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EUHOMY walked out of CES 2026 with an Innovation Award for a countertop ice maker that does one thing no mainstream rival matches: it drops its first nine bullet cubes in roughly five minutes, then lets you unclip the whole ice bucket and carry it to the patio, where insulation keeps the ice frozen for up to four hours with no power. That machine is the Ice Leopard X1, it costs $199 at launch, and units began shipping in May 2026. This review breaks down what the X1 actually delivers, where the spec sheet oversells, and whether you should buy it now or grab a proven $68 alternative instead.
How we assess: this review is based on manufacturer specs, official documentation, and verified owner reports, not hands-on testing.
Is the EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1 worth buying?
The EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1 is worth $199 if you host often and want the fastest first-ice time in the portable class: 9 bullet cubes in about 5 minutes, 30 lbs per day, and a removable insulated bucket that keeps ice frozen up to 4 hours unplugged. Casual users should buy EUHOMY’s proven $68–$90 classic model instead.
Quick picks
Fastest ice, best for entertainers: EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1 · $199
First ice in ~5 minutes and the bucket doubles as a cooler; the pick if you host parties or cocktail nights at least monthly.
Check price at iceleopard.com →
Not yet listed on Amazon; sold direct through EUHOMY’s Ice Leopard site since May 2026.
Budget pick under $100: EUHOMY Classic Countertop Ice Maker · often $68–$90
Same brand, 26 lbs a day, bullet ice in 6–8 minutes; the sensible buy if you just want cold drinks without paying for speed or insulation.
Check price on Amazon →
Premium upgrade: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker · $579 list, regularly $419–$519
Chewable nugget ice, 38 lbs a day, WiFi scheduling; for people who care more about ice texture than speed or portability.
Check price on Amazon →
Key takeaways
- The Ice Leopard X1 makes 9 bullet cubes in about 5 minutes (roughly 20–40% faster to first ice than the 6–8 minute cycles typical of $70–$90 portables) and 30 lbs per 24 hours.
- Its 2.2 L ice bucket detaches, seals with a lid, is dishwasher-safe, and keeps ice frozen up to 4 hours without power. No other mainstream countertop ice maker offers this.
- It costs $199 direct from iceleopard.com (a $30 early-bird discount ran at launch), and as of July 25, 2026 it is not sold on Amazon.
- It won a CES 2026 Innovation Award, one of two EUHOMY models honored that year.
- If you make ice occasionally rather than for gatherings, EUHOMY’s classic 26-lb machine at $68–$90 delivers most of the function for a third of the price.
What Is the EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1?
The EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1 is a portable countertop bullet-ice maker that debuted at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where it received a CES 2026 Innovation Award in home appliances. EUHOMY, best known for the sub-$100 ice makers that top Amazon’s bestseller charts, announced the X1 alongside three other machines (the Luna Pro Crescent, Rock Plus Square, and Rock Pro Sphere) in a lineup detailed in the company’s official press release.
The X1’s core numbers, per the manufacturer’s spec sheet: 9 bullet-shaped cubes per cycle in about 5 minutes, 30 lbs of ice per 24 hours, a 2.2 L (720 g capacity) removable insulated ice bucket, a 1.8 L water tank, and R290 refrigerant. The unit measures 182 mm wide, 412 mm deep, and 365 mm tall (about 7.2 x 16.2 x 14.4 inches), weighs 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs), and runs on standard 110–120 V household power. The footprint is comparable to a medium drip coffee maker, so it fits under standard kitchen cabinets.
The Ice Leopard X1 sells for $199 through iceleopard.com, with availability that started in May 2026. Prices checked July 25, 2026.
How Fast Does the Ice Leopard X1 Actually Make Ice?
The Ice Leopard X1 produces its first batch of 9 bullet cubes in about 5 minutes, which is the fastest first-ice claim in the portable countertop category as of mid-2026. For comparison, EUHOMY’s own classic 26-lb machine takes 6–8 minutes per cycle, the Silonn 26-lb portable advertises 9 cubes in 6 minutes, and the GE Profile Opal 2.0 needs around 20 minutes before its first nugget ice appears. Filling the X1’s full 2.2 L bucket takes about an hour of continuous cycling, according to reporting from FindArticles.
Two design details drive the speed. EUHOMY’s RapidIce compressor system chills the evaporator rods aggressively on startup, and the machine recirculates meltwater from the ice basket back into subsequent freeze cycles, so warm-up losses feed production instead of draining away. Daily output is 30 lbs per 24 hours, above the 26–26.5 lbs standard in the budget class, though below the Opal 2.0’s 38 lbs.
