Which Cube Should I Get? Up To Date Recommendations

[pjk]

Last updated May 25th, 2022 at 3:02 P.M - If you suggest any changes to these recommendations, please comment below which your recommendation and reason for the change. These suggestions are for the community and by the community, so please help keep these suggestions up to date by replying here with changes.
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Budget - Dirt Cheap Cubes only
Great - Pretty good and you won't have to sell your house
Expert - The best cube on the market

Recommended 2x2x2:

• Budget: QiYi MS 2x2 - $6.95 - A smooth cube with decent performance.
• Great: MGC 2x2 - $9.99 - Fast cube, corner-cutting is legendary.
• Expert: QiYi Valk 2M - $19.95 - Used by current world record average holder Zayn Khanani - or YJ MGC2 Elite - $20.99 - Crispy fast cube, corner-cutting is excellent.

Recommended 3x3x3:

• Budget: Yulong V2M 3x3- $7.95 or QiYi MS 3x3- $7.95 - Cubes that feel crispy and smooth with ok corner-cutting, excellent for the price.
• Great: MoYu RS3M 2020 3x3 - $8.95 - A well-performing, crispy, hollow cube with excellent corner-cutting.
• Expert: GAN 11M Pro 3x3 - $64.95 or Dayan Tengyun v1 $25.95 or MoYu Weilong WR M - $38.99 - All very stable cubes, the Gan is fast, the Tengyun is controllable, and the WRM is a little bit of both. - Used by many world-class solvers.

Recommended 4x4x4:

• Budget: YJ Zhilong Mini 4x4 - $12.95 or Meilong 4x4 - $6.99 - Cheap options that perform ok, but be warned they may strip and pop.
• Great: YJ MGC 4x4 - $19.99 - A cheap-feeling cube with good corner cutting, very fast, stable, and enjoyable to turn.
• Expert: WuQue M 4x4 - $21.99 or MoYu AoSu 4x4 GTS2 M - $44.99 - Expensive feeling cubes that are fast and stable.

Recommended 5x5x5:

• Budget: Meilong 5x5 - $7.95 or YJ ZhiChuang Mini Magnetic 5x5 - $14.95
• Great: YJ MGC 5x5 - $21.95
• Expert: QiYi Valk 5M $49.95

Recommended 6x6x6:

• Budget: YuXin Little Magic 6x6 - $14.95 or YJ Yushi 6x6 V2 M - $17.99
• Great: YJ MGC 6x6 - $25.99 - A cheaper feel, excellent corner-cutting, pops are rare. - Used by many fast speedsolvers.
• Expert: Shadow M - $49.95

Recommended 7x7x7:

• Budget: QiYi QiXing 7x7 - $16.99 - Poor performing cube, it gets the job done though.
• Great: YJ MGC 7x7 - $35.99 - A cheaper feel, excellent corner-cutting, pops are rare. - Used by many fast speedsolvers.
• Expert: Yuxin Hays 7 M - $54.95 or XMan Spark 7x7 - $49.95

Recommended Megaminx:

• Budget: Qiyi Qiheng - $7.95 - A poor-performing budget megaminx, very slow and locky.
• Great: YJ YuHu Megaminx V2 M - $13.99 - The fastest megaminx on the market, excellent corner-cutting, and a very crunchy feel.
• Expert: X Man Galaxy v2 M - $29.99 - or Dayan Megaminx V2 M - $32.99 - A slow cube, that can be set up to be fast, good corner-cutting. - Used by current average and single megaminx world record holder Juan Pablo Huanqui.

Recommended Skewb:

• Budget: QiYi QiCheng Skewb - $7.50 - Slow unstable cube, but it gets the job done.
• Great: X Man Wingy Skewb - $19.99 - Crunchy, excellent stability but overall, very slow.
• Expert: Gan Skewb M Standard - $21.99 - Smooth, fast, and stable with excellent corner-cutting. - Used by Carter Kucala, current skewb world record average holder.

Recommended Clock:

• Budget: Lingao Clock - $9.95 - Very locky, performance is poor.
• Great: Shengshou Clock - $9.95 - Locky, overall poor performance.
• Expert: QiYi Magnetic Clock - $34.95 - Very smooth, honestly your only option if you want to get serious about clock. - All world-class solvers use this clock.

