(checked 2026-10-10)1,549 ratings.
The clear-ice pick at both Wirecutter and Serious Eats: crystal-clear, slow-melting cubes, the most ice per hour Serious Eats measured, and an easy side drain. The first batch is slow, it's bulky with no self-clean, and Amazon owners report breakdowns around a year and loud operation.
Top complaints
- Breaks after about a year
Amazon's summary says durability is a concern because units break after a year, and reliability is mixed. 20% of ratings are 1 star.
- Noisy
Amazon owners report loud sounds during operation. Serious Eats found the hum steady but says the dense cubes make a racket when they drop.
- Slow first batch, bulky, no self-clean
Its first batch takes 20-25 minutes (Wirecutter, Serious Eats), it takes more counter space than the bullet picks (Wirecutter), and it lacks a self-cleaning cycle, so it should be drained and wiped by hand weekly (Serious Eats).
Source: Wirecutter, Serious Eats
What owners love
- Clear, slow-melting cubes
Wirecutter found the ice consistently clear and lasting over an hour in room-temperature water, and sodas stayed bubbly. Amazon owners call the ice restaurant quality.
- Most ice per hour
Serious Eats measured 609 g in an hour, the most in its chart; Wirecutter says each batch is about three times a bullet batch.
Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter - Side drain and easy-break sheet
Serious Eats says it was the only model with a side drain, which made it easy to empty; Wirecutter found its ice sheet the easiest to break into cubes.
Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter
- You want ice within 10 minutes
- You have little counter space
- You want a self-cleaning cycle
- Cocktails and fizzy drinks (clear, slow-melting ice)
- Big batches
- Easy draining from the side
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Best for clear cubes: consistently clear ice that breaks apart easily and keeps fizzy drinks bubbly, but batches take 20-25 minutes and the machine is bigger.
- Serious Eats: Best clear ice maker: high-quality ice, high yield and an easy side drain, but a 21-minute first batch, noisy cube drops and no self-cleaning cycle.