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The Techwood is the biggest blade in my meat slicer guide at 9 inches, and at $120.35 it costs almost nothing extra to get there — thirty cents more than the cheapest machine on the list. A single stainless blade, a 200W motor and an aluminum body are what you get for it.

It rates 4.3 stars from 1,149 reviews, the smallest sample of any machine in the guide by a wide margin — the next-smallest carries well over 3,800. That is not a red flag on its own, but it is less of a track record to lean on than the other picks.

Design and Build

Aluminum housing, a stainless carriage tray, and non-slip feet. At 17.13 by 10.04 by 12.01 inches and 15.42 lb, it is the heaviest machine in the guide — noticeably more than the CUSIMAX or Borlebbi — which buys stability at the cost of counter space.

The blade is removable for cleaning, and Techwood rates the unit hand-wash only. One recurring complaint in owner reviews: the stainless plate on top of the sliding carriage traps bits of food underneath it, and getting it off for a proper clean takes more effort than the simpler trays on some rivals. My guide to cleaning a meat slicer safely covers the strip-down.

Blade and Capacity

The 9-inch blade is the reason to buy this over anything else on the list — it is the only machine here that will take a full turkey breast or a large standing roast without trimming it down first. The adjustable thickness dial runs from paper-thin to roughly 15mm, wider than most home slicing needs.

Owners report it handles several pounds of meat or a block of hard cheese without strain, and slices come out even once the machine is seated properly — several reviewers specifically recommend adding a silicone mat underneath, since the stock feet alone can let it walk on a hard countertop.

Who It’s For

• Anyone portioning large roasts, whole muscle cuts or home-cured meat
• Buyers who want the largest blade in the guide without paying a premium for it
• People who prioritize blade size over review-sample size
• Kitchens with somewhere to keep a 15.42 lb machine that is not the counter

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone slicing only sandwich meat and cheese — a 7.5-inch blade does that for less money and less bulk
• Small kitchens: this is the heaviest machine in the guide
• Buyers who want two blades — the Techwood ships one, where the CUSIMAX and Borlebbi ship two
• Anyone who wants a large review sample to lean on; 1,149 is the smallest in the guide

Value

At $120.35 the Techwood undercuts the CUSIMAX ($123.98) and the Cuisinart FS-75 ($129.95), and sits within thirty cents of the Borlebbi ($119.99) — the cheapest machine in the guide. That makes it the best-priced way to get a 9-inch blade by a wide margin; nothing else here offers that reach for anywhere near this price.

The tradeoffs are real: one blade rather than two, the smallest review sample in the guide, and a couple of owner complaints about build details — zip-tied plastic bushings on the slide rail, and a tray that is fussier to clean than it needs to be. None of that is disqualifying, but it explains why this is not simply the best machine outright.

CUSIMAX — $123.98. Two 8.7-inch blades and 200W for a few dollars more, if the extra blade matters more than the extra length.

Cuisinart FS-75 — $129.95. A three-year motor warranty and a finer 1/32-inch setting, but the weakest motor in the guide.

Borlebbi 200W Dual Blade — $119.99. Two blades and 200 watts for the least money of the mid-range machines.

Verdict

The Techwood is the right machine for one specific job: portioning large cuts of meat at home, without paying extra for the privilege. The 9-inch blade is built around that, and at this price it is the cheapest way onto this list to get one.

It is the wrong machine for everything else. If your slicer will mostly see ham, salami and cheese, a 7.5-inch blade does that with a smaller footprint and, on some models, a second blade included. Buy it for the roast, or buy the CUSIMAX.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the Techwood meat slicer blade?

9 inches, which is the largest of any machine in the guide. The CUSIMAX at 8.7 inches is the only one close; the Cuisinart, Borlebbi and FOHERE all use 7.5-inch blades.

Can the Techwood slicer handle large roasts?

That is what the blade size is for. A 9-inch blade lets you put a whole roast or turkey breast on the carriage rather than trimming it to fit, the way a smaller blade forces you to.

Is the Techwood meat slicer quiet?

Owner reviews describe it as a little noisy in normal use, not silent. Techwood does not publish a decibel figure, and no slicer in this guide does.

Does the Techwood come with two blades?

No — it ships with one 9-inch blade. The CUSIMAX and Borlebbi both ship two smaller blades instead; the Techwood trades the second blade for extra length on the one it has.

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The Cuisinart FS-75 is the brand-name option in my meat slicer guide, and for a lot of buyers that is the entire appeal: a company with a service department, a three-year motor warranty, and parts you can still get in five years.

