XMD Tornado 3x3x3 V4 Flagship

XMD Tornado 3x3x3 V4 Flagship

The XMD Tornado 3x3x3 V4 Flagship from X-Man Design (QiYi) is the successor to the spring version of the Tornado V3. It has a magnetic Ball-Core, a frosted finish and magnet strength adjustment, which is now set on the corners instead of the edges.

Specifications

• Size: approx. 55.5 mm
• Weight: approx. 71.5 g
• Turning system: springs (no MagLev)
• Magnets: magnets in the pieces + Ball-Core (8 magnets in the core)
• Adjustment: 5 × tension / 5 × compression / 5 × magnet strength
• Finish: frosted, stickerless bright

How the Tornado V4 Flagship turns

The mechanism is very close to the V3. According to reviewers, the V4 is slightly more blocky, but it is still one of the more flexible cubes. Turning is smooth, and once broken in the cube is fairly quiet. Corner cutting is fast and reliable. Out of the box the cube can feel tight, so it is usually worth lubing it and adjusting the settings right away. Some people find the frosted plastic a bit slippery at first.

The springs give noticeable resistance: you can feel when a layer starts moving and when it stops. The Ball-Core pulls the corners towards the core, so the layers align by themselves and the cube doesn't fall out of alignment at higher TPS. The edges don't have the extra repelling magnets found in the Pioneer, so the magnetism is clear but not overwhelming.

Dual adjustment and corner magnets

Tensioning and compression are set separately, with 5 levels on each scale, and the selected setting is visible on the scale markings. You change the magnet strength by turning a corner: one turn adjusts the magnets of the whole corner, so 8 adjustments are enough for the entire cube. On the V3 this was done on the edges and took more time.

Practical tip: start in the middle of the scale. A very loose Flagship loses control, which is exactly why you choose the spring version.

Flagship or Pioneer UV?

The Pioneer UV has the same Ball-Core and the same adjustment system, but uses MagLev instead of springs. It also has 3 magnets in each edge that repel the corner magnets, plus a glossy UV coating. The Pioneer weighs approx. 82 g. The Flagship is lighter (approx. 71.5 g) and has frosted plastic with medium grip.

The Flagship is a good choice when reliable layer stopping matters: for intuitive F2L and for calmer, precise algorithm execution. The Pioneer starts moves faster and aligns layers more strongly by itself, but not everyone likes the MagLev feeling.

In short: the V4 Flagship means springs, frosted finish, approx. 71.5 g and more control. The V4 Pioneer UV means MagLev, 3 magnets in the edges, UV coating and approx. 82 g.

The Tornado V4 Flagship makes the most sense for someone who already solves and is looking for a spring cube for daily practice and competitions. For a child's first cube, a cheaper magnetic model is usually enough, as the full range of adjustments only becomes useful over time.