Some beginner thoughts on cubes. I believe I have done a fairly extensive online research of the current cubes. I now have 11 cubes, after having started cubing for 3 and half months, including 2 Tornado V2's, 3 RSM3 2020 (black, unstickered and one with added magnets), a Tengyun M, 2 YJ Zhilongs, a GoCube, and also a WRM 2021. (This is getting expensive!) I have not seen or bought a Gan yet, but checked numerous reviews. The only one I have real interest to play with is the Gan 354 V2, as I prefer smaller/lighter cubes, but it is apparently not the best cube (adjustability, performance and value). The Gan 11 M Duo is also somewhat interesting, with its super light weight and highly rated performance, but it's also not so adjustable, not small and not so affordable. The 11 M Pro sounds great but I probably will never buy a cube so expensive, even though I can afford it. Other more affordable and great performers like the Valk Elite, GTS 3, etc are interesting to read about, and I am sure they are great, but I prefer a cube that is quieter, smaller, lighter and smoother. My finger muscles actually feel sore when I go to bed, if I have done more than 40 solves that day (with many of them slow solves). I hope this is just a teething issue. I think I have already checked out all the suitable cubes, and it is unlikely that there can be any cube that is significantly better than what we already have now to be compelling enough for me to buy, especially given my beginner needs. One exception. The WRM smartcube sounds very interesting and I hope they can keep the size and weight down, and have robust software, and they would update the software to fix problems.
The Tornado V2 is my favourite. The similar WRM 2021 is also fine but it loses out, just slightly in all the areas that are most important to me - light weight, smoothness, quality feel, ease of adjustment. I know, for ultimate tweaking, the WRM will obviously be better, as it can be fully disassembled. I find that the Tornado has many little design touches to be more than a copycat, though I won't say it has a soul. The design of its spring adjustment system with the use of a single "harpoon" tool is clearly one, so convenient. MoYu was regarded as great for its innovative spring adjustments (clockwise and anti-clockwise). Unlike the MoYu's spring tension adjustment system, it is not necessary for the Tornado user to keep turning anti-clockwise until you feel a bump to know where your current setting is. One can actually see the settings, which are coloured differently. Its magnet adjustment screws are the best IMO as its screw settings are so easy to see and adjust. It may not be as original in some other areas, but it's fine when you learn and build on top of each other's ideas. So, it is as quiet as the Tengyun M, which was regarded as the quietest cube of all until now. Many commented that it feels like a Gan, being so smooth. These are not as original, but to achieve all these at a new price point is unique and that is something the other cube makers can try to copy X-Man. I don't think I need another dumb cube (not a smartcube) for a long time, unless X-Man would release a stickered version of the Tornado V2.