Recommended Pyraminx:

• Budget: Yulong v2 M Pyraminx - $7.99 - A slower option, poor corner-cutting, but very consistent and good for it's price.
• Great: Yuxin Little Magic - $8.99 or QiYi MS Pyraminx $9.99 - Both feel cheaper but very smooth and fast. - Both cubes have or are mained by Tymon Kolasinski, a former pyraminx world record holder.
• Expert: GAN Pyraminx- $18.95 - Very smooth but also unstable, corner-cutting is ok.

Recommended Square-1:

• Budget: Qiyi Qifa S - $7.99 or Yuxin Little Magic Square 1 - $6.99 - Both feel cheap and locky, but perform well for their price, the QiYi Qifa has better corner-cutting.
• Great: X-Man Volt $13.99 - Crunchy and good corner cutting but very unstable at high TPS.
• Expert: YJ MGC Square-1 - $20.99 - A buttery smooth, fast cube, most people consider it the best on the market. - Almost all world-class solvers use this cube.

Recommended MBLD cubes:

• Budget: Yuxin Little Magic 3x3 $4.95 - A cube that feels cheap but performs ok. - Used by Graham Siggins, the current Multiblind world record holder.
• Great: MoYu RS3M 2020 3x3 - $8.95 - A hollow, snappy, well-performing cube.
• Expert: MoYu Weilong WR M 2021 $29.95 - A very smooth, buttery cube with excellent corner-cutting. - Mostly too expensive to use in large muliblind attempts.

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There are many places to buy puzzles, and depending on what country you live in, shipping will be cheaper. Below is a list of stores to consider:

• https://www.kewbz.co.uk/ (UK)
• https://www.kubuswinkel.nl (Netherlands)
• https://www.speedcube.nl (Netherlands)
• https://speedcubeshop.com/ (USA)
• https://thecubicle.us/ (USA)
• https://cubedepotusa.com (USA)
• https://www.hknowstore.com/ (Hong Kong)
• https://www.speedcube.com.au/ (Australia)
• https://www.magiccubemall.com/ (Asia)
• https://www.aliexpress.com (China)
• https://www.cubelelo.com/ (South Asia)
• https://cubezz.com/ (Asia)
• https://cubenamastore.com/ (India)

• If you see anything wrong with my current version, feel free to point it out to me in a dm. (@cuberswoop)

 

[One Wheel]

There are plenty of 3x3s between $2.99 and $24.99, maybe pick one in the $10-15 range for "great"? I would also strongly suggest a cheaper option for "great" 5x5. Maybe the Yuxin Purple?

 

[cubeshepherd]

There are plenty of 3x3s between $2.99 and $24.99, maybe pick one in the $10-15 range for "great"?

I would have to agree with you @One Wheel on this. For 3x3(s) in the Great section I would say something like the YJ MGC 3x3 would be a great option, especially since it is $10 cheaper then the Huanglong M, but still really good: https://thecubicle.us/yj-mgc-p-10493.html
And although I do not own the Huanglong or YJ MGC, I was able to try out several at the last two competitions that I have been to and I think that they are both really great cubes to have, but if you are looking for a little cheaper option then the Huanglong then I think that the MGC would be the way to go...just my 2 cents worth : )

I would also strongly suggest a cheaper option for "great" 5x5. Maybe the Yuxin Purple?

And again I agree with that. There are a few "great" options for 5x5's but that are also cheaper then the CH WuShuang M, and one of the options that I would recommend would be the Moyu AoChuang GTS M, which is a great cube, but also $20 cheaper then the CH WuShuang M; https://thecubicle.us/moyu-aochuang-p-10965.html

 

[One Wheel]

I would have to agree with you @One Wheel on this. For 3x3(s) in the Great section I would say something like the YJ MGC 3x3 would be a great option, especially since it is $10 cheaper then the Huanglong M, but still really good: https://thecubicle.us/yj-mgc-p-10493.html
And although I do not own the Huanglong or YJ MGC, I was able to try out several at the last two competitions that I have been to and I think that they are both really great cubes to have, but if you are looking for a little cheaper option then the Huanglong then I think that the MGC would be the way to go...just my 2 cents worth : )

I've never tried either one, so I didn't want to pick one. My current main is a GTS2M, backup is Warrior W M. Both good puzzles.

