I tested the “deluxe” nugget ice maker and it’s worth it – plus $150 off for Black Friday.

What’s the matter?

Nugget Ice Maker GE Profile Opal 2.0 is on sale for $399 during Amazon’s Black Friday sale—that’s $150 off the regular price.

Also: The best Black Friday deals so far

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Why this deal is recommended by ZDNET

• Nugget Ice Maker GE Profile Opal 2.0 is a smart kitchen appliance that retails for $599.
• If you want the satisfying ice granules often served at fast food restaurants, this machine is for you. It also works through a mobile application.
• It’s expensive, especially for what it is, but I think the machine is worth the investment.

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Whether you call it good ice, Sonic ice, nugget ice or pellet ice, there’s no denying that the small, chewy ice pellets found in some fast food restaurants are positively addictive.

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I consider myself an ice chewer. And while satisfying this craving used to mean going out to eat at a restaurant late at night, I discovered that What ice is now available from the comfort of my kitchen using GE Opal 2.0. And in the month that I had this machine, I used it almost every single day. So far it has exceeded my expectations.

Like its predecessor, the Opal is a countertop ice maker that promises to deliver chewy ice nuggets straight to your home in sleek and stylish packaging. But version 2.0 adds a lot of smart features that make it as easy as possible.

The unit is 16.5 inches tall (meaning it fits under most cabinets), 16 inches deep, and 13.5 inches wide (an additional water tank is included). It takes up a significant amount of real estate on your countertop, but that’s true for most devices in the series. category.

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Setting up the machine was a little cumbersome, but not too scary for a one-time process. This involved creating an account and password, verifying them, connecting to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and entering codes from a label on the back of the device.

When running, the Opal 2.0 produces approximately half a kilo of ice per hour. There is no refrigeration in the ice bin, so you make ice as needed, and any ice that melts in the bin goes back to the water reservoir below.

But where the Opal 2.0 excels over its competitors is in its smart connectivity options.

All of your ice maker’s smart features are available in the Smart HQ app, which is currently home to all GE smart appliances and products. Using the app, you can control the dumpster lights (turn them off, dim, or on), turn on the coffee maker, and set a schedule.

You’ll also get app alerts when the unit needs to be cleaned and descaled (a process that involves simply removing the filter, running a very dilute bleach solution through the reservoir, and draining the water), which happens about once a month for me, or if the container for ice was not replaced properly.

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So far the smart features have worked flawlessly. I set my preferred schedule when I first got the unit, and for over a month now, my ice maker has been quietly humming at 6 a.m. every morning Monday through Friday, with the first nuggets hitting the bin shortly before I wake up at 6:15. When I turned off the schedule for a week when I was out of town, the ice maker was silent.

The on/off feature works as intended: I can toggle the power button in the app and the machine will respond within a few moments. This is an especially useful feature when I’m in town, as I can turn on the generator when I’m heading home and have my favorite ice waiting for me.

Of course, it’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Home.

You need Will your ice maker be compatible with Alexa? Well, sometimes it’s very convenient, like when you’re in the living room and want a cold drink. You can simply say the command and the ice is on its way. I love smart home technology, and Alexa’s request to “make ice” and the sound of the machine humming in the next room still makes me smile every time.

Also: The Best Smart Home Devices (And How They Can Make Your Life Easier)

Like many smart home features, I was initially unsure if I would use this option at all, but quickly found that it has become a part of my daily life.

The GE Opal 2.0 has just one problem, and it might be a serious one. It’s a hefty product, and I don’t mean in physical size. The price comes in almost 600 dollars (especially with additional side tank), meaning this is definitely not a cheap ice maker. Yes, there are more affordable options, but none of them have the smart features of the Opal, which moves the needle a bit in my opinion.

GE doesn’t advertise Nugget Ice Maker Opal 2.0 as a budget option. Roughly speaking, the price is more than double that of less expensive cars, but it is quite expensive and that price will be a barrier for some people.

ZDNET Buying Tips

Nugget Ice Maker Opal 2.0 it was a luxury purchase and I knew it. But at the moment it fully justifies its price. Apart from performing flawlessly on both the mechanical and technical side, it has also become something of a talking point, as everyone who has ever seen it immediately says something like: “Oh, this does What ice!?”

So if you’re like me and crave chewy ice and don’t mind spending a little money to get that ice automatically on a schedule or at the touch of a phone button (and impress your friends in the process), you won’t find a better option.