Govee's smart nugget ice maker makes every iced drink feel like a luxury

At a glance:

• GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro costs $500 and makes restaurant-style nugget ice in as little as six minutes
• The 50-pound device can produce up to 60 pounds of ice per day and features app and voice control via GoveeHome, Alexa, and Google Assistant
• Customizable ambient lighting and AI NoiseGuard technology make it a premium luxury gadget for ice enthusiasts

For some people, the ice in a beverage is almost as important as the drink itself. That's the audience Govee had in mind when designing its latest ice maker, the GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro. This $500 premium smart home gadget is aimed at those who crave what's called "the good ice," the soft, chewable nugget ice often found in fast food or restaurant drinks.

The modern-design gadget delivers nugget ice in as little as six minutes, a claim that proved true during hands-on testing. It can make up to 60 pounds of ice per day, and features a 3.5-pound ice basket that automatically refills as you scoop out ice. The hefty price tag means it's not for people who are perfectly happy with refrigerator ice and don't know what "good ice" even means. Instead, it's for self-proclaimed ice enthusiasts willing to splurge on a fun, luxury gadget that makes everyday drinks a little more enjoyable.

It's 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 production from your phone or schedule it so ice is ready when you need it, such as before your morning coffee. The app control is quite convenient. I could start ice production from my phone while working at my desk, and by the time I wanted an iced latte, there was fresh nugget ice ready to go without ever having to walk to the kitchen to turn the machine on. The app also shows ice production in real time 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, which means a quick "Hey Google, start the ice maker" leads to fresh ice. The device uses what Govee calls AI NoiseGuard technology to keep operating noise low, designed to operate at around 40 dB. The system can automatically trigger defrosting cycles to minimize noise and help ensure a steady supply of ice. The machine does produce a steady hum while making ice, but I didn't find the noise 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 appliance. 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 altogether.

Measuring 17.28 inches deep, 13.98 inches wide, and 17.01 inches tall, the ice maker takes up considerable counter space and weighs a hefty 50 pounds. If you have a small kitchen, it can appear bulky, especially because its sleek design doesn't exactly resemble an ice maker from afar. Setup was straightforward, but afterwards I definitely needed my husband's help to place it in our kitchen, and then again when I needed to move it around for descaling and cleaning the machine.

Overall, the nugget ice elevated my iced drinks, giving them a coffee shop feel at home and making my morning routine more enjoyable. I also observed that the ice melted more slowly than my fridge ice, so my drinks stayed colder for longer without getting watered down as quickly. Another big plus was its speed—it made ice much faster than my refrigerator, so I always had enough on hand when hosting friends and family. The ice maker itself was something guests noticed when they came over, not just because of its size and beaming lights, but because the nugget 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 comes down to how much you care about having nugget ice on demand and how often you'll actually use it. If you aren't much into ice, you obviously don't need a fairly niche appliance. But if you're someone who regularly drinks iced beverages and loves "the good ice," this ice maker could be the gadget you never knew you needed.