The catch
Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
Allow enough overhead and ventilation clearance for its 16.5-inch body.
Side by side
Frigidaire EFIC255 vs Newair NIM044 Compared: NewAir fits a lower, shallower space, with the same daily output rating
Quick verdict
Front drawer access to the ice is what Frigidaire EFIC255 offers. NewAir NIM044 offers a removable water reservoir and a lower, shallower body, and its daily output rating is the same.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
With equal daily ratings, the choice comes down to access and fit
Neither model has a stated 44-pound production advantage, so the purchase turns on reservoir handling and cabinet geometry.
Where this comes from
Each manufacturer rates daily production at 44 pounds, with first ice in around ten to fifteen minutes.
The catch
NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
For a machine in the premium output class, it offers no app or voice controls.
Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
- Why pick it
- A drawer-style ice compartment suits you
- You are after the cream exterior
- The catch
- Allow enough overhead and ventilation clearance for its 16.5-inch body.
NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
- Why pick it
- Taking the tank to the sink to refill suits you
- You need a body that is lower and shallower
- The catch
- For a machine in the premium output class, it offers no app or voice controls.
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What this page compares
Frigidaire EFIC255 gives you access to the ice through a front drawer. At the same daily output rating, NewAir NIM044 comes with a removable water reservoir and a lower, shallower body.
A smaller body with a removable reservoir or front drawer access
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Cabinet height is tight
The lower published body is NewAir's.
- Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
- Good
- NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
- Better fit
Filling the reservoir at the sink
A removable tank is explicitly supplied with NewAir.
- Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
- Not suitable
- NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
- Better fit
A preference for serving from a front drawer
That access arrangement comes with Frigidaire.
- Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
- Better fit
- NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
- Good
A target daily rating of forty-four pounds
Each lists an identical rated ceiling.
- Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
- Good
- NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
With equal daily ratings, the choice comes down to access and fit
Neither model has a stated 44-pound production advantage, so the purchase turns on reservoir handling and cabinet geometry.
How we worked this out
Each manufacturer rates daily production at 44 pounds, with first ice in around ten to fifteen minutes.
NewAir stands 1.6 inches lower
Whether the body fits beneath a cabinet can come down to that, though ventilation and refill access still need room of their own.
How we worked this out
Published body height is less by 16.5 - 14.9 = 1.6 inches.
NewAir’s body takes up about twelve percent less counter area
Before required clearances, the 9.5-by-13.6-inch body covers less counter area than the 10-by-14.6-inch Frigidaire does.
How we worked this out
10 × 14.6 = 146.0, while 9.5 × 13.6 = 129.2 square inches. The reduction is (146 - 129.2) / 146 × 100 = 11.5%.
Option A
Frigidaire Gallery, EFIC255-CREAM
Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
Ice comes out of a drawer on this nugget machine, which also has touch controls, a viewing window and a stated 44-pound daily production ceiling.
- Best for
- Households after a higher-output nugget machine that you can reach from the front
Facts we checked
- Up to 44 pounds of nugget ice per day is its rating
- Ten to fifteen minutes to first ice, as listed
- Viewing window plus drawer access
- Hand-filled reservoir, with no water hookup
- Cleaning runs automatically
- Published body is 16.5 high, 14.6 deep and 10 inches wide
Option B
NewAir, NIM044BSN2
44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
Narrower than the Opal, this high-output nugget machine has a 2.7-pound basket, a dual-fill design and one-touch cleaning.
- Best for
- A lot of nugget ice, minus the cost of smart controls
Facts we checked
- For the machine, NewAir's rating is 44 pounds per day.
- The basket lifts out and holds 2.7 pounds, while the reservoir is 1.8 liters.
- Per official dimensions, it stands 14.9 inches high, 13.6 inches deep and 9.5 inches wide.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2 | NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily output ceiling | 44 pounds | 44 pounds | Rated daily production gives no advantage. |
| Water access | Manual reservoir filling | Removable 1.8-liter reservoir | The refill tank on NewAir can go to the sink. |
| Body height | 16.5 inches | 14.9 inches | Vertical room is greater on NewAir before clearance. |
| Body depth | 14.6 inches | 13.6 inches | NewAir's body needs less space from front to back. |
| Ice access | Drawer and viewing window | Detachable 2.7-pound basket | Serving and removal are laid out differently. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
- Because the manufacturer page gives conflicting basket-capacity figures, storage cannot be compared reliably.
With NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
- The water fill is behind the ice drawer, which means refilling interrupts scooping and requires open space in front of the machine.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Cabinet height is tight
Go with NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker. The lower published body is NewAir's.
Filling the reservoir at the sink
Go with NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker. A removable tank is explicitly supplied with NewAir.
A preference for serving from a front drawer
Go with Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2. That access arrangement comes with Frigidaire.
Decision guide
How to decide
Front drawer access sets Frigidaire EFIC255 apart. For NewAir NIM044 it is the removable water reservoir and the lower, shallower body, and the daily output rating stays the same.
Forty-four pounds is the ceiling for each
Both carry a rating of up to 44 pounds per day and quote roughly ten to fifteen minutes before the first ice. Neither figure picks a production winner or says how much ice is ready at once.
How you refill is the bigger practical difference
NewAir explicitly gives you a removable 1.8-liter reservoir, whereas Frigidaire is filled by hand and has front drawer access to the ice. Think about how far the sink is and how awkward a water jug would be under your cupboards.
Go by the dependable dimensions and set the disputed bin aside
NewAir stands 14.9 inches high and 13.6 deep. Frigidaire’s figures are 16.5 and 14.6. Because Frigidaire’s official page gives conflicting basket capacities, no storage advantage is used here to pick a winner.
What this page can’t tell you
- Equipment and capacity are taken from manufacturer specifications. This comparison includes no independent test of cooking or preparation outcomes.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the countertop ice makers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 2 of the 23 models checked meet every need here: “Ice for a busy household or a gathering is what I need”, “I want room to get in and clean deeper”, and “I don't have much counter room”.
2 models fit, out of 23 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Ice for a busy household or a gathering is what I need”, “I want room to get in and clean deeper”, and “I don't have much counter room”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2 |
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| NewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Frigidaire Gallery Nugget Ice Maker Gen 2
A drawer-style ice compartment suits you
See price & reviews on AmazonNewAir 44 lb Nugget Ice Maker
Taking the tank to the sink to refill suits you
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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