Ranking my Speedcubes

Hello, all. It’s been a while.

When I released my last post about 4 years ago, I was in a Taiwan hotel room on Day 3 of quarantine because of the then-COVID protocols. I moved to the country of my parents for work to teach English in Hualien, and life has been quite crazy since. I have had pretty much no time to write anything for this site. However, I couldn’t just let my blog rot without any posts or else I’d be wasting money just keeping it up.

Recently, I have invested a lot into getting better speedcubes, specifically ones featuring magnets which allow for smoother, faster turning and better positioning of the layers while turning. I got into these as a result of practicing my own method which combines both beginner and advanced methods to be able to solve consistently under 30 seconds, usually around 20 to 22 seconds.

All of the top speedcubers use magnetic cubes, and some of them are sponsored by top manufacturers. As mentioned in the previous post, speedcube manufacturer GAN sponsors speedcubing legend Feliks Zemdegs, and they also sponsor other top cubers, such as Tymon Kolasinski, Xuanyi Geng, Matty Hiroto Inaba, among others. Another major manufacturer is MoYu, originally a sub-brand of YongJun, who sponsor Luke Garrett, Luke Griesser, and Yiheng Wang.

To update on the previous post, speedcubing legend Max Park broke Yusheng Du’s longstanding record for a single solve of 3.47 with a time of 3.13. For the average of 5, Tymon was the first to break sub-5 with a time of 4.86, which Max later tied. However, Yiheng was the first to get a sub-4 average of 5 with 3.91, which Xuanyi Geng broke in January this year with an average of 3.84 seconds. Xuanyi also broke Max’s record single with a time of 3.05, although Teoder Zajder shattered the 3-second barrier with a time of 2.76 earlier this month.

Anyway, I wanted to talk about the various speedubes I have purchased and grade them. None of them are outright failures, although some leave something to be desired. I will consider the amount of features, the price, the feel of the cube (how it turns), and overall experience. I will be discussing these in order of when I got them in order to provide a narrative before I give the definitive ranking from worst to best. The grades are as follows:

Grade	Explanation
D	Not worth purchasing
C	Fine and OK, should be regarded as entry-level
B	Good and reliable, worth purchasing
A	Excellent, worthy of being your “main”
S	The finest of them all

While there technically could be an “F” grade for being a failure of a product, I do not own such a cube in my opinion as stated before.

YongJun YuLong v2 M – C

This cube was the first magnetic cube I got, and it is also the one where I got my first sub-20.

There’s a bit of a story behind my YuLong v2. Originally, I had a QiYi QiHang 3×3, which is a beginner “speedcube” which has no magnets but is designed to be faster than an official Rubik’s brand 3×3. The cube locks up a ton and catches when turned fast, however, meaning that the layers crash into each other while turning. One day at work, a cube was left behind in our school’s English classroom, and it was before I started teaching in there regularly (before I would go to students’ classrooms as is customary for local teachers in Taiwan). I decided to take it to my desk to clean it by removing whatever collects in the tracks of the pieces. I intended to return it to its owner, but it went unclaimed, and ownership more or less passed to me.

As mentioned before, I got my first solve under 20 seconds with this cube, although over time when this was my main cube, I could not solve consistently under that threshold. Even worse was that I could not count multiple solves due to its tendency to corner twist when turning fast (i.e. a corner piece would misalign and render the cube “unsolvable” until twisted back into a proper orientation). And that best summarizes this cube: it is a simple cube with magnets, and with proper setup (adjusting screws and applying lubricant), it can turn pretty fast and is a smooth turner (with some tactility as you can feel the pieces clicking over each other), but the corner twisting is a major issue.

Interestingly, for three years I was unable to determine what the make of the cube was because it had no logo on it when I originally took it for cleaning. Because of the look of the core as well as the piece design, I thought it was made by MoYu. However, I was unable to match it with any older MoYu cube, until I found that MoYu was originally a subsidiary of YongJun. Upon looking into YJ’s older cubes, I was able to pinpoint my model (where I learned that much like older Moyu budget cubes, the logo is tacked on as a sticker as opposed to being printed on), and then I watched videos of reviews to see if others’ experiences were similar to mine (which they were).

