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Igloo Countertop vs Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

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Igloo Countertop Water Dispenser

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Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless

$199.99 from Amazon(+1 more)
Igloo Countertop vs Avalon A8 Countertop Bottleless Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

Countertop water cooler dispensers are not as common as the usual free-standing design. Countertop machines can vary a lot more in their performance, but our hands-on testing and comparisons can help you make the right choice.

Compared to the Igloo, the Avalon A8 is by far the superior machine for design, build quality, as well as performance.

A couple of key design differences are that the Avalon A8 has neat side pockets to lift and move the machine. It’s somewhat smaller and lighter than the Igloo and it also has additional ozone cleansing.

The Igloo has ambient temperature water in addition to hot and cold, but the dispensing buttons are noisy and uncomfortable to use. The Avalon uses large paddle levers to dispense hot and cold water.

In our tests, the Avalon A8 has a slight edge over the Igloo for cold water capacity. The Avalon A8 produces around 2.7 L per hour while the Igloo did 2.3 L. That’s the equivalent of 8.5 fl. oz. (300ml) glass of cold water every 7 and 8 minutes respectively.

For hot water, the Avalon’s temperature is 198 ℉, but the Igloo is only 185 ℉. Considering the lower temperature, the Igloo puts out 210 fl. oz. or 6.2 L of hot water per hour. The Avalon, on the other hand, does around 4 L per hour.

The dividing factor, however, is the flow rate. The Avalon A8 has a flow rate of 31 ml/sec, but the Igloo is pretty slow at only 12 ml/sec. In terms of design quality and performance, the Avalon A8 is by far the superior machine.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Heating time
  • Simple panel design
  • Adjustable feet
  • Color design
  • Hot water heating time
  • Filter attachment design
  • Side pocket handles
  • Hot water safety mechanism
  • Ozone self-cleaning
  • Slow flow rate
  • Hot water safety
  • Water baffle
  • Drip tray
  • No pocket handles
  • Cold water performance
  • Fixed nozzle design
  • Narrow drip tray

Key Specs

Dimensions WDH
31 x 38 x 52 inches
W12.5 x D14.2 x H19.3 inches
Weight
22.0 lbs (10.0 kg)
39.7 lbs (18.0 kg)
Loading Type
Top Loading Countertop
Bottleless countertop
Dispensing Mechanisms
Buttons
Paddle levers
Cold Water Temperature
50‒54 ℉
50‒54 ℉
Cold Water Capacity
78 fl. oz. / Hr
91.2 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$124.73
$250.56
Check Price on Amazon
$199.99 at AmazonCheck Price on Avalon

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Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
5.0
6.6

Hot Water Test

5.8
9.0
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Single Draw Capacity
21.5 fl. oz.
22.76 fl.oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. / 1 min 57 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 2 min 35 sec
Temperature
185 ℉
198 ℉ (92.2 ℃)
Flow Rate
0.4 fl.oz. / or 12 ml /sec
1.0 fl.oz or 31 ml / sec

Cold Water Test

4.5
5.0
Cold water testing on the Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser. A thermometer is measuring cold water flowing into a cup.
Water temperature being measured as cold water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Serving Capacity
78 fl. oz. / Hr
91.2 fl.oz. / hour
Temperature
50-54 ℉
50‒54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
6.2
8.9

In the Box

The unboxed Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser with the included drip tray and user manual shown on the far right.
Unboxed Avalon A8 bottleless water dispenser displayed alongside included filters, attachment parts, and bundled literature.

Build Quality

5.3
9.0
A close up side view of a countertop water cooler dispenser focuses on a poor joining seam.
A close up side view of a countertop water cooler dispenser focuses on a poor joining seam.
A front to angle view of the Igloo bottled water cooler dispenser showing side ventilation slats.
A gloved finger pointing to the sharp edges on the bottom of a heat exchange grid on a water cooler dispenser.
The underneath of a water cooler dispenser showing a metal plate, a stub leg, and a water drainage plug.
A gloved hand showing how to adjust a rubber stump leg on a water cooler dispenser.
A side angle view of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A side angle view of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
The bottom of a water cooler dispenser showing the plastic base and plastic stub leg.
The filter reset button on the left side of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Side Body
White metal sheeting
Black metal sheeting
Front Panel
White plastic
Black plastic
Cabinet Door
No
No door
Base
Metal plate with rubber feet
Plastic
Extra Features
Adjustable feet
Side pocket handles

Dimensions

Annotated diagram showing the dimensions of the Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser in inches.
Illustrated dimensions of the Avalon A8 countertop water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Depth
38.0" (96.5 cm)
14.2" (36.1 cm)
Width
31.0" (78.7 cm)
12.5" (31.8 cm)
Height
52.0" (132.1 cm)
19.3" (49.0 cm)
Weight
22.0 lbs (10.0 kg)
39.7 lbs (18.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

7.2
9.5
A close up of the working panel of the Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the working panel of the Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the icons of a small water cooler dispenser.
Three multi-functional indicators found on the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Power Status
None
Far left
Hot Water Test
Top left
Middle
Cold Water Test
Top right
Far right
Bottle Or Filter
No
Dual function feature
Others
None
Leak detection

