Is nugget (Sonic-style) ice better than bullet ice in countertop machines?

It depends on what you want. Across the reviewers we read, nugget/pellet machines (GE Opal, GoveeLife, Frigidaire nugget) win praise for soft, chewable, restaurant-style ice, but they cost more, run noisier, and need regular descaling. Bullet-ice machines like the Frigidaire 26 lb and EUHOMY are cheaper and faster to first ice, but the hollow cubes melt quickly and aren't chewable.