Antarctic Star Ice Maker Review: Strengths, Flaws & Verdict

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Antarctic Star Ice Maker Worth It?

This little machine makes ice fast but does not keep it. Antarctic Star's countertop maker drops a batch of eight bullet-shaped cubes roughly every six minutes and is rated for up to 26 pounds a day, in two cube sizes, from a body under a foot tall. What it doesn't do is keep that ice frozen. The basket isn't a freezer, the soft cubes melt quickly, and it works best treated as a production line that feeds the freezer. Used that way it is quick, compact and cheap to run; left to itself it will just sit there with a full basket.

NoFussDeal rates the Antarctic Star Ice Maker 3.9 out of 5 at $69.99. Last updated September 26, 2026.

Key Facts

Product Dimensions: 10.39"D x 8.66"W x 11.22"H
Wattage: 88 watts
Voltage: 28 volts
Material Type: Plastic
Warranty Description: 1 year
Brand: Antarctic Star

What Stands Out

Eight bullet-shaped cubes per cycle, about every six minutes, with a rated output of up to 26 pounds a day
Two cube sizes, selectable from the control panel
One-touch self-cleaning cycle Antarctic Star recommends running weekly, or after two weeks unused
Compact 8.66 x 10.39 x 11.22 inch body with a carry handle, basket and scoop included
Compressor cooling with R600a refrigerant, drawing 88 watts

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

Batches of eight cubes about every six minutes once the machine is cold
Compressor cooling that keeps producing batch after batch, with up to 26 pounds a day rated
Soft bullet ice that people who like to chew ice appreciate
Compact body with a carry handle, small enough for a counter, RV or trailer
One-touch self-cleaning cycle for regular upkeep
Low power draw of 88 watts makes homemade ice cheap to run

What does not

The basket isn't refrigerated, so ice has to be moved to the freezer regularly
Soft, airy cubes melt quickly in drinks
Stray cubes can trip the bin-full sensor early and pause production
Needs frequent water refills and attention rather than running unattended
The compressor is noticeable when it kicks in, despite the sub-40dB rating

Features in Depth

Six-Minute Batches from a Real Compressor

Product Dimensions 10.39"D x 8.66"W x 11.22"H Capacity 26 pounds per day Wattage 88 watts

Each cycle makes eight bullet-shaped cubes, and the roughly six-minute rhythm holds once the machine is cold. A compressor rather than a thermoelectric chip does the cooling, which is why it can keep going batch after batch instead of slowly chilling water.

$69.99 3.9/5 Check price

Two Cube Sizes and Soft, Fast-Melting Ice

Cube Sizes 2 Included Components ice maker, basket, scoop, handle

You can choose between two bullet sizes, and switching from small to large can take a full cycle to show up. The ice itself is soft and airy, which people who chew ice love and cocktail drinkers are less keen on.

$69.99 3.9/5 Check price

One-Touch Self-Cleaning

A single button starts a cleaning cycle, and Antarctic Star recommends running it weekly, or after the machine has sat unused for two weeks, to keep the ice tasting fresh.

$69.99 3.9/5 Check price

Compact, Portable, and Not Hands-Off

At 8.66 inches wide, 10.39 deep and 11.22 tall, with a carry handle, it fits on a counter or in an RV, and it takes up about a square foot of counter. It has to be tended, though: the basket fills, a sensor pauses production, and the ice waits there until someone moves it.

$69.99 3.9/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on: The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating: 4.1 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 26, 2026
How we score: We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the Countertop Ice Maker Machine. Seven things come up most in owner feedback: two draw praise, four split opinion and one draws mostly complaints. Its ratings average 4.1 stars (65% five stars, 11% four, 8% three and 16% one or two), so every score starts at 82, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read six owner reviews in full (every one we found gave it four or five stars) and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 4.1 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Here that takes off 0.2, which gives 3.9. Read our editorial standards

Performance

One of the six owner reviews we read mentions it. That owner gave the product four or five stars. Score 82: its 4.1 star average on a 100 point scale.

82Positive

Ice Production

Antarctic Star lists the capacity as 26 pounds. All of the six owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 87: we started at 82 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive.

87Positive

Size

Antarctic Star lists the product dimensions as 10.39"D x 8.66"W x 11.22"H and the capacity as 26 pounds. Three of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 24% of all ratings are three stars or fewer,…

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76Mixed

Noise Level

Four of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 24% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 82 and took off 6 because opinio…

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76Mixed

Reliability

None of the six owner reviews we read mention it. 24% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 82 and took off 6 because opinion is split.

76Mixed

Ice Melting Time

Antarctic Star lists the capacity as 26 pounds. All of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 24% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 70:…

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70Needs Improvement

Owner Satisfaction

65% of ratings are five stars and 11% are four. 8% are three stars and 16% are one or two. A sizable share of ratings sit low, so weigh the drawbacks below as heavily as the praise. Score 82: its 4.1 star average on a 100 point scale.

