7x7x7 

7x7x7 Cubes: the Largest NxN Puzzle in WCA Competitions

Each face has seven layers, and the whole cube is made of 218 moving pieces. The 7x7x7 cube is the largest NxN cube used in official WCA competitions. At competitions it is solved in the Mean of 3 format, which means your result is the average of three solves. It is a typical Big Cube: a single solve takes much longer than on a 3x3. That is why, apart from speed, what matters here is how comfortable the cube is to hold, how stable it is and how well it handles lockups when you turn several layers at once.

History of the 7x7x7 Cube

The first mass-produced 7x7x7 cube was launched in 2008 by the Greek company Verdes Innovations SA, known for the V-Cube brand. The mechanism was designed by its founder, Panagiotis Verdes, who filed a patent application for it in 2004. For several years V-Cube had no real competition. Today 7x7 cubes are made by many manufacturers, including MoYu, QiYi, YJ, YuXin, DianSheng, ShengShou and X-Man Design.

Your First 7x7 Cube

For your first 7x7 cube, simpler models are perfectly fine, e.g. YuXin Little Magic 7x7x7, QiYi QiXing 7x7x7, MoYu Meilong 7x7x7 V2 or SengSo MoSheng 7x7. Many of them also come in a magnetic version, e.g. Little Magic Magnetic, Meilong 7x7x7 V2 M or MoSheng Magnetic. With seven layers, magnets are even more useful than on small cubes. They help each layer "snap" into place and reduce overshooting, i.e. turning too far. Non-magnetic versions turn more loosely, so you need to align the layers more precisely.

7x7 Cubes for Speedcubing

7x7 cubes for speedcubing include MoYu AoFu V5 7x7, YJ MGC 7x7x7, QiYi M Pro 7x7 Ball Core UV, QiYi Warrior 7x7 M UV and X-Man Spark 7x7 V2 M Ball Core. The differences between versions are easiest to show using the AoFu V5:

Single-Track has 144 magnets in the outer tracks.
Dual-Track adds 16 magnets in the core (Ball-Core).
Triple-Track adds another 72 magnets that reduce popping, i.e. pieces falling out. It has 232 magnets in total and is also available with a UV coating.

Ball-Core means that magnets in the core pull the pieces towards the centre. This makes the cube more stable and less prone to popping. Each successive AoFu V5 variant gives a more controlled feel, but is also slightly heavier. If you prefer a lighter, looser cube, the Single-Track may simply suit you better.

7x7 Cube Size

Size matters a lot with a 7x7. Most models are noticeably larger than a 3x3, while the DianSheng SMC 7x7 measures 56 mm, the same as a typical 3x3 cube. A smaller cube fits better in small hands and is easier to take with you. However, the pieces are smaller, so people with larger hands often prefer the classic size.