Customer Ratings & Reviews

Pellet ice…what else can I say? It does take up some real estate but it makes pellet ice! The bin is small, but it fills up pretty quick. My family of 4 is very happy. I was tired of my Samsung icemaker in my fridge freezing up only to find out…I’m out of ice again and I needed to steam it again to dethaw it. This solves that problem and gives me the coveted…Pellet Ice. I love the water reservoir and have to refill it once every 1-2 days. I do hear the occasional odd noise from it (all are documented in manual) but I think it’s really quiet. Expensive…yes. But I’d buy it again in a heartbeat.

I researched all the options, different brands, but nothing compared to the GE opal ice maker. I had been wanting it for years, finally pulled the trigger and I must say it’s one of my all time favorite purchases! We love sonic ice, now we have it at home. It fits on the counter under cabinets perfectly. I like that once the ice starts to melt it recycles it back to make more ice. The only issue I have is we go through a lot of ice so have to keep adding water to the tank, but that’s not really a problem.

Can’t live without this ice BUT the maintenance on this machine is time is a pain. Only get it if you know you’re gonna take the time to clean it every two-ish weeks. Also this thing screeches like a banshee if you don’t clean it when you are supposed to.

Title says it all. Wife always wanted a nugget ice machine for coffee and alcoholic drinks. The smaller units can't keep up with our families ice demand, but this machine does. Simple to set up and keep clean. Extra water tank is a must. If you're on the fence about this ice machine, don't be, buy it.

I love the machine. The ice is great and it looks great on the counter. The only issue is that it makes a lot of noise. Also, make sure that you clean it when it requests. The machine definitely needs this.

Love the ice. Only drawback is having to clean it and filling up the side tank.

This is a great ice machine. However, I wish it were quieter and sometimes it makes a squealing sound. Not good for the ears.

This ice maker is great! Makes the same soft chewable nugget ice that you get at Sonic. It makes ice surprisingly fast, and it is not obnoxiously loud as I read in a few reviews. In fact, it is quiet most of the time, as the only noise is when it is actively making ice. I did search out the version 2.0 of this machine, as they seem to have addressed several problems that users complained of with the initial version (like noise). Overall, very pleased with the purchase and would recommend it for anyone wanting nugget ice at home or if your fridge’s ice maker can’t keep up with your family’s ice usage (both were reasons for us).

Loving this ice machine. We've immediately stopped using the ice machine in the fridge and solely use this for our drinks. Like other reviewers have mentioned, once unpacked, it will need some preliminary cleaning and flushing the lines. We are using bottled purified water to try to cut down on the occasional maintenance cleaning but have not had one issue after months of continued use. The machine is on the louder side but is tolerable. When you open the drawer for ice, it tips down and water will run down onto the plastic catch tray so depending on the water you use, may leave some hard water stains unless wiped up quickly.

Great machine, great ice. Gives off loud humming sometimes, even in well ventilated area. Little excessive cleaning required monthly. Distilled water is expensive too.

This ice maker has been a game changer in our household. It has been making ice on a schedule for us when we get home from work and need a nice ice soda or water. It does auto self clean which has been helpful but we also would clean it once a week after use. It makes ice up to 10 plus cups. Easy to use.

I no longer have to fuss with Sonics about shorting my bag of ice. I don't like the texture of the ice when its newly made; however, when I let it sit and defrost a bit.... The texture of the ice per the chew is perfect. It makes ice really fast and the machine is easy to clean. Be sure to self clean it once a week at the most per the instructions. I love the convenience of having this machine in my home. It is saving a lot of money and keeps me from having to go to Sonic for ice. I know the machine and the free of germs ect. Thanks for making this awesome machine. It was hard to find one with great ratings.

We're currently in the process of replacing our second Opal in three years, both due to internal leaking issues. The second barely lasted a year before it started leaking. The ice it generates is terrific--"the good ice," my wife calls it--and if it weren't for the clear and obvious reliability issues, I wouldn't hesitate to give it a 5-star rating despite the price. $600 for a device that can't be trusted to last more than a year, though? The ice is the only thing keeping this from being a 1-star review.

We love the "sonic" ice and yes this is pricey and I could buy a lot of bags of sonic ice for the price but the convenience of having it in my own home to turn on and make ice immediately is worth every penny! We make a couple of bin fulls a week and put it in our freezer and use it all week long. It's perfect when large groups of people are over as it starts making ice quickly! Some of the reviews were that it's loud but I don't think it is. We often make ice on Friday nights when we are in the bonus room having family movie night, which is were we keep it, and the sounds it makes while producing ice does not interfere at all.

Love our new ice maker! I didn't think I would like it as much as I do. It is a little pricey. My husband wanted it, but I use it all the time! I love the nugget ice and it lasts longer than cubed ice in my cup. Definitely recommend!

I love this ice maker. It is easy to use and clean. It starts making ice within 15 minutes of turning on. It does not take up much counter space.

This ice machine is very easy to set up. I got it going quickly and had ice within an hour. Heads up: have bleach, a set of measuring cups, and distilled water ready. You'll need a small amount of bleach (I think it was a few tablespoons) to clean the machine out per the instructions. I only use distilled water in this machine so that I can keep cleaning and descaling to a minimum. Since I'm drinking tap water the flavor of the ice doesn't really matter to me. Also, if you're using the ice for alcoholic beverages or soda, it won't affect the flavor nearly as much.

The quality of the ice is fantastic; chewable and soft. The only drawback to this is the frequency in cleaning that it requires. Furthermore, there are occasions when the machine will make loud noises.

I bought mine on 2/3/23, so I can't attest to the durability of this machine. For ease of use I will give it a lower rating only due to the weight of the ice machine. Moving the ice maker to use the drain hose for cleaning or refilling the side tank could be a hassle. Price....it is overpriced. Take the GE logo off I bet it'll drop $150. It could be worth it, if it lasts. Now to the real point. Is it loud? I'm sure you read a bunch of reviews. Oh, it's so loud. It makes loud sounds. Let's be clear, it is an ice maker, even the ice maker in refrigerators make a lot of noise when making ice. This one is designed to keep ice, not just make ice when you need it. It doesn't premake ice like in a refrigerator. If you empty it, it may run a couple of hours before it is full again. I measured the sound of my kitchen without it running, 36-40 dB. Level at machine, 59-60 dB. Level at 5', 43-45 dB. Level at 10', 40-43 dB. I can hear a slight hum from about 20-30' away. So my answer is, if you have an open floor plan, a very quiet house or fantastic hearing, then no don't buy it.

I previously owned an Insignia nugget ice maker. Imso far, this maker excels. The side tank makes it incredibly easy to refill. I do have concerns about how long it'll last based on other reviews, but I really hope it prevails over time