Water Inlet Controls

6.5
8.5
Close of a detachable water needle found on a small countertop top-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close of a detachable water needle found on a small countertop top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing a partly removed water guard from a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A top down view of a typical water baffle found in the tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand holding a water baffle removed from a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
From left to right: Two filter attachment brackets, two filter heads, and two filters for a small water cooler dispenser.
From left to right: Two filter attachment brackets, two filter heads, and two filters for a small water cooler dispenser.
Parts for connecting water lines to the filters of a water cooler dispenser: 4 pressure clips and 3 PE line adaptors.
The filter reset button on the left side of the Avalon A8 countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Water guard, water baffle
Filter network
Materials
Plastic
Metal and plastic
Extra Features
None
Filter reset switch, leak detection

Water Dispensers

A close up top down view of three white buttons of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up top down view of three white buttons of a water cooler dispenser.
A bottom up view of three water nozzles found on a water cooler dispenser.
Two lever paddle water dispensers of a countertop water cooler dispenser and the control panel above.
Mechanism
3 buttons
2 press paddle levers
Outflow Points
3 recessed panel nozzles
2 protruding nozzles
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Extra Features
Original icon designs
Hot water safety

Drip Tray

7.0
7.8
A top down view of a white colored drip tray of a small countertop water cooler dispenser.
A top down view of a white colored drip tray of a small countertop water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing holding up the cover of a drip tray found on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand holding a drip tray of a water cooler dispenser with the cover askew and removed from its holding.
A gloved hand showing a small drip tray removed from its holding in a countertop water cooler dispenser.
Material
Plastic
Plastic
Color
White
Black
Length
21.1" (53.6 cm)
10.0" (25.4 cm)
Width
2.9" (7.4 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)
Depth
1.6" (4.1 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)
Level Float
No
No

Rear Switches

Two tank switches found on the rear of a water cooler dispenser. The right is red and the left green, both with on/off labels.
Rear switches on a water cooler dispenser. Far left : ozone. Right side: Night light, hot and cold water switches.
Rear switches on a water cooler dispenser. Far left : ozone. Right side: Night light, hot and cold water switches.
Night light, hot and cold water switches on the rear right side of a water cooler dispenser.
Hot Water Test
Yes
Yes
Cold Water Test
Yes
Yes
Others
None
Night light, Ozone

Door and Cabinet

Has Door
No
No
Internal WxDxH
N/A
N/A
Material
N/A
N/A
Extra Features
N/A
N/A

Cord and Plug

A man holding the electric cable of a small water cooler dispenser double folded across its horizontal length.
A man holding the electric cable of a small water cooler dispenser double folded across its horizontal length.
A gloved hand showing the plug of the Igloo water cooler dispenser against the front panel background.
A close up of the position of the electric cord in close proximity to the water drainage port of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Avalon A8 water cooler dispenser pictured against the control panel.
A gloved hand holding the three pronged plug of the Avalon A8 water cooler dispenser pictured against the control panel.
A man holding the cord of a small countertop water cooler dispenser wrapped twice along its horizontal length.
Length
6.2 ft (1.9 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)
Position
Rear rt., 4.3 in
Rear right, 3 in from ground
Plug Type
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
6.1
8.8

Dispensing Water

5.5
8.5
A person dispensing hot water from the Igloo hot and cold water cooler dispenser.
A person dispensing hot water from the Igloo hot and cold water cooler dispenser.
A person dispensing cold water from the Igloo bottled water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from a water cooler dispenser into a part cup by pushing a blue lever.
Mechanism
Push button
Push lever
Water Type
Hot, cold, normal temperature
Hot and Cold
Spout Type
Recessed panel type
Protruding spout
Dispensing Height
9 in
7 in

Hot Water Safety

6.0
9.0
Close up of the hot water button on a countertop water cooler dispenser.
Close up of the hot water button on a countertop water cooler dispenser.
A gloved finger showing how to operate a hot water safety mechanism on the button of a hot water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing hot water from a water cooler dispenser by operating the hot water safety switch.
Mechanism
Mounted lever
Push button

Bottle / Filter Changing

7.5
9.5
A water bottle loaded onto the Igloo hot and cold water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle loaded onto the Igloo hot and cold water cooler dispenser.
Top down view of a countertop water cooler dispenser showing the water guard and water needle.
A close up of the water guard and water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A Gloved hand holding a water filter removed from its bracket at the rear of a bottleless countertop water cooler dispenser.
A Gloved hand holding a water filter removed from its bracket at the rear of a bottleless countertop water cooler dispenser.
A hand showing where to insert and remove the main water line into the filter head of a bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A picture showing how two water filters at the rear of a bottleless water cooler dispenser are connected.
Design
Top loading
POU filter
Feature
Water guard and needle
Filter heads, water lines

Cleaning

6.2
8.8
A gloved hand holding a waterguard removed from a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand holding a waterguard removed from a top loading water cooler dispenser.
The inside of a cold water tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser showing the water baffle.
The rear water drainage plug on a small countertop water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration of how to move the Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser with no side handles.
How to unscrew the safety cap on the drainage port of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
How to unscrew the safety cap on the drainage port of a small countertop bottleless water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to remove the cover on a water cooler dispenser in order to access the cold water tank inside.
A gloved hand lifting the unscrewed top off a water cooler dispenser partly revealing the tank and wiring inside.
A gloved hand holding up the cover of a water cooler dispenser revealing the tank and wiring inside.
A close up of the water baffle found in the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the working attachments found on the underneath of the lid of the cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
Self Cleaning
No
Ozone
Drainage Plug
Rear rt., 2 in from ground
Rear rt, 1.5 inches from ground