Category:Bigcubes

Brands/makes of cube dimensions 4x4x4 and above.

4x4x4

There are three major brands of 4x4x4 cubes used by speedcubers.

Rubik's

Rubik's brand 4x4s (before the retooling) are often used by older cubers, since they can be extremely good but require a long time to properly break in. These cubes can get surprisingly loose before they become unusably pop-prone, because unlike the Eastsheen cubes they do not have internal pops. Rubik's has now re-tooled this cube, and it now has a slightly modified mechanism. People have said that this cube locks up too much and pops too much. This brand is now being used less due to Eastsheen and Meffert's brands.

Eastsheen

Eastsheen 4x4s are the preferred cube to use by some. They are quite smooth, hardly needing any lubrication, and they cut corners fairly well once they are broken in. This cube is significantly smaller than the Rubik's brand cube, so cubers with smaller hands will probably prefer this type. Some cubers claim that white Eastsheen 4x4s turn more smoothly than black ones, though others state the opposite. However, they are prone to lock ups. They also have very fragile cores.

Meffert's

Now many people prefer Meffert's over eastsheen. Out of the box they are stiff but with a little lubrication and some breaking in they become quite good. It is based off the old Rubik's mechanism. This cube can cut corners better than the Eastsheen 4x4. It is less prone to lockups than a Rubik's re-tooled version. This is a recommended cube.

QJ

QJ is a new type of 4x4x4. It is very similar to the Mefferts brand, only it is alot more "fluid" like turning. When you buy it, it's already very good and doesn't lock up at all, but with a bit of use, it get's even better. You can also get a smaller 6cm version of the QJ 4x4x4, which may be better suited to cubers with smaller hands. This is a very good cube and it is a probably the best 4x4x4 on the market.

5x5x5

Until recently, there were two major brands of 5x5x5, but the V-cube brand has made its way into the speedcubing community by providing an extremely good 5x5x5 which is almost unanimously considered the best brand by far.

Rubik's

The Rubik's 5x5 is not a very good speedcube and is known by some as a "Rubik's Brick" due to the extreme amount of force that was once required to make turns on this puzzle out of the box. Although this puzzle has been retooled, and the newer Rubik's 5x5 cubes are much better, they are still not as good as the V-cubes. The outer layers tend to be much harder to twist than the inside layers. This is the largest of the three main 5x5 brands.

Eastsheen

It is difficult to compare this brand to the Rubik's brand, since the two brands are completely different. Eastsheen 5x5s tend to be very smooth and easy to turn, but they do not cut corners as well as either of the other two types, and the cube tends to become very loose over time. This is the smallest of the three main 5x5 brands, and is in fact the same size as the Eastsheen 4x4. This cube is difficult to get fast times with because it locks up alot. Like the Eastsheen 4x4, it also has a fragile core.

V-Cube

This is almost certainly the best type of 5x5. The mechanism incorporates new principles which allow it to have low friction but also to remain intact even when several pieces are removed. Although it can take some time to break in, this type of 5x5 to the point where it is very easy to turn, a V-cube 5x5 will easily cut corners without being broken in or lubed at all.

Meffert's

Meffert's produces 5x5 and sells them as DIY Professor cubes, though they do not have to be assembled. The center caps can be easily popped off to loosen the cube. It is extremely heavy, but it comes pre-lubed, and moves very well after breaking in.

6x6 and 7x7

V-Cube

The only current manufacturer of 6x6 and 7x7 cubes

See Also

• 4x4x4 Cube (puzzle type)
• 5x5x5 Cube (puzzle type)
• 6x6x6 Cube (puzzle type)
• 7x7x7 Cube (puzzle type)
• Puzzle Shops
• Puzzle Manufacturers

External Links