XMD Tornado V3 Premium 3x3 Flagship UV

XMD Tornado V3 Premium Flagship UV, the middle version of the Premium series

The Premium series is a refreshed version of the Tornado V3 from X-Man Design. It comes in three variants: Standard, Flagship UV and Pioneer UV. XMD Tornado V3 Premium 3x3 Flagship UV is the middle one. It has Ball-Core and a UV coating, but unlike the Pioneer it has no MagLev, just classic springs. It's a magnetic 3x3 cube built for control and predictable resistance rather than the lightest possible start of a turn.

What the Premium series changes

The most important changes are inside. The core is reinforced and integrated. The corner-core magnets sit in a spherical core housing and are locked into slots in the corner feet. As a result, the core should crack less often and the magnets should come loose less often during intensive turning. The cube is 55.5 mm and weighs about 72 g.

How it turns

Ball-Core pulls the corners towards the centre and helps the layers settle back into place after a turn, so the cube stays stable even at high TPS. The springs give more noticeable resistance at the start of a move than MagLev. This makes it easier to stop a layer in the right place, and overshooting happens less often. The feel is smooth, and the cube is more controllable than aggressively fast. The claimed corner cutting is about 34°. The cube forgives layers that aren't fully aligned, as long as the tension isn't set extremely loose. Some users apply thicker lube straight out of the box to slow it down a little.

Adjustment

• Dual Adjustment System without taking the cube apart: 8 tension levels and 8 compression levels, with numbered markings. The inner ring changes the tension and the outer ring changes the compression.
• 5 levels of edge magnet strength. A weaker setting gives a lighter, faster feel, while a stronger one gives a more noticeable "click" and more secure layer alignment.

That gives you 64 spring settings, plus separate magnet adjustment on top.

UV coating

The glossy UV finish gives better grip than frosted plastic and is more resistant to wear. It holds securely in dry hands, but can get slippery with sweaty hands. It has no effect on the mechanism.

Flagship, Pioneer or Standard?

The Standard has neither Ball-Core nor UV coating, has a matte finish and is cheaper. The Pioneer UV has Ball-Core and MagLev and turns faster, but it isn't easy for everyone to master. The Flagship UV makes sense for an intermediate or advanced cuber who wants the stability of Ball-Core but prefers springs to MagLev. For a child's first cube, a cheaper magnetic model is usually enough.

Specifications

• Type: magnetic 3x3 cube, stickerless
• Manufacturer: X-Man Design
• Size: 55.5 mm
• Weight: approx. 72 g
• Magnets: magnets in the pieces, Ball-Core (corner-core magnets), 5 levels of edge magnet strength
• Turning system: springs (no MagLev)
• Adjustment: 8 tension levels and 8 compression levels, tool-free
• Finish: UV coating