The cube is robust, and I did not have any problems with the puzzle popping or tiles falling off. the cube is a little stiff, but still manageable to turn. The solve is difficult at first, but not impossible for you to figure out without algorithms. The puzzle does tend to be painful to hold after a long time of solving, due to the combination of pieces jutting out awkwardly and the amount of force necessary to turn it. other than that, this is the perfect amount of difficulty and intuitiveness to get your gears turning.