If you were on TikTok in the early 2020s, you’re probably deeply familiar with the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker. It went super viral as creators made content about their iced coffee concoctions, sodas, and even water recipes.
But for most people, the price and size of the Opal ice maker made it an impractical purchase. At a press event with GE Profile in New York City, André Zdanow, executive director of Small Appliances, FirstBuild, and CoCreate at GE Appliances, told me that the most common suggestion his team hears from customers is to make a smaller version of the Opal. So, they listened.
As of July 14, the brand has launched the GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker. It’s 30 percent smaller than the Opal Ultra ice maker, shaving off two inches from both the height and the width, making it easier to store on a countertop.
“The Opal Mini lineup delivers the same craveable nugget ice customers know and love — now in a more compact design, with meaningful performance improvements, easier maintenance, and new finishes,” Zdanow said in a press release.
Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker price and specs
There are three versions of the new ice maker: the Opal Mini ($279 to $299), Opal Mini Pro ($379), and Opal Mini Pro+ ($399).
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The Opal Mini features a top-fill water reservoir, ditching the side tank design for a smaller footprint. However, the Mini Pro and Mini Pro+ feature a large-capacity side tank in addition to the top-fill reservoir for fewer refills.
The Mini Pro models include a side tank. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
The Opal Mini produces up to 36 pounds of ice per day, and can hold up to two pounds of ice at a time, compared to the Opal Ultra’s three pounds. Zdanow said the idea is that two people can fill up a 40-ounce Stanley cup with nugget ice from the machine at the same time. So, you won’t have to fight your roommate or partner over who gets a cup full of deliciously cold and crunchy bev in the morning.
While the larger versions are obviously better for hosting large groups, the Mini Pro models bring a new life to the party. They’re compatible with GE’s SmartHQ app, where you can control a color-changing light in the ice bin. Within the app, you’re also able to schedule when you want the ice maker to produce ice.
At launch, the Opal Mini is available in stone grey, charcoal grey, steel grey, and stainless steel finishes. Color expansions are coming this fall, with peony pink, moss green, and moonstone blue options available, likely in October. They’re all super cute, and I’m definitely eyeing the moss green one for my kitchen.
The Opal Mini will be available in peony pink, moss green, and moonstone blue color options this fall. Credit: Miller Ken / Mashable
Where to buy the GE Profile Opal Mini Nugget Ice Maker
As of July 14, the GE Profile Opal Mini in stone grey ($299) is available on geappliances.com and other retailers as stock becomes available. The Opal Mini in charcoal grey ($279) is available on geappliances.com and exclusively at Walmart. The Opal Mini Pro in steel grey and Mini Pro+ in stainless steel are available on geappliances.com and at select retailers as they receive stock.
