Which Rubik's Cube to Buy as a Beginner: 6 Things to Check

What is the difference between a regular cube and a speed cube?

After Ernő Rubik's patent ran out in 2000, many other companies started making cubes, mostly Chinese companies. Many of those cubes are designed especially for fast solving and are popular with speedcubers (Wikipedia). Cubers call them speed cubes.

Wikipedia names brands such as GAN, MoYu, YJ, QiYi, DaYan and ShengShou (Wikipedia).

The difference you feel as soon as you pick one up:

• Smoother turning, with fewer catches halfway through a turn.
• Adjustable tightness. According to Wikipedia, newer official Rubik's brand cubes use rivets instead of screws, so they can't be adjusted, and cheap knock-offs are held together only by plastic clips (Wikipedia).

For a beginner, a cube that keeps locking up can make you give up before you even finish the first step. That is the main reason to get a speed cube right from the start.

1. Size: start with a 3x3

The 3x3 has the most guides, videos and the biggest community. SpeedCubeShop also recommends that beginners start with a 3x3 (SpeedCubeShop).

If you want a small cube to warm up with, a 2x2 is a gentle choice: just 3 steps and 3 algorithms, all of which you can reuse on the 3x3 (see how to solve a 2x2). Save the 4x4 and bigger cubes for after you can solve a 3x3, because solving big cubes builds on the 3x3 (how to solve a 4x4).

Buying for a young child? This advice comes from our own experience, not from any research. Parents can pick a smaller, lighter 3x3 that fits a child's hand. For numbers: a mini 3x3 is about 50 mm, which SpeedCubeShop says is about 6 mm smaller than an average 3x3, so a standard-size cube is about 56 mm (SpeedCubeShop). A child doesn't need strong magnets or core magnets: a basic magnetic cube, or even just a smooth cube that doesn't lock up, is enough to get started. The most important thing for a child is a cube that doesn't put them off right away.

2. Magnets: yes, and they don't need to be strong

A magnetic cube has small magnets inside each piece. When you turn a layer close to lining up, the pull snaps it into place. SpeedCubeShop calls magnets the biggest upgrade in feel for a beginner, because layers stop in the right spot instead of overshooting (SpeedCubeShop).

!The corner, edge and centre pieces of a stickerless 3x3 speed cube taken apart Photo: [Luis Alvaz / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cubo_de_Rubik_desarmado_01.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0

The photo above shows a stickerless speed cube taken apart into its pieces. This one has no magnets. On a magnetic version, the small magnets sit inside corner and edge pieces like these, so you can't see them once the cube is put together. For example, H2 Rubik Shop lists the magnetic MoYu Weilong WRM V9 as having 48 magnets (rubikonline.vn).

Magnetic cubes cost a little more than non-magnetic ones (SpeedCubeShop). For a beginner, the extra cost is worth it.

Things you don't need yet on your first cube:

• Core magnets: they keep the cube stable at very high turning speeds, which helps fast solvers but isn't needed by beginners (SpeedCubeShop).
• MagLev: swaps the springs for repelling magnets so turning feels smoother. It's a matter of taste, not a must (SpeedCubeShop).

Should you buy a magnetic Rubik's Cube?

Yes, if you're buying the cube to really get the hang of solving it. This is the question beginners ask most, so here are the pros and the cons.

Pros:

• More accurate turns. SpeedCubeShop writes that magnets help the cube line up more easily and cut down on overshooting (SpeedCubeShop).
• Easier to control before you have the technique. The soft "click" at the end of each turn tells you the layer is back in place, so the cube is easier to control before you pick up fast turning techniques (SpeedCubeShop).

Cons:

• A little more expensive. Non-magnetic cubes are usually cheaper (SpeedCubeShop). For example, at ZyO Rubik on 10 October 2026: the regular MoYu Meilong 3 cost 75,000 VND and the Meilong 3M, with magnets already fitted, cost 97,500 VND, a difference of 22,500 VND (ZyO Rubik, ZyO Rubik).
• Cheap magnetic cubes don't last as long as mid-range ones. SpeedCubeShop says so plainly when presenting a budget magnetic model (SpeedCubeShop). For a first cube this matters little: by the time it wears out, you will usually know enough to choose your next one.