And again I agree with that. There are a few "great" options for 5x5's but that are also cheaper then the CH WuShuang M, and one of the options that I would recommend would be the Moyu AoChuang GTS M, which is a great cube, but also $20 cheaper then the CH WuShuang M; https://thecubicle.us/moyu-aochuang-p-10965.html

I haven't heard much about the Auchuang GTS M other than prior hype. I know the Yuxin 5x5 is a very good puzzle, my custom magnetic one is possibly the best puzzle I own. The Wushuang is a good puzzle, but honestly I think if the Yuxin had come out later it would be the Wushuang that would be considered outdated.

I'm excited to get the YLM 6x6 next week: it looks to give the G6 a run for its money in the budget 6x6 department.

 

[cuber314159]

1) great can be the writing gts3M for 3x3 and expert can be some custom version like the angstrom
2) for 5x5, the great option should not be more than $40, I assume it should be the aochuang gtsM but I have not tried it so would put the wushuang non magnetic
3) for 7x7, the great option should not be the non magnetic just for the sake of being cheaper than the magnetic, just put the hays 7M for great and some custom version for expert.
4) for clock, they should ALL be lingao clock M in one form or another: https://m.intl.taobao.com/detail/detail.html?spm=a1z5f.7632060.0.0&id=557815947477#
5) the links on the page should go to some Chinese cube store like cubes or magicubemall, as shipping anything out of the US is ridiculously expensive. for example, buying a yuxin little magic from the cubicle in the UK costs about $15 which is ridiculous.

 

[cubeshepherd]

Is there is reason that Pyraminx is not added to the event list? I was just looking at the list and realized that Pyraminx in not added.

 

[Riley M]

You might want to add the 'M' to the GTS3 as the link leads to the GTS3M

 

[pjk]

I think budget 2×2 should be changed to qidi s, it's a good modern 2×2 that is cheap and fast.
For 4×4, I think the thunderclap mini is better, more people get the mini thunderclap compared to the full sized one, and report that it's good

Updated, thanks.

There are plenty of 3x3s between $2.99 and $24.99, maybe pick one in the $10-15 range for "great"? I would also strongly suggest a cheaper option for "great" 5x5. Maybe the Yuxin Purple?

Updated to the Yuxin Purple, great suggestion.

I would have to agree with you @One Wheel on this. For 3x3(s) in the Great section I would say something like the YJ MGC 3x3 would be a great option, especially since it is $10 cheaper then the Huanglong M, but still really good: https://thecubicle.us/yj-mgc-p-10493.html

Updated to the YJ MGC, agreed on the price point.

And again I agree with that. There are a few "great" options for 5x5's but that are also cheaper then the CH WuShuang M, and one of the options that I would recommend would be the Moyu AoChuang GTS M, which is a great cube, but also $20 cheaper then the CH WuShuang M; https://thecubicle.us/moyu-aochuang-p-10965.html

Per the suggestion above, 5x5 has been updated.

1) great can be the writing gts3M for 3x3 and expert can be some custom version like the angstrom
2) for 5x5, the great option should not be more than $40, I assume it should be the aochuang gtsM but I have not tried it so would put the wushuang non magnetic
3) for 7x7, the great option should not be the non magnetic just for the sake of being cheaper than the magnetic, just put the hays 7M for great and some custom version for expert.
4) for clock, they should ALL be lingao clock M in one form or another: https://m.intl.taobao.com/detail/detail.html?spm=a1z5f.7632060.0.0&id=557815947477#
5) the links on the page should go to some Chinese cube store like cubes or magicubemall, as shipping anything out of the US is ridiculously expensive. for example, buying a yuxin little magic from the cubicle in the UK costs about $15 which is ridiculous.

1) Great was just updated. Why change the expert to Angstrom?
2) Agreed, was updated per the suggestion above.
3) For Great 7x7, the Hays 7M is more expensive than the Hays 7. What custom version for expert do you suggest?
4) Are the current links not for that product? If not, does the Cubicle or SCS stock the M?
5) Agreed, we should provide multiple buying options, but not sure of the best way to format that. Should we make a table and have links to just other buying links? If so, can you copy and paste the post and add new buying links to it?

