QiYi Sail 5x5

QiYi Sail 5x5

QiYi Sail 5x5 is a budget 5x5 cube from the Sail series. In this series, QiYi releases simple models in a range of sizes, from 2x2 up to big cubes. This model has black plastic, a classic look and a size of 59.5 mm. It's a good first 5x5 when you can already solve a 3x3 and want to try a bigger cube without spending a lot of money.

Size and handling

59.5 mm is smaller than 5x5 cubes were just a few years ago, when cubes of around 62-64 mm were the standard. A smaller cube fits more easily in your hand, which children and people with smaller hands will especially appreciate. It's also easier to grip several layers at once for wide moves and to hit the inner layers (slices) precisely. This matters on a 5x5, because building centers and pairing edges mostly involves turning the inner layers.

What to expect

This is a budget cube, not a flagship for competitions. It doesn't have the advanced tension adjustment or UV coating found on more expensive models. It's a good cube for learning the reduction method and parity algorithms. With fast, aggressive turning, however, cheaper 5x5 cubes usually have more lockups and catching than magnetic models. They also need lubing more often to stay smooth. A suitable cube lube noticeably improves the performance of cheaper mechanisms.

Sail or Warrior?

In QiYi's lineup, the Sail series sits close to the Warrior series. The Warrior M 5x5 is the version with magnets and UV coating, and the magnets help align the layers and reduce overshooting. The Sail wins on price and its classic black body. The Warrior M wins with more predictable behavior during faster solving.

Who is it for?

A first 5x5 for a child or an adult, for learning and solving for fun. It also works well as a cheap backup cube, as a gift or for classes with children. If you want to break records in 5x5 and TPS matters to you, you'll soon want to move on to a magnetic model.

Specifications

• Type: 5x5x5 cube
• Manufacturer: QiYi (QiYi MoFangGe)
• Series: Sail
• Size: 59.5 x 59.5 x 59.5 mm
• Plastic color: black (Black)
• Manufacturer code: QY3267
• EAN: 6948154232646