There is some debate about what the hardest Rubik’s Cube in the world is: God’s Number 3x3x3 or the 17x17x17.
Although God’s Number specifically refers to the 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube, solving a 17x17x17 Rubik’s Cube can generally be considered more challenging due to its larger size and complexity.
The Rubik’s Cube is a puzzle invented by Hungarian professor Erno Rubik. He made the first version of the cube in 1974. Rubik initially designed the cube to help his students understand three-dimensional challenges. He soon realized that his invention was also a challenging puzzle! The Cube was initially called the Magic Cube, but this was later changed to Rubik’s Cube when it became popular worldwide as a speedcube. In 1980, the Rubik’s Cube was officially launched at an international toy fair and quickly grew into a worldwide phenomenon.
Over the years, many different people have contributed to the cube, but one of the earliest designers was Erno Rubik, a professor from Hungary who initially made it out of 27 wooden blocks in 1974 to explain a mathematical concept to his students. Rubik wasn’t sure whether there was a solution, so it took him a month to solve the puzzle himself.
People who are unfamiliar with speedcubes often call them Rubik’s cubes. Rubik’s is a brand in its own right, and a challenging puzzle in the shape of a cube, with each face a unique color. Usually, each face consists of 3 rows and 3 blocks.
A cube always has 6 sides, regardless of its size. Each side of a cube is a square face. So, whether a cube is 3×3 or another size, it will always have 6 sides. However, the size and number of blocks within the cube can vary.
A Rubik’s Cube has six distinct, vibrant colors, each perfectly matching one of the cube’s sides.
At an exciting event in Long Beach, a young competitor from California amazed everyone by solving the 3x3x3 cube in an incredible time. With an astonishing new world-record time of just 3.13 seconds, Max Park proved himself to be a true speedcubing champion. This achievement is a full 0.34 seconds faster than the previous record, which had stood unbeaten for more than 4 years.
Solving a cube takes patience, practice, and perseverance! By consulting different sources, such as our blog, videos, and books, and learning from experienced cubers, you can improve your skills. Experiment with different techniques and algorithms to get better. It’s also helpful to take notes to keep track of your steps while solving. Remember to enjoy the process and the challenges that come with solving the cube. Making mistakes is human and part of the learning process. So stay focused and, above all, don’t give up, even if things get difficult for a while. The best cubers in the world all started at step 1, too. By persevering, you’ll keep getting better and develop the skills to solve the cube without any trouble. Every cube you solve will give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to keep going. Remember that the journey of solving a cube is just as valuable as the end result. Enjoy the challenge, improve your mental sharpness, and develop a sense of accomplishment as you solve the cube one step at a time.
So go for it, keep practicing, and solve that cube!
With speedcubes, it’s all about fast, smooth movements, and manufacturers have developed different mechanisms to optimize their performance. Let’s explore the most common mechanisms:
Ball-core Mechanism: This uses a spherical core at the center of the cube. The core provides stability and ensures smoother rotations, as the pieces rotate around the sphere. Although this technique may be somewhat more complex to manufacture and can feel a little heavier to some users, this mechanism also helps reduce lockups while turning.
Maglev Mechanism: Maglev stands for magnetic levitation and replaces traditional springs with magnets. This significantly reduces internal friction, resulting in very smooth and quiet movements. Magnetic levitation also ensures more even tension inside the cube. Although this mechanism is highly advanced, it can also be more expensive, and some users need time to get used to the lack of traditional spring resistance.
Magnetic Mechanism: integrates small magnets into the individual pieces of the cube. These magnets attract one another and ensure that the pieces click precisely into place as you turn. This provides clear tactile feedback and enables stable, fast movements, while minimizing unintended turns and overshooting (when a turn goes further than intended). Although the magnetic mechanism can make the cube slightly heavier due to the magnets, it offers a significant improvement in stability and precision.
Enhanced-core mechanism: incorporates improved internal structures that use innovative materials and designs to boost the cube’s overall performance. These mechanisms offer improved durability and accuracy, especially at higher speeds. Enhanced-core mechanisms reduce friction and wear, resulting in a smooth and consistent experience over time. They also provide increased stability, minimizing the chance of pops (when pieces come out of the cube). Although these mechanisms can be more complex and costly, their improved performance and durability make them worthwhile.
UV coating: A popular choice is UV coating. Although these cubes may feel a little slippery, they have a premium feel. A UV finish is a specific type of glossy coating created by applying a special lacquer that is then cured under ultraviolet (UV) light. In addition to giving the cube a glossy appearance, the UV finish offers extra protection against scratches and wear, making the cube very durable.
Frosted: A frosted finish has a slightly rough, grainy texture with a subtle, soft sheen. This texture makes fingerprints and smudges less visible, provides better grip, and offers increased resistance to scratches and wear.
Matte: A speedcube with a matte appearance has a flat, non-glossy surface with a consistent, even texture and appearance, without variations or irregularities, and a completely non-reflective finish. This texture makes fingerprints and smudges less visible, provides extra grip, and creates a calmer look without reflections.
Black: Traditional speedcubes often have black base plastic, which creates a strong visual contrast with the colored stickers. Stickers offer plenty of customization options, but they can wear out or come loose over time. As an alternative, many cubers choose stickerless cubes, which use colored plastic pieces and have no risk of stickers wearing out. These stay bright and are easy to maintain, although some competitions once restricted their use.
Primary: For a more subtle look, there are cubes with primary plastic—a light gray or off-white base plastic—that offer a more muted appearance. Although the visual contrast with the colored faces is less pronounced than on black cubes, they have a unique and attractive aesthetic.
Gummy: There is also the gecko texture, also known as a gummy finish. This rubber-like coating provides extra grip, which is especially useful for cubers with sweaty hands. It offers better control while turning, although some users may find it a little sticky.
Glossy: Another popular choice is the glossy finish, which creates a shiny, reflective surface. Although visually appealing, a glossy finish can offer slightly less grip than matte or rubberized finishes.
Jelly: Jelly speedcubes stand out for their unique and eye-catching aesthetic. These cubes have a translucent, pastel-colored finish that gives them a fresh, colorful look. The brightly colored, semi-transparent pieces make the cube look visually appealing and playful. Despite their distinctive appearance, jelly cubes have the same texture as standard plastic cubes, without the extra grip of a gummy finish. For speedcubers looking not only for performance but also for a cube with a unique look, jelly cubes are a perfect choice.
Metallic: For those looking for something truly unique, there is also a metallic coating. These give the cube a striking shine and a distinctive look. They are mainly for decorative purposes and are not standard in the speedcubing world.