What it is not is the most machine for the money. At $129.95 it has the weakest motor here at 130 watts, a single 7.5-inch blade where cheaper rivals ship two, and it remains priced above the CUSIMAX that outranks it. You are paying for the name and the warranty, and it is worth being clear-eyed that that is the trade.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
7.5/10	$129.95	4.2★ (3,875)	Check Price on Amazon

Specifications

Model	Cuisinart Kitchen Pro FS-75
Blade	Single removable 7.5″ stainless steel
Motor	130 W
Thickness range	1/32″ to 1/2″
Housing	Die-cast aluminium with premium-coated steel
Dimensions	18.25″ L × 10.88″ W × 11.13″ H
Weight	11 lb
Removable for cleaning	Blade, food guide and stainless carriage
Cleaning	Hand wash only
Warranty	Limited 3-year motor warranty

The thing to understand before you buy one

A home meat slicer is not a deli slicer. The motors are a fraction of the size, the duty cycle is measured in minutes rather than hours, and every machine in this price bracket will warm up and want a rest if you push it through a whole brisket in one go.

The FS-75 is at the cautious end of that even by home standards. Its 130-watt motor is the smallest in the guide — the Borlebbi and FOHERE both run 200 W — and reviewers consistently note it slowing on dense, cold cuts. That is not a defect so much as a design choice about how hard the machine is willing to work.

Who It’s For

• Buyers who want a brand with a service department and a genuine warranty path
• Anyone slicing bread, cheese and cooked deli meats rather than dense raw muscle
• People who value a three-year motor warranty over raw wattage
• Kitchens where the 18.25-inch length is not a problem

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone slicing partially frozen meat or dense cold cuts regularly — 130 W is the weakest here
• Buyers who want two blades; the CUSIMAX, Borlebbi and FOHERE all ship a serrated and a smooth blade
• Value hunters — the Borlebbi is $119.99 with 200 W and two blades
• Small kitchens: at 18.25 inches long this is the longest machine in the guide

Performance

130 watts, and what it actually costs you

The FS-75 has the least powerful motor of the five machines in the guide. In practice that shows up not as a failure to cut but as a slower, more deliberate pass, and a machine that would rather you fed it gently than forced it.

For bread, firm cheese and cooked roast beef that is entirely adequate. For dense chilled salami or anything part-frozen, the 200-watt machines are the better tool, and this is the single clearest reason the CUSIMAX rather than the Cuisinart is the Best Overall pick in the guide.

The thickness range is the best thing about it

1/32 of an inch to a half inch is a genuinely wide span, and the fine end is finer than the 0–15 mm knobs on the Borlebbi and FOHERE resolve to. If paper-thin prosciutto is the reason you are buying a slicer, this is the machine in the guide built for it.

The control is a knob rather than a detented dial, so repeatability across sessions depends on your own care rather than on a click stop. Reviewers do report inconsistency at the very finest settings.

One blade, and hand-washing

You get a single smooth 7.5-inch blade. The smooth edge suits meat and cheese; there is no serrated blade for crusty bread, which the CUSIMAX, Borlebbi and FOHERE all include as standard at or below this price.

The blade, food guide and carriage all come off, which is the part that matters most — a slicer that cannot be stripped is a slicer that grows bacteria in its seams. Everything is hand wash only. There is a full walkthrough in my guide to cleaning a meat slicer safely.

Design and Build

Die-cast aluminium and coated steel, non-slip feet, and a build that feels closer to an appliance than the plastic-bodied budget machines. This is where the Cuisinart premium is visibly spent.

It is also the longest machine here at 18.25 inches. That is a real consideration if it is going in a cupboard between uses rather than living on the counter, and it is worth measuring before ordering.

Value

At $129.95 the FS-75 is now the most expensive machine in the guide — ahead of the CUSIMAX at $123.98, the Techwood at $120.35 and the Borlebbi at $119.99. It has stayed above the CUSIMAX for weeks now, after a genuinely volatile stretch: it moved twice in a single day at one point, from $116.95 to $121.44 to $124.63, then dipped as low as $117.05 a few days later before climbing back above $129.

Judged purely on specification that is difficult to defend: the Borlebbi gives you 200 watts and two blades for $119.99. What the Cuisinart adds is a three-year motor warranty and a company that will still exist to honour it, which on a motorised appliance is not nothing. Whether it is worth roughly $10 more than the Borlebbi and a real step down in power is a judgement about how much you value that.

Durability

Across 3,875 ratings the distribution runs 63% five-star, 17% four, 9% three, 4% two and 7% one-star. That is 80% at four or five stars, the weakest of the top four machines in the guide, with the CUSIMAX at 83% and the Techwood at 82%.

