At a Glance#
Product : GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank
Brand : GE Profile
Best For : Nugget-ice lovers and home entertainers who want soft chewable ice on the counter
Form Factor : Countertop nugget ice maker, 0.75-gallon side tank, WiFi connected
Buy Now : View on Amazon
Key Highlights:
- Makes soft, chewable sonic-style nugget ice that absorbs drink flavor
- First batch in 10 minutes or less, then 1.6 lbs an hour up to 38 lbs a day in a cool kitchen
- 0.75-gallon side tank stretches the time between refills for parties
- Built-in WiFi and the SmartHQ app let you schedule and monitor ice
- No plumbing required, just fill it, plug it in, and set it on the counter — with 4 inches of clearance behind and beside
Who Should Buy This#
The Opal 2.0 hits a sweet spot for anyone who loves the soft, chewable nugget ice from drive-thru drinks and is tired of buying bags. It brings that exact ice home on demand, and the side tank and smart features make it practical for real entertaining rather than a once-a-week novelty.
Perfect for:
- Sonic-ice obsessives who crave chewable pellet ice and hate paying for bags
- Home entertainers and party hosts who run out of ice mid-gathering with a basic maker
- Smart-home enthusiasts who want appliances they can schedule and check from a phone
- Hydration and specialty-drink fans who drink more water, iced coffee, and cocktails when the ice is good
It puts nugget ice on a counter with nothing more than a socket, no plumber involved.
Chewable Nugget Ice, On Demand#
Nugget ice is the draw here. The Opal 2.0 compacts soft flakes into crunchable pellets that chill drinks fast and soak up flavor, the same ice people associate with their favorite fountain sodas. It is genuinely better for sipping than hard cubes, and that is why nugget makers have such a devoted following.
Built for Real Use, Not Just a Demo#
The first batch is ready in 10 minutes or less, and the machine makes up to 1.6 pounds an hour. The 38-pounds-a-day headline is real but conditional, and GE prints the condition itself: 38 lb/day and 1.6 lb/hr at 70°F ambient with 60°F water, falling to 30.9 lb/day and 1.28 lb/hr at 90°F ambient with 70°F water, measured per DOE. A hot kitchen in August costs you roughly a fifth of the output.
The other number to hold in your head is the bin: it stores 3 pounds at a time, so 38 pounds a day is a production rate, not a stockpile. The detachable 0.75-gallon side tank is the practical upgrade over the base Opal. GE's own wording is that the attached water supply "allows you to produce up to three times more ice and easily detaches for clean up" — it does not say three times what, so read it as GE's comparison, not ours.
Check current availability: View on Amazon
Smart Features That Earn Their Keep#
Built-in WiFi connects the Opal to the SmartHQ app, where you can start or schedule a batch, monitor the ice level, and get fill reminders. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free ice while you cook, and it receives software updates over time. These are the rare smart features that genuinely add convenience rather than complication.
Countertop Convenience#
One thing to know about where this model sits in GE's line-up: GE has ended production of the Opal 2.0 with Side Tank in both finishes — its pages for the Black Stainless XPIO13BCBT and for the stainless XPIO13SCSS both carry "This model is no longer being manufactured", and GE has moved on to an Opal Mini. The machine is still stocked and still sold, and nothing about how it works has changed, but it is a run-out product rather than the current one.
There is no plumbing or installation. You fill the tank manually, plug it in, and place it on any counter. It ships with a plastic ice scoop and a drip tray, and the ice bin is a pull-out drawer with a triple-wall clear front. Plan the space properly before you buy: GE asks for 4 inches of clearance at the back and at both sides, though nothing on top, and the unit itself is 37.65 lbs — the 51 lbs you see quoted is the shipping weight, box included. Budget for the upkeep GE actually specifies: descaling "should be performed every 4 weeks depending on water hardness", the air filter behind the unit wants checking "at least every 2 months", and GE's optional Taste and Odor and Scale Inhibiting filters run a 3-month cycle. The filters do not replace descaling — GE's manual tells you to uninstall them before you descale.
Technical Specifications#
Ice Type : Nugget / pellet (chewable sonic-style)
Ice Production : Up to 1.6 lbs/hour and 38 lbs/24h at 70°F ambient with 60°F water; 1.28 lbs/hour and 30.9 lbs/24h at 90°F ambient with 70°F water
First Batch Time : 10 minutes or less
Side Tank Capacity : 0.75 gallon, detachable
Connectivity : Built-in WiFi (SmartHQ app), Alexa and Google Assistant
Model : XPIO13BCBT (Black Stainless)
Ice Storage Bin : 3 lbs (pull-out drawer)
Dimensions : 16.5 H x 13.43 W x 17.5 D inches, plus 4 inches of clearance at back and sides
Finish : Black Stainless
Weight : 37.65 lbs net; 51 lbs shipping
Power : 120V AC, 60 Hz, 2.5 A
Noise : 39 dBA
Warranty : Limited 1-year parts on the entire appliance; no labor warranty
Installation : Countertop, freestanding, no plumbing
Included : Plastic ice scoop, 0.75-gallon side tank, drip tray
Pros & Cons#
Pros:
- Authentic chewable sonic-style nugget ice that is better for drinks than cubes
- GE says the side tank produces up to three times more ice between refills than the base Opal
- First batch in 10 minutes or less, then up to 1.6 lbs an hour
- Useful smart features: SmartHQ scheduling, software updates, Alexa and Google Home
- No plumbing or installation, just fill, plug in, and place on the counter
- Quiet for a compressor appliance at a rated 39 dBA
- Comes with a plastic scoop, a drip tray and a pull-out ice drawer
Cons:
- The 3 lb bin means 38 lbs a day is a rate, not a reserve — it refills as you take ice out
- Output is temperature-dependent: 30.9 lbs a day at 90°F ambient against 38 at 70°F
- Not a freezer, so ice slowly melts and recycles when not used
- GE specifies descaling every 4 weeks and an air-filter check every 2 months; optional water filters are a separate 3-month cost
- Wants 4 inches of clearance behind and beside it, weighs 37.65 lbs, and carries only a 1-year parts warranty with no labor cover
FAQ#
Q: Does the GE Profile Opal 2.0 need a water line? A: No. It is a countertop maker you fill manually, and the detachable 0.75-gallon side tank extends the time between refills.
Q: How fast does the Opal 2.0 make ice? A: The first batch is ready in 10 minutes or less. GE rates it at 1.6 lbs an hour and 38 lbs a day at 70°F ambient with 60°F water, dropping to 1.28 lbs an hour and 30.9 lbs a day at 90°F ambient with 70°F water.
Q: How much ice does it hold? A: 3 pounds in the pull-out bin. The daily figure is how fast it replaces what you take out, not how much it stores.
Q: Does the Opal keep ice frozen? A: No. It is an on-demand maker, not a freezer. Unused ice slowly melts and the water is recycled into new ice.
Q: How much space does it need? A: The unit is 16.5 inches high, 13.43 wide and 17.5 deep, and GE asks for 4 inches of clearance at the back and at both sides. Nothing is required above it.
Final Verdict#
Buy it. The GE Profile Opal 2.0 turns out addictive chewable nugget ice on demand, and the side tank keeps it running through a party without constant refills.
Our recommendation: If you entertain or simply drink more water with good ice, get the side-tank version rather than the base Opal. The extra reservoir is the difference-maker. Get it here: View on Amazon