What happened?
of GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker On sale for $464 Amazon Prime Day — Save 23% off the regular price.
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Why is this deal recommended by ZDNET?
- of GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker This smart kitchen appliance retails for $599.
- If you want the same satisfying ice pellets you often get at fast food restaurants, this machine is for you, and it can also be controlled via a mobile app.
- Although it is pricey, especially considering what is included, I felt this machine was well worth the investment.
Good ice, sonic ice, nugget ice, pellet ice — whatever you call it, there’s no denying that those small, easy-to-eat ice pellets found at some fast food restaurants are definitely addictive.
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I am one of those people who are addicted to eating ice. I used to have to rush to a restaurant late at night to satisfy that craving. that Ice is now available from the comfort of my kitchen. GE Opal 2.0I’ve been using this machine almost daily for a month now and so far it has exceeded my expectations.
Like its predecessor, Opal is a countertop ice maker that comes in a sleek, stylish package and is designed to make nugget ice cream that’s easy to eat at home, but the 2.0 version adds a host of smart features to make it as easy as possible.
The unit is 16.5 inches tall (fits under most cabinets), 16 inches deep, and 13.5 inches wide (including the additional water-side tank). It does take up a fair amount of space on your countertop, but that’s true of most devices in this category.
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Setting up the machine was a bit tedious, but not too painful for a one-time process: Create an account and password, verify each one, connect to both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and enter a code from a label on the back of the machine.
When operational, the Opal 2.0 makes approximately one pound of ice per hour. Because the ice basin has no chiller, it makes ice as needed and any ice that melts in the basin is recirculated back into the water tank below.
But where Opal 2.0 stands out above the competition is in its smart connectivity.
All of the ice maker’s smart features can be found in the Smart HQ app, the current home for all of GE’s smart appliances and products. With the app, you can control the bin lights (off, dim, or on), turn on the ice maker, set schedules, and more.
The app also alerts you when the unit needs cleaning and descaling (a process that simply involves removing the filter, pouring a very diluted bleach solution into the tank, and draining the lines) (which in my case is about once a month) and if the ice bin hasn’t been properly replaced.
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So far, the smart features have worked perfectly. I set up a preferred schedule when I first got the device, and for over a month, the ice maker has quietly started up at 6 a.m. every Monday through Friday, with the first nugget dumping in the bin just before I wake up at 6:15 a.m. When I turned off the schedule for a week while I was out of town, the ice maker continued to run silently.
The on/off feature works as intended, and when you toggle the power button in the app, the machine responds after a few seconds. This is an especially handy feature when you’re walking around town, so you can leave the maker on when you get home and have your favorite ice cream waiting for you when you arrive.
Of course, it is also compatible with Alexa and Google Home.
you need What if your ice maker was Alexa-enabled? It would be super convenient if you wanted a cold drink in the living room. Just give a command and ice would be made. I’m a sucker for smart home tech, and it still makes me smile every time I ask Alexa to “make ice” and hear the ice maker start humming away in the next room.
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Like many smart home features, at first I wondered if it was an option I would use, but I quickly found it becoming a part of my daily life.
The ice tray can be pulled out, making it easy to scoop out ice.
Artie Beatty/ZDNET
There is only one big problem with the GE Opal 2.0: it is heavy, but not in terms of physical size. Approximately $600 (moreover Additional side reservoirs) So this is by no means a cheap ice maker. There are certainly more affordable options out there, but none have the smart features that the Opal has. The Opal is a big step forward for me.
GE is Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker As a budget-friendly option. Frankly, at more than double the price of cheaper machines, it’s pretty pricey for what you get, and the price will definitely be a barrier for some.
ZDNET BUYING ADVICE
This is a luxury purchase, and we knew that from the beginning. But so far, it has been worth the price. Not only does it function perfectly mechanically and technically, but everyone who sees it says, “Oh, this is a great car. that ice!?”
So if, like me, you crave chewable ice and don’t mind spending a little extra to get it automatically, on your schedule, or with the tap of a button on your phone (and impress your friends in the process), you won’t find a better option.
