Speedcubing has become very popular, and there are now more speedcubes than ever before. Through this ultimate Rubik’s cube buying guide, we’ll help you pick the best Rubik’s cube from the best and most popular manufacturers in the market.
Let’s discover what makes a great cube and check out the reviews of some of the best speed cubes on the market for speedcubing. (Check out our monthly puzzle subscriptions)
What Qualities Make a Great Speed Cube?
Selecting the ideal speed cube is a highly personal decision, influenced by a myriad of both subjective and objective factors.
Despite this inherent variability in preferences, the most exceptional Rubik’s cubes commonly possess essential qualities that are crucial to consider for an informed choice.
Familiarizing yourself with these qualities is key to ensuring the overall functionality and quality of the cube align with your expectations, especially when navigating the vast array of options available on platforms like Amazon.
First and foremost, a great speed cube should exhibit exceptional square construction.
Another pivotal aspect to consider is the commitment to high-quality materials.
The precision and symmetry of its design contribute significantly to smooth and efficient turns during speedsolving.
Square integrity is paramount, as it directly impacts the cube’s maneuverability, allowing for seamless rotations that are essential in the pursuit of faster solving times.
Some of these include:
Turning
Regarding Rubrik’s cube turning feel and speed, you can find speed cubes in either fast turning or smooth turning cubes categories.
Fast turning cubes
As the name suggests, these cubes feature speed optimizations. They feature less friction between the layers, guaranteeing minimal resistance as you turn the cube. Therefore, the cube is very fast, feels light, and you’ll use minimal effort to turn the sides.
They also feature a distinct sound and a dry feeling when turning. Such cubes allow cubers to execute ultra-fast algorithms because there’s minimal resistance between the layers. With high speeds and low friction comes very little control, and beginners may find it challenging to control fat turning speed cubes.
Smooth turning cubes
Cubes with smooth turning have layers that interact with more friction, resulting in a delightful soft sensation and precise turns. Though you’ll encounter more resistance while turning, this resistance offers increased control over your speed cube.
In contrast to their fast-turning counterparts, smooth-turning cubes are characterized by their quiet operation and the absence of a dry feeling during turns.
The layers seamlessly glide over each other, facilitating control and precision as you execute algorithms.
However, it’s important to note that you may experience a reduction in speed due to the resistance and friction involved.
The dilemma of choosing the superior speed cube between the two arises. Generally, neither is inherently better, as the preference hinges on individual turning styles and requirements.
It is crucial to ensure that the turning characteristics align seamlessly with the puzzle’s design.
A high-quality fast-turning cube should offer exceptional speed while maintaining ample control.
Speed becomes irrelevant if you struggle to execute algorithms accurately due to a lack of control.
Conversely, a quality smooth-turning cube should prioritize optimum control without compromising too much on speed.
Control loses its significance if the effort and speed required to turn the layers become excessive.
Ultimately, the choice between a smooth-turning and a fast-turning cube depends on your personal preferences and the balance you seek between speed and control in your speedcubing endeavors.
Corner Cutting
Corner cutting is like the superpower of a speed cube. It’s the cube’s ability to turn even if you didn’t perfectly line up one side, especially when you’re trying to solve it really fast.
This happens a lot when you’re speedcubing, so it’s super important to think about if you want to be a good speedcuber.
Most speed cubes are way better at corner cutting than the old Rubik’s cubes. The modern ones can cut at least 45 degrees.
That means if the top side of the cube is turned more than 45 degrees, the cube can still move smoothly. This makes solving faster and gives you some room for mistakes.
When you’re picking a speed cube, you need to make sure it can do this kind of corner cutting easily, and you shouldn’t feel like you’re forcing it.
Speedcubing is all about being fast, so you don’t want anything slowing you down or making it harder to break world records.
If a speed cube doesn’t have good corner-cutting, it can mess up your moves. The corners might not turn smoothly, and that can mess with your strategies for solving the cube quickly.
So, when you’re choosing a speed cube, look for one that can cut corners well without making it feel tough or awkward to use.
Stability
All cubers aim for speed cubes that are steady and won’t easily mess up during solving. The flexibility and how often the cube changes its shape affect how stable it is.
Stability is important because it decides how the cube moves and if it changes shape a lot. You definitely don’t want a cube that wobbles and twists too much.
If a cube isn’t stable, it can lead to puzzles that are impossible to solve because the corners twist too much.
Even if you’re just starting out and not doing tricky moves, having a stable cube becomes crucial as you get better and start making 5-10 moves every second. So, stability is key for a smooth and successful cubing experience as you progress.
Catching
Catching occurs when one layer of the speed cube catches onto another layer. Catching often happens when poor corner-cutting meets fast-turning cubes. It can lead to corner twists where edge pieces catch on other edge pieces.
Another typical catching occurs when the corner piece catches on the centerpiece. A proper design ensures minimal catching, but it can happen too often and ruin your experience with a poor design.
Executing algorithms on a puzzle cube with frequent catching is almost impossible, and this will distract you and result in slower solving.
Lockups
A lockup refers to when pieces get caught on each other and cannot realign themselves quickly. Older Rubik’s cubes have more frequent cases of lockups. With modern 3×3 speed cubes, the design has ensured that lockups are a thing of the past.
The cube’s design and the number of layers it has will directly influence the lockups.
You’ll experience more lockups with a cube that has more layers. Therefore, it will likely happen with higher dimensions like the magic cube, 4×4, or 5×5 cubes with more complex interiors.
Tensions
The tension in a cube is what keeps it together. You can change how tight or loose the layers are by adjusting this tension. It’s like making the layers closer or giving them more space by changing the friction between them.