 

[pjk]

Is there is reason that Pyraminx is not added to the event list? I was just looking at the list and realized that Pyraminx in not added.

No, we need to add it. Can you please suggest a Budget, Great, and Expert? Thanks.

You might want to add the 'M' to the GTS3 as the link leads to the GTS3M

Done, thanks.

 

[AbsoRuud]

Oh I can't wait for Christmas when I'm gonna get some of these.

 

[cubeshepherd]

No, we need to add it. Can you please suggest a Budget, Great, and Expert? Thanks.
Done, thanks.

For Pyraminx's, here is what I would recommend.
1. Budget Pyraminx, I would recommend the QiYi QiMing and it is $7.99 at the cubical.us
2. Great and Expert the Moyu magnetic and X-man bell are both very good pyraminx's, and for which should be in the great and expert category, I think that it comes down to personally prefernce (or at least what the majority of cubers recommend). And they are also really close in price with only a difference of 50 cents.
I like the X-man Bell better then the Moyu magnetic and so I would have Moyu in the great category and X-man bell in the expert category, but that is my opinion and I would like to see what others think as well.

 

[pjk]

For Pyraminx's, here is what I would recommend.
1. Budget Pyraminx, I would recommend the QiYi QiMing and it is $7.99 at the cubical.us
2. Great and Expert the Moyu magnetic and X-man bell are both very good pyraminx's, and for which should be in the great and expert category, I think that it comes down to personally prefernce (or at least what the majority of cubers recommend). And they are also really close in price with only a difference of 50 cents.
I like the X-man Bell better then the Moyu magnetic and so I would have Moyu in the great category and X-man bell in the expert category, but that is my opinion and I would like to see what others think as well.

Great recommendations, I've updated the main post with Pyraminx.

 

[taiga]

5x5 (budget) : Yuxin Cloud

 

[One Wheel]

Great megaminx: the current link says Galaxy M and goes to Galaxy v1. I suggest the Galaxy v2 sculpted.

 

[Trexrush1]

Ayy its the list I helped start! Nice to see that my original notes about each difficulty are still there lol
Squan is not on the list, so lets fix that.

Formatting is done, I believe all you have to do is copypaste into the list.

Square-1:

• Budget: Qiyi Qifa S - $6.99
• Great: X-Man Volt - $13.99
• Expert: Cubicle Labs X-Man Volt $59.99

Alternatively, for great or expert you can put the X Man Volt MS $31.99
Dang, the Cubicle volt M is expensive

 

[pjk]

5x5 (budget) : Yuxin Cloud

Done.

Great megaminx: the current link says Galaxy M and goes to Galaxy v1. I suggest the Galaxy v2 sculpted.

Updated.

Ayy its the list I helped start! Nice to see that my original notes about each difficulty are still there lol
Squan is not on the list, so lets fix that.

Formatting is done, I believe all you have to do is copypaste into the list.

Square-1:

• Budget: Qiyi Qifa S - $6.99
• Great: X-Man Volt - $13.99
• Expert: Cubicle Labs X-Man Volt $59.99

Alternatively, for great or expert you can put the X Man Volt MS $31.99
Dang, the Cubicle volt M is expensive

Excellent, added.

 

[pjk]

Agreed, we should provide multiple buying options, but not sure of the best way to format that. Should we make a table and have links to just other buying links? If so, can you copy and paste the post and add new buying links to it?

To go on with this further, what other buying sites do you guys suggest? Should we list shops depending on what continent their on? Or just a full list of puzzle shops to search from? It is a good point that if you're in Asia there are better buying options than buying from the US or Europe.

 

[cuber314159]

To go on with this further, what other buying sites do you guys suggest? Should we list shops depending on what continent their on? Or just a full list of puzzle shops to search from? It is a good point that if you're in Asia there are better buying options than buying from the US or Europe.

Definitely cubezz.com as they have free international shipping.

 

[pjk]

Definitely cubezz.com as they have free international shipping.

I"ve added a section at the bottom of the post with links to various shops around the world. What am I missing? What are the biggest shops in Europe? Let me know and I'll add them to the thread.

Also, you have any other suggestions to make, please post them here.

 

[AbsoRuud]

I think you can go ahead and add:

www.kubuswinkel.nl - Netherlands
www.speedcube.nl - Netherlands
www.aliexpress.com - China