The Igloo ICEB33 was a nearly-perfect countertop ice maker, being an old product without self-cleaning feature like its brother Igloo ICEB26HN. It was an ice maker mentioned in many lists of Ice Artisan, thanks to its reliability and capacity, and in my today Igloo ICEB33 review, I will explain why you can buy this ice maker without worry.
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
- 50% more storage
- Good durability
CONS
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
- More expensive but made of full plastic
Established in 1947, Igloo has built a reputation as one of America’s most trusted cooling brands. The Texas-based company, known primarily for their iconic coolers, has expanded into portable ice makers, bringing their decades of refrigeration expertise to countertop appliances.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Price
- Available to buy now
- Costs $139 in the U.S market
- Comes with 3 different color options
The Igloo ICEB33 is like a “plus” version of an Igloo countertop ice maker, notably the Igloo IGLICEB26 with new control board, and bigger storage. It is about 50-60% more storage capacity than an average portable ice maker in the same price range, meaning fewer times to wrap your ice bag.
As a result, the Igloo ICEB33 will break the base price and go into the $139 range. So to say, it is 50% more expensive to get the 50% more capacity. However, as usual, I urge you to check my deal below, for you can buy the Igloo ICEB33 as affordable as only $109. Costing 20% more to get up to 33 pounds of ice per day, for many people, it’s night and day difference.
The Igloo ICEB33 is meant for people who demanding the large amount of ice, not for faster ice production. I will explain further in the next section.
Related post: Best ice maker 2025.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Durability
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Design
- Not much bigger than an average countertop ice maker
- Multiple color options
- Has more storage
Igloo is a portable ice maker brand that doesn’t follow a so-so average design. And from the most affordable Igloo IGLICEB26, the today Igloo ICEB33 or the next-gen Igloo ICEBSC26 Pro, they all have distinctive designs that we can realize them from a quick glance. It’s up to your taste, but the Igloo ICEB33 implements the front control board really good, making the Igloo ICEB33 a premium product without adding more costs.
The Igloo ICEB33 measures approximately 9.5 x 14.1 x 12.9 inches and weighs around 20 pounds. So far, it’s even smaller than its competitor – the Frigidaire EFIC103, while holding a much bigger water tank. It’s also lighter for using mainly plastic in its construction, unlike the Frigidaire countertop ice maker that has a steel coating.
It looks better, at least for my decor, with color options including silver, black, and aqua. The aqua color is being a staple edition for Igloo portable ice makers, but I prefer the silver (or stainless steel) of the Igloo ICEB33. If you share the same taste as mine, look for the Igloo ICEB33-SS model name. The silver finish resists fingerprints better than the black option, which picked up finger marks that were really hard to wipe off.
All colors share the same model webpage on Amazon, making selection convenient. The silver finish resists fingerprints better than the black stainless option, which picked up finger marks that were really hard to wipe off.
Related post: Best countertop ice maker.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Build
- Igloo has better durability
- Not a name that needs servicing
Despite of its name, the Igloo ICEB33 uses a full plastic construction, quite similar to the situation of the Frigidaire EFIC121 that I’ve used for nearly 3 years. I don’t really care about the additional metal in construction for small appliances, but as a technician, the stainless steel is still my favorable material. However, you don’t need to doubt the quality of the Igloo ICEB33, because the quality control for an Igloo appliance is tight.
I just want to remind you that the Igloo ice maker is distributed and serviced by a third party, in the name of Nostalgia Products. All warranties are handled through mail-in repairs. For an Igloo countertop ice maker, many of my customers enjoy them several years, and some even prefer them more than a more expensive NewAir ice maker.
Related post: Best undercounter ice maker.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Performance
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Capacity
- Produces up to 33 lbs of ice daily
- Internal storage: 2 lbs
The Igloo ICEB33 produces up to 33 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period, placing it among the higher-capacity countertop ice makers for under $200. The unit makes 9 ice cubes ready in 7 minutes, delivering fresh ice quickly when needed. The removable ice basket holds approximately 2 pounds of ice at any given time, meaning less times to get ice out for next ice making batches.
