QiYi 2x2 Gear Cube

QiYi 2x2 Gear Cube

The QiYi 2x2 Gear Cube is a gear-type puzzle from QiYi. From the outside it looks like a regular 57 mm 2x2 cube, but its faces have visible gears that rotate together with the layers. The pieces are linked by gears, so a single move shifts more parts than on a classic 2x2. That means solving it calls for a different way of thinking than a standard cube. The model we offer has a black body and colored faces made of plastic tiles (tiled).

How is it different from a regular 2x2?

On a standard 2x2 cube, turning a layer moves only the pieces of that layer. On the Gear Cube, the gears pass the movement on, so other parts also change position during a turn. The methods you know from the 2x2 are not enough. You need to understand how the gears work and watch what happens to them after every move. That's why many people find the Gear Cube a good first puzzle beyond the classic NxN cubes.

Build

The tiled version has no stickers. The colors are separate plastic tiles set into the black body, so nothing peels off or wears away the way stickers do. At 89 g, the cube is light and sits comfortably in your hand. It is not a speedcubing cube, and there's no point comparing it to 2x2 models built for TPS or corner cutting. With this puzzle, it's the mechanism and the challenge itself that count, not the solve time.

Who is it for?

For anyone who can already solve a 2x2 or 3x3 and wants to try something different. Puzzle collectors will like it too, as it looks great on a shelf with its visible gears. It also makes an affordable gift for a child who enjoys cubes. If you're looking for a fast 2x2 cube for timed solves, choose a classic magnetic model instead. In the same series, QiYi also offers a ball-shaped version (2x2 Gear Ball).

Specifications

• Type: gear puzzle based on a 2x2 cube
• Manufacturer: QiYi (QiYi MoFangGe)
• Size: 57 x 57 x 57 mm
• Weight: 89 g
• Color scheme: black body, colored tiled faces (tiled, stickerless)
• Manufacturer code: MFG2074
• EAN: 6948154220742