NewAir AI-215 Review: Trusted Review by Technician in 2025

• Available to buy now
• Costs $249 in the U.S market
• Has high price than typical

While the NewAir AI-215 is certainly one of the higher-capacity countertop ice makers available – the question everyone wants to answer is: can it justify nearly triple the cost of budget models?

The short answer is: not in a blue moon, but then the truth is NewAir doesn’t necessarily mean for the NewAir AI-215 to compete on ice type. As we’ll see, the NewAir AI-215 has the makings of a truly powerful production machine. In fact, peek under the hood, there’s a 170-watt compressor, 50-pound daily capacity, three ice size settings, and an 18-hour programmable timer.

So, for a very old countertop ice maker, you can get the NewAir AI-215 at $249, but it seems we can’t buy it directly from Amazon anymore, the price from a third-party dealer can go up to $359. Well, it is more expensive than a nugget ice maker like the Frigidaire EFIC255, and you can completely pay that amount of money for an Euhomy undercounter ice maker. Yes, and no interest.

We can’t think of it as a mini undercounter ice maker, because its internal storage is limited. We can’t also consider the NewAir bullet ice is anything groundbreaking. Don’t forget that the Frigidaire EFIC115 is still available at $199, and this American-based countertop ice maker is rocking with good customer service.

Related post: Best ice maker 2025.

NewAir AI-215 Review: Design

• Front control board
• Very similar to the original NewAir AI-100

Unpacking the NewAir AI-215, you get the sense that it is designed for function and not as much for aesthetics, with a utilitarian approach to the box and included materials. There’s an ice scoop and a side drain plug, plus a user manual.

It’s one of the first countertop ice maker, for residential use, and it is very much similar to its smaller brother – the NewAir AI-100 in terms of design language. NewAir also offers the AI-215 in three finishes – the machine comes standard but you have to choose between stainless steel, red, or black. The stainless steel version looks more professional, though you can’t use it as an undercounter model without proper ventilation modifications.

However, at the moment you can select only the stainless steel version, and I heard from some sources that the NewAir AI-215 will soon be discontinued.

It’s a heavy countertop ice maker at 32 pounds. When you measure the dimensions, you have to consider your counter space carefully because at 17.20″D x 15.30″W x 16.50″H it demands significant real estate (this happened at least twice during our tests where we had to rearrange other appliances). Overall, the NewAir AI-215 looks functional and workmanlike, matching the utilitarian approach of commercial units rather than sleek lifestyle appliances.

Related post: Best countertop ice maker.

NewAir AI-215 Review: Build

• NewAir has mixed durability

The exterior housing is predominantly plastic, though the stainless steel model incorporates metal panels that improve both appearance and perceived durability. Internal components including the ice basket and water reservoir are plastic, though NewAir emphasizes their BPA-free certification for health-conscious buyers.

The compressor and refrigeration components represent the unit’s most robust elements. NewAir specs a 170-watt compressor using R-290a refrigerant in current models. These internal components feel substantial during operation, providing reassurance that the plastic housing protects serious machinery.

I find the NewAir AI-215 to have better durability than other regular countertop bullet ice makers. However, the customer reviews paint concerning pictures for long-term reliability, mostly after 2-3 years of using. It’s quite short for an ice maker that costs about 3-4 times a common ice maker like the Frigidaire EFIC121.

Related post: Best undercounter ice maker.

NewAir AI-215 Review: Capacity

• Produces up to 50 lbs of ice daily
• Internal storage: 2.5 lbs

Well, there is a problem with my testing NewAir AI-215, or the ice maker is really bad. It has just a slightly bigger internal storage than the NewAir AI-100, despite of the difference in size, and the ice maker roughly produces 32-36 pounds of ice production, far below the advertisement of 50 pounds per day.

First batch timing consistently hit the 11 minute mark from power-on, producing 12 bullet-shaped pieces. As a result, it takes about 90% more time to make just 33% more ice than an Euhomy IM-06, not good enough.

Related post: Best commercial ice maker.

NewAir AI-215 Review: Ice Quality

• Bullet ice
• Medium firm

Interestingly, while the capacity is impressive, the ice quality I tested was not half-bad. Bullet ice quality from NewAir is usually medium firm and cloudy, but not as cloudy as regular bullet ice. Instead, it is a little bit clear in the center.

You can select between small (0.8″), medium (1.1″), and large (1.5″) bullets so that ice pieces match your specific needs for drinks or coolers.

Related post: Best clear ice maker.

NewAir AI-215 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 battery – er, power consumption – on the NewAir AI-215 is rated for 170 watts continuous draw, translating to 4.08 kWh per 24 hours. Of course, with this type of ice maker, continuous operation is probably what you’re least likely to do unless hosting multi-day events, so how does it fare during typical party use?

Water consumption measures approximately 12 gallons per 100 pounds of ice in my testing with room temperature tap water. 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-215 Review: Noise Level

• Decent operation

The NewAir AI-215 operates at moderate noise levels during the freezing cycle – I measured approximately 52-55 decibels during steady-state ice production. That’s comparable to a normal conversation. The compressor hum isn’t particularly intrusive during daytime use.

Actually, about 25-30% of users mention noise as a drawback. Many specifically reference the ice-dropping sound. However, it is natural for a countertop ice maker to make noise when dropping ice. Perhaps you shouldn’t place the NewAir AI-215 in bedroom.

Related post: Best ice maker for RV.

NewAir AI-215 Review: Features

• Has self-cleaning feature
• Add water alert, ice full notification
• Has a timer

The NewAir AI-215 doesn’t come with much in the way of smart features, and there’s nothing like the app connectivity we got with some newer models. However, there are some standard, useful additions – and there’s genuine production capacity, of course.

The usual ice maker features are included, such as three size settings, self-cleaning, timer, and indicator lights. The LCD panel makes good use of the front-facing controls, especially when it’s big.

The timer function has a nice programmable 18-hour cycle going on that we like. The display shows time remaining clearly, as well as indicator alerts for “Ice Full” and “Add Water.”

Self-cleaning capabilities simplify maintenance – press the clean button, and the unit cycles water through for approximately 15-20 minutes. Users should still perform periodic deep cleaning with vinegar solution.

The unit includes a removable ice scoop, side-mounted drain plug for easy water removal, and BPA-free certification for all food-contact surfaces.

Related post: Best budget ice maker.