GAN 356 I Carry 2 UV V3

GAN 356 i Carry 2 UV V3

A Bluetooth 3x3 cube you never have to charge. The GAN 356 i Carry 2 UV V3 runs on a single CR2032 coin cell battery. According to the manufacturer, the battery lasts for around 700 hours of use, and when it runs out, you can replace it yourself. The smart cube connects to the CubeStation app, which records your solves and tracks your moves. This version has a glossy UV coating and the stickerless bright colour scheme.

How it turns

In smart cubes, the electronics have to fit inside, and this usually affects the mechanism. In the i Carry 2, GAN made the core smaller, by 31.3% according to the manufacturer. It also used a ball-based Smart Ball Bearings design, which is meant to reduce friction and limit catching. Users rate the cube higher than you might expect from a Bluetooth model. Turning is smooth, the magnets clearly snap the layers into place, and at a relaxed pace it's hard to tell there are electronics inside. At high TPS, however, some catching appears, and corner cutting is not on the level of flagship cubes without electronics. Some people find the cube fairly fast right out of the box. Others only get a feel they like after their own setup and lubing.

Technologies and adjustment

• Turbo Magnetic Capsule – the magnet system GAN uses in the i Carry 2. The cheaper i Carry S and i Carry E have standard magnets.
• GES Pro+ – the tension adjustment system. According to users, the range of settings is rather limited, and the adjustment itself is less convenient than in regular speedcubing cubes.
• Shake to wake. The cube uses contactless magnetic induction and turns on when you shake it, with no buttons.

CubeStation app

The app shows your moves in real time, saves your solve history and offers tutorials and game modes, including online battles. Opinions on the app itself are mixed. The connection to the cube is usually stable, but the multiplayer mode can be fairly quiet, and the interface gets some criticism. It's worth knowing this before you buy, as the smart features are the main reason to choose this cube.

UV or frosted?

The mechanism and electronics are the same in both versions of the i Carry 2. The UV version has a glossy surface that offers more grip. The frosted version is matte. The choice comes down to which surface you prefer in your hands.

Who is it for?

For anyone who wants to analyse their solves, track their progress or learn from the tutorials in the app. It's also a sensible choice if you're buying a smart cube for a child: there's no need to remember to charge it. A speedcuber looking for a competition cube will usually stick with a flagship model without electronics. As a training cube with statistics, however, the i Carry 2 does the job well.

Specifications

• Type: 3x3 smart cube, magnetic, with Bluetooth
• Manufacturer: GAN
• Size: 56 mm
• Magnets: Turbo Magnetic Capsule
• Core: reduced size, with Smart Ball Bearings design
• Adjustment: GES Pro+
• Power: 1 CR2032 battery, replaceable, approx. 700 h of use according to the manufacturer
• App: CubeStation
• Finish: UV
• Colour: stickerless bright