Speed Cube Buying Guide: Magnets, Corner Cutting and Feel

They help, but indirectly. Magnets reduce lockups and let layers settle into alignment on their own, so you can turn faster with less precision and recover more smoothly from imperfect turns. A beginner still learning algorithms sees very little difference, while an intermediate solver notices a real improvement.

A budget speed cube such as the QiYi Warrior W or an entry level magnetic cube like the QiYi MS. Both turn far better than mass market puzzles and cost little enough that an abandoned hobby is no great loss. Avoid starting with a flagship, since the adjustability goes to waste before you know what you prefer.

Stickerless cubes use colored plastic, so nothing peels, fades or chips, and most solvers now prefer them. Stickered cubes allow custom color schemes, and some people prefer the slightly different surface feel, but stickers wear and eventually need replacing. Both are permitted in competition, though a cube must not mix stickers and colored plastic.

Solve it a few dozen times first to break it in before changing anything. Adjust tensions gradually, a small fraction of a turn at a time on all six faces equally, then test again. Add lubricant sparingly, since too much makes a cube sluggish, and change one thing at a time so you know what caused any difference.

Silicone based lubricants made for puzzles, in a weight matched to what you want. Thicker weights slow and smooth a fast cube, and thinner weights speed up a sluggish one. A small amount goes a long way, and household oils or general purpose sprays should be avoided since many contain solvents that damage the plastic.

Tensions are usually too loose, letting pieces escape during fast turns. Tighten each face slightly and equally, then retest. Popping can also signal a worn or damaged piece, particularly on an older cube or one that has been dropped, and aggressive turning on a loose setup will pop almost any cube.

For solvers whose technique is the limiting factor, yes, mainly for the adjustability rather than raw speed. Everyone else gets close enough performance from a good mid range magnetic cube that the difference becomes preference rather than capability. Many competitive solvers use mid range cubes by choice.

Most people move to the 2×2 and 4×4 next, then either larger cubes or other competition puzzles such as the Pyraminx, Skewb, Megaminx and Square-1. Each has its own methods to learn. The 4×4 is the biggest jump, since it introduces parity cases that do not exist on odd numbered cubes.

Magnets sit sealed inside the plastic pieces and are not meant to be removed during normal use, so a magnetic cube is generally safe for children old enough to avoid prying it apart. A non magnetic cube like the QiYi Warrior W is a simpler starting point for younger kids still learning to handle a puzzle without excessive force.

A speed cube uses lighter plastic, rounded pieces and adjustable tension to turn faster and cut corners more forgivingly than a standard toy store cube. A regular Rubik’s branded cube often locks up during fast or slightly misaligned turns. Anyone learning to solve quickly benefits from a dedicated speed cube over a generic one.