The 7% one-star share is mid-pack and the complaints cluster where you would expect from a 130-watt motor: stalling on dense product, and inconsistency at fine settings. The three-year motor warranty is the longest coverage of any machine here, which materially offsets a mid-pack rating — a covered failure is an inconvenience rather than a write-off.

Alternatives to Consider

• CUSIMAX Electric Deli Meat Slicer — $123.98. The Best Overall pick: two 8.7-inch blades, more buyer feedback than any home slicer at 5,070 ratings, and currently about $6 cheaper than the Cuisinart.
• Borlebbi 200W Dual Blade — $119.99. More power, two blades, less money. The value pick if the brand name is not what you are buying.
• Techwood 9-inch — $120.35. The biggest blade in the guide, for large cuts, at close to the lowest price on the list.

Verdict

The FS-75 is a well-made machine bought for the wrong reasons by anyone who reads the specification closely. It has the least power, one blade instead of two, the largest footprint, and it now costs more than the machine that outranks it.

It earns its place on two things: build quality you can see, and a three-year motor warranty nothing else here matches. If you slice bread, cheese and cooked meats occasionally and want to buy from a company you have heard of, it is a sound purchase. If you slice dense or part-frozen meat, or you simply want the most machine for the money, the CUSIMAX and the Borlebbi both beat it.

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How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this slicer, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — blade size and type, motor wattage, thickness range, materials, footprint and weight — read against the other machines in the meat slicer buying guide; plus the shape of the rating distribution across 3,875 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.2 average it produces.

What I could not establish: motor temperature under sustained use, real-world blade life, and how the 1/32-inch setting performs in practice. None is published in a form that can be compared between machines, and nothing above claims a measurement of any of them.

Price and stock were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 7 September 2026. This category moves: the Cuisinart FS-75 shifted twice in a single day while I was checking it, so treat every figure here as a snapshot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cuisinart FS-75 powerful enough for raw meat?

For cooked meats, cheese and bread, yes. For dense chilled or partially frozen cuts its 130-watt motor is the weakest in the guide and reviewers report it slowing. The 200-watt Borlebbi and FOHERE are better suited to that.

How thin can the Cuisinart FS-75 slice?

Down to 1/32 of an inch, and up to half an inch. That fine end is finer than the 0-15 mm dials on the budget machines resolve to, which makes it the guide’s best choice for paper-thin prosciutto.

Does the FS-75 come with a serrated blade?

No. It ships with a single smooth 7.5-inch stainless blade. The CUSIMAX, Borlebbi and FOHERE all include a serrated blade as well, at or below the same price.

Is the Cuisinart FS-75 dishwasher safe?

No. The blade, food guide and carriage all remove for cleaning, but everything is hand wash only. The FOHERE is the machine in this guide with dishwasher-safe removable parts.

What warranty does the Cuisinart FS-75 have?

A limited three-year motor warranty, which is the longest coverage of any slicer in the guide and the strongest single argument for paying the Cuisinart premium.

Is the Cuisinart FS-75 or the CUSIMAX the better buy?

The CUSIMAX for most people. It has two 8.7-inch blades against the Cuisinart’s single 7.5-inch, more buyer feedback at 5,070 ratings versus 3,875, and at $123.98 it is now clearly cheaper. The Cuisinart wins on warranty and brand support.

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The EUHOMY is the cheapest machine in my countertop ice maker guide at $45.99, and it is the only bullet-ice machine there with a handle. Those two facts are the whole argument for it. It makes the same nine bullet cubes in six minutes as machines costing up to $24 more, and it is small and light enough — 13 lb, under nine inches wide — to go in a car for a weekend.

What you give up is basket capacity and a little confidence. It holds 1.3 lb of ice against the Frigidaire’s 2.2 lb, and it sits at 4.2 stars against the Frigidaire’s 4.4.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
8/10	$45.99	4.2★ (16,314)	Check Price on Amazon

Specifications

Model	EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker (black)
Ice type	Bullet ice
First batch	Nine cubes in about 6 minutes
Stated daily output	Up to 26 lb in 24 hours
Basket capacity	1.3 lb
Water tank	1.2 litres
Dimensions	11.42″ D × 8.74″ W × 11.57″ H
Weight	13 lb, with a carry handle
Wattage	170 W (stated 4 kWh per 24 hours)
Stated noise	Under 45 dB
Warranty	12 months, plus ongoing technical support

The thing to understand before you buy one

No countertop ice maker stores ice, and this one is no exception. The basket is insulated but unrefrigerated, so ice melts, drains back into the tank and gets made again. Run it all day and you do not end up with 26 lb of ice; you end up with a basket that keeps topping itself back up.

