5x5x5 

The 5x5x5 cube was originally called the Professor's Cube, and in Polish it is still known as the kostka Profesorska. Most people pick it up after mastering the 3x3x3 and 4x4x4, because it combines features of both. You solve the centers much like on a 4x4x4, while the middle edges and the center pieces of each face work like on a 3x3x3, so there is no OLL parity known from the 4x4. Cubers use the same methods as for the 4x4x4: Reduction and extensions of the Hoya and Yau methods. Top competitors solve the 5x5x5 in under a minute, and world records are already closer to half a minute.

The first decision is about magnets. Non-magnetic models such as the QiYi Warrior 5x5, QiYi QiZheng S 5x5x5 or MoYu Meilong 5x5x5 are inexpensive and work well for getting started. It is worth lubing them properly and setting the tension, though, because with so many layers lockups happen easily. Magnetic versions such as the MoYu Meilong 5x5x5 Magnetic, QiYi Warrior 5x5 Magnetic or SengSo MoSheng 5x5 Magnetic align the layers by themselves after each turn. On a 5x5 this matters a lot, because when turning the outer layers it is easy to accidentally move an inner layer too. For many people this is the most sensible first choice.

The higher end includes the YJ MGC 5x5x5, GAN 562 5x5x5 and MoYu AoChuang V6 5x5. The GAN 562 has magnets in two layers and is available in a Frosted version (matte surface) and a UV version (smooth, glossy coating with better grip). The AoChuang V6 has a Ball-Core (a spherical core with magnets that stabilizes the centers) and comes in several versions. The Single-Track has a standard magnet setup. The Triple-Track version has additional magnets in the core, so turns "click" into place more noticeably. This gives more noticeable help with aligning the layers, but not everyone likes a cube that guides the turns this strongly.

A typical 5x5x5 cube is about 62 mm, while the AoChuang V6 is 60.5 mm. Smaller models (about 58 mm) fit more easily in children's hands and smaller hands in general, but with large fingers they may cause more lockups. In this category you will find cubes from MoYu, QiYi (also under the MoFangGe brand), YJ, ShengShou, YuXin, GAN, DianSheng and The Valk, from your first 5x5 cube to competition models.