Diansheng X2 Cube

DianSheng X2 Cube

The starting point is an ordinary 2x2 cube, but DianSheng has added diagonal X-shaped cuts on the top and bottom faces. When solved, the DianSheng X2 Cube looks a bit like a Dino Cube. After a few moves it no longer looks like a cube, because the pieces shift and the puzzle changes shape. It's a typical shape mod: the mechanism stays the same as in a 2x2, and the new challenge comes from the look and the shape.

How it differs from a regular 2x2

The corners have two colours instead of three, so you recognise the pieces differently than on a standard 2x2 cube. At first, the shape causes the most trouble. Once scrambled, the cube looks irregular and it's harder to tell which pieces belong together. If you already know a 2x2 method, you don't need to learn any new algorithms. You just have to get used to the different look of the pieces. Reviewers are divided on how difficult it is. Some say it's harder than it looks. Others point out that, thanks to fewer colours on the corners, it's even easier to solve than a 2x2, because the colours don't have to be arranged in one strictly defined way. It's enough for the top and bottom layers to match.

Turning

Users describe the turning as smooth and trouble-free straight out of the box. This isn't a cube for breaking records, and nobody designed it to be one. It's meant to turn smoothly during relaxed, casual solving, and it does exactly that.

Colour versions

All variants are stickerless, so there are no stickers to wear off or peel:

• Stickerless Bright: classic, bright colours,
• Stickerless Dark: darker shades,
• Transparent: clear plastic,
• Macaron: pastel colours.

Who is it for?

For people who can already solve a 2x2 and want something different, and for collectors of shape mods. It also makes a good gift for a child who has already mastered their first cube. The X2 Cube is not a WCA event, so it's not something you buy with competitions in mind. If you're just starting out, it will be easier to learn a regular 2x2 first.

Specifications

• Type: shape-shifting puzzle, 2x2 cube shape mod
• Manufacturer: DianSheng
• Size: approx. 55 mm
• Weight: approx. 66 g
• Finish: stickerless
• Variants: Stickerless Bright, Stickerless Dark, Transparent, Macaron