On the EUHOMY that matters slightly more than on its rivals, because its 1.3 lb basket is smaller than the Frigidaire’s 2.2 lb. The machine stops when it is full, so unattended this is a 1.3 lb appliance. If you are filling a cooler, you will be standing over it with a bag.

Who It’s For

• Anyone who wants working ice on demand for the least money
• People who actually need to move it — RV, camping, boat, a rental you will leave
• Small kitchens: at 8.74 inches wide this is the narrowest machine in the guide
• Anyone who wants a published noise figure rather than a guess

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone serving a crowd — the 1.3 lb basket is the real limit, against 2.2 lb on the Frigidaire
• Buyers who want the strongest track record; the Frigidaire is 4.4 across 16,906 against this one’s 4.2 across 16,314
• Anyone expecting stored ice rather than made-on-demand ice
• Nugget-ice people — this makes hard hollow bullets, not chewable pellets

Performance

Six minutes, and the same 26 lb ceiling as everything else

Nine cubes in about six minutes puts it level with the Frigidaire and the Silonn. The 26 lb per 24 hours rating is also identical, and like theirs it is a laboratory ceiling that assumes cool ambient air, cold fill water and someone emptying the basket the moment it fills.

The honest way to read three machines quoting 26 lb is that the number tells you almost nothing about which to buy. Basket size, footprint and price are what actually differ, and on two of those three the EUHOMY wins.

The handle is not a gimmick

At 13 lb with a moulded handle and a footprint under nine inches wide, this is the one bullet-ice machine in the guide you would genuinely carry somewhere. That matters because the guide no longer includes a dedicated portable pick — the Igloo that held that slot lost its buy box — so if portability is why you are here, this is now the answer.

Noise, and why a published figure is worth something

EUHOMY states under 45 dB. That is roughly a quiet fridge, and it is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent measurement, so treat it as a ceiling the marketing department was willing to put in writing. It is still more than Frigidaire offers, which publishes no decibel figure at all for the EFIC189. On a machine that runs a compressor in a kitchen, being able to compare even one number is useful.

Design and Build

Black plastic with a see-through window, an infrared level sensor, and a two-button panel — add water, press on. Indicators flash for ICE FULL and ADD WATER. There is a 30-minute one-touch self-clean cycle, which is worth running, because any machine that sits with standing water will grow a biofilm.

It does not look like an appliance the way the stainless Frigidaire does. At $24 less, that is the trade, and if the machine is going in a camper rather than on a kitchen counter it is not a trade you will care about.

Value

$45.99 makes this the cheapest working machine in the guide, and the gap to the Frigidaire at $93.99 is real money for identical stated output. You are paying the Frigidaire premium for a bigger basket, a stainless front, and a better rating record — not for more ice per day.

If the machine will live permanently on a counter and serve a household, the Frigidaire is worth the extra. If it will be used occasionally, moved around, or is going in a second home, the EUHOMY is the sensible buy and the $24 is better left in your pocket.

Durability

Across 16,314 ratings the distribution runs 66% five-star, 12% four, 7% three, 5% two and 10% one-star. So 78% of buyers landed at four or five stars, against 85% for the Frigidaire, and the one-star tail is 10% against the Frigidaire’s 7%.

That is a real gap but not a damning one, and both samples are large enough to mean something. The failure mode in this category is consistent — pump or water sensor, usually after the warranty — and a three-point difference in one-star share is the kind of signal that should nudge a decision rather than settle it. EUHOMY covers the machine for 12 months.

Alternatives to Consider

• Frigidaire EFIC189 — $93.99. The Best Overall pick: bigger 2.2 lb basket, stainless front, 4.4 stars across 16,906 ratings. Worth the extra if it is staying on the counter.
• Silonn Countertop Ice Maker — $85.64. Two selectable cube sizes and 4.2 stars across 28,417 ratings, though that pool is shared across several Silonn sizes and models.
• Silonn 33 lb Nugget Ice Maker — $143.91. Chewable pellet ice, rated for 33 lb a day, for about twice the money.

Verdict

The EUHOMY does the job for the least money and is the only bullet-ice machine here you would actually pick up and take somewhere. Nothing about it is exceptional, and it is not the one to buy if it is going to be the household ice supply — the 1.3 lb basket and the slightly weaker rating record both point at the Frigidaire for that.

But as the cheap, small, portable option it is well-judged, and at $45.99 it is the machine I would suggest to anyone who is not sure they want a countertop ice maker at all.