GAN SwiftBlock 355S – D

The grade is only to separate it from the other cubes definitively, especially with regards to cubes graded with a “C”.

This is currently the only cube by GAN that I own, and it’s a bit ironic that it is not a good cube. The price is honestly pretty fair for a budget cube (I got it around 300 NTD which is about $9.55 USD), but this cube locked up a lot more than the YuLong v2. The turns feel a bit heavy when turning which adds to the momentum, and with layers that catch a lot, the lock ups feel a lot more pronounced (which some people say is just you getting “SwiftBlocked”). Initially I set the spring tension high, which also made the cube slower despite the tighter control. Even after setting it to the loosest setting which gave it a little more flexibility and speed, I still wasn’t happy with it.

MoYu MFJS MeiLong 3M v1 – B

This could prove to be the most controversial grade.

This was the first speedcube I could feel happy with. I got this for much less than the SwiftBlock (188 NTD which is about $5.98 USD), and immediately I thought it felt more controllable than the YuLong and much smoother than the SwiftBlock. The MeiLong line from MoYu is also technically a “beginner” line and meant to function as an entry into speedcubing. However, the MeiLong line features both non-magnetic and magnetic versions, and models in the latter sub-line will have an “M” suffixed to it.

Anyhow, I used the original MeiLong 3M a lot and was able to get under 15 seconds for the first time with it, and even with other later cubes outperforming it, I still find this model to be a great cube. The features might be barebones (you can only adjust the screws), but it’s great for what it is and the price is also fantastic. It is by no means premium and you don’t have to treat it like it is supposed to be, but it can be made to be very reliable and is a great product for its price.

MoYu MFJS RS3M v5 (Dual Adjustment Version) – B

I always wanted a little more out of this one but was never fully happy with it. This grade could come off a little harsh but I could never adjust it to my liking, especially after I got better puzzles to try out.

For the price point (I was able to get mine for 115 NTD or about $3.66, although US outlets usually price it around $10 USD) it performs well, especially after applying lube to the pieces to reduce friction and remove the clackiness without it. The turns are fast and it is also light which makes turning take a little less effort. It also comes with a spring tension adjustment system, which is where the “Dual Adjustment Version” gets its name (i.e. a second adjustment system, as screws count as a way to adjust the cube). I was able to eventually figure out how the spring tension adjustment system works, although it still locked up a lot. Overall, I felt disappointed and it just doesn’t fit me. Objectively, it’s very good, just not my kind of cube, although it has grown back on me a bit since.

MoYu MFJS MeiLong 3M v2/MoYu MFJS MeiLong 3M v2 UV – C

The cubes I have the least experience with.

When I found out there was an update to the MeiLong 3M, I pounced on the opportunity and got one. I also got a UV-coated version which makes the outer plastic scratch-resistant and gives it a glossier feel. Overall, even without a spring tension adjustment system, these cubes I feel are a little better than my first RS3M v5. I was always trying to get that cube to feel a little more like my MeiLong 3M v1, but it would lock up a lot more than that cube, and getting the v2 further cemented how much I liked how the MeiLongs felt. They are pretty controllable and the turns are also light, although I did not use them often as I already had my v1 which already had the setup and mileage. However, these cubes as well as the previous ones got overshadowed by my next purchase.

MoYu MFJS RS3M v5 (UV + MagLev + Ball Core) – S

My personal favorite of the bunch.

I got this on discount online for about 450 NTD (or about $14.32 USD), although it generally retails for about $24.99 USD. I locked in this purchase after having watched videos from The Cubicle on YouTube where they rank various speedcubes with tier lists or even just the review of the RS3M v5 and its various versions, and I decided to try this one out as I already had the one with the spring tension adjustment system and figured it would be good to upgrade to one with a ball core as I understood at the time that it would be more stable i.e. less prone to locking. I originally balked at buying this version because I was worried about needing to pay more, but I relented as I felt that the investment was going to be worth it. Additionally, the robot stand that this version comes with doubles as a case, which I felt could help protect it long-run as I do tend to be a bit of a klutz.

Needless to say, this cube blew me away with its performance. At this point, my averages during sessions were now consistently under 25 seconds, but this cube alone put my averages even lower. Within a few days, I got my first 12-solve session where every one was under 20 seconds. To me, this cube has the perfect feel, with the right amount of smooth turning and tactile feedback. The magnets in the ball core are also not too snappy so the turns do not feel like I need to exert a ton. I also barely lock up on this cube which further adds to its performance.

I think the only real drawback to this puzzle (as well as any version of the RS3M v5, for that matter) is the outer plastic quality: it is very thin and prone to cracking/chipping when dropped. As I mentioned, I am a bit of a klutz so sometimes I might drop cubes by accident, and my first one has two chipped corners. I tried an experiment with swapping the plastic on my dual-adjustable one with the ball core one, although I did not realize that the magnets in the outer plastic are not the same, so it made the former borderline uncontrollable (too lightweight and fast) and the latter a brick (slow and heavy). I wound up panic-buying a second one and two other cubes that also were technically premium flagship models in the hopes that I could get one that would break less easily.

Overall, though, if MoYu could engineer better plastic for the RS3M v5, it would make it the perfect cube (at least in my opinion).

MoYu HuaMeng YS3M (MagLev + Ball Core + UV) – A

This cube is very unique and worth buying. I’ll explain the former aspect a little later.

What intrigued me the most about this cube was how the creators at The Cubicle rated it highly in their 2024 tier list and that they also felt it was overshadowed by the RS3M v5 which was released not long after. Additionally, the likened the feel of the cube to being similar (yet different) to the RS3M 2020, which was the cube that I thought was the YuLong was originally for a couple years. Another intriguing aspect? This cube was designed by none other than Yusheng Du, the longtime record holder.

Yusheng Du worked with MoYu to design this cube to his liking, and it wound up being the first MoYu cube to have UV-coating, which they dub “Magic Clothes”. When I was looking into this cube, there was also a version with a 20 magnet ball core, although that version is panned by many reviewers on The Cubicle’s website for having an extremely fragile core. The one that I have is the original “premium” version with an 8 magnet ball core that visually mirrors the one in the RS3M v5, so I knew it was likely to perform well.

Out of all of my cubes, this is the one with the “snappiest” feel. The magnets in it are very strong, so the layers do require a little more effort to turn. With that in mind, I know that I cannot use this cube for long portions of time. However, even with this slight drawback, it performs well and is pretty smooth, and over time I feel this has become less of an issue. Definitely worth purchasing.

One last thing: on the subject of the strong magnets and the layers needing effort to turn, this aspect was taken into the next cube in the Huameng line: the Huameng TG. That cube is very divisive due to the strong momentum in the turning and the amount of adjustable features, with these being the things that make or break it for buyers and owners. Very interesting, to say the least.

MoYu WeiLong v9 (UV + MagLev + 20 Magnet Ball Core) – A

An excellent option for anyone willing to pay the price.

When looking into which WeiLong I wanted, I knew that the v9’s 20 magnet ball core was highly regarded for its durability, which was what I was looking for to counter the RS3M v5’s brittleness (although there, it is the plastic that is brittle and not the core). Additionally, I knew that the v10’s core was also a bit prone to breaking (although not as comically quickly as the YS3M’s 20 magnet version) outside of one version which I will get to later.

This was the first cube where I had to set the tension much higher. As MagLev (short for magnetic levitation) is designed to make cube layers faster, it can make a cube feel uncontrollable, and that’s how I felt with this particular cube at first unless I configured the tension, and even then, it still took some getting used to. However, the cube is very stable and overall has a nice balance between smooth and tactile. It’s good, although it probably will need some heavy lube to slow it down a bit if I want to try lower tensions.

The 20 magnet ball core also gives the cube a very strong magnetic feel, but it is also different compared to the YS3M. The layers snap into place similarly enough to also have that “snappy” feel, but it feels a lot more natural and I don’t have to put in as much effort into each turn. So in the end, this is a great pickup for anyone who want a cube with a strong magnetic feel without having it take a toll on their hands.

MoYu MFJS Super RS3M (MagLev + Ball Core) – B

This cube is probably the smoothest one I have with turns, although it took some getting used to.

I got this cube in the hopes of having it at my office, but I did not expect it to come with MoYu’s display case, so I might need to invest in a second one and use the second case for something else.

Regardless, I was locking up a lot when using this cube than expected, although with time I got used to the super smooth feel with the turns and I was able to get 12 consecutive sub-20 solves, my current litmus test for good cubes and a test to how consistent I can be. It’s a great cube with good features, and though it might not be as good as an RS3M v5, it’s still good and is likely to be more durable thanks to the thicker plastic. However, there is one glaring flaw: the ball core is extremely fragile thanks to the gold plastic used for the internal pieces.

While the other pieces that come with the gold plastic are fine, the ball core can crack pretty easily and frequently breaks in others. After watching The Cubicle’s video on it in 2022, I began to panic and found that mine also cracked. Fortunately, a follow-up video told me that there was likely to be a spare core in the accessory box, to which I found mine. As a result, my Super currently has the spare core installed, and I am hoping I will not need to replace that one either. Additionally, if I were to get a second Super, it would likely be the standard one without MagLev and a ball core. If you want to get this cube with a ball core, I highly suggest you swap out the gold core with the spare one.

MoYu WeiLong v11 (UV + 8 Magnet Ball Core) – A

This is what premium feels like for a good price.

The new WeiLong v11 has an option to have both a ball core with springs, which will make the cube more controllable compared to MagLev. I pounced on getting one and it is an excellent option for anyone who wants to get a flagship cube without breaking the bank. It is a very light cube and it also similarly needs to be tensioned properly like the WeiLong v9, but the springs definitely make it more controllable and I don’t feel like I have to limit my turning speed as much when solving casually. Turns can sometimes feel weightless which will likely surprise some people.

However, the weightless turns can also lend to very fast turning even with springs, and when I am solving at speed, I can overturn sometimes and get a few lock-ups even with the cube being very flexible. I have a feeling this will need a little bit of heavy lube and see what the effects are. Perhaps it will slow it just a tad bit to allow for complete control over the layers when turning. Over time, you can get used to the feel, and it is probably the best cube to practice with and just turn casually, so with a proper setup, it can be your main.

Overall, excellent cube. Get one.

DaYan GuHong Pro M 55mm – S

This was perhaps biggest surprise.

I went into this purchase without really knowing what to expect. I had no idea how turns would feel and whether or not it was going to be uncontrollably fast or not. I just wanted to get one for the sake of having a DaYan cube (a brand I’ve known for a long time as Feliks mained their oldest cubes during the early part of his run of record breaking). Additionally, the folks at The Cubicle had this cube well regarded in their 2024 and 2025 tier lists, so I felt I should try it out.

Needless to say, this is definitely the most tactile cube (very clacky) but it does not sacrifice the performance: it performs as reliably as my Ball Core RS3M v5. I also did not realize that it comes with a ball core as well, as I only found out after seeing an illustration on the box. One knock I will give it is that the glossy plastic is prone to very fine scratches, although you don’t really feel them on the surface. However, this should be a hint that you will need to treat it with care much like an RS3M v5 i.e. don’t drop it.

Overall, while it might not have a lot of fancy features, it is a very simple cube that gets the job done. And for the price, it is worth every penny.

