ConsFirst / Countertop ice makers

Magic Chef

Magic Chef 27-Lb. Portable Countertop Ice Maker: the downsides first

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#5 of 8
$$BulletScore 3.0/5
12%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample: 565 ratings. Wirecutter says it averages about 4.4 stars on Home Depot.

The classic bullet-ice machine that Wirecutter and Serious Eats both pick: fast, simple, and easy to return at big-box stores. It has no cleaning cycle and drains from the bottom, so you lift it over the sink.

Top complaints

  • Harder to clean

    Serious Eats docked it because it lacks a cleaning cycle and drains from the bottom, so you have to hold it over the sink. Wirecutter notes that, unlike the Igloo, it has no self-cleaning mode.

    Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter
  • Some die early

    Amazon's summary says durability is a concern, with multiple owners reporting it broke within a week or died after a year and a half.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Small basket, noisy for some

    Amazon owners give mixed feedback on ice size and noise: some find it relatively quiet, others find it noisy with a small basket. Wirecutter also saw prominent streaks on the stainless finish.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say), Wirecutter

What owners love

  • Fast, top-yielding bullet maker

    Nine bullets in about eight minutes (Wirecutter). Serious Eats measured the highest bullet-ice yield it tested, 374 g in an hour.

    Source: Wirecutter, Serious Eats
  • Simple and runs for hours

    Wirecutter calls the controls user-friendly and says the reservoir runs for a few hours between refills. Amazon owners find it easy to use.

    Source: Wirecutter, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Proven and easy to return

    Wirecutter says it has been around long enough to bring few surprises, averages about 4.4 stars at Home Depot, and is easy to return in store.

    Source: Wirecutter
Good for
  • Plain drink ice fast
  • Simple controls
  • Easy in-store returns (Home Depot, Walmart)

Scores (tap for why)

  • Ice speed & output3.5
    Why 3.5?Fastest first batch (8 minutes) and the top bullet yield at Serious Eats (374 g/hour), though the nugget and clear machines made more ice per hour.
    Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter
  • Ice quality3.0
    Why 3.0?Cloudy bullets that melt faster than clear ice but 'get the job done' (Wirecutter).
    Source: Wirecutter
  • Quietness3.0
    Why 3.0?Amazon owners are split between relatively quiet and noisy.
    Source: Amazon.com product page
  • Easy cleaning2.0
    Why 2.0?There is no cleaning cycle, and the bottom drain means lifting it over the sink (Serious Eats, Wirecutter).
    Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter
  • Reliability3.5
    Why 3.5?Wirecutter calls it 'as reliable as these machines can be' (about 4.4 stars at Home Depot), and its Amazon 1-2 star share is a low 12%. Some owners still report early failures.
    Source: Wirecutter, Amazon.com product page

What experts say

  • Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick: one of many clones, but it stands out for value, availability and customer service. The ice is cloudy, and the finish streaks.
  • Serious Eats: Best budget pick: the top-yielding bullet maker, simple and compact. It lost points for cleanup (no cleaning cycle, bottom drain).
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked countertop ice makers whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in countertop ice makersFrigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

The fastest, highest-output nugget maker in two lab tests, with self-cleaning and a large tank, for well under Opal money. Amazon owners often report it breaking within months, and some say it grinds loudly.

Its catch: breaks within months#2 in countertop ice makersLuma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker

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.

Its catch: breaks after about a year#3 in countertop ice makersGE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank

The nugget ice that experts like best. It has a self-cleaning cycle and a side tank, but it is big and expensive. About a third of Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars, and owners complain about units dying within a year and squealing during defrost.

Its catch: stops working within a year

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