Unlike other brands that tend to flush the market with lots of budget ice maker models, NewAir only makes one bullet ice maker for this segment – the NewAir AI-100. It is a good countertop ice maker, by the way, but I still need to write a NewAir AI-100 review, to help you decide whether to buy this unit or not.
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
- Has many color options
CONS
- Too pricey for ice capacity
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
- Durability not good
- Too loud
NewAir started from humble beginnings in 2001 when founders Luke and Mariella Peters started selling compact appliances from their garage in Orange County, California. What began with Mariella chasing down UPS trucks to ensure customer deliveries grew into one of America’s most trusted names in compact appliances. After two decades of growth, the company was acquired by Guardian Capital Partners in 2022 for $80 million, though it maintains its California headquarters and commitment to customer service.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Price
- Available to buy now
- Costs $129 in the U.S market
- Has 3 different colors
The NewAir AI-100 costs about $129 on sale for the newest model, the original AI-100SS in stainless steel gray. The red and black models are older versions with a different front control panel, but they maintain the same capacity and features as the original.
It isn’t good when competing with price as the primary factor, because the Frigidaire EFIC123-SS and lots of Frigidaire models starts at only $89. You can also find the Igloo ICEB26HN and Frigidaire EFIC117-SS with crucial self-cleaning feature, both are more affordable than the NewAir AI-100. At the NewAir AI-100’s price point, you can think of buying clear ice makers, for example the Frigidaire EFIC452-SS or Euhomy IM-FM.
I can see the reason, the NewAir AI-100 is a pretty old countertop ice maker model, back in 2003. At its launching date, the NewAir AI-100 is the only way you can make ice on your countertop. It is a popular buy for more than 20 years, but it’s 2025, and we have better options at cheaper price. Buying the NewAir AI-100 means you’re essentially buying decade-old technology at a price that doesn’t reflect its age.
If you like the very first red model of the NewAir AI-100, I can point you to the product page of this ice maker. As you can see, the design is a bit different, but the capacity is the same as the AI-100SS.
Related post: Best ice maker 2025.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Durability
NewAir AI-100 Review: Design
- Front control board
- Has steel texture in its finish
- Different color options
The NewAir AI-100 would look like a by-the-numbers countertop ice maker if it wasn’t quite petite, it’s the same as most other machines with similar daily capacity on the market.
This makes it comfortable to position on countertops with limited space, at least compared to some of the larger models you get at the same price. The machine measures 13.75 inches deep, 11.75 inches wide (12.5 inches with the drain), and 14.6 inches tall.
The NewAir AI-100 has a side-mounted drain plug for easy water removal, as well as LED indicator lights for power, water level, and ice basket status. On the top, there’s a transparent window that lets you monitor ice production without opening the lid, this is particularly pleasing for maintaining the insulated environment. However, all countertop bullet ice makers are the same, so I just repeat the same statements.
The front control board of the NewAir AI-100 is quite different from modern countertop ice makers, which adds some specialties for the product. The older versions (AI-100R or AI-100BK) use the same control board that you can find on the modern NewAir AI-215.
Related post: Best countertop ice maker.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Build
- NewAir has mixed durability
Sadly, this is where I can’t recommend the NewAir AI-100. Over the last 13 years, I’ve had several customers bring this model in for repairs, and the water pump is almost always the primary failure point. It’s an old unit, and from what I’ve seen, the manufacturer hasn’t updated or improved the design during all these years.
NewAir provides a one-year limited warranty, which is standard for the category. However, because the brand is sold to another one, I can find many people complaining about the customer service to be non-existent. Perhaps the change of human resources cause the delay in customer support.
For the NewAir AI-100 that costs more than typical countertop bullet ice makers, I can’t recommend it for anyone.
Related post: Best undercounter ice maker.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Performance
NewAir AI-100 Review: Capacity
- Produces up to 28 lbs of ice daily
- Internal storage: 2 lbs
NewAir is quite generous with its ice maker’s internal storage. At 2 lbs, the storage is indeed bigger than its competitors, leading to the daily capacity being realistic. However, the ice production stopping mechanism is not reliable, and sometime the NewAir AI-100 will stop making ice even when it isn’t full.
It produces ice adequately, with the first batch ready in about 10 minutes. Compared to newer models like the Frigidaire EFIC121 or the Euhomy IM-06, that’s roughly 80% slower, but I doubt you need ice that quickly. For context, a refrigerator ice maker typically takes around 30 minutes just to produce its first batch.
If you want a quicker NewAir ice maker, you should aim for the NewAir NIM026 or NewAir AI-110, which are the newer models of this brand.
Related post: Best commercial ice maker.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Ice Quality
- Bullet ice
- Comes with 3 different sizes
The main ice type is bullet ice using hollow cylindrical pieces, I’ve previously been satisfied with this format for basic cooling, and it performs adequately here. The machine offers three size options (small, medium, large), though the variation is subtle.
If I have a slight issue, it’s that the ice emerges wet and cloudy, while other batches stick together in clumps, it seems the insulated storage can’t prevent melting, creating that perpetually damp characteristic that bullet ice machines struggle with.
Ice Artisan’s readers are well aware of my reviews will know that the NewAir AI-100’s bullet ice is just like any other countertop ice maker in the world. So yeah, nothing to show off here.
Related post: Best clear ice maker.
NewAir AI-100 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. While the NewAir AI-100’s 120-watt power consumption would seem modest for most appliances, it’s decidedly average for ice makers in this category. The machine runs continuously when producing ice, consuming approximately 12 kWh to produce 100 pounds of ice. That translates to about $1.92 in electricity costs per 100 pounds at average U.S. rates.
Water consumption sits around 12 gallons per 100 pounds of ice produced when accounting for recirculation of melted ice. The machine reuses water that melts in the basket, which improves efficiency compared to commercial units that drain continuously. I wrote “Does an ice maker use a lot of water?” to explain why you shouldn’t care about water consumption in an ice maker.
Related post: Best nugget ice maker.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Noise Level
- Not quiet operation
Typically the noise level of a countertop bullet ice maker is low, especially during ice making process. However, the NewAir AI-100’s noise level is one aspect where customer complaints are consistent and justified.
The NewAir AI-100 produces noticeable operational sound during ice-making cycles – a combination of compressor hum, water pump buzzing, and cooling fan noise. My test shows that the noise level is about 60 decibels, which is a lot louder than other countertop ice makers from Frigidaire or Euhomy.
Related post: Best ice maker for RV.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Features
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
- Add water alert, ice full notification
The NewAir AI-100 uses a minimalist approach with basic controls and no advanced features, so you have a straightforward experience with limited capabilities. It is what we should expect from an ice maker debuted back in 2000s.
There are minimal additions beyond the essentials. The machine offers three ice size selections via push-button control, LED indicator lights for status monitoring, and a side-mounted drain for cleaning. That’s about it for features.
Related post: Best budget ice maker.
Verdict
In 2025, I don’t recommend the NewAir AI-100, instead I just point you to the Frigidaire EFIC123-SS if you like a countertop ice maker with stainless steel accent, great durability and decent ice making process.
NewAir AI-100 Review: Trusted Review in 2025
NewAir AI-100 review at IceArtisan.com! We tested its ice-making speed, portability, and durability to see if this compact model is still worth buying today.
Product Brand: NewAir
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 129
Product In-Stock: InStock
1.5
