I feel like chiming in here. I was looking at the wiki and noticed the great page on different cubes. However, I was not entirely satisfied with the pages. Basically every entry said "cuts corners well and is fast" or something along those lines. Even looking at the amazing sticky'd cube review thread left something to be desired. I think we should step up the descriptions of cubes, compare them to other cubes in more than just ratings but in words. "This cube cuts corners well" is not a good description. Does it cut them buttery smooth or does it chop through it? Does the angle affect the cutting feel? Does the cube feel like it's going to pop when you stress the corner cutting? etc...I also feel that high values are given out without much thought (lower than 5 should indicate a serious issue, though (except with quiteness)). In my mind this represents an exponential scale. A cube with a rating of 6 isn't twice as good as a cube with a rating of 3 but rather 2^(6-3) = 8 times better. I don't know if this makes sense but it would really help differentiate the 8s and 9s.
With that in mind I'll put in the input for my cubes.
3x3x3
Rubik's Storebought
Smoothness/Speed: 7
Lockup Resistance: 6
Cutting Corners: 5
Pop Resistance: 8
Quietness: 5
Reliability: 9
Overall: 7
Most people start with this cube. It is absolutely imperative that you break this cube in if you want to use it for speedsolving. Though it takes a long time to break in, this is one of the most stable cubes out there. Unlike many DIYs, the Rubik's storebought is hard to pop mid-solve. It almost never does anything unexpected and is fast enough to be usable even at high speeds. However, it is nowhere near the fastest cube around, even when broken in fully. Also, the rather poor springs prevent this cube from cutting corners very well, though with enough breaking in this does improve quite a bit. One of the best things about this cube is how well it responds to lubricants, which will instantly make the cube much, much better.
This cube has a very solid feel to it. The cubies a very block-like and heavy. As this is an easy cube to find and is naturally very stiff and well built, it is a good cube for modifications. While this may speed up the breaking in process, it will increase the number of pops you will experience later on.
Final verdict: if you have time to spend this is one of the most reliable cubes out there. It isn't quite fast enough and doesn't cut corners as much as you'd like, but it gets the job done. Rarely will this cube surprise you.
Type E 333
Smoothness/Speed: 9
Lockup Resistance: 4
Cutting Corners: 5
Pop Resistance: 9
Quietness: 4
Reliability: 4
Overall: 5
This might be the cheapest cube on the market, and rightfully so. Though blindingly fast, the Diansheng 333 model trades speed for stability. Corner cutting and lockup prevention are at a minimum and can cause much grief. The cube almost never pops, though. The cubies are very block-like and minimal, cutting off any non-essential parts to reduce friction. Even the core is cut back a size. This is a great cube for puzzle-making, as it is extremely cheap and the plastic is soft and easy to work with.
Final verdict: there is a price to pay in the generation 1 cubes for speed. The lockups and awful corner cutting of the Diansheng 333 just aren't worth it.
Type CII
Smoothness/Speed: 8
Lockup Resistance: 8
Cutting Corners: 7
Pop Resistance: 8
Quietness: 6
Reliability: 7
Overall: 8
The Type CII is a member of the "bubbled cubies" club, with rounded edges and corners to help ease lockups and help corner cutting. This cube isn't amazing fast but is up there with the best. The corner cutting is somewhat lacking at higher tensions, which are necessary to prevent pops, but is still above average. It is extremely easy, however, to pop this cube, especially at lower tensions. Sometimes corners get turned when performing a U or U' turn. You must decide between good corner cutting or fewer lockups, and my rating expresses the latter. The cube has a very solid feel to it and a unique sensation when corner cutting. Instead of snapping into place while cutting a corners, the CII will almost slip the misaligned layer into place, giving a much more fluid feel than the crisp feeling when cutting corners with other cubes.
Final verdict: just a bit faster and this cube would have been godly. It wears down with use and requires fairly regular cleaning and lubing. The CII is also somewhat of a transition cube, as its bubbled cubies are not as rounded as other cubes in its class. It takes a little bit for you to get accustomed to the feel of truly bubbled cubies, and the CII can lead you into that realm with ease.
It's late. I'll edit in my other cubes sometime in the next few days.
), but a well broken in Rubik's brand really isn't too bad. It cuts corners horribly, but really that just teaches you to turn more accurately, and I currently average sub-27 with one after a few months so it can't be too bad.
