GAN 13 Maglev Frosted 3x3x3

GAN 13 MagLev Frosted 3x3

GAN's flagship 3x3 cube from 2022 and the successor to the GAN 12 MagLev. The GAN 13 MagLev Frosted has a matte surface without a UV coating and comes in the stickerless bright colour scheme. The colours are in the plastic itself, so there are no stickers to peel off or wear away. The cube measures 56 mm and weighs about 70 g, which is light given how many magnets it has inside.

MagLev and magnets in the core

There are no springs in this cube. Tension comes from repelling magnetic rings (MagLev). This gives even resistance across the whole range of layer movement, and you won't hear the metallic spring noise that tends to get louder over time in classic cubes. New compared to the GAN 12 are magnets in the edges that repel the magnets in the core, while the core also attracts the corners. GAN calls this system Enhanced Core Positioning 3.0. In practice, the cube finishes an incomplete turn by itself. The manufacturer states auto-alignment from about 30 degrees. In total, there are 88 magnets inside.

How it turns

On the factory settings, the cube is very fast and overshooting is easy, especially if you turn hard. Reviewers also note that corner cutting requires quite a lot of force at these settings. The GAN 13 likes a light touch. Once you adjust the settings and lube it with a slower, thicker lube, it becomes noticeably more controllable while the feel stays smooth. Some users report catching during fast turning, so its character won't suit everyone.

Adjustment

The cube has three independent adjustment systems, each with 6 levels. The first is MagLev elasticity, the equivalent of tension. The second is center travel, i.e. compression. The third is magnet strength (GMS V5). Together, this gives 216 combinations. From the factory, all three are set to level 3. You change them with the key included in the set, without taking the cube apart. It's worth spending a moment on the setup, as the out-of-the-box settings are too fast for most people.

Frosted, UV or FX?

The Frosted and UV versions have the same mechanism and differ only in finish. Frosted is matte with medium grip, while UV has a glossy coating that grips the fingers more firmly. There is also the GAN 13 FX, which has no magnet strength adjustment and is slightly lighter.

Who is it for?

For speedcubers who solve against the clock, like setting up their cube themselves and want control over its character. This cube won't hold a beginner back, but it may be too fast for them. The difference compared to a good mid-range model will really only be felt by someone who has mastered their method and is working on smoothness.