Finding the best speed cubes for beginners can be an overwhelming process. Here's our guide on choosing fast & cheap speed cubes for beginners!
Price
The best place to start is by identifying your budget.
Very few people enjoy wasting time and money which is why I rarely recommend budget cubes (sub $10 USD).
Now don't get me wrong, budget cubes have their purpose but I always refer to the old saying "You get what you pay for."
Budget cubes are able to be sold at a lower price because the manufacturer uses cheaper materials and often pumps out the production in mass quantity which contributes to poorly placed stickers, uneven tensions, exterior scratches and defects, bent screws, squeaky springs, and an overall less advanced design.
The lifespan of budget cubes is also unpredictable. They can last for hours, days, weeks, months, or years -- it is a complete gamble.
Of course we stand behind our products with our awesome return policy but if your budget allows, stepping up to a cube in the $20 is a going to save you a lot of potential headache and you get to enjoy a better speed cube!
Plastic color
If you aren't already familiar with the different plastic colors, read this article first.
Most speed cubes are available in either Stickerless or Black plastic but you can filter your search results by plastic color from our collection pages.
Remember, plastic color is completely a preference thing -- there is no right or wrong choice!
Magnets
I usually recommend magnetic speed cubes to any skill level because they are so much better than non-magnetic speed cubes.
A common situation that we see is a customer deciding whether to get a magnetic budget cube or a non-magnetic mid-grade or high-grade speed cube.
My recommendation mostly depends on how quickly you want to upgrade to your next speed cube.
A magnetic budget cube will be great in the short-term but a mid or high-grade non-magnetic speed cube will handle rough turning better and usually still out-performs the magnetic budget cube.
Lubrication
Lubrication is quite important in bringing out the best performance possible, especially in budget speed cubes, as many do not come factory lubricated, leading to a dry feel when solving and have issues such as noisy springs - with MoYu and its subbrand MoFang JaoShi in particular. When purchasing budget speed cubes, purchasing a bottle of lubricant is highly recommended - read more about choosing the best speed cube lubricant here.
Lubrication is included in our premium versions which we offer for numerous budget speed cube models - see below for more details.
Version
If you have some extra room in your budget, consider upgrading to one of our Premium versions. To learn more, you can refer to the product page or read this article.
Brand
Nowadays, most brands and manufacturers create high quality products in all sorts of price ranges. Some of these brands are known for their budget-oriented lines, such as MoFang Jiaoshi, a sub-brand of MoYu that are known for producing high value for money products, whilst others are companies such as GAN create extreme high-end products that a number of world class speed cubers endorse - with a high-end pricetag to match.
If you are looking for the "best" brands, the most popular that we carry currently are GAN, MoYu, QiYi, and YJ.
Conclusion
Still unsure? Feel free to contact our fast and friendly support and we can help point you in the right direction!
Ready to give it a go? Shop our selection of speed cubes by clicking here
Popular Budget Picks
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MoYu RS3 M 2021 3x3 Magnetic (MagLev) is an update of our best-selling 3x3 -- the RS3 M 2020. Tip: Improve stability and magnetic feel with our easy-to-install Magnet Upgrade Kit ($1.49) and Magnetic Core Conversion Kit ($9.95)! MagLev features Magnetic repulsion… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<MoYu RS3 M 2021 3x3 (Magnetic, MagLev)
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MoYu RS3 M 2020 3x3 (Magnetic) is arguably the best bang for your buck and is no surprise that it is our best-selling speed cube. Tip: Improve stability and magnetic feel with our easy-to-install Magnet Upgrade Kit ($1.49) and Magnetic Core Conversion… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<MoYu RS3 M 2020 3x3 (Magnetic)
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MoYu MeiLong 3x3 Magnetic has remained one of the most popular 3x3s since its release in 2020. Version comparison V1 V2 (Lite) V2 (Standard) V2 (UV Coated) Weight 69g 65g 65g 66g Exterior finish Frosted Frosted Frosted UV Coated Accessories Yes None… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<MoYu MeiLong 3x3 (Magnetic)
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GAN 11 Pro 3x3 Magnetic (Frosted) is GAN cube's 2020 flagship model and has continued to be the choice of many speedcubers since its release. The great thing about the GAN 11 M Pro is that it is great for… >> SHOP PRODUCT <<GAN 11 Pro 3x3 (Magnetic)
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