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How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — first-batch time, stated daily output, basket and tank capacity, dimensions, weight, wattage and the stated noise ceiling — read against the other machines in the buying guide; plus the shape of the rating distribution across 16,314 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.2 average it produces.

What I could not establish: real daily output in a normal kitchen, and whether the under-45 dB claim holds in practice. The noise figure is the manufacturer’s own and I have not measured it.

Price and stock were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026. Both will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the EUHOMY ice maker keep ice frozen?

No. The basket is insulated but not refrigerated, so ice melts slowly, drains back into the tank and is remade. Every countertop machine at this price works this way. Move the ice to a freezer if you need to build a supply.

How much ice does it hold at once?

1.3 lb, against 2.2 lb on the Frigidaire. The 26 lb per 24 hours figure only happens if someone empties the basket repeatedly, because the machine stops when it is full.

Is the EUHOMY ice maker actually portable?

More so than the alternatives. It weighs 13 lb, has a moulded carry handle and is 8.74 inches wide, so it fits a camper or a car boot in a way the 15-inch-deep Frigidaire does not.

How loud is it?

EUHOMY states under 45 dB, roughly a quiet fridge. That is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent measurement, but it is more than Frigidaire publishes for the EFIC189, which gives no figure at all.

Does it need a water line?

No. You fill the 1.2 litre tank from a jug. There is no plumbing and no filter, which is what makes it usable in an RV or a rental.

Is the EUHOMY or the Frigidaire EFIC189 the better buy?

The Frigidaire, unless price or portability is the deciding factor. It has a bigger 2.2 lb basket and a stronger record at 4.4 stars across 16,906 ratings versus 4.2 across 16,314. The EUHOMY is $24 cheaper and the only bullet-ice machine in the guide with a handle.

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The Frigidaire EFIC189 is the Best Overall pick in my countertop ice maker guide, and the reason is not that it does anything the others cannot. It makes bullet ice in about six minutes, like the rest of them. What separates it is the evidence behind it: 4.4 stars across 16,906 Amazon ratings, the strongest record of any machine in that guide, and the lowest share of one-star reviews in the group.

That matters more than usual in this category, because countertop ice makers are a class of appliance where the specification tells you very little about whether the thing will still be working in eighteen months.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
8.5/10	$93.99	4.4★ (16,906)	Check Price on Amazon

Specifications

Model	Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver
Ice type	Bullet ice, two selectable sizes
First batch	Nine cubes in under 6 minutes
Stated daily output	Up to 26 lb in 24 hours
Basket capacity	2.2 lb
Dimensions	15″ D × 11″ W × 14.5″ H
Wattage	200 W
Panel	Digital, with ice-full and water-empty indicators
Water supply	Fill by jug — no plumbing

The thing to understand before you buy one

A countertop ice maker does not keep ice. The basket is insulated but it is not a freezer, so the ice you make slowly melts, the meltwater drains back into the reservoir, and the machine makes it again. Leave the EFIC189 running all afternoon and you do not accumulate 26 pounds of ice — you get a basket that stays roughly full while the machine cycles.

This is true of every machine in this price class, including the Silonn and the EUHOMY. It is the single most common source of one-star reviews across the whole category, and almost always a mismatch between what the buyer expected and what this type of appliance does. If you want a standing supply, bag the ice into a freezer as it is produced. If you want ice on demand for drinks, that is exactly what this is for.

Who It’s For

• Households whose freezer tray cannot keep up with drinks, parties or iced coffee
• Renters, offices, dorms, boats and anywhere plumbing an ice line is not an option
• Buyers who want the pick with the most buyer feedback behind it rather than the cheapest one
• Anyone who wants two cube sizes — smaller for chilling fast, larger for drinks that sit

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone who needs ice to be stored rather than made on demand — buy a freezer, not this
• Chewable nugget-ice people; bullet ice is hard and hollow, and a nugget machine is a different purchase
• Anyone counting every dollar — the EUHOMY is $24 cheaper and rated 4.2 across 16,314 ratings
• Kitchens with under-cabinet clearance below about 15 inches, or under 15 inches of counter depth

Performance

Six minutes is real, 26 pounds is a ceiling

Frigidaire states the first nine cubes arrive in under six minutes, and that figure is consistent with every other compressor machine of this size — the Silonn quotes six, the EUHOMY the same. It is a genuine convenience: start it when guests arrive and there is usable ice before the first round is poured.

