Editor’s Note: All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately as of the morning of July 13, Amazon’s full discount on this nugget ice maker is no longer available. However, the Newair Nugget Countertop Ice Maker is still on sale for $395 (12% off) even though Prime Day is officially over.
Whether you call it “nugget ice,” “pellet ice,” or “Sonic ice,” the craze over the porous and chewable tiny tater tot-shaped ice has die-hard fans tracking down commercial-grade ice makers to install at home, but a commercial nugget ice maker can run you as much as $6,300! 😱
Lucky for Sonic ice fans, during the Amazon Prime Day sales today and tomorrow, you can get a countertop nugget ice maker for a cool $340. And it's not just any nugget ice maker — it happens to be our top pick for budget nugget ice maker, and our readers' favorite too.
Newair Nugget Countertop Ice Maker
Pros
- Doesn’t require frequent refills
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Loud
- The bin doesn’t keep the ice that cold, so it will melt after a few hours
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 15.04 x 16.54 x 9.84 inches (D x H x W) |
|---|---|
| Bin Capacity | 3.5 pounds |
| Ice Per Hour | 19.3 ounces |
| Warranty | 1 year |
This Amazon Prime Day Newair Nugget ice maker deal saves you 24% off the regular price, which is the steepest discount this machine has ever received. In fact, this time last year, the appliance was priced at a much-harder-to-justify $532.
How the Newair Stacks Up
I tested the Newair Countertop Nugget ice maker alongside other popular brands from the likes of GE, Frigidaire, and FirstBuild and here's why it was my top pick for best budget nugget ice maker.
Other budget-friendly ice makers leak, have loud grinding noises, and just don’t last. The Newair, on the other hand, significantly impressed me. It produced ice around 30% faster than the $600 GE Profile Opal 2.0, and its bin can store even more ice — a whole 3.3 pounds.
Besides having an impressive yield, I liked that it has a useful self-cleaning function and came with a large ice scoop. It also looks nice in any kitchen and even flaunts an illuminated ice drawer.
Forgivable Faults
It's worth mentioning that the ice in the Newair melts at a faster rate than some other nugget ice makers. That’s because its bin compartment isn’t refrigerated. On the plus side, the Newair has a smaller footprint, which is a big deal if you’re tight on counter space.
The ice maker’s fan is much louder than the GE’s Profile Opal line of ice makers, too — so loud that you can hear it in the other room. When ice falls into the bin, it sounds a bit like popcorn popping. Not terribly annoying, but noticeable!
The Bottom Line
Given the fact that the Newair is now $256 cheaper than the competing GE Profile Opal 2.0 for Prime Day, I think it’s a great buy for bringing everyone’s favorite chewable ice to the comfort of your own kitchen. It’s easy to maintain, is backed by a 1-year warranty, and produces ice faster than the competition.
Shop the Newair Nugget Countertop Ice Maker
Brandon Carte has been covering technology at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been writing about the latest gadgets, appliances, and scouring the internet for the products that make life easier. His reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify, and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
