YuXin Little Magic Square-1

YuXin Little Magic Square-1

YuXin Little Magic Square-1 is the first Square-1 from YuXin. This non-magnetic version in stickerless bright colors is today, above all, an affordable way to get into Square-1. The puzzle turns lightly, is allowed in official competitions and is well suited for learning this puzzle without spending a lot of money on a flagship model.

Mechanism: two separate layers

The internals are very different from classic Square-1 puzzles. The mechanism has two separate layers. The inner one consists of two plastic hemispheres with a groove around the middle layer. They are separated by a plastic bearing and are not rigidly attached to the outer layers. Tension is set with a screw, and the adjustment mainly changes the resistance of the slice, while it affects the top and bottom layers only indirectly.

The puzzle is 55 mm wide and 57 mm tall, so it is a little taller than most Square-1 puzzles. As a result, the top and bottom layers are taller and easier to grip.

How it turns

The slice moves with almost no resistance, and the top and bottom layers turn lightly and smoothly right out of the box. Corner cutting is decent, but it is not this puzzle's strong point. In our comparison it sits between the X-Man Volt and the MoYu WeiLong Square-1. Imprecise turning can lead to catching. With no magnets, the puzzle does not help you align the layers, so it requires a bit more precision than magnetic models.

Who is it for?

As a first Square-1, for learning algorithms and for casual solving, this puzzle is more than enough. Kids can handle it without any trouble, too. If you want it to be easier to hit the slice, the magnetic version, Little Magic Square-1 M, will be a better choice. Speedcubers who train Square-1 seriously usually move on sooner or later to more expensive magnetic models with better corner cutting.

Specifications

• Type: Square-1, non-magnetic, stickerless
• Manufacturer: YuXin
• Dimensions: 55 x 55 x 57 mm
• Weight: approx. 80 g
• Adjustment: tension screw
• Release year: 2019
• WCA competition legal: yes

In the box you will find:

1. the puzzle
2. solving instructions