GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra with side tank review

An earlier Ultra configuration with the standard side tank

The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra XPIO13SWSS is the stainless nugget-ice configuration supplied with the standard 0.75-gallon side tank. The manufacturer page now identifies it as no longer being manufactured. We retain it for explicit earlier-model comparisons, rather than silently presenting it as a current-production default or assuming every retail listing has fresh availability.

There are also exact finish pages within the XPIO13 side-tank group. GE's current product pages identify XPIO13SWSO in Sandstone, XPIO13SWOW in White, and XPIO13SWBB in Black, alongside the Stainless XPIO13SWSS assessed here. The three sibling pages use the same side-tank and scale-inhibiting-filter product title, list the same 16.5-by-13.43-by-17.5-inch configuration, and link the same Use & Care PDF. The page images visually show the different finishes; GE does not say whether they are photographs or renders. No model-specific performance difference was stated, so the shared functional review applies while the exact SKU and finish still matter. GE marks each sibling page no longer being manufactured. See the Opal Ultra side-tank and finish guide for the exact finish and counter-footprint comparison.

The meaningful configuration difference from XPIO23SWSS is the included water tank arrangement. Both are nugget machines with a documented three-pound collection bin. The side tank extends the water supply available between manual refills; it does not create a larger frozen ice bin or turn the machine into a plumbed appliance.

The production claim has unusually useful conditions

GE gives two production figures: up to 38 pounds per day at 70°F ambient air and 60°F water, and 32 pounds per day at 90°F ambient and 70°F water under its cited DOE conditions. Those paired conditions matter. The higher number should not be used to promise the same output in the warmer test environment.

These are manufacturer figures, not our measured results. They also describe production over time, not an amount stored at once. The three-pound bin needs to be emptied to make room for continued production. A side tank can make water replenishment less frequent without changing that collection task.

Nugget texture and temporary collection

Opal produces nugget ice rather than hollow bullet shapes or clear cocktail cubes. If that texture is essential, compare nugget configurations first. If you only want to chill occasional drinks, a simpler bullet machine may fit the routine with a different care burden and operating arrangement.

The bin is a collection area, not a freezer for keeping a stockpile indefinitely. Melted water is recirculated into later batches. For ice needed at a particular later time, plan suitable separate frozen storage. Neither the three-pound bin nor the 38-pound daily number replaces that decision.

The tank needs space and its own care

The listed width with the standard tank arrangement is 13.43 inches, with 17.5 inches of depth and 16.5 of height. The no-tank XPIO23SWSS is narrower. The manufacturer also specifies four inches of air clearance at the sides and back. A configuration that fits between nearby objects while closed can still lack its required ventilation space.

The side tank has its own cap, valve and base to clean and drain. Plan a path to the sink and enough room to handle the filled tank. It is an added convenience for refills, with added components in the ownership routine. A tank accessory should be matched to the exact compatible model rather than chosen by its apparent capacity.

Descaling and sanitizing are different procedures

The linked manufacturer manual separates mineral descaling, sanitizing and rinsing, and distinguishes cleaning procedures by the control-panel arrangement. Match the actual buttons and edition before starting. A generic Opal video may show another version’s sequence. The scale-inhibiting filter is not a reason to skip the prescribed care.

Choose this earlier configuration when an exact XPIO13SWSS comparison is useful and the standard side tank fits your refill routine. Compare XPIO23SWSS when narrow body width matters more than having that tank included. Confirm condition, exact accessories and support when considering an earlier unit. This review does not provide a live clearance-price recommendation, a measured noise claim or an invented reliability record.

For an earlier unit, verify the actual tank, filter and drain components supplied with it. An incomplete package can change the routine described here even when the main label matches. The configuration assessment assumes the documented standard side-tank arrangement, with the parts needed to connect it correctly.

Sources: GE's exact XPIO13SWSS page, the sibling XPIO13SWSO, XPIO13SWOW and XPIO13SWBB pages, the exact XPIO23SWSS tankless comparison page, and the linked manufacturer manual.