10x10x10 

10x10x10 cubes: big NxN puzzles for long solves

A 10x10x10 cube has 488 visible pieces and 64 centers on each face. You solve it with the same reduction method as a 4x4 or 5x5: centers first, then edge pairing, and finally a 3x3 stage. The difference is that every stage takes much longer. It has an even number of layers, so there is no fixed center and you can run into the same parity cases as on a 4x4. In this category you will find 10x10 cubes from ShengShou (SengSo), MoYu, QiYi, YuXin and DianSheng. There are simple non-magnetic models as well as magnetic designs with a Ball-Core.

Size and weight matter a lot here

With ten layers, the size of the cube has a big effect on comfort. The YuXin Little Magic 10x10x10 is about 105 mm and weighs over 700 g. You can solve it, but your hands may get tired during a long session. Newer models are noticeably smaller: the QiYi 10x10x10 and SengSo MoSheng Cubic are about 84 mm, the DianSheng Galaxy M about 79 mm, and the MoYu MeiLong 10x10 V2 M Ball-Core about 70 mm. A smaller cube is easier to hold, but its pieces are tinier, so some people need a while to get used to gripping the layers precisely.

Magnets and Ball-Core in 10x10 cubes

The most common problem with big cubes is imprecise layer alignment. If a layer is turned just slightly too little, the next move ends in a lockup. With a harder turn, a piece can even pop out (popping). Magnets in the pieces help the layers snap into place. The DianSheng Galaxy M was the first mass-produced magnetic 10x10 cube. The SengSo MoSheng Cubic and QiYi Cubic 10x10 Core-Magnetic also come in magnetic versions. The MoYu MeiLong 10x10 V2 M Ball-Core has 256 magnets in the pieces plus additional magnets in the central ball, which stabilize layer alignment.

How to choose a 10x10x10 cube?

• Your first 10x10: the YuXin Little Magic, QiYi 10x10x10, or the non-magnetic MoYu MeiLong 10x10 and SengSo MoSheng Cubic. These are simpler designs that let you find out whether you enjoy long solves on big cubes.
• Regular timed solving: magnetic models. Fewer lockups mean less layer correcting, and with hundreds of moves in a single solve, that saves a lot of time.
• A small cube with layers as stable as possible: the MoYu MeiLong 10x10 V2 M Ball-Core or QiYi Cubic 10x10 Core-Magnetic.

The 10x10x10 is not a WCA event, so it is mainly chosen by big cube fans, people who enjoy long solves, and collectors. Every new big cube needs some time to break in. A well-chosen lube usually improves turning smoothness noticeably.