YJ Macaron 3x3 Cube

YJ Macaron 3x3 Cube

A pastel version of the classic 3x3 cube from YJ (YongJun). The YJ Macaron 3x3 is an affordable stickerless cube without magnets, in the standard 56 mm size. It works well for learning your first method and for everyday solving, and its colour scheme is quite different from the usual set of colours. YJ has also released other puzzles in the same Macaron series, such as a 2x2 cube and a Pyraminx, so it's easy to put together a matching set.

How it turns

The mechanism is simple and has no magnets. Turning is light and fairly forgiving, so the cube doesn't punish you for every imprecise move. When you're doing your first solves with the layer-by-layer method, that's exactly what matters most. Without magnets, the layers don't snap into place on their own, so you have to align them with your fingers. During relaxed solving, this isn't a problem at all. During faster turning, however, lockups are more likely than on magnetic cubes.

To be honest: this is a budget cube, not a record-breaking machine. If you already know the basics and want to improve your times, consider an affordable magnetic model, e.g. from the YJ YuLong M series. Magnets clearly help with control at higher TPS.

Stickerless in Macaron colours

The faces are made of coloured plastic, so there are no stickers that could peel off or wear down with heavy use. The Macaron colour scheme uses light pastel shades instead of the classic saturated colours. For many people, this is the main reason to buy it. However, pastels offer less contrast than the standard scheme, so it's worth looking at the photos before buying to check whether this colour set suits you.

Who is it for?

As a first cube for a child or an adult, as a gift, for learning to solve in classes, and as a second, "grab-and-go" cube. It will also appeal to people who collect cubes in unusual colours. Speedcubers looking for a main for training will find better-suited magnetic models in this price range.

Specifications

• Type: 3x3 cube, stickerless
• Manufacturer: YJ (YongJun)
• Series: Macaron
• Size: 56 mm
• Weight: approx. 76 g
• Magnets: none
• Colour scheme: Macaron (pastel)