When is a regular cube enough? SpeedCubeShop sees a magnetic cube as worth the money for people who want to solve faster (SpeedCubeShop). If you only want to solve now and then for fun, or you're buying a cube as a gift to put on a shelf, a non-magnetic speed cube still solves just fine.

Bottom line: when the difference is only a few tens of thousands of dong in the budget range, beginners should pick the magnetic version.

3. Stickers or stickerless?

There are two common ways cubes are coloured:

• Stickers: the classic style, with a black body and a sticker on each square. Stickers can peel or wear over time.
• Stickerless: the colour is in the plastic itself. It can't peel or fade, so it lasts longer.

!A classic 3x3 Rubik's Cube with a black body and stickers, scrambled Photo: [Lars Karlsson (Keqs) / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubiks_cube_by_keqs.jpg), CC BY-SA 3.0

!A stickerless 3x3 speed cube, with the colour in the plastic itself Photo: [多多123 / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Speedcube_MoYu.jpg), CC BY 4.0

Compare the two photos: the stickered cube has a black border around each square, while on the stickerless cube the whole plastic piece is coloured.

SpeedCubeShop says stickerless cubes last longer, while stickered cubes mostly suit people who like the classic look (SpeedCubeShop). Both styles are allowed at WCA competitions (see section 6).

For a beginner, stickerless is the choice with less to worry about.

4. Tension: nice to have, but don't rush to adjust it

Many speed cubes let you adjust the spring tightness (tension), and some even let you adjust the magnet strength (SpeedCubeShop).

!A stickerless 3x3 speed cube with a centre piece lifted off, showing the cross-shaped core and the metal screws that join the core to the centre pieces Photo: [Luis Alvaz / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cubo_de_Rubik_desarmado_11.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0

In the photo, a few pieces have been lifted out to show the cross-shaped core in the middle. On each side of the core are the metal screws that join it to the centre pieces. That is where you adjust tension: each centre piece is held to the core by a screw and a spring (Wikipedia). Tighten the screw and the cube feels stiffer; loosen it and the cube gets looser.

Our tip for beginners: keep the factory settings for the first few weeks. SpeedCubeShop also says fine-tuning only helps once you know what feel you like (SpeedCubeShop). Only adjust it if the cube is so loose that pieces pop out, or so tight that you have to force it.

5. Price: a cheap magnetic cube is enough

A higher price doesn't mean a better experience for a beginner (SpeedCubeShop). In SpeedCubeShop's (US) price list, the cheapest magnetic cube is about 9 USD and the brands' top cubes are about 40 USD, more than four times as much (SpeedCubeShop).

Prices at three cube shops in Vietnam, checked on 8 and 10 October 2026:

If you have a bigger budget, two models in the third group still on sale on 8 October 2026 were the Monster Go MG Magnetic 3x3 and the magnetic Cyclone Boys Metallic 3x3 at ZyO Rubik; these are only examples, not adverts.

Prices change with sales and many models sometimes run out of stock, so treat the table as a rough guide. The rule for choosing stays the same: get the cheapest magnetic cube from a speed cube brand, which means the second or third group in the table.

You can put the money you save towards a 2x2 or a bottle of lube later on. Once you can solve in under a minute and know whether you like a light or heavy cube, an upgrade will suit you much better.

Which 3x3 is good for beginners under 200,000 VND?

With a budget under 200,000 VND, you can still buy a magnetic, stickerless 3x3 from a speed cube brand. At this price, the model you'll find most often in Vietnamese shops is MoYu's Meilong line. Prices checked on 10 October 2026:

If we had to pick one cube under 200,000 VND for a beginner, we'd pick the Meilong 3M (the V2 or the older version): both shop pages above clearly say it's magnetic, and both still took orders on 10 October 2026. This is only an example, not an advert.

A few things to watch out for when buying a cheap cube:

• Read the description, don't just go by the name. On the two pages above, the magnetic version is called "3M" and the Meilong 3 is the regular one. But ZyO Rubik also sells a Lite version of the Meilong 3M V2 for 75,000 VND, and its page doesn't say clearly which version is magnetic (ZyO Rubik). If the description doesn't mention magnets, ask the shop before you order.
• Pick the stickerless version so you don't have to worry about peeling stickers (see section 3).
• Don't expect a cheap cube to last as long as a mid-range one (see "Should you buy a magnetic Rubik's Cube?"). When it wears out, you'll know exactly what you want from your next cube.
• The rest of your 200,000 VND budget can go on a bottle of lube (see the cube care section below).

