YuXin 3x3 Digital Puzzle Cube

YuXin 3x3 Digital Puzzle Cube

YuXin 3x3 Digital Puzzle Cube looks like a regular stickerless 3x3 cube, but every face has tiles numbered from 1 to 9. The tiles are held in place by magnets. You can solve this cube by colors, just like a classic 3x3, or also take care of the order of the numbers. That turns it into a much harder puzzle.

How it works

In the basic mode, you solve the cube by colors using familiar methods. Things get more interesting once you remove one numbered tile. This leaves an empty space on the face, and you can slide the remaining tiles around it, just like in a classic sliding puzzle (15-puzzle). Once the numbers are scrambled, you have to solve not only the colors but also the numbering on each face.

This requires a different way of thinking than a regular solve. Knowing 3x3 algorithms alone is not enough, because you also have to plan the order in which you slide the tiles. As a result, the cube doesn't get boring as quickly for people who can already solve a classic 3x3 without thinking.

For puzzling or for speedcubing?

This is first and foremost a puzzle for figuring things out, not a cube for timed practice. The movable tiles and the extra layer of rules are its main strength, but for the same reason it is not a model for breaking records or practicing TPS. For speedcubing practice, it's better to choose a typical magnetic 3x3 and treat the Digital Puzzle Cube as a variation and a curiosity in your collection.

Who is it for?

It's a great fit for someone who can already solve a 3x3 and wants a new challenge on a familiar mechanism. It's also a good gift idea for a child or teenager who enjoys logic puzzles and sliding puzzles. Complete beginners can solve it by colors like a regular cube and tackle the numbers later.

Specifications

• Type: 3x3 cube with movable numbered tiles
• Manufacturer: YuXin
• Numbers: 1 to 9 on each face, on magnetically attached tiles
• Solving modes: by colors, or by colors and numbers (after removing one tile)
• Size: 56 mm
• Weight: approx. 78 g
• Color version: stickerless bright