Nugget ice makers
Nugget ice, also called pebble or Sonic ice, is made by pressing ice flakes together. It is soft, chewable and soaks up the drink. Nugget machines cost more than bullet machines, stand taller, and need regular descaling because of the auger inside.
- Ice a day
- 33–44 lb
- First ice
- 5–15 min
- Bin
- 1.8–4.8 lb
- Compared
- 9 models
Top picks
Updated October 2026. Amazon pays a small commission if you buy through these links. It never changes a verdict.
-
Best overallEUHOMY Pearl L1 Max Nugget Ice Maker
Real nugget ice on a small footprint, with a 2-year warranty.
- 35
- lb a day
- 7
- min to first ice
- 1.8
- lb bin
Skip it if You want a big bin. It holds about 1.8 lb at a time.
-
Most popular
Silonn Nugget Ice Maker Countertop
The most-reviewed nugget machine on Amazon, at an entry price.
- 36
- lb a day
- 6
- min to first ice
Skip it if You want to know the bin and tank size. The maker does not list them.
-
Premium
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker
The famous Opal nugget ice, with a big removable side tank.
- 38
- lb a day
- 10
- min to first ice
- 3
- lb bin
Skip it if Reliability matters most. Almost a third of its ratings are 1–2 stars, and it makes less ice in a hot kitchen.
Who it's for
- Daily soda, iced coffee and water drinkers
- People who love to chew ice
- Anyone who wants Sonic-style ice at home
Skip it if
- Tight budgets
- Slow-melting cocktails: nugget melts fast
Compare every nugget model
9 models side by side, from each maker's spec sheet.
| Model | Ice a day | First ice | Bin | Size (W × D × H) | Water | Self-cleaning | Keeps ice frozen | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice MakerXPIO13SWSS | 38 lb | 10 min | 3 lb | 13.43 × 17.5 × 16.5 in | tank | Yes | No | Price |
| GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice MakerP4NM20KZLG | 36 lb | 5 min | 2 lb | 8.6 × 15.6 × 14.56 in | tank | Yes | No | Price |
| Frigidaire Gallery 44-lb Countertop Nugget Ice MakerEFIC165BLK | 44 lb | 15 min | 3 lb | 11.75 × 16.75 × 20.25 in | tank | Yes | No | Price |
| Frigidaire Countertop Crunchy Chewable Nugget Ice MakerEFIC22BAMZ | 33 lb | 15 min | 3 lb | 9.5 × 12 × 14 in | tank | — | No | Price |
| Silonn Nugget Ice Maker CountertopSLIM17B-0902 | 36 lb | 6 min | — | 11.3 × 8.66 × 12.68 in | tank | Yes | No | Price |
| EUHOMY Pearl L1 Max Nugget Ice MakerIM039 | 35 lb | 7 min | 1.8 lb | 8.5 × 11.14 × 12.28 in | tank | Yes | No | Price |
| EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker CountertopIM017-N1X2-US | 44 lb | 10 min | — | 9.85 × 13.9 × 14.95 in | tank | Yes | No | Price |
| ecozy Nugget Ice MakerIM-NS451B | 44 lb | — | — | 9.4 × 13.6 × 14.8 in | tank | Yes | No | Price |
| Gevi Household V2.0 Countertop Nugget Ice MakerGIMN-1000B | 38 lb | 10 min | 4.8 lb | 9.7 × 17.3 × 16.7 in | tank or line | Yes | No | Price |
Numbers are each maker's own. A dash means the maker does not publish it. Tap a column title to sort.
Good to know before you buy
Is pebble ice the same as nugget ice?
Yes. Pebble, pellet, nugget and Sonic ice are the same soft ice made from pressed flakes.
Why does it make noise?
An auger presses the flakes into nuggets. That gives a steady hum and a soft crackle as ice drops. It is normal.
How often to descale?
Nugget machines scale up faster than bullet machines. Follow the maker's schedule; with hard water, descale more often.
Does it keep ice frozen?
Not on countertop models. The bin is insulated, so ice slowly melts and is made again.
What owners complain about
Faults that come up again and again in one- and two-star reviews. Read them before you buy.
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker
- Loud squeaking noises
- Breaks down after about a year, and owners criticise GE support
- Ice melts fast in the bin and water drips
- "Add water" / float-sensor errors and frequent cleaning for scale
GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker
- Some units fail to produce ice (performance is mixed)
- Noise is disputed: loud for some owners
- Brand new (July 2026): only 133 ratings, 14 percent are 1-star
Frigidaire Gallery 44-lb Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
- Stops working after about 6 weeks for some owners
- Described as making a horrendous noise
- Units break within a year (38 percent of ratings are 1-2 stars)
- Needs cleaning too often, say some owners
Frigidaire Countertop Crunchy Chewable Nugget Ice Maker
- Very loud, say many owners
- Stops working after a few days to a few months; breaks around 7 months for some
- Mixed ice quality: some say it does not make ice as expected
Silonn Nugget Ice Maker Countertop
- Noisy and needs attention (aggregated owner summaries)
- Ice can jam and needs monitoring
- Some units break after about six months
EUHOMY Pearl L1 Max Nugget Ice Maker
- Stops working after about 4 months for some owners; breaks within 6 months (about 1,300 reliability mentions)
- Noise is disputed: surprisingly quiet to some, noisy to others
- Durability is mixed
EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker Countertop
- Noise: some owners report a horrible noise
- Durability is mixed
- Reliability is raised in about 570 review mentions
ecozy Nugget Ice Maker
- Several owners report it stopping after about 1.5 years
- Noise is disputed: super quiet to some, "screaming" to others
- Ice starts melting as soon as it is made
Gevi Household V2.0 Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
- Stops making ice for some owners; some fail within about 7 months
- A few units stop working after a week
- Big and tall (17.3 D x 16.7 H in), so it needs space and cabinet clearance
Clean it, fix it
- Best ice maker cleanerUse the cleaner your machine's manual names.
- How to clean an ice makerUnplug it, drain it, wipe the basket, run a cleaning cycle with the cleaner your manual names, then rinse with two or three cycles of clean water.
- Not making iceStart with the simple causes: no water, a full or blocked ice sensor, a room that is too warm, or scale in the pipes.