Goveelife Ice Maker Review: Model (H717D). Is It Worth It?

Hey there.
If you’re reading this, you’re obviously thinking about grabbing the Goveelife ice maker (h717d) but aren’t totally sold on it yet. I get it. That’s why I’m laying out my honest take on it right here.

See, I set out to find the absolute best countertop ice makers, so I decided to buy and test firsthand the most popular models out there, specifically hunting for the ones with some kind of unique feature or special vibe that makes them stand out from the crowd.

My pick for today—the Goveelife Smart (h717d)—seems like a pretty cool option. But does it really have that “something special” that makes it worth buying? I’ll break it all down below.

I promise that by the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a much better idea of whether it’s the perfect match for you or if you should just look for something else.

Pros and Cons

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Common Features

Before we get into what makes this thing stand out, let’s quickly cover the basics and see what it shares with most other machines.

What Comes Standard

Like most countertop ice makers, the Goveelife (h717d) includes:

• an intuitive control panel
• indicator lights that signal when the ice basket is full or the water reservoir is empty
• sensors that monitor ice levels to start or stop production
• a self-cleaning function
• and a water drain outlet at the bottom of the machine

The Ice Output

In terms of output, it can produce:

• a batch of 9 ice cubes every 6 to 9 minutes
• up to 1.6 lbs of ice (its basket capacity) in just over an hour
• up to 26 pounds of ice in less than 24 hours

Just a heads-up: while it can churn out over 20 pounds in a day, that number is really just to give you an idea of its max capacity. Actually hitting—or even getting close to—that amount means you’d have to constantly refill the water and empty the ice all day long.

Honestly, I can’t imagine anyone actually wanting to do that or having the time for it.

Footprint & Portability

Regarding volume and space, it belongs to the most compact and portable kind of machines available.

• the Goveelife weighs around 16 pounds
• and its dimensions are 11″ wide by 12″ deep by 14″ high

This makes moving it around no trouble at all. And if you’re tight on space, don’t sweat it—its size means it can fit pretty much anywhere.

Standout Features: What I Like About It

Now that you know the basics of this machine, let’s look at what makes it different—the reasons why it would be worth choosing over others.

Full-View Ice Basket

The first thing I want to point out is the ice basket design. As you can see in the photos, the basket doesn’t just sit entirely inside the unit like most countertop models—but it’s also completely see-through.

I think this is an awesome idea because you can check the ice level whenever you want, even from a distance.

With models that don’t have this, you usually have to walk right up to the machine and peer through the lid just to see how much ice you’ve got.

I’ve noticed this feature is popping up more and more on high-end countertop models (like nugget ice makers), but I’d never seen it before on machines that make bullet ice like this one.

Honestly, I’ve looked at a ton of bullet-shaped ice makers by now, and I can’t think of a single one that has it.

RGB (indicator) Lights

Another feature I really loved about the Goveelife—and another one I haven’t seen on any other machine—is the RGB lighting right above the ice basket. These lights actually work as status indicators.

What’s great about them isn’t just that they replace the typical tiny indicator lights you find on most machines, but that they can also cycle through an awesome range of eye-catching colors.

This lets you assign your favorite colors to the machine’s different modes.

I find this feature incredibly useful because it lets you know exactly what the machine is doing, even from way across the room.

Built-in Magnet Scoop

The next feature that caught my eye might not seem like a big deal to everyone, but I found it super handy: a magnet built into the ice scoop that lets you stick it to any side of the machine.

I remember having the same problem over and over with older machines I used to own: I never knew where to put the scoop.

Thanks to this feature, the scoop stays in one specific spot, so you don’t have to leave it lying around or go hunting for it later because you forgot where you put it.

Like I said, it might not be a game-changer for you, but I’m sure a lot of people—like me—will find it really convenient.

Remote Control

Now, this next feature could be considered the machine’s premium feature, though honestly, I just find it “good”—nothing more.

I’m talking about remote control. That’s right: you can control everything remotely—not just from home, but from wherever you happen to be.

You can manage everything from ice production, notifications for an empty water tank or a full ice basket, and starting the self-cleaning mode, to scheduling the machine to turn on or off at a specific time and day of the week.

You can even use voice commands via Google Home or Alexa—all right from your phone.

The catch—and the reason it won’t always be useful—is that you can only control these features remotely if there’s actually water in the machine.

If it runs out of water, the only thing you’re gonna see is a notification that the tank is empty, and that’s an issue you can only fix manually.

Water Capacity

The final feature—which I almost forgot to mention—is the water reservoir capacity, which holds up to 2 liters.

To put things in perspective, the water tank capacity on most bullet ice makers ranges from 1.1 to 1.5 liters. Only a few models, like this Goveelife unit, hit that 2-liter mark.

So, this machine’s water tank is definitely among the largest out there. The great thing about this is that you don’t have to refill the tank nearly as often as you would with lower-capacity models.

The Downsides: What I Don’t Like About It

Nothing in life is perfect, and this machine is no exception. Now that we’ve covered the good stuff, let’s talk about the downsides.

No Carrying Handle

To be fair, this isn’t a huge deal since the machine is pretty lightweight, but I still wish it had a carrying handle.

It’s a pretty standard feature on bullet ice makers like this Goveelife—especially the newer ones—so I don’t really get why they decided to leave it off on this one.

A bit Hard to Clean

Despite having a self-cleaning function, regular manual cleaning is still necessary for any ice maker. 

The issue with this machine isn’t the general cleaning, though. It’s the actual ice-making area, which is pretty awkward and complicated to get into.

High Price

Even with all the “extra features,” paying over $120 feels a bit steep. This type of ice maker is usually the most affordable option on the market, so the retail price (over $150) is excessive.

Honestly, if I’m going to spend that much cash, I’d rather invest it in a machine that makes higher-quality ice, like a nugget ice maker.

Good to Know

The kind of ice this machine makes is pretty much the lowest quality you can get from a countertop ice maker. It’s not necessarily bad ice, but it’s just not always the best fit for everything you might want to use it for.

The issue with this ice is that it traps air during the freezing process. Because of that, it melts a lot faster than other kinds of ice.

That’s why it’s really not the best choice for sodas or alcoholic drinks, and it’s definitely not ideal for keeping stuff cold in a cooler.

Is the Goveelife Worth It?

Look, at the end of the day, this is a bullet ice maker. That means it belongs to the most basic—and usually most affordable—kind of countertop ice makers you can buy.

Typically, these machines run anywhere from $60 to $90. The difference here is that most of those budget models are missing at least four of the five extra features you get with this one.

Because of that, I think a price tag between $110 and $115 is totally fair.

But paying a single dollar over that would be crazy. Personally, I don’t care enough about the remote control, the clear basket, or any other flashy feature to justify a premium.

If the price climbs past $120, I’d suggest just grabbing a more basic model for under a hundred bucks.

Or, better yet, once you’re spending that kind of money, I’d strongly recommend saving up a little more and investing in a machine that makes higher-quality ice, like a nugget ice maker.