MoYu MFJS RS3M 2020 – C

This is the cube that I thought my YuLong was, and I thought it would be best to try and see what this cube was about since it is a highly regarded budget-cube that was deemed main-worthy by numerous content creators and even professional speedcubers upon its release and even still a few years after.

My first impression out of the box was that it was… bone-dry. It did not have any setup whatsoever, so it was on me to add lube to allow the turns to feel smoother, because it was very scratchy otherwise. Even after a bit of setup, the scratchiness is still there. However, I can see why it was deemed main-worthy at the time of its release, the feel overall is decent. I do lock-up on it quite often, though, and while it is comparable to my MeiLong v1, I just couldn’t get into it. Even with break-in and countless solves, even toggling the screws to try to alleviate the tight feel, I haven’t been wowed and ultimately am disappointed. Overall, it’s a good cube for its price range (about $8.99 USD) and definitely a good entry-level speedcube, but I think it is not main-worthy anymore and is a product of its time, as more cubes of a similar price range have been released and I think are also just better, such as the RS3M v5 with the dual adjustment system. You can think of those two cubes as identical in features, but the v5 is better than the 2020, at least in my experience.

MoYu WeiLong v10 Ferrocore – A

Wow. This cube is actually epic.

So I got this during The Cubicle’s Black Friday sale, and I didn’t get my hands on it until my current winter vacation as I shipped it to Boston and had my parents bring it over when they came back for Chinese New Year. Let’s go over the specs…

This cube is identical in piece design to the standard WeiLong v10, the same tension system as the v10, but with a different core. Designed by the people behind the Cubicle and cubing content creator CubeHead aka Milan Struyf, the cube has the same red core from the v9 20-magnet ball core, with steel grey colored internal pieces. Additionally, to CubeHead’s liking, the standard Ferrocore comes in matte plastic as opposed to UV coating which is standard to most flagship MoYu models (although a UV-coated version is available). It also comes with springs only, which is in contrast to the v10 which can come with either springs or maglev.

Just from the first few turns, this cube is like a hybrid of my v9 and my v11. It has a solid, blocky core feel similar to the v9, but with the flighty, flexible turning of the v11, i.e. the best aspects of both of these cubes. Initially I did not tension the spring and felt fine with the cube, but then I corner-twisted during a solve and began adjusting until I became comfortable. In the end, I didn’t have to do much setup as I did with some of the other cubes (namely the RS3M v5 D.A. and RS3M 2020), and I think it is a fantastic cube and worth every penny (or nickel?).

You can learn more about how the Ferrocore came to be in these two videos, links here and here.

Final Tier List

How you can read this tier list is that from top to bottom is best to worst, with left to right within a tier being best to worst.

To summarize, the SwiftBlock is really the only cube I’d say people should say pass if you aren’t interested, although I’d even put the RS3M 2020 as dangerously close as well. The YuLong v2 I believe isn’t sold anymore as there is now a v3, and I believe that cube performs similarly. The MeiLong v2 is a great entry-level speedcube, and that cube’s release likely means that it will be difficult to get your hands on a MeiLong v1. The RS3M v5 with the dual adjustment system is a step up from the v2, so if you really want to hit the ground running and skip the entry-level stuff, go with that cube. The Super RS3M v1 is a great cube, although if you get one with a ball core, switch out the default core with the spare one immediately. When I look at the cubes in A tier, they are all excellent, although I would use the others before the YS3M, and the Ferrocore and v11 are interchangeable for the best in that tier. S-tier is reserved for my personal favorites, with the Ball Core RS3M v5 being my end-all-be-all cube.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this new post. I will be releasing a new post sometime in the new future with my practicing more cubing recently, as well as puzzles in general. I now own all 11 puzzle World Cubing Association puzzles used in official events, and while I do not plan on ever learning 3×3, 4×4, or 5×5 blindfolded, I do want to talk about my experience with them and give a ranking on difficulty for beginners. Stay tuned for that!