82Mostly Positive

Value for Money

Three of the six owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 24% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 76: we started at 82 and took off 6 because opini…

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76Mixed

Specifications

Size and weight

Product Dimensions: 10.39"D x 8.66"W x 11.22"H

Power

Wattage: 88 watts
Voltage: 28 volts

Materials and warranty

Material Type: Plastic
Warranty Description: 1 year

Other specifications

Brand: Antarctic Star

What Buyers Say

★★★★★

Extremely consistent ice maker..

I inherited this machine from my parents because they didn’t want the crushed ice type of machine and I didn’t know that this was the ice maker I never knew I needed.It’s the absolute perfec… Read it on Amazon

Michael Degen · August 30, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Built well, and does just what it says

I've been using one of these for about 2 months, and so far, I love it. Considering it has an actual refrigeration compressor unit and not a gimmicky Peltier plate or something like that, I … Read it on Amazon

Troy Warr · June 24, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Because Your Refrigerator’s Ice Maker Will Break

We’ve had this unit 2 months now and it’s been a lifesaver. Since refrigerator-based ice makers are designed to work for roughly 3 1/2 weeks, this thing came in super handy. The instructions… Read it on Amazon

Chris · August 27, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

One of the Best Investments I Ever Made

This little workhorse is quiet, though it needs refilling fairly often. The water usage doesn’t seem to be too bad and the quality of the ice is really good. As I’m anemic I have a tendency … Read it on Amazon

Joseph I. · July 21, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

I like it!

So far so good. Works just as described, nice & quick. Ice is a bit wet when done & sticks together once in my freezer but I just bust it up before using it. I leave it open to dry out good … Read it on Amazon

Karen · July 27, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Nice ice in little time

It’s very nice ice and created in no time. The only thing I wish is that it would act as storage for the ice but you have to turn it off once you’re done making ice. It fits well on the coun… Read it on Amazon

Jozie Joz · February 24, 2026 · Verified

Setting It Up

Clean it before the first batch

Unpack the machine, wipe out the basket and water area, and run the one-touch self-cleaning cycle before making any ice to drink.
Place it with room to breathe

Set it on a level surface and leave space around the side fans so the compressor can shed heat.
Fill with water

Fill the reservoir, ideally with filtered water, which can make for better-tasting ice.
Choose a cube size and start

Pick small or large bullets and start the machine. If you switch sizes later, give it a full cycle before the new size appears.
Discard the first few batches

The instructions say the first cubes come out substandard while the compressor cools, so tip them back or throw them away until the batches look right.
Empty the basket into the freezer

Move ice to the freezer every 20 to 30 minutes or so. The basket isn't refrigerated, and the machine pauses when it thinks the basket is full.

Common Questions

Is the Antarctic Star Ice Maker worth it?

Only for some buyers: we score it 3.9 out of 5. Antarctic Star's countertop ice maker is quick: eight cubes about every six minutes, two sizes, a small footprint and a low power draw. Rated 4.1 out of 5 across 3,939 user ratings.

What are the downsides of the Antarctic Star Ice Maker?

The basket isn't refrigerated, so ice has to be moved to the freezer regularly. Soft, airy cubes melt quickly in drinks.

How do you clean the Antarctic Star Ice Maker?

Run the self-cleaning cycle weekly with regular use, or after two weeks unused.

How does batch ice ahead of a party work on the Antarctic Star Ice Maker?

Start a few hours early and bag each basketful in the freezer. A six-minute cycle adds up quickly if someone keeps emptying the basket.

On Video

6 videos

Review Antarctic Star Countertop Ice Maker Machine, 8 Ice Cubes in 6 mins, 26lb/Day Ice with 2 Sizes

knitSheep

All videos

Antarctic Star Ice Maker Review: Fast Bullet Ice for Hands-On Use

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Antarctic Star Ice Maker Worth It?

Key Facts

What Stands Out

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

What does not

Features in Depth

Six-Minute Batches from a Real Compressor

Two Cube Sizes and Soft, Fast-Melting Ice

One-Touch Self-Cleaning

Compact, Portable, and Not Hands-Off

How We Scored It

Performance

Ice Production

Size

Noise Level

Reliability

Ice Melting Time

Owner Satisfaction

Value for Money

Specifications

Size and weight

Power

Materials and warranty

Other specifications

What Buyers Say

Extremely consistent ice maker..

Built well, and does just what it says

Because Your Refrigerator’s Ice Maker Will Break

One of the Best Investments I Ever Made

I like it!

Nice ice in little time

Setting It Up

Clean it before the first batch

Place it with room to breathe

Fill with water

Choose a cube size and start

Discard the first few batches

Empty the basket into the freezer

Common Questions

On Video

Review Antarctic Star Countertop Ice Maker Machine, 8 Ice Cubes in 6 mins, 26lb/Day Ice with 2 Sizes

The Verdict

Who should buy it

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