The catch
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
Add the required rear clearance to its 17.5-inch depth and it takes up far more counter than compact machines do.
Side by side
GE Opal 2.0 Ultra vs Opal 2.0: Older stock needs seller and warranty checks, while Ultra adds scale management
Quick verdict
Ultra is the pick if you want the scale-inhibiting filter and the newer cleaning design. The older Opal 2.0 makes sense only once you have checked the exact seller, warranty coverage and offer on Amazon.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The catch
GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
Although Amazon stock was still active when checked, GE lists this exact black-stainless model as no longer manufactured.
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
- Why pick it
- Water prone to scale
- The latest upkeep system
- The catch
- Add the required rear clearance to its 17.5-inch depth and it takes up far more counter than compact machines do.
GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
- Why pick it
- You are fine with a discontinued model after checking what the seller covers
- Core nugget output unchanged
- The catch
- Although Amazon stock was still active when checked, GE lists this exact black-stainless model as no longer manufactured.
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What this page compares
Filtration, cleaning, capacity and current model status side by side.
This one comes down to filter and model status first, then to the limits of your own setup.
Day to day
How each one fits your routine
More than three pounds for a gathering still calls for a plan
Each of the selected Opal packages has a three-pound bin, so Ultra gives no larger ready-to-serve reserve for a gathering. Their published daily and hourly production figures match as well. Pick Ultra for its cleaning system and supplied filter, and do not expect extra ice just because of the model name. If guests need more than one full bin at once, arrange suitable separate ice storage or another supply.
Where this comes from
Three-pound storage, 38 pounds daily production and 1.6 pounds per hour are specified in both exact-model records. A daily rating measures throughput under stated conditions and not the amount waiting in the drawer.
The scale filter's edge is that it is included, not that only it is compatible
GE says the scale-inhibiting filter that comes with Ultra can be used with any Profile Opal ice maker. If you are weighing the older Opal 2.0, check the compatible accessory first and do not assume filtration alone calls for replacing the whole machine. Ultra does have its own differences in the cleaning system. Either way, cleaning and descaling are still on you, filter fitted or not.
Where this comes from
According to GE's current support guidance, which explicitly covers all Profile Opal models, the filter does not eliminate cleaning or descaling. That settles compatibility and an operating limit but promises no fixed maintenance interval for every water supply.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
I care about having a cleaning cycle
Routine circulation work is reduced by a built-in rinse or cleaning program, but descaling and hand cleaning are still necessary.
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
- Better fit
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
- Good
I want room to get in and clean deeper
You can take out the basket, tank, lid or other food-contact parts and wash them directly.
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
- Better fit
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
- Depends
Filter is non-negotiable
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra lists “Scale-inhibiting filter included” for filter, while GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank lists “Taste and odor filter compatible”. This shows what the treatment path is designed to catch or reduce, and the upkeep it needs.
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
- Depends
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
- Depends
Daily output is non-negotiable
Both models list “38 lb” for daily output. Both models show the same result for “Daily output”, so this row won't decide between them.
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
- Depends
- GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
- Depends
Option A
GE Profile, XPIO13SWSS
Opal 2.0 Ultra
App control, a scale-inhibiting filter and a 0.75-gallon side tank come with this premium nugget machine, along with a large three-pound drawer.
- Best for
- Water prone to scale
Facts we checked
- Filter: Scale-inhibiting filter included
- Daily output: 38 lb
- Model status: Current Ultra line
- Output of 38 pounds per day and 1.6 pounds per hour, with a three-pound bin
Option B
GE Profile, XPIO13BCBT
Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
This is the established connected Opal in black stainless, with the same 38-pound rating, three-pound drawer and 0.75-gallon side tank.
- Best for
- You are fine with a discontinued model after checking what the seller covers
Facts we checked
- Filter: Taste and odor filter compatible
- Daily output: 38 lb
- Model status: GE marks exact model discontinued
- Output of 38 pounds per day and 1.6 pounds per hour, with a three-pound bin
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra | GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filter | Scale-inhibiting filter included | Taste and odor filter compatible | It shows what the treatment path is built to catch or reduce, and what upkeep that requires. |
| Daily output | 38 lb | 38 lb | Both models show the same result for “Daily output”, so this row won't decide between them. |
| Model status | Current Ultra line | GE marks exact model discontinued | Setup and everyday use depend on it more than the core physical job does. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
- Filters and descaling keep adding cost over time, and the insulated bin still will not freeze the ice stored in it.
With GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
- You do not get the Ultra model’s scale-inhibiting filter or its more guided cleaning design.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the countertop ice makers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra |
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| GE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank |
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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.
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra
Water prone to scale
See price & reviews on AmazonGE Profile Opal 2.0 with Side Tank
You are fine with a discontinued model after checking what the seller covers
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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