For some people, the ice in a drink is almost as important as the drink itself. This was the audience Govee had in mind when designing its latest ice machine, the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro. This $500 premium smart home gadget is aimed at those who crave what’s called “good ice,” the soft, chewy flake ice often found in fast food or restaurant drinks.
Govee says the stylishly designed gadget delivers ice cube in just 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 automatically refills as you remove ice.
The hefty price tag means it’s not for people who are completely happy with fridge ice and don’t know what “good ice” even means. Instead, it’s for self-proclaimed ice lovers willing to splurge on a fun, luxury gadget that makes everyday drinks a little more enjoyable.
It is simple to use as you just need to fill the tank with water and press start on the screen. You can also control the ice maker with the GoveeHome app, which lets you start ice making from your phone or schedule it so the ice is ready when you need it, like before your morning coffee.
Controlling the application is quite convenient. I could start the ice maker from my phone while working at my desk, and by the time I wanted an iced latte, there was fresh ice ready without ever having to go to the kitchen to turn on the machine. The app also shows real-time ice production and how much is currently in the ice bin, which is useful for wanting to stop production when you just 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,” results in fresh ice.
The ice machine uses what Govee calls AI NoiseGuard technology to keep operating noise low as well. Designed to operate at around 40dB, the system can automatically trigger defrost cycles to minimize noise and help ensure a consistent ice supply. The machine makes a steady hum while making ice, but I didn’t find the noise to be distracting or noticeably loud.
It wouldn’t be a Govee product if it didn’t offer customizable ambient lighting. The smart ice maker features 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 environment, but occasionally switched to “cyberpunk” mode, which gives a shifting purple and red glow that felt fun and futuristic when I had people.
Measuring 17.28 inches deep, 13.98 inches wide, and 17.01 inches tall, the ice maker takes up a lot of counter space and weighs a hefty 50 pounds. If you have a small kitchen, it can seem bulky, especially since its sleek design doesn’t exactly look like an ice machine from afar.
As for the setup, it was pretty simple, but then I definitely needed my husband’s help to set it up in our kitchen, and then again when I needed to move it around when it came to descaling and cleaning the machine.
Overall, nugget ice elevated my iced drinks, giving them that coffee-like-at-home feel and making my morning routine more enjoyable. I also noticed that the ice melted slower than the ice in my fridge, so my drinks stayed colder for longer without getting watered down as quickly.
Another big advantage was his speed. It made ice much faster than my fridge, so I always had enough on hand when hosting friends and family. The ice machine itself was something that guests noticed when they came, not only because of its size and the flashing lights, but because the brush ice 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 having nugget ice on demand and how often you’ll actually use it. If you don’t really like ice, you obviously don’t need a fairly specialized device.
But if you’re someone who regularly drinks frozen drinks and loves “good ice,” this ice maker could be the gadget you never knew you needed.
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