Context matters here. A five-minute first batch is nine cubes: enough for two, maybe three drinks. The honest speed story is that the X1 shortens the annoying wait at the start, and over an evening of hosting the higher hourly output keeps pace with a crowd better than a $70 machine. It does not conjure a full party’s ice instantly; nothing countertop does.
What Makes the Detachable Insulated Bucket Different?
The Ice Leopard X1’s removable ice bucket is the feature that earned most of its CES attention, because it solves the real weakness of every cheap portable ice maker: they are ice producers, not ice keepers. A standard $70 machine stores finished ice in an uninsulated basket where it slowly melts, drains back into the tank, and gets refrozen. Leave it unplugged and the ice is water within the hour.
The X1’s 2.2 L bucket is insulated on all sides, clips off the machine in one motion, and seals with an included lid. EUHOMY rates cold retention at up to 4 hours without power — its press materials describe the bucket doubling as a beverage cooler for exactly this reason. Carry it to the backyard table, the barbecue, or the car for a picnic, and the machine keeps producing the next batch on the counter meanwhile. The bucket is also dishwasher-safe, which matters more than it sounds: slime and scale build-up inside ice makers is the single most common complaint in owner reviews of budget machines, and a bucket you can run through a dishwasher removes half that cleaning burden.
EUHOMY calls it the world’s first detachable insulated bucket on a countertop ice maker, and among mainstream brands sold in the US in 2026 that claim holds up: no EUHOMY classic, Silonn, Frigidaire, or GE Profile countertop model ships one. If your ice regularly needs to end up somewhere other than beside the machine, this is the X1’s strongest argument.
How Much Does the Ice Leopard X1 Cost, and Where Can You Buy It?
The Ice Leopard X1 lists at $199.00 on EUHOMY’s dedicated iceleopard.com storefront, which ran a $30 early-bird discount at launch. Some pre-launch coverage projected pricing near $150, so watch for promotional dips below the $199 list. Prices checked July 25, 2026.
As of this writing the X1 is not listed on Amazon, Walmart, or The Home Depot — EUHOMY is selling it direct first, a common play for a CES launch product. That means no Prime shipping and a return process governed by EUHOMY’s own policy rather than Amazon’s. If direct-buying a first-generation product makes you hesitate, that is a rational hesitation: the X1 shipped in May 2026, so the pool of long-term owner reviews is still shallow compared with EUHOMY’s classic machines, which have accumulated tens of thousands of Amazon ratings over years.
The price positions the X1 exactly between the two obvious alternatives. It costs roughly 2.5x EUHOMY’s own classic bullet-ice machine (frequently $68–$90 on Amazon, per TheStreet’s January 2026 deal coverage) and roughly half a GE Profile Opal 2.0 at street prices. You are paying about $110 over the budget class for three things: two-to-three minutes faster first ice, 4 lbs more daily output, and the insulated go-anywhere bucket.
How Does the Ice Leopard X1 Compare to Other Countertop Ice Makers?
The X1 beats budget portables on speed, output, and ice-keeping, and undercuts premium nugget machines on price, while making a less luxurious style of ice. Here is the field as of July 25, 2026:
| Product | Price | Daily capacity | Key feature | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1 | $199 | 30 lbs | ~5-min first ice + insulated 2.2 L removable bucket | Hosts, patios, tailgates | iceleopard.com |
| EUHOMY Classic Countertop | $68–$90 | 26 lbs | 2 bullet sizes, 6–8 min cycles, proven reliability | Everyday budget use | Amazon |
| Silonn Countertop Ice Maker | $80–$90 | 26 lbs | 9 cubes in 6 min, self-cleaning mode | Small kitchens, RVs | Amazon |
| GE Profile Opal 2.0 | $579 list ($419–$519 typical) | 38 lbs | Chewable nugget ice, WiFi, scheduling | Nugget-ice devotees | Amazon |
The comparison sharpens into use-cases. If you host parties monthly or take drinks outdoors, get the X1; the bucket alone justifies the gap over the budget machines. If you mostly fill a glass with ice a few times a day at home, get the EUHOMY Classic and pocket $110. If chewable Sonic-style nugget ice is the entire reason you want a machine, only the Opal 2.0 delivers it; the X1’s bullet ice is clear-ish and functional but not chewable. And if counter depth is your constraint, note the X1 runs deep at 16.2 inches; the Silonn and EUHOMY Classic are more compact front-to-back.
How Much Does the Ice Leopard X1 Cost to Run?
