Is Govees new nugget ice maker worth its $500 premium price tag? Heres my verdict a few weeks in

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Several years ago, I spent more than $500 on a countertop ice maker. (No, I’m not ashamed to admit this.) My refrigerator made perfectly fine ice, but it wasn’t the good ice, the soft, chewable nuggets you find at many fast food restaurants. That ice maker is still one of my favorite kitchen appliances, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that I use it every single day I’m at home.

There are now several other entries in the “premium nugget ice maker” category, including an upgraded version of the one I have. A few weeks ago, though, I got my hands on the newest option — the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro.

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Govee already has a countertop ice maker, but this version produces ice at a much faster rate, and, more importantly, makes the absolutely addictive nugget ice. Like similar products, it comes with a price that might make you pause at first — $500.

The unit itself measures 16 inches deep, 17 inches high, and 10.5 inches wide, so it fits comfortably under my cabinets (the additional water tank adds approximately 3 inches in width). That is a relatively large footprint, but it’s in line with similar products.

At first glance, from across the kitchen, I didn’t think the design even resembled an ice maker. It’s a large black box with a screen on top, a tinted window, and lights. It wouldn’t be a Govee product, though, without the ability to customize those lights. A thin light runs across the top of the bucket to serve as illumination and to alert you if the bucket is full or the machine needs cleaning. You can choose how bright the light is, even turning it completely off, or choose from a preselected pattern. I selected a cool blue for standby and one called “cyberpunk” for ice production (a purple and red glow that bounces back and forth).

One small design element I like is that the ice scoop attaches magnetically to the side of the water tank. It’s a feature my original Opal doesn’t have (the 2.0 did add it), and it makes keeping up with the scoop immensely easier.

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Like any tech product these days, this ice maker includes AI. The company touts something called “AI NoiseGuard technology” that’s supposed to eliminate disruptive noises and automatically thaw to prevent freeze-ups. That’s actually a problem I’ve had with my current ice maker; in my short time so far with Govee’s, I haven’t encountered it. Govee’s nugget ice maker does have a constant hum while it’s making ice, but it’s not loud. It was noticeable from all parts of my kitchen, but it wasn’t overbearing by any means, and I couldn’t hear it at all from the next room.

The app is easy to use. I could start the machine with a tap, and it followed the schedules I set. The reminders when the machine is out of water or needs cleaning were a nice touch, too. It’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, and I quickly found that “Alexa, make ice” is one of my new favorite smart home commands.

Govee claims the machine starts to produce ice in as little as six minutes and can produce up to 2.5 pounds per hour. Both claims seem pretty spot-on. I schedule ice production to start about 15 minutes before I wake up each morning, and the bucket is full enough for a glass by the time I reach the kitchen.

The ice is on par with what I’ve seen from similar products — soft, chewable nuggets that are just like some of my favorite fast food spots.

ZDNET’s buying advice

So is it worth $500? I’d say yes. It’s a luxury purchase for sure, and you might get some raised eyebrows from friends when you tell them how much you spent just to have nugget ice every day (in all fairness, that price will buy more than 160 10-pound bags of Sonic ice). But if you’re willing to push past that barrier, you’ll likely have no other complaints.

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I love nugget ice, and I actually find myself drinking more water if I have constant, easy access to it. For the convenience of having a fresh supply every morning when I wake up or within a few minutes of tapping the app, it’s worth it. Additionally, a machine like this is always great for hosting parties, as it makes ice faster than my refrigerator (and most people prefer nugget ice anyway when given a choice).

If you’re looking for a simple to use ice maker that provides as much nugget ice as you can handle and you don’t mind the eye-catching, modern design, the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro might just be your new favorite appliance.

Govee sent me a unit to write this review.