The Evolution of Magnets in Speedcubes
Magnets have become one of the most important developments in modern speedcubing. