YuXin 1x3x3 Floppy Cube glossy stickers

YuXin 1x3x3 Floppy Cube glossy stickers

It's one layer of a 3x3 cube and nothing more. The YuXin 1x3x3 Floppy Cube has a black body with glossy stickers. It measures 57 x 57 x 19 mm, so it has the two faces of a regular 3x3 and the thickness of a single row of pieces. A floppy cube works well as a first puzzle, as a collection piece or as a break from long 3x3 sessions.

How the 1x3x3 Floppy Cube works

The cube has two large 3x3 faces and four narrow 1x3 sides. Only the outer strips turn, and always by 180 degrees. A single move flips a corner, an edge and the other corner over to the opposite side. The colors then swap between the front and back faces, and that side changes its orientation. There are no 90-degree moves, so you can't get a lockup or turn a layer halfway. There are only a few possible moves, which makes the mechanism easy to understand.

Solving usually comes down to putting the side pieces in the right order while matching up both large faces. Many people work out the solution on their own through trial and observation, without learning algorithms from a guide. The Floppy is a great place to start: it shows you that every move rearranges several pieces at once and that you need to think about the order of your moves. That's the foundation of every twisty puzzle.

Build

The body is black, and the colors are marked with glossy-finish stickers. The cube is flat and light, so you can easily slip it into your pocket or into your backpack along with your other cubes. It's as wide as a standard 3x3, so it feels similar in your hands to a regular 3x3 cube, only much thinner.

Who is it for?

Mainly for kids and anyone just starting out with puzzles. The Floppy is much less demanding than a classic 3x3 and gives you a quick sense of success. An experienced cuber won't find it a challenge. It's more of a fun addition to a collection, something for a quick play or for showing someone where cube logic begins. This is not speedcubing gear in the sense of WCA cubes.

Specifications

• Type: 1x3x3 puzzle (Floppy Cube)
• Manufacturer: YuXin
• Dimensions: 57 x 57 x 19 mm
• Body color: black
• Color marking: glossy stickers
• Moves: 180-degree turns of the outer strips