The 26 lb per 24 hours figure is a different kind of number. It is a laboratory ceiling, and it assumes cool ambient temperature, cold fill water, and someone emptying the basket the moment it fills. The 2.2 lb basket is the real constraint: once it is full the machine stops. Unattended, this is a 2.2 lb appliance that tops itself up, not a 26 lb one.

Two cube sizes, and what bullet ice is good at

Bullet ice is cylindrical with a hollow core, which gives it a lot of surface area. That makes it chill a drink quickly, and it also makes it melt quickly — fine for a highball you will finish, less good for a spirit you want to sip. The small setting chills fastest; the large setting lasts longer in the glass. Neither is clear ice, and no machine at this price makes clear ice.

Water, noise and running it

You fill it from a jug — there is no plumbing, no water line and no filter to buy. The reservoir sits under the ice basket, and the digital panel tells you when the water is empty and when the basket is full.

On noise, I have to be straight with you: it runs a compressor and a pump, so it is audible, but I have no measured figure for it. Frigidaire does not publish a decibel rating for this model. The EUHOMY does — it claims under 45 dB — so on the published figures the EUHOMY is the only machine here you can put a number to, and the Frigidaire is an unknown rather than a known quantity. Anyone quoting you a precise decibel number for the EFIC189 is not getting it from the manufacturer.

Design and Build

The front is stainless steel with a large transparent window, which is the main reason this looks like an appliance rather than a plastic box — and at this price most of the competition is a plastic box. The window is practical as well as cosmetic, since you can see the basket filling without lifting the lid.

The footprint is worth measuring before you buy. At 15 inches deep, 11 wide and 14.5 tall, it is deeper than it is wide, which is the opposite of what people assume from the photographs. On a standard 24-inch counter it leaves room behind, but under a wall cabinet the 14.5-inch height is the number that will catch you out.

Value

At $93.99 the EFIC189 sits in the middle of its own guide. The EUHOMY is $69.77, the Silonn $85.64, and the Silonn 33 lb Nugget $143.91. So it is not the cheap option, and it costs about $8 more than the Silonn it outranks.

What the extra $24 over the EUHOMY buys is not output — both are rated 26 lb per day — but the rating record and the stainless front. Whether that is worth it depends on how much weight you put on 16,906 ratings at 4.4 versus 16,314 at 4.2. Both are large enough samples to be meaningful; the gap between them is real but not enormous.

Durability

Across 16,906 ratings the distribution runs 72% five-star, 13% four, 5% three, 3% two and 7% one-star. Read the shape rather than the 4.4 average: 85% of buyers landed at four or five stars, and the 7% one-star share is the lowest of any machine in the buying guide — the EUHOMY sits at 10%, and both Silonn listings at 9% on rating pools shared across several Silonn models.

That one-star share is the number I would watch in this category, because countertop ice makers fail in a specific way: the pump or the water sensor goes, usually somewhere past the warranty. A lower one-star share does not prove the EFIC189 is better engineered, but across a sample this large it is the best available signal, and it is the reason this is the Best Overall pick rather than the cheaper EUHOMY.

One caveat on the listing itself: Amazon’s specification block gives the model name as “EFIC189/EFIC206”, so the ratings pooled here may span more than one revision of the machine. I could not establish from the listing what separates the two, and I am not going to guess.

Alternatives to Consider

• EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker — $69.77. Same 26 lb rating, $24 cheaper, 4.2 stars across 16,314 ratings. The pick if price leads.
• Silonn Countertop Ice Maker — $85.64. About $8 cheaper, with the same six-minute first batch and two cube sizes. Its 4.2 stars across 28,417 ratings come from a pool shared across several Silonn sizes and models, so they are weaker evidence for this particular machine.
• Silonn 33 lb Nugget Ice Maker — $143.91. A different product entirely: chewable pebble ice, rated for 33 lb a day, for about $50 more.

Verdict

The EFIC189 is the countertop ice maker to buy if you want the one with the least uncertainty attached to it. It is not the cheapest, it is not the fastest, and it does nothing its rivals cannot — but it has the largest body of positive feedback in the category and the smallest tail of angry reviews, and in an appliance class this prone to early failure that is the specification that actually matters.

Buy it understanding what it is: a machine that makes ice on demand and does not store it, with a 2.2 lb basket that is the real limit on output. On those terms it is very good. Judged as an ice supply that fills up while you are out, it will disappoint you, exactly as it has disappointed the 7%.

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How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — ice type and sizes, first-batch time, stated daily output, basket capacity, wattage and dimensions — read against the other machines in the buying guide; plus the shape of the rating distribution across 16,906 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.4 average it produces.