6. Want to compete? Check the WCA rules

If you plan to enter a WCA competition, your cube has to be allowed. The WCA Regulations (1 April 2026 edition) have a few points that matter when choosing a cube (WCA Regulations, Article 3):

• Competitors bring their own cubes to the competition (Regulation 3a).
• Magnets, lube and sanding inside the cube are all allowed (the 3h regulations).
• Stickerless is allowed (Regulation 3h2).
• Each face must be one solid colour (Regulation 3d2).
• No electronic parts such as Bluetooth, sensors or lights (Regulation 3a4). So "smart cubes" that connect to a phone are fine for practice at home, but can't be used at a competition.

If you plan to compete, the main thing to watch when buying is to avoid Bluetooth cubes, or buy an extra regular cube for competitions.

Bought your cube: how do you look after it?

• Solve it many times before you judge it. A new cube, or one you've just lubed, needs to be solved many times so it turns evenly and the lube spreads over all the contact surfaces. GAN describes this simply as scrambling and solving many times (GAN Cube).
• Use only a little lube. When the cube starts to feel dry and noisy, put a few drops of cube lube on the contact surfaces. GAN advises using less than you think and adding more later if needed: too much lube makes the cube heavy and sticky (GAN Cube).
• Thick or thin lube: the thicker the lube, the slower and more controlled the cube feels; thin lube makes the cube faster (GAN Cube).

From the EasyRubic team

When we built the EasyRubic app, we drew the 3D cube in the colours of cubes that people often use. In the cube style picker, as well as the EasyRubic colours, there is a classic stickered style and stickerless styles modelled on the GAN 356 M, MoYu RS3 M and QiYi Warrior. That way the cube on screen looks like the cube in your hand, though the colours in the app are only close matches, not the brands' official colours.

The app's scan feature uses your phone camera to capture the 6 faces of a 3x3 one by one, reads the colour of each square, then rebuilds the cube on screen to solve it. What we found while testing it: scan somewhere with even light, avoid your hand's shadow and direct lamplight, and let the cube fill the frame. If the app reads a square wrong, tap that square to fix its colour before solving. A cube with clear colours and stickers that aren't peeling or faded is easier to read correctly. ## Checklist before you hit buy

• A 3x3 (or a 2x2 if you want a gentle start; small and light if it's for a child).
• Magnetic, no need for core magnets or MagLev.
• Stickerless if possible.
• From a brand that specialises in speed cubes.
• The cheapest magnetic model from that brand, about 100,000 to 350,000 VND in Vietnam; under 200,000 VND, look at the Meilong 3M.

Got your cube? Here's how to solve it

Start with cube notation, then follow how to solve a 3x3 for beginners using the layer-by-layer method. The EasyRubic app has a step-by-step guide with pictures on a 3D cube. On your phone, you can scan a scrambled cube with the camera so the app rebuilds it and shows you how to solve it.

Get EasyRubic and start with your new cube.

Sources

• WCA Regulations (1 April 2026 edition), Article 3: Puzzles
• Rubik's Cube – Wikipedia
• Speedcubing – Wikipedia
• Things to Consider Before Buying Your First Speed Cube – SpeedCubeShop
• Best Magnetic Speed Cubes – SpeedCubeShop
• How To Lube A Speedcube – GAN Cube
• MoYu Weilong WRM V9 – H2 Rubik Shop
• QiYi X-Man Tornado V3 M – H2 Rubik Shop
• Rubik 3x3 – ZyO Rubik
• MG Magnetic 3x3 (Premium) – ZyO Rubik
• Cyclone Boys Metallic 3x3 – ZyO Rubik
• YJ Pocket Cube 3x3 Mini (Magnetic) - 5cm – SpeedCubeShop
• MoYu Meilong 3M V2 3x3 M Stickerless, magnetic – Rubik Ocean
• Meilong 3M Stickerless 3x3 (magnets fitted by the maker) – ZyO Rubik
• MoYu Meilong 3M v2 Stickerless Lite/UV 2024 3x3 – ZyO Rubik