WitEden 4x4x3 Mixup Edge-rebuilt Cube

WitEden 4x4x3 Mixup Edge-rebuilt Cube

From a distance it looks like an ordinary cube of about 66 mm, but inside it is a 4x4x3 cuboid from the Mixup series. The WitEden 4x4x3 Mixup Edge-rebuilt Cube is a shape-shifting puzzle for people who can already solve the classic 3x3 and 4x4 and want something where the algorithms they know only get them part of the way. We stock it in the stickerless bright version.

How the Mixup mechanism works

The Mixup Cube was designed by Oskar van Deventer, and WitEden produces successive versions of this puzzle. The whole series is based on one idea: the middle layer can be turned by 45 degrees. After such a move, you can turn a side layer in a way that is impossible on a regular cube. As a result, edges and centers swap places. The pieces have no fixed positions, so you need to keep track not only of the colors but also of where each piece has ended up.

What the Edge-rebuilt version changes

In this version the edges are split. When you set them in the right position relative to the middle layer, they separate and you can make a turn through the middle of the edge. On top of that comes the 4x4x3 layout: four layers along two axes and three along the third. Once scrambled, the cube loses its regular shape, and solving it takes more planning than a standard cuboid or the classic 3x3 Mixup.

In the same series, WitEden also offers 3x3x3 and 4x4x4 Edge-rebuilt versions. The 4x4x3 version is a good choice if you already know the basic Mixup and want to add a cuboid to the mix.

Turning and who it is for

This is a puzzle for casual solving and for your collection, not a cube for setting times. It is not set up for speed, so there is no point comparing it with speed cubes in terms of TPS or corner cutting. What matters here is precise moves: you need to align the layers carefully before making the next turn, otherwise the cube easily locks up.

Experience with the 4x4 (parity) and with shape-shifting puzzles will come in handy. It will also appeal to collectors of unusual WitEden puzzles. For a child's first cube, it is better to choose a classic 3x3 and come back to the Mixup once the basics are mastered.

Specifications

• Type: shape-shifting puzzle, 4x4x3 cuboid from the Mixup series
• Manufacturer: WitEden
• Version: Edge-rebuilt (split edges)
• Size: approx. 66 mm
• Weight: approx. 160 g
• Color: stickerless bright
• Intended use: casual solving and collecting