In this test we matched up the Igloo 26 Vs the New Air AI 215. The Igloo is advertised to make 26 pounds of ice in a 24 hour span. The New Air AI- 215 is advertised to make 50 lbs of ice in a 24 hour span. It should come as no surprise that the New Air is about twice as large compared to the Igloo.
In our testing the Igloo produced the first batch of ice at 7: 25 and the New Air made its' first round of ice after 9 minutes. However, the New Air then quickly took the lead and made about twice as much as the Igloo.
One of the nicest features we liked when comparing the two is the presence of an auto cleaning feature on the New Air. The Igloo require manual cleaning with a sponge, water & soap. We also had to use a tooth brush in order to fully clean the machine.
After 6 months of continually use,. we noticed that if water was left in the Igloo for more than 2 days with the lid closed then a slime would start to form on the sides of the machine. This was a rather gross discovery. Also, we had an issue with some sort of buildup on the water dispenser on the Igloo which was a challenge to reach. Nonetheless, we discovered that the Ice Machines should be kept dry, with the lid open (if possible) to prevent any growth inside. Again, another reason we really like the auto cleaning feature of the New Air and more importantly the easy to access drain.