Is the GE Opal Worth It?
Updated June 2026
Short answer: Worth It for Some
If you genuinely love nugget ice and will use it daily, the GE Opal is worth it — it makes the best chewable ice of any countertop machine and adds app scheduling. But it is a flawed champion: an honest look at the price, the thin warranty, and a near-identical $150-cheaper rival makes it a "worth it for some" rather than an easy yes.
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Price breakdown
The Opal 2.0 lists around $579 but regularly streets near $399, and the XL with the bigger tank runs a bit more. The number that matters most is the comparison to the Frigidaire EFIC255 at about $260 — which reviewers say makes ice you cannot tell apart in a blind test. So the Opal premium is roughly $140–$150, and it buys the SmartHQ app, quieter operation, UV treatment, and a stronger support network, not better ice.
Performance benefits
On ice quality the Opal is the benchmark: the softest, most craveable nuggets, about 38 lbs a day, with a first batch in roughly 15 minutes. The app scheduling — start a batch before you get home — is a genuine convenience the cheaper machines lack, and it runs quietly.
Longevity
This is the soft spot. The warranty is one year, GE does not repair its small appliances (failed units are exchanged within warranty, not fixed), and owners report pump and sensor failures around the two-to-three-year mark plus mold if cleaning slips. A diligent cleaning routine and buying on sale are how you make the math work.
Alternatives to consider
- Frigidaire EFIC255 Nugget Ice Maker
Near-identical ice for ~$150 less — the value pick if you can live without the app and quieter operation.
5.6 - GE Profile Opal 2.0
The Opal itself remains the best ice and best support path if those extras matter to you.
7.3
The verdict
The GE Opal is worth it for nugget-ice devotees who want the best ice, app scheduling, and a more reputable brand to stand behind it — and who will buy on sale and keep it clean. If you just want great ice for the lowest price, the Frigidaire makes the Opal hard to justify.