When you get a new 3×3 speed cube, it’s important to play with it a bit before trying to adjust the tension or adding lube to make the layers smoother.
To adjust the tension, you have to take off the caps on each centerpiece and use a screwdriver to turn the screws underneath. Turning them one way makes the layers looser, and the other way makes them tighter.
Lubrication is like putting oil in a car engine to help the parts move smoothly. For a speed cube, you should only use silicon-type lube.
Don’t put lube on a brand-new cube because the pieces need some time to get smoother on their own. Once they’re broken in, you can add lube to make the cube work even better.
Stickers
3×3 Rubik’s speed cubes come in different options, including speed cubes with stickers, those with plastic tiles instead of stickers, and stickerless speed cubes.
Having stickers or not is 100% a personal preference, and it will determine which is the best speed cube according to what you want to see. You can choose stickers with half-bright or full bright shades, but they can gradually wear off.
With stickerless Rubik’s cubes, you don’t have to worry about stickers wearing off, and they generally make it easier to catch colors at the speed of movements. (READ ‘TOP 5 RUBIK’S CUBES EVERY CUBER NEEDS‘)
The Best Speed Cubes
Below we’ll review some of the top 3×3 speed cubes available on the market. They’re an excellent choice for beginner and professional cubers. Remember, personal preference is an integral part of your choice, and it will make the difference between a good cube and a great cube.
GAN Cube
Mr. Jiang Ganyuan pioneered the GAN cube puzzle brand in 2009 after setting the first 3×3 national Chinese record. GAN cube manufacturing incorporates string and unbreakable screw joints and a seamless design. Wing-shape integration ensures the core is stable and light, and you can tune tension nuts by hand.
Famous names and versions include the GAN 356 XS, GAN 356 RS, and GAN 11 M pro. Some of the best professional speedcubers like Feliks Zemdegs endorse the GAN cube, and they’ve come in handy when breaking world records.
MoYu Cube
MoYu is a Chinese cube brand that is a sub-brand of the YongJun company. The MoYu culture, denoted by the four-character glyph on their cubes, features various cubes. Famous names include the MoYu Weilong, and the MoYu Weilong WR/WR M, improvements of the Huan Ying.
Although they often featured weak magnets, they were widely popular and considered among the best speed cubes. Ranked as one of the best 3x3s of all time, the MoYu RS3M 2020 featured magnets, dual adjustment systems for changing the spring compression, and a low price.
Another budget-friendly cube from MoYu is the MoYu Meilong which offers a light to medium magnetic feel and outstanding performance at a fraction of the cost of other magnetic 3x3s. (READ ‘HOW THE RUBIK’S CUBE GOT ITS NAME’)
YJ Cube
YonJun (YJ) is a prominent Chinese toy and cube manufacturer. They created MoYu as a separate production platform for third-party puzzle designers. One of their most popular cubes is the YJ Yulong V2 M.
It’s a factory magnetized speed cube considered one of the best speed cubes because of its excellent overall speed, outstanding performance, and brilliant price. It’s available in stickered and stickerless versions and is guaranteed to satisfy beginners and veterans alike.
DAYAN Cube
Dayan, also known as DY, Daiyan, Taiyan, or Big Goose, manufactures many well-known speed cubes. It offers different variations of the Rubik’s cube, including the Dayan Zanchi, one of the best speed cubes used in speedcubing.
Released in 2011, the Zhanchi was the 5th 3×3 cube in the Dayan series and became one of the most popular speed cubes when Felix Zemdegs used it to obtain multiple former world records. It’s very smooth, has excellent corner-cutting, and comes in stickerless and stickered versions.
V-Cubes – Verdes Cube
The V-cube brand began selling cubes with different sizes, like 2×2 to 11×11, in 2008. These cubes were created by Panagiotis Verdes and made by Verdes Innovations in Greece.
The design of the cube was completely new and different from the ones before it.
The cube has a special pillow design based on a cone. Unlike other cubes, its pieces hook together instead of being held by the centers.
It’s made with a kind of flexible plastic that makes it more stable and durable. This also gives it a smoother feel when you’re solving it quickly.
Qiyi Cube
Qiyi is a giant innovative twisty puzzle and speed cube designer and manufacturer. They’ve gained prominence by making excellent quality cubes at budget-friendly prices. One of its famous versions is the Valk 3, which is fast out of the box but remains controllable for an enjoyable solving experience. Another popular version is the Qiyi MS magnetic speed cube which offers exceptional value for money and is considered the best Rubik’s cube speed version for beginners.
YuXin Little Magic
The Yuxin Little Magic is a factory magnetized speed cube similar to more expensive speed cubes. It’s super-fast and super light with a frosted exterior and advanced design features. You’ll get a stable feel with excellent grooves that fit nicely together for incredible speed.
The Cubeleo Elite M is an upgrade of the Yuxin Litte Magic with unique magnetic elements. This budget cube is one of the best speed cubes for beginners and advanced cubers.
Shengshou
Shengshou is a Chinese cube company that became popular after the release of its 4×4 cube. They’re a great brand for beginners, and if you’re looking for a challenge, you can try Shengshou’s Megaminx dodecahedron speed cube.
It’s excellent for your cube collection, with unique color-shifting features that make it look like a mess. It also features anti-pop technology, extremely smooth and fast cornering, and a very durable design.
Which One of The Best Rubik’s Cubes Should I Get?
Choosing from one of the best Rubik’s cubes ultimately comes down to your preference. You should get the speed cube that brings together all the features that appeal to you the most.
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