What I could not establish: noise, real daily output in a normal kitchen, and what distinguishes the EFIC189 from the EFIC206 that shares its listing. None of the three is published in a form that can be compared between machines, and nothing above claims a measurement of any of them.

Price and stock were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026. Both will move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Frigidaire EFIC189 keep ice frozen?

No. The basket is insulated but not refrigerated, so ice melts slowly, drains back into the reservoir and is remade. Every countertop machine at this price works this way. If you need a standing supply, move the ice to a freezer as it is produced.

How long does the first batch take?

Under six minutes for nine cubes, according to Frigidaire. That is in line with every comparable compressor machine in this size class.

Will it really make 26 lbs of ice a day?

Only in ideal conditions with someone emptying the 2.2 lb basket as it fills. The basket is the real constraint — once it is full the machine stops. Treat 26 lb as a ceiling, not an expectation.

Does the Frigidaire EFIC189 need a water line?

No. You fill the reservoir from a jug. There is no plumbing to install and no filter to replace, which is why these machines suit rentals, offices and boats.

What is the difference between the EFIC189 and the EFIC206?

Amazon lists the model name as EFIC189/EFIC206, so both share a listing and a pooled set of ratings. The listing itself does not state what separates them, and I could not establish it from the published specification.

Is the Frigidaire EFIC189 better than the Silonn?

On evidence, yes. The two are closely matched on specification and price, with the Silonn about $8 cheaper. The Frigidaire holds 4.4 stars across 16,906 ratings; the Silonn shows 4.2 across 28,417, but that pool is shared across several Silonn sizes and models, so it says less about the machine itself.

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The Silonn Countertop Ice Maker is the fastest-to-first-batch pick in my countertop ice maker guide, and its listing shows 4.2 stars across 28,417 ratings, though that pool is shared across several Silonn ice maker sizes and models rather than this machine alone. The listing briefly showed no ratings on 7 September 2026 and showed them again by 14 September; the distribution below was recorded on 30 August 2026. This review covers the thing most buyers get wrong before they order one, what 26 lbs a day really means, and why the price has moved.

Quick Verdict

Score	Price	Rating	Buy
7.5/10	$71.95	4.2★ (28,417)	Check Price

Specifications

Spec	Silonn SLIM01B
Ice type	Bullet ice, two selectable sizes
First batch	9 cubes in about 6 minutes
Stated daily output	Up to 26 lbs in 24 hours
Water tank	2 litres, filled by hand — no plumbing
Power	150 watts
Dimensions	12.3 x 8.7 x 12.5 inches
Refrigerant	R600a
Other	Self-cleaning cycle, full-basket sensor, scoop and basket included

The thing to understand before you buy one

A countertop ice maker is not a freezer. The basket is insulated but not refrigerated, so ice sitting in it slowly melts, the meltwater drains back into the reservoir, and the machine simply makes it again. That is normal operation and not a fault.

What it means in practice is that this is a machine for making ice when you want ice, not for storing it. If you need a standing supply, you fill the basket and move the ice to your freezer. Buyers who expect a small freezer are the ones who end up disappointed, and it is the single most common misunderstanding in the category.

Who It’s For

• Households whose freezer ice tray cannot keep up with drinks, parties or iced coffee
• Anyone in a rental, dorm, office or boat where plumbing an ice maker is not an option — this fills from a jug
• People who want ice on demand within minutes rather than a stored supply
• Anyone who wants a machine from a range with a long owner record, bearing in mind the ratings are shared across several Silonn models

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Anyone expecting ice to keep. It will not, and no countertop machine at this price does
• Anyone who wants chewable nugget ice or clear cocktail cubes. Bullet ice is neither
• Anyone counting on the full 26 lbs a day, which is a ceiling in a cool room rather than a working figure
• Anyone buying purely on price — the EUHOMY in the same guide is about $16 cheaper

Performance

Six minutes is real, 26 pounds is a ceiling

The first nine cubes in about six minutes is the specification people buy this for, and it is the one that holds up: from a cold start you have usable ice faster than any freezer tray. That responsiveness is the genuine appeal of the format.

The 26 lbs per 24 hours figure is a different kind of number. It assumes continuous running in a cool room with the basket emptied as it fills, which is not how anyone uses one. Treat it as a ceiling for comparing machines rather than as an amount you will collect.

Bullet ice, and what it is good at

Bullet ice is cylindrical and partly hollow, which is why it chills a drink quickly and also why it melts quickly. For everyday soft drinks, iced coffee and cooling a sink of beer it is ideal. For a whisky you intend to sip slowly, or for anything where dilution matters, it is the wrong ice.

