Zain_A24
Member
This is my review of the Meilong 4x4 and 4x4M. How does it compare to other budget options on the market?
This is my first review of a 4x4.
The following review of the Meilong 4x4 and my home-magnetised version. The review will be split into 2 main sections:
Name – Cubezz
Link – cubezz.com
This cube is currently $6.55 from cubezz.com with free shipping. This product arrived in great condition – as expected – and I could tell Cubezz took care in ensuring this product arrived promptly, arriving after 14 days,which as within their suggested shipping time to the UK. Their customer service was great, I queried with regards to their shipping times and was provided a detailed and informative response within 24 hours through both their email [email protected] and their website’s messaging system. I will definitely be purchasing from them in future.
Name – Meilong 4x4 (plus magnetised version)
Price - $6.55
Link - https://cubezz.com/Buy-6020-Cubing+Classroom+Meilong+4x4x4+Magic+Cube+Stickerless.html
Size – 59mm
Weight – 101 grams
Initial Reactions – Out of the Box
Immediately upon removing the cube from its box I realised it is a very compact 4x4. At only 59mm, this cube is smaller than regular 4x4’s, such as the as the 62mm Wuque as well as some mini 4x4’s. It features fairly regular stickerless shades, with their bright red and paler green. I personally like the frosted plastic texture of the cube.
Upon turning I experienced frequent lockups. My inaccurate turning and inexperience with 4x4’s may have added to this, but I saw potential. The tensioning out of the box was fairly tight, but I prefer this over receiving a cube with loose tensions since pops are not easily corrected by beginners and tensions can be easily modified.
I began with a few solves and algorithms and I really enjoyed the effortless and smooth turning of this puzzle. Despite this being my first 4x4, I could tell the turning of this puzzle was above average, impressive bearing in mind this cube is only $6.55. The inner layers were slower than the outer layers but I was sure that this would go away after lubricating and breaking in. I was aware that performance would change drastically by loosening the tensions, but I did a few solves to accurately gauge the performance before setup to compare after setup.
Summary before setup:
Setup
To setup this cube, I used 50,000 cst Silicone Differential Oil, which I think is equivalent to Traxxas 50K since it is what’s readily available in the UK at my local hobby store and online. I decided to leave magnetising for later and assess the performance both with and without magnets for direct comparison.
After setup, this cube is phenomenal. I have no other 4x4’s to compare this to, but the cube is effortless to turn and, as anticipated, the lockups minimised drastically compared to out of the box. With the looser tensions, corner cutting improved and the lubricant removed friction between the frosted pieces, increasing its speed and durability. The inner layers are now much faster due to the lube. I scrambled the cube as 2x2 and as a 3x3 and did some solves, since as a beginner I would be unable to accurately measure the performance of this cube with slow turning.
Summary
Break In
After a few hundred 4x4 solves, this cube is still going strong. The puzzle, as expected, is improving with break in and lube lasts very long in this cube. The cube has a more consistent feel throughout the layers, and I am yet to experience any pops.
Magnetisation
To magnetise this cube, I used 48 4x2 N35 in the inner layers and 48 4x1 N35 in the outer layers. This is the first cube I have magnetised and was aware the magnets in the inner layers of even NxN puzzles have to be doubled in order for the polarities to be correct. I took care in ensuring the magnets were pushed as deep within the edge pieces as possible to prevent the cube from feeling “clacky” as the magnets were closer to the core.
After magnetisation, I did several more solves to analyse the cube’s performance. Due to the magnets providing extra stability, I was able to loosen the tensions by a further eight of a turn, thus improving cornercutting.
This cube is now even better than before with improved cornercutting, speed and stability. Despite my inexperience with 4x4, I can see some intermediate and possibly some higher-level speed solvers using this in competitions. Even at these looser tensions, I am yet to experience a pop and lockups are rare and due to my own inaccurate turning.
Final Thoughts
At only $6.55, this cube is supposed to be aimed at beginner 4x4 speedsolvers. I had seen very positive reviews of this product from Speedcubereview and CoachTabe, who also magnetised theirs and were impressed with the results. Receiving the product for myself, I was surprised at the performance of this cube from out of the box, as well as how the smaller size can be so beneficial to the handling of this cube. As the first 4x4 I currently own, I will definitely not need an upgrade in hardware for a while. If you haven’t already bought this product – what are you doing? I would definitely recommend picking up even as a higher-level speed solver since it’s inexpensive and very good. For 4x4 speedcubers who are interested in magnetising and setting up their own puzzle, this is the perfect base cube to start with.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end of this long review. Many thanks to cubezz.com for their customer service as well as speedsolving.com for their constant support. Please let me know if you would like me to do more reviews like this as well as which cube you would like me to do by replying below and I will try my best to read through them. I am aware different people have used different magnets and I would love to hear what magnets others have used and whether they worked well in their cubes. Also feel free to provide your opinion on your favourite budget 4x4 as well as experiences you have had with your cube stores in general.
I’ll finish this post with a few questions:
This is my first review of a 4x4.
The following review of the Meilong 4x4 and my home-magnetised version. The review will be split into 2 main sections:
- Review of the store – Cubezz.com
- Review of the cube – Meilong 4x4/ Meilong 4x4 M
- Out-of-the-box (OOTB)
- Lube + Tension
- Break-in
- Magnetisation
- Performance Analysis
- Final Thoughts
Review of Store
General InfoName – Cubezz
Link – cubezz.com
This cube is currently $6.55 from cubezz.com with free shipping. This product arrived in great condition – as expected – and I could tell Cubezz took care in ensuring this product arrived promptly, arriving after 14 days,which as within their suggested shipping time to the UK. Their customer service was great, I queried with regards to their shipping times and was provided a detailed and informative response within 24 hours through both their email [email protected] and their website’s messaging system. I will definitely be purchasing from them in future.
