Z-Cube Golden Mahjong Cube magnetic

Z-Cube Golden Mahjong Cube magnetic 3x3

This 3x3 cube from Z-Cube doesn't use the classic colors. Instead, its faces feature symbols from mahjong tiles. The whole cube has a shiny gold surface, and you tell the faces apart by their patterns. Z-Cube Golden Mahjong Cube magnetic is the version with magnets in the edges and corners. Z-Cube also makes a non-magnetic version of the Golden Mahjong.

How it turns

The magnets help the layers settle into place. This makes turning more secure than on a regular non-magnetic cube, and layers stop halfway through a move less often. However, it's not a speed cube in today's sense. User reviews and shop ratings largely agree: the Golden Mahjong is stable but rather slow. It turns well enough for relaxed solving. It isn't designed for fast turning or timed practice.

Symbols instead of colors and center orientation

The faces differ by pattern, not by color. That's why even someone who knows the cube well has to look at it a little differently at first. On top of that, there's center orientation. With picture faces, the center piece also has to be turned the right way for the pattern to match. In practice, you'll need to learn an extra algorithm for rotating centers, which you don't need on a regular 3x3 cube. For many people, this is the most interesting part of this cube.

The symbols are UV-printed directly onto the plastic. So there are no stickers that could peel off or wear at the corners over time.

Who is it for?

The Golden Mahjong is a great fit if you can already solve a 3x3 cube and want a new challenge with center orientation. It's also a good choice for collectors and as a gift that looks great on a desk or shelf. For a first cube to learn on, a classic colored 3x3 is a better choice. Recognizing faces by symbols and rotating centers make getting started unnecessarily harder. Speedcubers will see it more as a break from practice than as a cube for timed solves.

Specifications

• Type: magnetic 3x3 cube with a mahjong theme
• Manufacturer: Z-Cube
• Size: approx. 56 mm
• Weight: approx. 77 g
• Magnets: in the edges and corners
• Finish: gold surface, UV-printed symbols
• Color: Golden