Honeywell Nugget Ice Maker Review

The Honeywell nugget ice maker is a countertop machine rated at 38 lb of soft, chewable nugget ice a day, with a 5.5 lb ice drawer (per Honeywell). It comes in two versions: the H-ICE fills from a 1-gallon side tank, and the H-ICE2 connects to a water line.

Its strong points on paper are the large drawer and the water line option, which few countertop nugget machines offer. Its weak points are thin owner data, mixed early ratings and no published warranty term. This review is based on the spec sheets, retailer listings and owner ratings we could find. How we research.

Who makes the Honeywell ice maker

Honeywell does not build these machines itself. The Honeywell Store, which sells both models, says it is operated by eAccess Solutions, Inc., under license by Honeywell International Inc. Amazon lists the manufacturer as Honeywell. We could not find out which factory builds the unit. Many countertop nugget machines share parts with other brands, so the Honeywell name tells you little about the inside.

The Amazon listings call the product "Opal nugget ice". That is a description of the ice style. These are not GE Profile Opal machines.

Specs

Sources: the Honeywell Store pages for the H-ICE and the H-ICE2, plus the Amazon product details for power and refrigerant. At 16.73 in tall, both fit under most wall cabinets. Leave room on the sides and back for airflow.

Side tank or water line

H-ICE: 1-gallon side tank

The H-ICE takes a 1-gallon tank that clips to either side of the machine. That is more than the Opal 2.0 Ultra's 0.75-gallon tank. The H-ICE is listed 3.75 in wider than the H-ICE2, which suggests the tank is included in that width. You still refill by hand. At full output, a gallon will not last a full day of ice-making.

H-ICE2: water line hookup

Honeywell says the H-ICE2 "connects directly to a water line for automatic replenishment". That is the main reason to buy it. Honeywell's public pages do not say:

• what fitting size the inlet takes;
• what water pressure range it accepts;
• whether tubing, a valve or adapters come in the box;
• whether it needs a drain, or where meltwater goes.

In general, a plumbed countertop machine needs a cold potable water supply with its own shut-off valve near the counter. The usual sources are a tee off the cold line under the sink or a refrigerator water line. Plan for that before you buy, and read the manual in the box for the exact parts list. Some sites post "manuals" for the H-ICE2 that are generated summaries, not the official document. Do not rely on them for fitting sizes or pressure.

A water line also brings your tap water's minerals into the machine every day. Hard water is the main cause of scale in nugget makers. See our care section for descaling and filtering.

Cleaning

Both models have an "automated self cleaning process", per Honeywell. Honeywell does not publish how long the cycle runs, how often to run it or which descaler to use. Self-clean cycles flush water through the system. They do not replace a regular sanitize and descale. Owners of every nugget brand report mold and scale when they rely on the button alone. Our care guide covers a routine that works for any brand. If you plan to run it around the clock, read can you leave a countertop ice maker on.

Warranty and support

We could not find a written warranty term for the H-ICE or H-ICE2. The Honeywell Store's warranty page says OEM products carry the full manufacturer's warranty and tells buyers to check the documents in the box. Ice makers are not on its list of products whose claims the store handles directly. Check your manual for the term and the claim process.

If you buy from the Honeywell Store, its return policy asks you to contact it within 30 days for a return number. The store's contact page has no line for ice makers. It lists 847-701-3038 for order help and 877-841-2840 for "all other product related inquiries". If you buy elsewhere, the retailer's return window is your first safety net.

What owners say

Owner data is thin. Here is everything we found, checked on 4 October 2026:

• Amazon, H-ICE2: 3.3 out of 5 from 54 global ratings. 46% are 5-star and 28% are 1-star.
• Amazon, H-ICE: 3.0 out of 5 from 62 global ratings. 40% are 5-star and 33% are 1-star.
• Amazon's review summaries (machine-generated) name noise as a common complaint on both models. They also note some units that stopped working within months.
• Honeywell Store: no reviews on either the H-ICE or the H-ICE2.
• Reddit and expert tests: we found no meaningful owner discussion and no lab or editorial test.

A split between many 5-star and many 1-star ratings is common in this category. Most units work, and a share fail early. With about 60 ratings per model, there is not enough data to judge long-term reliability. Our reliability section shows how the better-known brands hold up.

How it compares

Sources: Abt listing for the Opal 2.0 Ultra, GE warranty page, GoveeLife product page. The Honeywell holds the most ice. The Opal has the deepest owner record and an app. The GoveeLife rates highest on output and warranty. The H-ICE2 is the only one of the three that plumbs in. See the full comparison.

Who it suits

• You want a countertop nugget machine on a water line and do not want to refill a tank.
• You use ice in batches and value a 5.5 lb drawer over app features.
• You buy from a store with an easy return window, since the warranty term is not public.

Who should skip it

• You want proven long-term reliability. The Opal has far more owner history.
• You want a clear multi-year warranty. GoveeLife states 3 years.
• Noise matters, for example in an open-plan room. Noise is the most named complaint.

What we don't know

• The warranty length and who handles claims.
• The H-ICE2's fitting size, pressure range, included parts and drain needs.
• Weight, noise level and time to first ice.
• Which factory builds the unit, and whether parts are sold.
• How the machines hold up past the first year.

We will update this page when Honeywell publishes these details or more owner data appears.

Alternatives

• GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra: the best-documented countertop nugget machine, with an app and a scale-inhibiting filter.
• GE Profile Opal Mini: a smaller footprint for tight counters.
• GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro: higher rated output and a 3-year warranty.
• Frigidaire Gallery: a widely sold budget option. Read its warranty terms first.
• Our take on the Honeywell water line model in the main guide.

Worried about materials? See our non-toxic nugget ice maker guide. For the full shortlist, start with the best countertop nugget ice makers.