YJ MGC Appari 3x3x3

YJ MGC Appari 3x3x3

YJ MGC Appari 3x3x3 is a budget magnetic cube from the MGC line, released in 2024. Its most unusual feature sits under the screw head. YJ calls it the Speed-Micro Actuator: a small washer with micro bearings designed to reduce friction and make turning easier. On top of that, you get magnets between the pieces, core magnets on the corners and hand-adjustable compression in 6 steps. Features like these are rarely found in cheaper cubes. The cube comes in a stickerless bright version.

How it turns

The Appari has a rather blocky, distinctly clicky feel rather than a soft and smooth one. Users rate its corner cutting well, but opinions on how it performs out of the box are divided. Some say it is fast right away. Others find it too tight from the factory, a bit sandy and slow, with demanding moves such as U pushes taking more effort. Loosening the screws and adding a few drops of lube usually helps. According to reviewers, the cube then becomes noticeably faster and smoother. So it is fair to assume that the Appari needs a bit of setting up before it shows what it can do.

Magnets and adjustment

• 48 factory-installed magnets: classic corner–edge magnets plus magnets between the core and the corners. The core magnets are noticeable but not overpowering. They help keep the layers in place and give you a little more control during fast turning.
• Speed-Micro Actuator: a bearing washer under the screw head designed to make layer turning easier.
• 6 levels of spring compression adjusted by hand, with no tools needed. The spring is hidden inside the housing. Tension is set with a regular screw.
• Anti-stick: a piece design intended to reduce layers catching on each other.

Who is it for?

The Appari makes sense for someone who has already mastered the basics and wants an affordable step up to a cube with core magnets and adjustable compression. It also works well as a second cube to compare with a different setup. A parent buying a child's first cube should know that this model may need loosening and lubing to turn smoothly. A speedcuber looking for a cube with a very smooth feel that is ready for practice straight away will probably be happier with a more expensive model.

Specifications

• Type: 3x3x3 magnetic cube, stickerless bright
• Manufacturer: YJ (YongJun), MGC series
• Size: 56 mm
• Weight: 77 g
• Magnets: 48, including core magnets (core–corners)
• Technologies: Speed-Micro Actuator, anti-stick pieces
• Adjustment: 6 compression levels, screw tension