For some people, the ice in the drink is almost as important as the drink itself. That’s the audience Govee had in mind when designing its latest ice maker GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro. This high-priced $500 smart home gadget is aimed at those who crave so-called “good ice,” the soft, chewy ice cubes often found in fast food or restaurant drinks.
Govee says the modern-designed gadget can provide wind chill for up to six minutes. This is a claim that has proven true in my tests. It can make up to 60 pounds of ice per day and has a 3.5-pound ice basket that refills automatically when you remove ice.
The high price tag means it’s not for people who are completely satisfied with their fridge ice and don’t even know what “good ice” means. Instead, it’s for self-professed ice lovers who want to splurge on a fun, fancy gadget that makes everyday drinks a little more delicious.
It is simple to use, as you only need to fill the tank with water and press the start button on the screen. You can also control it with the GoveeHome app, which lets you start ice making from your phone or make ice before your morning coffee.
Program control is quite convenient. I could start the ice maker from my phone while working at my desk, and when I wanted an iced latte, I had a fresh block of ice ready to go without going to the kitchen to start the machine. The app also shows real-time ice production and how much is currently in the ice bucket, which is useful if you want to stop production when you want a certain amount.
The ice maker also supports voice commands with Alexa and Google Assistant, meaning a quick “Hey Google, start the ice maker” leads to fresh ice.
The ice maker uses what Govee calls AI NoiseGuard technology to keep operating noise down as well. Designed to operate at approximately 40 dB, the system can automatically initiate defrost cycles to minimize noise and ensure a steady supply of ice. The machine makes a constant hum when making ice, but I didn’t find the noise to be distracting or overtly loud.
It wouldn’t be a Govee product if it didn’t offer customizable ambient lighting. The smart ice maker has a light that illuminates the ice basket and adds a fun visual element to the device. Through the app, you can choose from a variety of presets or create your own custom lighting effects. You can choose how bright you want the lights to be or turn them off completely.
I mostly kept it in a light pink mode, but sometimes when there were people I switched to a “cyberpunk” mode that gave off a changing purple and red glow that felt fun and futuristic.
At 17.28 inches deep, 13.98 inches wide, and 17.01 inches tall, the ice maker takes up a lot of space and weighs 50 pounds. If you have a small kitchen, it can look bulky, especially since its sleek design doesn’t look remotely like an ice maker.
As for the installation, it was pretty simple, but then I definitely needed my husband’s help to get it into our kitchen and then I had to move it again when I needed to descale and clean the car.
All in all, the bar ice has elevated my iced drinks, giving them an at-home coffee shop feel and making my morning routine more enjoyable. I also noticed that the ice melts slower than the ice in my freezer, so my drinks stayed cold longer without getting watered down quickly.
Another big plus was his speed. It made ice faster than my fridge, so I always had enough on hand when hosting friends and family. The ice maker itself was noticeable when guests arrived, not only because of its size and flashing lights, but also because the ice cube was a hit with the other self-proclaimed ice connoisseurs in my life (some even threatened to steal it).
Whether or not the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro is for you really depends on how much you care about the nugget ice required and how often you’ll be using it. If you’re not really into ice, you obviously don’t need a niche enough device.
But if you’re a regular ice drinker and lover of “good ice,” this ice maker may be the appliance you know you never need.
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