GE Ice Maker Opal Alternatives (2021): Affordable Nugget Ice Maker Options

The GE Profile Opal countertop ice maker is one of the most popular nugget ice makers in the market, and for good reasons. However, one of its biggest downsides is that it is very expensive. If you are a budget conscious shopper looking for a quality ice maker, here is our list of the top GE ice maker opal alternatives that won’t break the bank, which includes the Igloo ICEB26HNSSWL, the IKICH ice maker and the TaoTronics TT-IC002.

GE Ice Maker Opal Alternatives Comparison Chart

GE Profile Opal

The most popular nugget ice maker.

With over 7500 mostly positive reviews on Amazon as of this writing, the GE Profile Opal is certainly one of the best and most popular nugget ice makers in the market. Measuring 17.5 x 13.4 x 16.5 inches and weighing 47lbs, it is not the most compact and lightweight ice maker around. But on the plus side, it certainly feels like a premium product, and you won’t have trouble placing it on your countertop even if it is a little bulkier than other ice makers in this list.

The GE Profile Opal can produce up to a total of 24lbs of ice per 24 hours. You can operate it per cycle as well, wherein it will produce 1lb of ice per hour. The control panel of the GE Profile Opal consists of only one button and this can either be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it. It also comes with Bluetooth connectivity, so you can control it with your smartphone via the GE app.

The GE Profile Opal ice maker comes with a side tank for more ice production, an ice basket and a scoop for ease of use. It also comes with a 1 year warranty from GE.

Igloo ICEB26HNSSWL

The carrying handle of the Igloo ice maker makes it the most portable option.

For portability, the Igloo electric countertop ice maker is the best option. It comes with a carrying handle for portability and it has a compact design as well, measuring 11 x 9 x 12 inches and weighing only 22 lbs. The Igloo ice maker has five color options to choose from—stainless white, stainless black, white, black and aqua.

Capable of producing up to 26lbs of ice in 24 hours, this ice maker is small but powerful. When it comes to quick freezing, this machine is capable of producing 9 large or small ice cubes in a span of 7 minutes, so you can enjoy cold drinks without having to wait a long time.

The control panel of the Igloo ice maker is simple and intuitive, with two buttons and several LED light indicators. However, it does not have any smart functionalities, which is understandable since it is a low cost ice maker. The Igloo ICEB26HNSSWL is our top pick for the best GE ice maker Opal alternative.

IKICH Ice Maker

The IKICH is the most affordable ice maker in this list of GE ice maker Opal alternatives.

Measuring 11.1 x 8.8 x 12.1 inches and weighing only 17lbs, the IKICH ice maker is the most compact and lightweight ice maker in this list of GE Opal alternatives. It has a nice black colorway and it will fit in with any kitchen regardless of design aesthetics.

Even though it is a small machine, it is capable of producing up to 26lbs of ice in 24 hours and about 9 ice cubes in 7 minutes, which is very similar to the Igloo ice maker above. Similar again to the Igloo ice maker, the IKICH ice maker also has a silent operation feature which is nice.

As for controls, it comes with a single button for everything and it also has LED light indicators for when the ice basket is full or when the water tank is empty. If you’re looking to get the cheapest nugget ice maker without sacrificing quality, the IKICH ice maker is our recommendation.

TaoTronics TT-IC002

Another affordable alternative to the GE Profile Opal is the TaoTronics TT-IC002.

Rounding out our list of the top GE Profile Opal alternatives is the TaoTronics TT-IC002. It is a durable ice maker that’s a bit larger than the Igloo and IKICH ice makers, with physical dimensions of 14.7 x 9.5 x 12.4 inches. Surprisingly, it is a lightweight machine, weighing only 21lbs, which is a pound lighter than the smaller Igloo ICEB26HNSSWL.

The TaoTronics TT-IC002 has an impressive build that makes use of food grade ABS, premium insulation and 304 stainless steel. It does look and feel like a premium product. Like the Igloo and IKICH ice makers, the TaoTronics can also produce up to 26lbs of ice in 24 hours and 9 ice cubes in a span of 6-9 minutes, depending on the water and ambient temperature.

It has a more elaborate control panel that includes three buttons and an LCD screen. The LCD screen displays the status indicators and the total time that the machine has been running. The TaoTronics also has a self cleaning function in addition to its other features.

Verdict

There are many affordable alternatives to the GE Profile Opal ice maker.

While the GE Profile Opal might be the best nugget ice maker available, it is quite expensive, so it is not as accessible to people on a budget. That said, our pick for the best GE ice maker Opal alternative is the Igloo ICEB26HNSSWL. It is very portable with its carrying handle and it is also a powerful machine capable of producing ice nuggets within minutes.

If you’re looking to get the most affordable ice maker, the IKICH ice maker should be on top of your list. Even though it is fairly cheap, it is still a quality product and it performs just as well as other ice makers in this list. Another alternative that you should consider is the TaoTronics TT-IC002. It comes with the best control panel and just like the Igloo and IKICH, it is affordable and capable of producing nugget ice within minutes.

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