Best Ice Makers · head-to-head

Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker vs GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker is cheaper at $89. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker or GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro?

The Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker is the cheaper at $89. The Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro
US price $89 $500
BrandFrigidaireGoveeLife
Released20172026-01
Ice type bullet nugget
Daily capacity (lb) 26 60
First ice minutes 6 6
Storage capacity (lb) 1.5 3.5
Self cleaning No Yes
Wi-Fi No Yes
Dimensions (in) 11.4 H x 8.7 W x 11.6 D 17.01 H x 13.98 W x 17.28 D
Release 2017 2026-01

Sources — Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker: iceartisan.com (verified 2026-06-19). GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro: us.govee.com (verified 2026-06-19).

What's the difference between the Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker and GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Ice type: Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker bullet vs GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro nugget
  • Daily capacity (lb): Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker 26 vs GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro 60
  • Storage capacity (lb): Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker 1.5 vs GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro 3.5
  • Self cleaning: Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker false vs GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro true
  • Wi-Fi: Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker false vs GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro true
  • Dimensions (in): Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker 11.4 H x 8.7 W x 11.6 D vs GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro 17.01 H x 13.98 W x 17.28 D

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker

Only one whitelisted outlet, Reviewed (USA Today), covers the Frigidaire EFIC189, and it does so in a roundup blurb that leans on specs plus owner reviews rather than its own lab benchmark, so no measured numbers are reported. It calls the compact, affordable, quiet unit a fine basic countertop maker but flags its tiny half-pound basket. (1 sourced review.)

Praised: Compact, space-saving footprint that stashes away easily; Affordable / attractive price point; Quiet operation.

Flagged: Small ice-basket capacity, roughly half a pound; Won't replace bagged ice for filling a cooler unless continuously emptied.

GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro

Exactly one verified hands-on review of this model survived checking: Reviewed's January 2026 test by Leigh Harrington, who calls it "fun, fast, and one of the best we've tested." Its verdict is that the ice performance and app control are excellent and the machine is genuinely low-maintenance, but the nearly 50-pound body makes unboxing and placement a two-person job. Treat this as a single-source picture, not a consensus — no second tester was confirmed either way. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Fast, high-volume nugget ice — a full 3.5 lb bucket in just over 90 minutes, and it auto-restarts as you scoop until the bucket is full; Quiet in daily use; the tester heard none of the evaporator screeching common to countertop ice makers across the whole test period; Easy GoveeHome app setup, with scheduling, remote start/stop, a production-history log and Alexa/Google Home voice control.

Flagged: Nearly 50 lb (49.27 lb) and tightly packed — the tester could not unbox or lift it alone, and it must not be tilted past 45° without risking the compressor, so plan on two people; RGB lighting and a prominent LED control panel give it a very modern look the reviewer notes will not suit every kitchen; "Self-cleaning" still requires manual involvement: draining water, adding detergent and scrubbing parts.

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