Is Govee’s New Nugget Ice Maker Worth Its $500 Premium Price? After a few weeks my verdict is this

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Several years ago, I spent over $500 on a countertop ice maker. (No, I’m not ashamed to admit this.) My refrigerator made perfect ice, but it didn’t good iceSoft, chewable nuggets that 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 I use it every day at home.

There are now several other entries in the “Premium Nugget Ice Maker” category, including an upgraded version of the one I have. However, a few weeks ago, I came across the newest option – the GoviLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro.

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Govi already has a countertop ice maker, but this version produces ice at a much faster speed, and, more importantly, it makes totally addictive ice. Like similar products, it comes with a price that might make you pause at first – $500.

The unit itself is 16 inches deep, 17 inches high, and 10.5 inches wide, so it fits comfortably under my cabinets (the additional water tank increases the width by about 3 inches). It’s 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 big black box with a screen on top, a colored window, and lights. However, without the ability to customize those lights, it wouldn’t be a Govee product. A thin light runs across the top of the bucket to serve as an illumination and to alert you if the bucket is full or the machine needs cleaning. You can choose how bright the light is, even turn it off completely, or choose from pre-selected patterns. I chose a nice blue color for standby and something called “cyberpunk” for snow production (a purple and red glow that bounces back and forth).

One little design element I like is that the ice scoop magnetically attaches to the side of the water tank. This is a feature that my original Opel didn’t have (2.0 added it), and it makes it extremely easy to keep up with the scoop.

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Like any tech product these days, this ice maker includes AI. The company touts something it calls “AI NoiseGuard Technology,” which eliminates disruptive noise and automatically thaws to prevent freeze-ups. This is actually a problem with my current ice maker; In my short time so far with Goviz, I haven’t encountered this. Govi’s Nugget Ice Maker makes a steady gurgling sound while making ice, but it is not loud. It was noticeable from all parts of my kitchen, but it wasn’t intense by any means, and I couldn’t hear it from the next room at all.

The app is easy to use. I could start the machine with a single tap, and it would follow the schedule I set. The reminder when the machine has no water or needs cleaning was also a nice touch. It’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, and I quickly discovered that “Alexa, make ice” is one of my new favorite smart home commands.

Govi claims the machine starts making ice in six minutes and can make up to 2.5 pounds of ice per hour. Both claims seem absolutely accurate. I schedule it to start producing ice about 15 minutes before I wake up each morning, and by the time I get to the kitchen the bucket is filled with enough for a glass.

The Ice is on par with what I’ve seen in similar products – soft, chewable nuggets that are like some of my favorite fast food spots.

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So is it worth $500? I would say yes. It’s definitely a luxury purchase, and you might raise a few eyebrows when you tell friends how much you spent just to eat nuggets of ice every day (to be fair, that price would buy more than 160 10-pound bags of Sonic Ice). But if you’re willing to get over that hurdle, you probably won’t have any other complaints.

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

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use ice maker that delivers as many nugget ice as you can handle and you don’t mind a sleek, modern design, then GoviLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro Maybe this could be your new favorite device.

Govi sent me a unit to write this review.