Running the Ice Leopard X1 costs pennies per day, and its refrigerant choice is a quiet point in its favor. The machine uses R290 (propane) refrigerant, the low-global-warming-potential standard that has replaced older R134a in most new countertop ice makers. R290 systems transfer heat efficiently at the small scale of a countertop compressor, which is part of how the X1 hits its 5-minute cycle without a bigger power draw than the category norm: portable bullet-ice makers in this class typically pull 100–150 watts while cycling. At the US average residential electricity rate, several hours of daily ice-making works out to a few dollars a month.
Water economics are even simpler. The 1.8 L tank uses ordinary tap or bottled water, and because the X1 recirculates meltwater from the basket into later freeze cycles, very little of what you pour in is wasted. Compare that with bagged ice: a 10-lb bag runs $2–$4 at US convenience stores, so a household that buys two bags a week spends $200–$400 a year on ice alone. Against that baseline, the X1’s $199 sticker pays for itself within its first year for regular entertainers, and the $68–$90 EUHOMY Classic does so within months. The machine to avoid on cost grounds is the one that stays in a cabinet unused; every countertop ice maker earns its price only through steady use.
What Do Early Owners Actually Say?
Direct owner feedback on the Ice Leopard X1 is thin, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest: the machine only began shipping in May 2026, it is not on Amazon where review volume accumulates fastest, and no major test lab had published independent measurements as of July 25, 2026. What exists is launch coverage: CES floor reporting from outlets like Gear Diary and Homecrux focused on the sub-5-minute cycle demonstrations, and the CES jury’s Innovation Award signals the detachable-bucket concept impressed judges evaluating hundreds of home-appliance entries.
The more useful reliability signal is EUHOMY’s track record one shelf down. The brand’s classic 26-lb machine has years of retail history and a large owner base; TheStreet’s January 2026 coverage quoted an owner who called it a “great little ice maker” that “works really well”, and who bought a second unit. Recurring complaints across the budget EUHOMY line center on cleaning frequency and basket melt, which are precisely the pain points the X1’s dishwasher-safe insulated bucket was designed to remove. That does not guarantee the X1’s compressor will prove as durable, but it means the company’s engineering baseline is established rather than unknown. Cautious buyers who want scale-tested hardware should wait for the X1’s Amazon debut and its first few hundred ratings; early adopters get the bucket now.
Ice Leopard X1 vs EUHOMY Classic: Which Should You Buy?
Buy the EUHOMY Classic if you are price-sensitive; buy the Ice Leopard X1 if your ice travels. That is the whole decision, but the details are worth two paragraphs.
The Classic (our full EUHOMY Countertop Ice Maker review covers it in depth) makes 26 lbs a day in 6–8 minute cycles, offers two bullet sizes, and has years of owner history behind it. TheStreet’s deal coverage in January 2026 had it at $68 with a coupon against a $90 list, and one quoted owner liked it enough to buy a second unit. Its weaknesses are the category’s weaknesses: uninsulated basket, ice melts back into the tank, and everything must be cleaned by hand. At $68–$90 it remains the best value in countertop ice, which is why it anchors our best countertop ice makers under $100 guide.
The X1 addresses precisely those weaknesses (faster cycles, more daily output, an insulated dishwasher-safe bucket that leaves the machine) and charges $110 for the fix. For a dorm room, office, or occasional-use kitchen, that $110 buys convenience you will rarely use. For anyone who fills a cooler for the deck every summer weekend, mixes cocktails for guests, or tailgates, the X1 pays its premium back in not hauling bagged ice. Pair it with something like the Barsys 360 cocktail maker and a patio bar setup stops depending on the kitchen entirely.
What Are the Drawbacks of the Ice Leopard X1?
Five real ones, stated plainly.
First, bullet ice is bullet ice. It is hollow, freezes fast, and melts faster than dense cubes or spheres — fine for soda and iced tea, mediocre for slow-sipped whiskey. EUHOMY’s own CES lineup acknowledges this by positioning the Rock Pro Sphere and Luna Pro Crescent as the slow-melt, cocktail-clarity machines. Speed and clarity pull in opposite directions in ice-making; the X1 chose speed.
Second, spec-sheet claims deserve skepticism until third-party numbers exist. The 4-hour cold retention figure is EUHOMY’s own rating (its press release language stretched toward “up to 8 hours” in some summaries; treat the product page’s 4-hour number as the honest ceiling, and expect less in July heat with the lid opening repeatedly). No major review lab had published independent retention or output measurements as of July 25, 2026.
Third, it is a first-generation product sold direct. No Amazon listing means no Prime returns, and a shallow owner-review pool means reliability is unproven at scale. EUHOMY’s track record with its classic machines is reassuring, but it is a proxy, not proof.