The two selectable sizes are a genuine convenience rather than marketing: the smaller setting produces ice faster and suits chilling in bulk, the larger melts more slowly in a glass.

Water, noise and the self-clean cycle

There is no water line. You fill a 2-litre tank by hand, and the sensor stops production when the basket is full. Using filtered water is worth doing, because scale and taste both carry straight into the ice.

The self-cleaning cycle handles routine maintenance but does not replace an occasional manual clean of the reservoir. The guide to using a countertop ice maker covers the setup and running routine in full.

Design and Build

A compact 12.3 by 8.7 inch footprint and 12.5 inches tall, which fits under most wall cabinets but is worth measuring for, because the lid opens upward. The transparent lid is a small practical win: you can see the basket level without opening it and letting warm air in.

It runs on 150 watts and uses R600a refrigerant. Noise is the specification nobody publishes usefully; it is a compressor appliance, and it is audible in a quiet kitchen.

Value

At $71.95 the Silonn has dropped back below the $79.94 the buying guide once recorded, and well below the $85.64 high point it reached briefly. It remains below the Frigidaire EFIC189 at $93.99, and closer to, though still above, the EUHOMY at $45.99. The value argument has strengthened, even though the machine has not changed.

What it still has is the track record. Those ratings are shared across Silonn’s range, though, so they say more about the brand than about this exact machine, which is why the Frigidaire EFIC189 rather than this machine is the Best Overall pick in the guide. If price is the binding constraint, the EUHOMY is the guide’s budget pick for a reason.

Durability

Across the 28,690 shared ratings recorded on 30 August 2026 the distribution ran 68% five-star, 13% four, 6% three, 4% two and 9% one-star. Amazon no longer displays any of this, so treat it as a historical snapshot rather than something you can check yourself today. That 9% is roughly 2,580 people, which is a substantial absolute number rather than statistical noise, and it is the highest one-star share of the machines in the guide.

Read together, the shape is familiar for this category: most owners are happy, and a minority have a machine that fails or arrives faulty. Countertop ice makers are compressor appliances built to a price, and the honest expectation is a few years of service rather than a decade.

Alternatives to Consider

• The full ice maker guide — including the cheaper EUHOMY, the Frigidaire, and the Silonn 33 lb nugget machine if chewable ice is the point
• How to use a countertop ice maker — setup, water, cleaning and what to expect in the first week
• A small chest freezer — the right answer if what you actually need is ice storage rather than ice production

Verdict

The Silonn is still the sensible default countertop ice maker, and the reason is boring and sound: it does the basic job quickly and more people have bought and rated it than anything else in the category. Six minutes to the first ice is genuinely useful, and the self-clean and full-basket sensor remove the two chores that make these machines annoying.

Buy it understanding what it is. It makes ice on demand, it does not keep ice, the 26 lbs figure is a ceiling, and at $71.95 it is not the cheap option in its own guide. On track record its shared ratings still look strong; on price it does not win by default.

How This Review Was Put Together

Plainly: this is research-based, not a hands-on test. I have not owned or used this machine, and nothing here should be read as a report from my own kitchen.

What it rests on: the published specification — ice type and sizes, first-batch time, stated daily output, tank capacity, wattage, dimensions and refrigerant — read against the other machines in the buying guide; plus the shape of the rating distribution across 28,690 Amazon ratings rather than the 4.2 average it produces.

What I could not establish: real daily output in a normal kitchen, and noise. Neither is published in a form that can be compared between machines, and nothing here claims a measurement of either. Price and stock were read from Amazon’s US marketplace on 14 September 2026 and will move — this one has already risen from $79.94 since the buying guide was last checked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Silonn ice maker keep ice frozen?

No. The basket is insulated but not refrigerated, so ice melts slowly, drains back into the reservoir and is remade. That is how every countertop machine at this price works. If you need a standing supply, move the ice to a freezer as it is produced.

Will it really make 26 lbs of ice a day?

Only in ideal conditions. That figure assumes continuous operation in a cool room with the basket emptied as it fills, which is not normal household use. The number worth trusting is the six minutes to the first nine cubes, which is what the machine is genuinely good at.

Does it need a water line?

No. You fill a 2-litre tank by hand, which is what makes these machines suitable for rentals, offices, boats and anywhere plumbing is not an option. Filtered water is worth using, since scale and taste both carry into the ice.

Is bullet ice good for cocktails?

Not particularly. Bullet ice is partly hollow, so it chills fast and melts fast, which suits soft drinks and iced coffee more than a slowly sipped spirit. If dilution matters to you, a nugget or clear-cube machine is the better format.