I tested and recorded the average first batch speed of all Igloo portable ice makers in the same price, and the Igloo ICEB33 is even quicker than the Igloo IGLICEB26 that released in the same year. It only loses to the Igloo ICEB26HN and Igloo ICEBSC26 Pro, which are the latest and hottest models of the American brand.
At the moment, I recommend the Igloo ICEB33 as the best ice maker for RV, because it provides a bigger capacity than normal countertop ice makers would, at the same price. It lacks a very convenient feature, however, but for a big family that goes on camping outdoors, the bigger capacity is a blast.
Related post: Best commercial ice maker.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Ice Quality
- Bullet ice
- A bit softer but cloudier than fridge’s ices
The Igloo ICEB33 produces bullet-shaped ice, also known as hollow cylinder ice. Bullet ice looks like an oval-shaped cylinder, rounded on one end and hollow on the other. These little ice cylinders have a hollow core and elongated shape create a larger surface area compared to a regular cube. Each bullet measures approximately one inch in length and width.
Bullet ice quality from the Igloo ICEB33 can be described as cloudier than its competitors, and so-so in hardness. It seems Igloo and NewAir ice makers are being made in the same factory, as I find the ice quality from both brands are similar.
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 ICEB33 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 ICEB33 operates on 110-120 Volts, 60 Hz, consuming 220 Watts with 2.2 Amps. Based on typical countertop ice maker usage, this translates to approximately 5.28 kWh per day if running continuously.
For water consumption, portable ice makers are inherently efficient since they recycle melted ice back into the reservoir. So no matter the capacity of the ice maker, the Igloo ICEB33 will use the same 12 gallons of water (approximately) to produce 100 lbs of ice. I will encourage you to read a bit more explanation in my article “Does an ice maker use a lot of water?”
Related post: Best nugget ice maker.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Noise Level
- Quiet operation
The noise level is minimal. We can hear that the Igloo ICEB33 is on, but it’s actually softer than the microwave when someone has that running. My test revealed the average noise level of the Igloo ICEB33 to be about 44 decibels, which is similar to a library or rural areas, according to Internet. It’s certainly not the quietest ice maker, but I think the difference is negligible to notice.
Customer reviews for the Igloo ICEB33 is surprisingly exceptional, because I don’t find any negative reviews for the noise level, although the Igloo ICEB33 is technically louder than a smaller ice maker, for example the Igloo IGLICEB26.
Related post: Best ice maker for RV.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Features
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
- Add water alert, ice full notification
- Adjusts ice size
There is one thing that I don’t like the Igloo ICEB33: its lacking of self-cleaning feature, which is extremely helpful in maintaining the countertop ice maker. For the ice maker, I highly recommend to use filtered water to minimalize the risk of clogging the ice maker, or else you need to read my article on “How to unclog an ice maker?”
Without the most helpful feature, the Igloo ICEB33 is still a standard portable ice maker with all the additional features: notifications for both when you need to remove ice, or add more water. These features are staple for a portable ice maker, and only the cheapest no-name Chinese countertop ice maker would ditch these features, so I don’t think it’s really a selling point.
Igloo ice makers stick with the concept to adjust the ice size. It isn’t really an important feature, but hey, do you use some fan modes in real life? This is just a small appliance, and I think different users will use different features.
Related post: Best budget ice maker.
Verdict
The Igloo ICEB33 asks for a little more money to solve a first-world problem: bigger capacity. It is necessary for people who don’t want to refill water frequently.
It lacks the self-cleaning feature of the more popular Igloo ICEB26HN, and thus, if you don’t really need the bigger capacity, I recommend the newer product.
Igloo ICEB33 Review: Trusted Review in 2025
Igloo ICEB33 reviewed by IceArtisan.com! Learn how it performs against similar models, from ice speed and bin size to noise and ease of use.
Product Brand: Igloo
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 109
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.1
