Yuxin Mini Tiger 2x2x2

Yuxin Mini Tiger 2x2x2

Underneath the tiger shape is a regular 2x2x2 mechanism. The Yuxin Mini Tiger 2x2x2 is a collectible puzzle from YuXin's series of animal shape mods and a smaller version of the larger Tiger 2x2. It measures about 47 mm, so it fits in your hand and doesn't take up much space on your desk or collection shelf.

How to solve it

You solve the Mini Tiger the same way as a standard 2x2 cube. Any 2x2 method will do, so there's nothing new to learn. What changes is the goal: instead of single-colored faces, you restore the look of the figure, because the colors of the pieces form the different parts of the tiger. Once scrambled, the puzzle loses its animal shape and turns into an irregular figure. That's exactly what makes puzzles like this so much fun.

The turning is smooth, and the mechanism handles slight corner cutting, so a slightly inaccurate move usually doesn't end in a lockup. However, this is not a speedcube. The irregular shape doesn't make fingertricks easy, and the puzzle is not allowed in official competitions. For timed practice, a classic 2x2 cube is a better choice.

Tension adjustment

The mechanism has adjustment screws you can use to change the tension if the cube feels too loose or too tight.

Mini Tiger or big Tiger?

Both models share the same idea, but they differ a lot in size. The big YuXin Tiger 2x2 measures about 11 × 10.5 × 13 cm and weighs about 160 g, so it's clearly a figure meant for display. The Mini version is several times lighter and is close in size to a small 2x2 cube.

Who is it for?

For shape mod collectors and for anyone who can solve a 2x2 and wants something different from yet another cube. It also makes a good gift for a child who is just getting started with puzzles. Just keep in mind that the shape itself doesn't hint at how to solve it: you need to know a 2x2 method.

Specifications

• Type: 2x2x2 puzzle, tiger-shaped shape mod
• Manufacturer: YuXin
• Manufacturer code: YX622
• Size: approx. 47 mm (height approx. 58 mm)
• Weight: approx. 35 g
• Tension adjustment: adjustment screws
• Release year: 2018
• Allowed in official competitions: no
• In the box: puzzle