Opal Nugget Ice Maker Sale: Get That Addictive Crunch for $51 Less

GE's Editors' Choice nugget ice maker, the one with the cult-favorite crunchy ice, drops to $448.99 through August 8.

The only thing worse than having no ice is having bad ice. It's such a real problem that people regularly buy a bag from the corner store just for daily use. The Opal Nugget Ice Maker sale at Best Buy ends those runs and puts restaurant-quality ice right in your kitchen.

This is the ice machine you can rely on in a dorm, first apartment, or first house. Instead of hosting and serving chunky, crystal-clumped ice out of a warped plastic tray, you'll have people jealous of yours. The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra, our Editors' Choice pick for chewable ice, is $448.99 through August 8, $51 off its $499.99 value.

We tested the standard Opal 2.0 and liked it for two reasons. The ice tastes crisp and clean, credit the built-in filter and UV sanitizing. And the whole experience runs more smoothly and is more automated than the original Opal ever was.

Is the Opal 2.0 Ultra worth it?

Yes, especially if you're moving somewhere without a dependable ice maker, or replacing a fridge unit that's slow, loud, or already on its way out.

We break down the full case for nugget ice makers, cravings and all, in our guide to the best countertop ice makers. Short version: if you're already nodding along, this deal is your opening.

It makes genuinely great chewable ice

Reviewed's testing found the Opal's ice crisp and clean, with no aftertaste and no freezer-bag flavor. One good crunch and it's gone, which is exactly the texture nugget ice fans go looking for and the reason the original Opal built a cult following in the first place.

The Ultra adds a detail worth noting: the scale-inhibiting filter doesn't just protect the machine; it also strips chlorine and VOCs from the incoming water. Good ice starts with good water, not just the shape.

One thing to know before you buy: the ice is best enjoyed within a day or two. It can start to clump if it sits too long, so plan to dump and refill the reservoir regularly.

The side tank means way less refilling, built for a place with no built-in ice

The TrueFill system pairs with a removable side tank to make three times as much ice per batch, so you're not babysitting a reservoir every few hours. The batch-based system filters and recirculates water continuously, so it's always making fresh ice instead of sitting on old ice.

That's the real value for a place with no built-in ice maker: instead of refilling trays in a cramped mini-fridge freezer, you get ice on demand.

It works fast when you actually need ice

First batch in 10 minutes or less. Up to 1.6 pounds an hour, 38 pounds a day if you let it run. That's genuinely useful output, not a novelty appliance for one pitcher of lemonade.

A reusable air filter keeps that pace steady by keeping hair and dust out of the works, so production doesn't slow down six months in. Translation: no more waiting on ice trays, and no more store runs before people come over.

How to get the Opal nugget ice maker deal

Whether you've been putting off fixing your ice problem or you're moving somewhere without a fridge that has a built-in ice dispenser, grab one now before this deal ends!

The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra is $448.99 at Best Buy, $51 off its $499.99 value, through August 8.