Best Speed Cubes in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update October 10, 2024
Speed cubes are offering every benefit that a Rubik's Cube can provide but without the original's downsides. Aside from an improved ...Read more
PROS

The cubes arrive pre-lubricated. They're offering smooth rotation and effortless turns. The anti-pop design, making the tiles firm, will ensure that separate tiles do not pop out or break apart.

CONS

The instructions on some cubes are not very informative. 

OUR VERDICT

The Aiduy 12-Pack Speed Cube Set is something you gift Rubik's cube experts that find standard speed cubes too easy. Between 12 cubes that form different shapes, even solvers with ample experience that have always been quick on the uptake might stumble a few times.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

Triangle pyramid cube, 2x2 cube, 3x3 cube, 4x4 cube, 5x5 cube, Megaminx cube, Rainbow ball cube, 2x silver mirror cubes, Skew cube, Ivy cube, Windmill cube

Materials

High-strength plastic

Extras

Improved anti-pop technology, Pre-lubricated

Dimensions

2x2x2: 5 x 5 x 5 cm

3x3x3: 5.6 x 5.6 x 5.6 cm

4x4x4 and 5x5x5: 6 x 6 x 6 cm

Pyramid: 9 x 9 x 9 cm

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The cubes do not pop easily yet are not difficult to control. The rounded internal cubes make the turns quick as well as less stubborn. The embedded spring adds flexibility and offers a more pleasant hand feel. 

CONS

The turning mechanism is loud. 

OUR VERDICT

The Roxenda 5-Pack Speed Cube Set makes a brilliant gift for children and adults who like puzzles alike. The 2x2x2 cubes will let them learn the basics, the 3x3x3 cubes will let them train, and the pyramid, skew, and Megaminx cube will prove challenging even for experienced solvers.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

2x2 cube, 3x3 cube, Skew cube, Pyramid cube, Megaminx cube

Materials

High-strength plastic, steel (screws)

Extras

Improved anti-pop technology, Smooth corner-cutting design, Adjustable tension

Dimensions

2x2x2: 5 x 5 x 5 cm

3x3x3: 5.6 x 5.6 x 5.6 cm

Pyramid: 9.8 x 9.8 x 9.8 cm

Warranty

Lifetime

PROS

The clips have been reinforced, making the cube resistant to impact. The strong core prevents the tiles from deforming down the road. The anti-scratch surface will ensure that the cube remains good-looking through countless trips without using a protective carry bag. 

CONS

The tiles are stubborn initially.

OUR VERDICT

The early versions were great, no one can deny that, there's a reason Rubik's cube is still the best-selling puzzle. Rubik’s The Original 3x3 Speed Cube embraces the future without denying the past, building upon its predecessors' success and improving the cube across the board. 

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

3x3x3 speed cube, gift box

Materials

High-strength plastic, steel (screws)

Extras

Anti-pop triple-cross-feet technology, Strong clip design, Seamless ultra-smooth surfaces, Lubricating tacks, Adjustable tension

Dimensions

5.6 x 5.6 x 5.6 cm

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The tiles feel more textured. They are also pretty good at hiding fingerprints. The errorproof layer maximises the middle flank, increasing the contact area as well as reducing fifth-ordering.

CONS

The surface is scratchy. 

OUR VERDICT

Generally speaking, newbies like the QiYi 3x3 Stickerless Speed Cube, but the model can accommodate tryhard solvers as well, with the anti-pop design enabling smooth cornering, whilst the wide outer improves the cube's overall controllability.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

3x3x3 speed cube, gift box

Materials

High-strength plastic, steel (screws)

Extras

Improved anti-pop technology, Anti-stick design, Adjustable tension

Dimensions

5.6 x 5.6 x 5.6 cm

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS
The carbon fibre surface feels different from plastic cubes. Also, it does not fade and flake as much as plastic cubes do. The cube has good fault tolerance, meaning that you should be able to execute fast and precise moves with relative ease.
CONS

The colours are not especially vivid. 

OUR VERDICT

When you make speed cubes, there's almost no creative wiggle room. Nevertheless, the people behind the Gritin 3x3 Smooth Speed Cube have managed to design something quite different from what we've seen many times before, and we can appreciate that.

detailed parameters
Kit Contents

3x3x3 speed cube, gift box

Materials

High-strength plastic, carbon fibre (stickers), steel (screws)

Extras

Improved anti-pop technology, Anti-corner twist design, Adjustable tension

Dimensions

5.6 x 5.6 x 5.6 cm

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

Puzzle Enthusiasts, Rejoice

To say that the Aiduy 12-Pack Speed Cube Set is a massive bundle would be an equally massive understatement. As the name tells us, this set includes 12 different speed cubes. Among these, you will find less unorthodox models like 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, and 5x5 cubes as well as more unique options, such as a triangle pyramid cube, Megaminx cube, skew cube, windmill cube, ivy cube, and two silver mirror cubes. Needless to say, between these 12 cubes, even the biggest puzzle enthusiasts will be able to spend days, maybe even weeks solving the set.

Setting quantity aside, the cubes come pre-lubricated, they rotate easily, turn smoothly, and at an above-average fast. The anti-pop design makes them firm, preventing separate tiles from popping out or breaking apart. Besides that, the glossy finish and the vivid colours make the cubes much more expressive than cheap knock-offs.

Some people might find the set excessive but, assuming you don't, there's only one problem with this bundle - the instructions that come with the cubes are not very informative, which means solving the more complicated cubes might present certain challenges. If that sounds like your cup of tea, the Aiduy 12-Pack Speed Cube Set should prove worth your while.

