GAN Mirror M

GAN Mirror M

GAN Mirror M is a magnetic Mirror cube from GAN, released in 2022 and built on a speedcube mechanism. Mechanically it is a regular 3x3, but all faces are the same colour and the pieces differ in thickness. Once scrambled, the cube loses its cubic shape, and you solve it by shape rather than by colour. Distributors describe it as the first mass-produced magnetic Mirror cube. Cubers who have owned several different Mirrors often name it one of the best-turning puzzles of this type.

How it turns

Classic Mirror cubes are usually held back by a clunky mechanism. They catch lockups and are hard to turn quickly. The Mirror M is different. Reviews often compare it to a regular magnetic 3x3 from GAN. Corner cutting is good, which is far from standard for Mirrors, and the turning is smooth and fairly controllable. The magnets help you finish aligning each layer. This is especially useful on a Mirror cube, because its irregular shape makes it harder to judge by eye whether a layer is lined up straight. Users generally rate the magnet strength as medium. That is their opinion, not a specification given by the manufacturer.

The purple plastic combined with metallic stickers shifts in shade from purple to blue, depending on the light and viewing angle.

Magnets and tension adjustment

• 48 magnets in the pieces, factory-installed.
• Screw adjustment. This is the classic screw-and-spring setup, without nuts with tactile tension levels (numerical IPG). You set the tension with a screwdriver, and finding your preferred setup takes a little longer than on GAN's newer flagships.

Who is the GAN Mirror M Mirror cube for?

To solve a Mirror cube, all you need is the ability to solve a regular 3x3 cube. The method is the same; only the way you recognise the pieces changes. It is a great puzzle for anyone who has mastered the 3x3 and is looking for a new challenge, as well as for collectors who want a Mirror cube with a solid mechanism. If competition results matter to you, keep in mind that the Mirror cube is not a WCA event.

Specifications

• Type: Mirror cube (3x3 shape mod), magnetic
• Manufacturer: GAN
• Size: 56 mm
• Weight: approx. 77 g
• Magnets: 48 in the pieces
• Adjustment: adjustment screws (screw + spring system)
• Colour: purple
• Release year: 2022
• Allowed in official WCA competitions: no