2.0 produces ice at a rate of approximately one pound per hour. That’s slower than its competition. If you have plenty of prep time, you can make enough ice for a party, but the Opal’s speed is much more suited for personal or small family use.
What users are saying
Users generally praise the GE Profile Opal 2.0 nugget ice maker for producing soft, chewable ice quickly (often within 10–15 minutes) and appreciate the 1-gallon side tank, which reduces the need for frequent refills. Many also like the WiFi/SmartHQ connectivity for added convenience.
On the downside, some reviewers mention the machine can be noisy, note occasional reliability issues such as sensor problems or reduced ice output over time, and point out that regular cleaning and descaling are necessary to keep it running well.
Should you buy the new Opal Nugget Ice Maker?
Yes, if you want the most classy of all ice makers.
This machine’s biggest obstacle is its price. However, nugget ice fanatics will love its excellent chewable ice-making capabilities, which produce a crisp and clean taste, especially those who are serious about cooling their drinks and hydrating with ice chips.
Related content
news
Meet the tester
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Checking our work.
Our team is here to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and experts obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email