Being a native ice maker for years, the Igloo IGLICEB26 does incredibly well for its price, thanks to its unique design and performance. In this Igloo IGLICEB26 review, I will give you a sophisticated ice maker for the budget price, a perfect companion for anyone who doesn’t have an ice maker in the refrigerator.
In Ice Artisan, I only review the ice makers that I had used or repaired. So I can guarantee that:
- I give you honest review (both pros and cons) of an ice maker. No hidden deal behind the website.
- I share my technician’s point of view, so I focus not only on the performance, but also the build of an ice maker.
- I compile an ice maker ranking list (coming soon) so you can compare all ice makers easily.
Jump to:
PROS
- Compact size, budget price
- Unique design
- Good durability
CONS
- First batch speed isn’t good
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
Founded in 1947, Igloo has established itself as a household name in cooling solutions, expanding from its famous coolers into the ice maker market. The company brings decades of thermal technology expertise to its portable ice makers, offering affordable solutions for homes, offices, and recreational vehicles across America.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Price
- Available to buy now
- Costs $89 in the U.S market
- Comes with 4 different color options
Igloo isn’t a strange name for making coolers and ice makers in the U.S. I bet everyone at least once saw an Igloo coolers in a random restaurant or camp. The Igloo IGLICEB26, given its complicated name, is a 26-pound Igloo countertop ice maker intending to win the budget market shares.
That’s right, the Igloo IGLICEB26 comes at a staple price tag for a common 26-lb portable ice maker, at $89. It brings a very unique design that you can’t think of it as another Chinese countertop ice maker. Moreover, the Igloo IGLICEB26 has 3 different color options, suitable for lots of customers.
Comparing to the competition, the Igloo IGLICEB26 is a good ice maker, similar to the Frigidaire EFIC121 or the Euhomy IM-06D. However, with the introduction of the Frigidaire EFIC123-SS as the best budget ice maker in Ice Artisan, I won’t pick the Igloo IGLICEB26 unless I have a better price, which you can try checking on my website.
It’s very confused to remember the name of an Igloo portable ice maker. The today Igloo IGLICEB26 is the most affordable in Igloo lineup. If you want something similar to the like of the Frigidaire EFIC121 or Frigidaire EFIC120, the Igloo ICEB26SS is quite similar.
Related post: Best ice maker 2025.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Durability
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Design
- Most portable ice maker
- Multiple color options
- Quite unique design
The Igloo IGLICEB26 measures approximately 12.2 inches deep, 9.06 inches wide, and 12.8 inches high, with a weight around 19 pounds. This compact footprint allows placement on most countertops without dominating space. It’s also a good portable ice maker for RV, especially when it’s a little smaller than its brother – the Igloo ICEB33.
I think the Igloo IGLICEB26 is an appealing countertop ice maker, especially when you’re after a taste Igloo design, mostly with a front control panel design from the Igloo IGLICEB26 and even the Igloo IGLICEBSC26 Pro later. It has 4 legs for a bit taller than a common portable ice maker, which is better at vibration resistant.
It’s also the design language of an Igloo portable ice maker, which is quite different from Frigidaire portable ice maker that usually goes for a top control board. For casual renters who want to put their ice maker on shelf, the Igloo IGLICEB26 is a great choice.
My ice maker unit is an aqua model, but you can buy an Igloo IGLICEB26 in multiple colors including black, white and pink. It learns from the first Igloo ICEBNH26 to diverse in color options, but it seems we have a new aqua color instead of the old blue. Igloo also doesn’t plain copy from Frigidaire, instead they use the different choices of colors.
The Igloo IGLICEB26 has a bigger window lid, to match with no top control board. Bigger window lid is really important for a man at his late 40s like me, but for other people, the old guitar-pick lid is better.
Related post: Best countertop ice maker.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Build
- Igloo has better durability
- Good design also help durability
As a budget countertop ice maker, the Igloo IGLICEB26 uses primarily plastic construction for the exterior housing, which isn’t a surprise for an appliance under $100. It keeps the ice maker’s weight manageable for portability while providing adequate insulation. Internal components include stainless steel evaporator fingers and food-grade materials for all water-contact surfaces.
For long-term durability, Igloo is a great brand that I believe in. Though all of the Igloo countertop ice makers you’re buying are from China, the quality control for the housing and compressor is overall great. The Igloo IGLICEB26 can withstand your ice making process for longer than a common no-name China ice maker, no doubt.
However, an Igloo portable ice maker is serviced by a third party, named Nostalgia Products. As a result, all warranties are handled through mail-in repairs. It’s certainly not as good as Frigidaire in servicing an ice maker, and I will reduce one point for the Igloo IGLICEB26 for that reason.
