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Frigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker vs GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Frigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on ice speed & output, quietness, reliability. GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank wins on ice quality.
The biggest complaint about the Frigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker is breaks within months; for the GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank it's stops working within a year. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Frigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker | GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in countertop ice makers | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Type | Nugget | Nugget |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 22% | 32% |
| Overall score | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Ice speed & output | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Ice quality | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Quietness | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Easy cleaning | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Reliability | 2.5 | 2.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $150 · $$ $150–400 · $$$ over $400. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Frigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
- Breaks within months
Amazon's review summary says reliability is mixed and units typically last only 3-8 months before breaking. Many owners call it a waste of money.
- Loud grinding noise for some
Amazon owners find it super loud, with grinding noises. In Serious Eats' test, though, it was super quiet.
- Heavy and tall
Serious Eats weighed it at 44 pounds and says it likely won't fit under overhead cabinets (20.25 inches tall). Good Housekeeping found the nuggets less uniform than other machines'.
Source: Serious Eats, Good Housekeeping
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank
- Stops working within a year
Amazon's review summary for the side-tank listing says several owners report it breaking within a year. The summary for the tankless listing says some units stop working after two months or fail within 30 days. Wirecutter notes a 1-year parts-and-labor warranty and a 60-day return policy.
- Noisy, with squealing during defrost
Amazon owners describe a terrible squealing sound during defrost, plus noise during cleaning. Serious Eats found it louder than a simple bullet-ice maker, and Good Housekeeping lists 'can be noisy' as a con.
- Expensive, large and heavy
Wirecutter says it typically costs almost five times as much as its bullet-ice picks and takes up as much space as an espresso machine. Serious Eats weighed it at 38 pounds. Amazon owners call it poor value for money.
Who should pick which
Pick the Frigidaire Gallery Countertop Nugget Ice Maker if
Maximum nugget ice per hour
Fewer refills (large tank)
Opal-level output for less
Skip it if: It must fit under upper cabinets; You want perfectly uniform nuggets; You need proven long-term reliability
Pick the GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank if
Fans of chewable 'Sonic' nugget ice
Self-cleaning cycle and a refillable side tank
Making lots of ice ahead of a party
Skip it if: You're short on counter space (about espresso-machine size); You want a quiet machine; You can't risk a costly unit failing after a year
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