Best Nugget Ice Maker: GE Profile Opal Models Compared

The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra and Opal Ultra are rated for up to 38 lb a day, which is 1.6 lb an hour, at a 70 F room with 60 F water. The Opal Mini is rated for 36 lb a day, or 1.5 lb an hour. Under the DOE test at 90 F room temperature, GE lists the 2.0 Ultra at 32 lb a day.

At 1.6 lb an hour, the Opal Ultra fills its 3 lb bin in a little under 2 hours. The Opal Mini, at 1.5 lb an hour, fills its 2 lb bin in about 80 minutes. The first ice drops in about 10 minutes on the Ultra models and 5 minutes or less on the Mini.

No. The bin is not refrigerated, so stored ice slowly melts. On the Opal, melt water drains back into the reservoir and is made into fresh ice, so it is not wasted.

No. Every Opal on this page is filled by hand or from a removable tank, so it can sit anywhere near an outlet. The Opal Ultra side tank holds 1 gallon, about 8.3 lb of water, which GE says lets it make up to 3 times more ice before a refill than standard models.

Most do. Upper cabinets are typically hung 18 inches above the countertop, and the Opal Mini is 14.56 in tall. GE says the Opal Ultra fits under most cabinets, but leave room above to open the lid or fill the top.

Buy the Mini for a small counter: it is 8.6 in wide and 30 percent smaller than the original Opal, and still makes 36 lb a day. Buy the 2.0 Ultra if space is not tight and you want the full 38 lb a day plus the scale-inhibiting filter.

Run the cleaning or descaling cycle on the schedule the app or display prompts, more often with hard water. The Opal Mini includes 6 descaler packs and the Ultra side tank model ships with a water filter and descaling powder. The Opal 2.0 Ultra uses a scale-inhibiting filter to slow mineral build-up.

It is worth it if you drink a lot of iced drinks and like soft, chewable ice, because freezer ice makers make hard cubes. At 36 to 38 lb a day, one countertop Opal fills a 2 to 3 lb bin every 1.5 to 2 hours. If you only need ice for a few drinks, a freezer tray costs nothing.

Yes. The Opal models on this page have Wi-Fi and use the SmartHQ app to start or schedule ice production and get cleaning reminders. The Opal Mini and Opal Ultra side tank model also work with Alexa and Google voice assistants.

Ice output falls as the room and water get warmer. GE rates the Opal 2.0 Ultra at 38 lb a day at 70 F room and 60 F water, but 32 lb a day at 90 F room and 70 F water, a 16 percent drop. Keep it out of direct sun and away from the oven.