Review of the cube
General InfoName – Meilong 4x4 (plus magnetised version)
Price - $6.55
Link - https://cubezz.com/Buy-6020-Cubing+Classroom+Meilong+4x4x4+Magic+Cube+Stickerless.html
Size – 59mm
Weight – 101 grams
Initial Reactions – Out of the Box
Immediately upon removing the cube from its box I realised it is a very compact 4x4. At only 59mm, this cube is smaller than regular 4x4’s, such as the as the 62mm Wuque as well as some mini 4x4’s. It features fairly regular stickerless shades, with their bright red and paler green. I personally like the frosted plastic texture of the cube.
Upon turning I experienced frequent lockups. My inaccurate turning and inexperience with 4x4’s may have added to this, but I saw potential. The tensioning out of the box was fairly tight, but I prefer this over receiving a cube with loose tensions since pops are not easily corrected by beginners and tensions can be easily modified.
I began with a few solves and algorithms and I really enjoyed the effortless and smooth turning of this puzzle. Despite this being my first 4x4, I could tell the turning of this puzzle was above average, impressive bearing in mind this cube is only $6.55. The inner layers were slower than the outer layers but I was sure that this would go away after lubricating and breaking in. I was aware that performance would change drastically by loosening the tensions, but I did a few solves to accurately gauge the performance before setup to compare after setup.
Summary before setup:
- Very compact
- Like the frosted plastic
- Tensions tight OOTB
- Very smooth
Setup
To setup this cube, I used 50,000 cst Silicone Differential Oil, which I think is equivalent to Traxxas 50K since it is what’s readily available in the UK at my local hobby store and online. I decided to leave magnetising for later and assess the performance both with and without magnets for direct comparison.
After setup, this cube is phenomenal. I have no other 4x4’s to compare this to, but the cube is effortless to turn and, as anticipated, the lockups minimised drastically compared to out of the box. With the looser tensions, corner cutting improved and the lubricant removed friction between the frosted pieces, increasing its speed and durability. The inner layers are now much faster due to the lube. I scrambled the cube as 2x2 and as a 3x3 and did some solves, since as a beginner I would be unable to accurately measure the performance of this cube with slow turning.
Summary
- Lubricated core and springs with 50,000cst Diff Oil
- Small amount of lube on pieces
- Loosened tensions by half turn on all sides
- Did a few solves to break in the lube
- Increased corner cutting and speed
- Lockups are now rare and due to my own inaccurate turning
- Reduced friction between pieces
- Inner layers now similar to outer
Break In
After a few hundred 4x4 solves, this cube is still going strong. The puzzle, as expected, is improving with break in and lube lasts very long in this cube. The cube has a more consistent feel throughout the layers, and I am yet to experience any pops.
Magnetisation
To magnetise this cube, I used 48 4x2 N35 in the inner layers and 48 4x1 N35 in the outer layers. This is the first cube I have magnetised and was aware the magnets in the inner layers of even NxN puzzles have to be doubled in order for the polarities to be correct. I took care in ensuring the magnets were pushed as deep within the edge pieces as possible to prevent the cube from feeling “clacky” as the magnets were closer to the core.
After magnetisation, I did several more solves to analyse the cube’s performance. Due to the magnets providing extra stability, I was able to loosen the tensions by a further eight of a turn, thus improving cornercutting.
This cube is now even better than before with improved cornercutting, speed and stability. Despite my inexperience with 4x4, I can see some intermediate and possibly some higher-level speed solvers using this in competitions. Even at these looser tensions, I am yet to experience a pop and lockups are rare and due to my own inaccurate turning.
Final Thoughts
At only $6.55, this cube is supposed to be aimed at beginner 4x4 speedsolvers. I had seen very positive reviews of this product from Speedcubereview and CoachTabe, who also magnetised theirs and were impressed with the results. Receiving the product for myself, I was surprised at the performance of this cube from out of the box, as well as how the smaller size can be so beneficial to the handling of this cube. As the first 4x4 I currently own, I will definitely not need an upgrade in hardware for a while. If you haven’t already bought this product – what are you doing? I would definitely recommend picking up even as a higher-level speed solver since it’s inexpensive and very good. For 4x4 speedcubers who are interested in magnetising and setting up their own puzzle, this is the perfect base cube to start with.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end of this long review. Many thanks to cubezz.com for their customer service as well as speedsolving.com for their constant support. Please let me know if you would like me to do more reviews like this as well as which cube you would like me to do by replying below and I will try my best to read through them. I am aware different people have used different magnets and I would love to hear what magnets others have used and whether they worked well in their cubes. Also feel free to provide your opinion on your favourite budget 4x4 as well as experiences you have had with your cube stores in general.
I’ll finish this post with a few questions:
- Who is currently using this cube as their main?
- How do you setup your 4x4’s or big cubes in general?
- How does this cube compare to:
- Yuxin Little Magic 4x4M
- YJ Yusu V2 M
- Shengshou Mr M 4x4
- What magnets have you used in your Meilong 4x4?
- Which cubes will you like me to review in the future?
- What upcoming cubes are you most excited about?
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