Last updated price £39.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07S177Z4F

Smooth and Flexible Motion

The Roxenda 5-Pack Speed Cube Set ships you a 2x2x2 speed cube, 3x3x3 speed cube, skew cube, pyramid cube, and Megaminx cube. Of course, the bundle also includes a gift box, making this set an excellent gift. The one thing that we don't like about these cubes is that, despite the company claiming that they're made from high-strength ABS plastic, the cubes are not necessarily as robust and durable as you'd expect. No, they're impact-resistant and, more often than not, should not deform when you drop or apply significant pressure, but the tiles can also prove easily breakable at times.

The product is offering many more upsides though, offsetting this small issue across the board. First, the cubes provide smooth corner-cutting. They're not easy to pop yet easy to control. Separate tiles are stable and the internal cubes have been rounded, making the turns quick and less stubborn. The integrated spring also makes these cubes more flexible and gives you an improved hand feel. Last but not least, the axis distance here has been increased so that the modules do not drop and clash during rotation.

In short, the Roxenda 5-Pack Speed Cube Set is the best gift that you can buy for someone with a curious and inquisitive mind, someone who loves puzzles despite their age.

Last updated price £20.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07Q2WN174

Rubik's Speed Cube

What we're working with here is the original Rubik's cube made speedy. To get the proverbial tiles turning, we'll start with the lubricating tracks, making sure that the cube turns fast and lasts long. In the meantime, the reinforced clips surrounding the tracks make the cube impact- and crack-resistant. Whilst these two are busy at it, the anti-pop triple-cross-feet tech will ensure that the tiles are not popping out. To some degree, the same tech is also what makes them stubborn initially but you can adjust that with relative ease.

Still, you can argue that everything starts with the core, the core that's been designed strong, stable, and beautifully turnable. But every single detail that have we have outlined here is working towards the same goal anyway - making the cube's design as seamless as possible, whilst the ultra-smooth, anti-scratch surface will let you transport this sophisticated puzzle without using a cube-protect bag.

All things considered, assuming that you've always liked the original, chances are, you'll like Rubik’s The Original 3x3 Speed Cube. It is everything that the early Rubik's cube versions were except improved on all fronts, making the overall solving experience that much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £16.53
Stock In stock
ASIN B0006G3B68

Smooth Cornering

The QiYi 3x3 Stickerless Speed Cube looks expressive yet somehow bland simultaneously. On the one hand, we like the colours - they're vivid and very distinct. On the other hand, the surface is scratchy, which's not great since, as the name tells us, the cube is stickerless, so you cannot just replace the stickers and make the cube all shiny and attractive again. Something that will not change with time though is the wider outer design, improving overall controllability. But what makes and sells this product and what will also remain with time is the errorproof layer design. Maximising the middle flank, the cube increases the contact area and reduces fifth-ordering.

Turning 180 degrees and revisiting the model's appearance, we don't like that the cube is easily scratched, sure, but we do like that the matte finish does not highlight fingerprints and that the tiles look more textured. We also like that you can adjust the tension, whilst the anti-pop tech enables fast yet smooth cornering.

Bottom line, the solvers that go hard and use these cubes on a daily basis will appreciate what the QiYi 3x3 Stickerless Speed Cube is and what this puzzle is offering. Plus, the affordable price makes the product even more attractive.

Last updated price £8.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01MXXGSBY

A Little Different

The Gritin 3x3 Smooth Speed Cube looks different from most cubes, which's the product biggest advantage but, to some extent, also its flaw. Starting with the latter, the carbon fibre surface that looks the same across the board, separating just the tiles' frames, makes the colours look less vivid.

That being said, we like when people have the courage to try something different, especially when there's barely any wiggle room. Plus, besides looking more interesting, the carbon fibre stickers do not fade and usually last quite some time. What's more, these non-flaking matte stickers are not the fingerprint magnets that glossy cubes are.

Rotation-wise, the cube offers a smooth touch and excellent corner-cutting, facilitating comfortable twisting. At the same time, the anti-corner twist design improves fault tolerance so that you can make precise moves without worrying about the tiles slowing you down. The last stop before wrapping things up is the cube's easily adjustable tension that lets you make the tiles more flexible and the feel more precise.

To bring it home, people that are tired of normal-feeling, ordinary-looking Rubik's cubes should, at the very least, look towards the Gritin 3x3 Smooth Speed Cube.

Last updated price £4.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B078NV12MR

What Are Speed Cubes?

3D combinations puzzles have been around for quite some time but none have been able to reach the Rubik's Cube commercial success, not even close. Improving hand-eye coordination, concentration, spatial thinking, cognitive skills, and more, the cube that was originally invented by Ernő Rubik is an excellent puzzle, no doubt about that. The issue here is that people in the know can solve this puzzle in seconds and orthodox Rubik's Cubes just cannot handle such expediency without popping, twisting, or locking up every second rotation.

Cue speed cubes, the same cubes that replicate the satisfying crunchy feel that old Rubik's Cubes were offering but accelerating the movement, smoothing out turns, minimizing pops, and improving corner-cutting. In a nutshell, what we're describing here is essentially Rubik's Cubes 2.0, leaving everything that made the original cubes as fun as they were but removing the shortcomings that 40-year-old toys will always have.

Needless to say, speed cubes can challenge kids as well as adults, but the youngest kids usually appreciate something less challenging, like marble runs or, when they get older, these LEGO sets.

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