Fourth, like all portable ice makers the X1 is not a freezer. Ice left in the docked bucket melts and recirculates; production stops when the bucket is full. The insulation slows this cycle but does not eliminate it.
Fifth, at 412 mm (16.2 in) deep it wants a full-depth counter. Measure before ordering.
Who Should Buy the EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1?
The Ice Leopard X1 is built for people whose ice consumption spikes: entertainers, outdoor-kitchen owners, and anyone tired of the gas-station ice run. Map yourself to a row below.
If you host gatherings at least monthly, get the X1: the 30 lbs/day output plus the carry-anywhere bucket is the exact feature set a party demands. If you tailgate, camp with power access, or run a backyard bar in summer, get the X1 for the same reason. If you want ice for daily drinks in a small household and $199 stings, get the EUHOMY Classic, the same brand’s proven workhorse at a third of the price. If chewable nugget ice is non-negotiable, get the GE Profile Opal 2.0 and accept the higher price and slower start. If you need ice in an RV with tight counters, the Silonn 26-lb (linked in the table above) remains the space-efficient pick.
Buy the Ice Leopard X1 if: you host regularly; your ice needs to leave the kitchen; you value a dishwasher-safe, insulated bucket; you want the fastest first-ice in the class and will pay $199 for it.
Skip the Ice Leopard X1 if: you make ice occasionally for one or two people; you want chewable nugget or clear cocktail ice; you prefer to wait for Amazon availability and a deeper owner-review record; your counter is shallower than 17 inches.
Verdict: A Real Innovation With a Fair Price for the Right Household
The EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1 earns its CES 2026 Innovation Award on the strength of one clear idea executed sensibly: separate ice-making from ice-keeping. The ~5-minute first batch is the headline, but the detachable insulated bucket is the feature owners will still care about in year two. At $199 it is priced honestly against both the $70 budget class it outruns and the $500 nugget machines it undercuts. Entertainers should buy it. Occasional users should buy the Classic and never look back. Either way, EUHOMY currently makes the two most defensible purchases in countertop ice.
Check Ice Leopard X1 price at iceleopard.com →
Prefer Amazon? See the EUHOMY Classic’s current price here — prices checked July 25, 2026.
EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1: FAQ
How fast does the EUHOMY Ice Leopard X1 make ice?
It produces 9 bullet-shaped cubes in about 5 minutes per cycle and up to 30 lbs of ice per 24 hours. Filling its 2.2 L bucket takes roughly one hour of continuous operation.
How long does the Ice Leopard X1 keep ice frozen without power?
EUHOMY rates the detachable insulated bucket at up to 4 hours of cold retention with the lid on and no power. Real-world retention will be shorter in hot weather or with frequent lid opening.
Is the Ice Leopard X1 available on Amazon?
No. As of July 25, 2026 it is sold direct at iceleopard.com for $199. EUHOMY’s classic 26-lb countertop ice maker remains widely available on Amazon, typically at $68–$90.
What kind of ice does the Ice Leopard X1 make?
Bullet-shaped ice: smooth, slightly hollow cylinders. It does not make chewable nugget ice (see the GE Profile Opal 2.0 for that) or clear cocktail spheres (EUHOMY’s Rock Pro Sphere targets those).
Does the Ice Leopard X1 need a water line?
No. It is fully portable: fill the 1.8 L tank, plug into a standard 110–120 V outlet, and it runs anywhere from a kitchen counter to an RV or garage bar. It also recirculates meltwater into later cycles.
How big is the Ice Leopard X1?
182 mm wide, 412 mm deep, 365 mm tall (about 7.2 x 16.2 x 14.4 in) and 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs). The slim width fits tight counters, but check that your counter depth clears 17 inches.
Is the Ice Leopard X1 easy to clean?
The removable ice bucket is dishwasher-safe, which no mainstream budget ice maker matches. The tank and interior still require periodic manual cleaning with diluted vinegar or citric acid, as with any portable ice maker.
Is the Ice Leopard X1 worth it over a cheaper ice maker?
For frequent hosts and outdoor use, yes: the $110 premium over budget models buys faster ice, 4 lbs more daily output, and the insulated go-anywhere bucket. For occasional indoor use, the $68–$90 EUHOMY Classic is the smarter buy.
Sources: EUHOMY Ice Leopard official product page; EUHOMY CES 2026 press release (PR Newswire); CES 2026 Innovation Awards; FindArticles coverage; TheStreet deal report. Prices checked July 25, 2026.
