The sensible dwelling gadget you did not know you wanted within the kitchen (and why it is value it)

GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• GoveeLife’s sensible nugget ice maker makes 2.5 kilos of ice an hour.
• The bucket shops and retains ice cool for hours.
• It has a premium price ticket of $500.

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Several years in the past, I spent greater than $500 on a countertop ice maker. (No, I’m not ashamed to confess this.) My fridge made completely effective ice, nevertheless it wasn’t the nice ice, the smooth, chewable nuggets you discover at many quick meals eating places. That ice maker remains to be one in all my favourite kitchen home equipment, and I’m not exaggerating after I say that I take advantage of it each single day I’m at dwelling.

There at the moment are a number of different entries within the “premium nugget ice maker” class, together with an upgraded model of the one I’ve. A couple of weeks in the past, although, I bought my arms on the most recent choice — the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro. 

Also: This moveable ice maker makes ice so quick, I can not think about dwelling with out it

GoveeLife (a sub-brand of Govee, who makes a speciality of sensible lighting) already has a countertop ice maker, however this model produces ice at a a lot sooner fee, and, extra importantly, makes the completely addictive nugget ice. Like related merchandise, it comes with a worth which may make you pause at first — $500. 

The unit itself measures 16 inches deep, 17 inches excessive, and 10.5 inches vast, so it suits comfortably underneath my cupboards (the extra water tank provides roughly 3 inches in width). That is a comparatively giant footprint, nevertheless it aligns with related merchandise.

At first look, from throughout the kitchen, I did not assume the design even resembled an ice maker. It’s a big black field with a display screen on high, a tinted window, and lights. It would not be a Govee product, although, with out the flexibility to customise these lights. A skinny mild runs throughout the highest of the bucket to supply illumination and warn you if the bucket is full or the machine wants cleansing. 

Also: The 13 most helpful sensible dwelling units I’ve seen at CES 2026 (and would purchase if I might)

You can select how vibrant the sunshine is, even turning it utterly off, or select from a preselected sample. I chosen a cool blue for standby and one referred to as “cyberpunk” for ice manufacturing (a purple-and-red glow that bounces backwards and forwards).

One small design component I like is that the ice scoop attaches magnetically to the aspect of the water tank. It’s a function my unique Opal does not have (the two.0 did add it), and it makes maintaining with the news immensely simpler. 

Like any tech product as of late, this ice maker contains AI. The firm touts “AI NoiseGuard technology” that is purported to remove disruptive noise and robotically thaw to stop freeze-ups. That’s really an issue I’ve had with my present ice maker; in my quick time up to now with Govee’s, I have not encountered it. 

GoveeLife’s nugget ice maker has a continuing hum whereas making ice, nevertheless it’s not loud. It was noticeable all through my kitchen, nevertheless it wasn’t overbearing by any means, and I could not hear it in any respect from the following room.

Also: Five CES 2026 merchandise I’d purchase as quickly as they’d take my cash

The app is simple to make use of. I might begin the machine with a faucet, and it adopted the schedules I set. The reminders when the machine is out of water or wants cleansing have been a pleasant contact, too. It’s appropriate with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice management, and I shortly discovered that “Alexa, make ice” is one in all my new favourite sensible dwelling instructions. 

GoveeLife claims the machine can begin producing ice in as little as 6 minutes and produce as much as 2.5 kilos per hour. Both claims appear fairly spot-on. I schedule ice manufacturing to start out about quarter-hour earlier than I get up every morning, and the bucket is full sufficient for a glass by the point I attain the kitchen.

The ice is on par with what I’ve seen from related merchandise — smooth, chewable nuggets which can be similar to a few of my favourite quick meals spots. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

So is it value $500? I’d say sure. It’s a luxurious buy for positive, and also you may get some raised eyebrows from mates if you inform them how a lot you spent simply to have nugget ice day by day (in all equity, that worth will purchase greater than 160 10-pound luggage of Sonic ice). But should you’re prepared to push previous that barrier, you may doubtless don’t have any different complaints. 

I really like nugget ice, and I really discover myself consuming extra water if I’ve fixed, quick access to it. For the comfort of getting a recent provide each morning after I get up or inside a couple of minutes of tapping the app, it is value it. Additionally, a machine like that is all the time nice for internet hosting events, because it makes ice sooner than my fridge (and most of the people favor nugget ice anyway when given a selection). 

If you are in search of a simple-to-use ice maker that gives as a lot nugget ice as you’ll be able to deal with and you do not thoughts the eye-catching, trendy design, the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro may simply be your new favourite equipment.