Frigidaire Gallery EFIC165 Review: Trusted Review by Technician in 2025

Frigidaire EFIC165 Review: Design

• The same as the Frigidaire EFIC255
• Only has black color

Let’s cut to the chase here, the Frigidaire EFIC165 undoubtedly has a utilitarian appearance. Everything from its simple rectangular form to its matte black finish screams function over form. Is this a problem? For me, no. I appreciate the no-nonsense design that prioritizes countertop compatibility over aesthetic flourishes.

The unit measures 11.75 inches wide, 16.75 inches deep, and crucially, just 20.25 inches tall, dimensions I can’t fit under my standard 18-inch cabinet clearance. It is exactly like the Frigidaire EFIC255, so it is a very big ice maker. At 30.5 pounds, it’s manageable enough that I could reposition it solo, and the weight provides welcome stability during operation.

One aspect I particularly appreciated during testing was the top-mounted controls. Unlike competitors with front-facing buttons, I never accidentally triggered functions while reaching for ice. The transparent viewing window proves genuinely useful, especially since there’s no internal light—I could gauge ice levels without opening the bin and letting cold air escape.

Again, I must remind you that the Frigidaire EFIC165 is exactly the remodeled EFIC255 – a best-selling countertop nugget ice maker. It does the job beautifully, and its design is one-of-its-kind.

Related post: Best countertop ice maker.

Frigidaire EFIC165 Review: Build

• Frigidaire has better durability
• Back to plastic housing

Being another color variant of the Frigidaire EFIC255, you can expect the Frigidaire EFIC165 to use exact materials for its construction. The exterior shell uses medium-grade ABS plastic with a textured finish that resists fingerprints reasonably well. However, when I removed the back panel for inspection, I discovered surprisingly thin internal plastics, particularly around the auger mechanism where stress concentrates.

Durability predictions based on construction quality proved sadly accurate when I analyzed customer feedback. Customers report significant durability issues with the ice maker, noting that it breaks down within a year, only lasts two weeks, and is poorly made. Amazon will warn you that the ice maker is frequently returned, indicating that the Frigidaire EFIC165 is a troublesome countertop ice maker.

If you’re willing to take lottery, based on the great fame of durability from Frigidaire, just be sure to add more protection plan from Amazon. After all, all countertop ice makers in this price range only offer 1-year warranty at best.

Related post: Best undercounter ice maker.

Frigidaire EFIC165 Review: Capacity

• Produces up to 44 lbs of ice daily
• Internal storage: 3 lbs

I’ll be honest, when I first saw the claimed 44-pound daily capacity, I was skeptical. Budget ice makers often exaggerate their output. So I conducted a 72-hour marathon test, weighing every batch to verify real-world performance.

The Frigidaire EFIC165 genuinely produces 44 pounds in 24 hours under optimal conditions (70°F ambient temperature, proper ventilation). Breaking this down, I measured consistent 1.8-pound hourly production once the system reached operating temperature. That should match the Frigidaire EFIC255, which I conduct tests later.

For the first batch speed, the Frigidaire EFIC165 is the best among Frigidaire lineup, though it’s still far behind Euhomy benchmark, like the Euhomy IM-12.

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Frigidaire EFIC165 Review: Ice Quality

• Nugget ice
• A bit harder, but slower melt rate

Here’s where things get complicated. The Frigidaire EFIC165 produces nugget-shaped ice, yes, but calling it authentic nugget ice feels disingenuous. During my side-by-side comparison with ice from Sonic and Chick-fil-A, the difference was immediately apparent.

The pellets are harder than we would like; they don’t burst into cold water like the ones on the GE Profile Opal 2.0. Each nugget measured roughly 0.5 inches but lacked the characteristic air pockets that make restaurant nugget ice so chewable. Instead, these pellets felt dense and crunchy, more like compressed ice than true nuggets.

After all, the Frigidaire EFIC165 still produces budget nugget ice, not true nugget ice.

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Frigidaire EFIC165 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. I monitored the EFIC165’s power consumption across a full week of operation. The unit draws 185 watts during active ice production, dropping to 28 watts in standby mode when the bin is full.

Water consumption measured 11.8 gallons per 100 pounds of ice in my tests, accounting for the recirculated meltwater. This nearly 1:1 water-to-ice ratio matches industry averages for nugget ice makers, though it’s triple what efficient cube ice makers achieve. I explained better in this article “Does an ice maker use a lot of water?”

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Frigidaire EFIC165 Review: Noise Level

• Not quiet operation

If you read customer reviews on the Frigidaire EFIC165, you will think it is like the jet engine on your countertop. However, the Frigidaire EFIC165 is just a normal countertop nugget ice maker. Sure, it makes noise when operating, but at 58 decibels, it is just like the normal conversation level.

It’s louder than the Frigidaire EFIC255, and when ice dropping to the basket, the noise can exceed 65 decibels. However, it’s just the nature of the ice maker. Again, I must remind that all ice makers make sound when dropping the ices. It is the nature of a countertop ice maker, as I wrote in “Are countertop ice makers loud?”

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Frigidaire EFIC165 Review: Features

• Has self-cleaning feature
• Add water alert, ice full notification
• Adjusts ice size

The self-cleaning function impressed me more than expected. Holding the Clean button for 5 seconds initiates a 15-minute cycle that circulates water through the entire system. I ran this with a vinegar solution weekly, and it effectively prevented the mineral buildup that plagues hard water areas like mine. Actually I’m not using a countertop ice maker with self-cleaning feature, but this feature is worth the money, at least for me.

Just like the Frigidaire EFIC255, or even a budget countertop ice maker like the Frigidaire EFIC121, the Frigidaire EFIC165 will have a notification for reminding you when to check ice full, and when to add more water. Basic ice maker stuffs.

Related post: Best budget ice maker.