QiYi Ice Amber 3x3

QiYi Ice Amber 3x3

This cube is more about turning heads than breaking records. The QiYi Ice Amber 3x3 is part of the Ice Amber (Icy Amber) series. The body is made of clear plastic with an ice effect, and instead of stickers it has transparent coloured tiles in the standard colour scheme. Hold it up to the light and you can see the whole internal mechanism. Inside is the mechanism of a QiYi budget speed cube, so this is a fully functional 3x3 cube for solving, not just a shelf decoration.

How it turns

Buyers most often praise its smooth turning and its looks. The cube has no magnets. The layers don't snap into place on their own, so the cube is less stable than magnetic models and needs more precise turning. The factory tension doesn't suit everyone. Some users found that corner cutting only started working well after they tightened or loosened the screws. Taking it apart can be a bit tricky, which matters when you want to lube it or adjust the tension.

Tiles instead of stickers

The colours are on separate transparent tiles, not on vinyl stickers. This way the "crystal" effect is visible from every side, and the colours don't wear off the way regular stickers do. The Ice Amber series also includes other puzzles in the same style, including the Mirror Cube, Fisher Cube, Axis Cube, Windmill, Ivy Cube and Pyraminx Duo. If you collect cubes in one style, you can put together the whole set.

Who is it for?

This cube is a great fit for collectors, as a gift, and as a first cube for someone who wants to learn to solve the 3x3 and doesn't need magnets yet. For speedcubing at high TPS, a magnetic cube is a better choice. The lack of magnets will be clearly noticeable during fast solves. A parent looking for a first cube for their child will get a standard-size 3x3 cube that looks great and turns lightly. That's more than enough to get started.

Specifications

• Type: 3x3 cube, non-magnetic
• Manufacturer: QiYi
• Series: Ice Amber (Icy Amber)
• Size: 55.5 mm
• Weight: approx. 76 g
• Body: clear plastic with an ice effect
• Colours: transparent coloured tiles instead of stickers
• Variant: Transparent