Related post: Best undercounter ice maker.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Performance
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Capacity
- Produces up to 26 lbs of ice daily
- Internal storage: 1.3 lbs
The Igloo IGLICEB26 delivers up to 26 lbs. of ice per day with a storage capacity of approximately 1.3 pounds at any given time. This daily production meets the needs of average households or small offices. Sadly, it’s 2025, and the storage of the Igloo IGLICEB26 isn’t the best to recommend. My Frigidaire EFIC121 has a bigger storage, which is necessary because not everyone wants to check ices for every 6 minutes.
It can make 9 cubes, large or small, in almost 7 minutes, providing rapid ice production when needed. I find the next batches are very consistent, and it’s astonishing. If you’re hosting a small party and need ice immediately, the Igloo IGLICEB26 is a good ice maker to buy.
However, the ice making speed of the Igloo IGLICEB26 is still behind the competition, mostly from Frigidaire, Euhomy and Silonn. They are very consistent at making ices around 6 minutes. Despite being the better in Igloo lineup, the Igloo IGLICEB26 still needs more than 7 minutes for the first batch.
Related post: Best commercial ice maker.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Ice Quality
- Bullet ice
- A bit softer but cloudier than fridge’s ices
The Igloo IGLICEB26 produces bullet-shaped ice cubes, also known as cylindrical or hollow ice. These ice cubes feature a distinctive hollow center with rounded edges, measuring approximately 1-1.5 inches in length depending on the size setting selected.
It’s not significant, but the ice quality from the Igloo portable ice maker is rather cloudier than ones from a Frigidaire countertop ice maker. Still, the bullet ice is good at fast cooling your drinks, and it melts slower.
Ice clarity varies significantly based on water quality and ambient conditions. I made an useful article on “How to make clear ice in ice maker?”, and boiled and filtered water can make difference in aesthetic for your end results. Try this to make your ices last longer.
Related post: Best clear ice maker.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Energy and Water Consumption
- Normal water and energy consumption
I wrote an article of “How much electricity does an ice maker use?” to give you a free calculator to find out whether you are spending more on your ice maker or not. The Igloo IGLICEB26 operates at 120 Watts, 2 Amps, translating to approximately 11 kWh per 100 pounds of ice production. This efficiency rate places it among the more economical portable ice makers in terms of energy consumption.
As a result, the Igloo IGLICEB26 costs you about $35-$40 for running 24/7, something not happens in real world. Why? I make a simple article “on “What happens if you don’t turn off the ice maker?”, to explain exactly why you shouldn’t run a portable ice maker for a long time.
Again, as a common countertop ice maker that makes bullet ices, the Igloo IGLICEB26 doesn’t waste water for other procedures. It uses about 12 gallons of water to make 100 pounds of ice. Read my article of “Does an ice maker use a lot of water?” to have a better explanation on why you shouldn’t care about the water consumption of an ice maker.
Related post: Best nugget ice maker.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Noise Level
- Quiet operation
The Igloo IGLICEB26 is a portable ice maker, and it doesn’t make much noise when operating. I tested the Igloo IGLICEB26 and find the noise level usually stay on 38 decibels. That means the ice maker is super quiet, you won’t realize that it’s working.
If you find your ice maker making strange noise, it could be an error for internal parts. You should read my article “How to fix ice maker not making ice?” to have solutions for this problem.
Related post: Best ice maker for RV.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Features
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
- Add water alert, ice full notification
- Adjusts ice size
Though the Igloo IGLICEB26 isn’t the first Igloo countertop ice maker (it’s the Igloo ICEBNH26 that starts the Igloo countertop ice maker lineup), it doesn’t include a self-cleaning feature for the price. That’s why I usually advise people to buy the Igloo ICEB26HN (make sure you read my reviews to buy the right one, naming is never the strength of Igloo).
Other than that, the Igloo IGLICEB26 has all the budget ice maker features: when you see the “Ice full” illuminates, you need to take ices out, otherwise the ice maker will stop working. For “Add water” LED, it is on whenever you need to fill in water for your Igloo countertop ice maker. Finally, the common Igloo portable ice maker allows you to adjust the size of ices, small or large.
Related post: Best budget ice maker.
Verdict
The Igloo IGLICEB26 isn’t really a portable ice maker to recommend at the moment, even though it does its job well. Unless you get a better deal on my website, the Igloo ICEB26HN is what you should buy with your money.
Igloo IGLICEB26 Review: Trusted Review in 2025
Read our Igloo IGLICEB26 review at IceArtisan.com. We test ice-making speed, portability, and ease of use—see if this compact machine is right for your kitchen or RV.
Product Brand: Igloo
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 89
Product In-Stock: InStock
2.5
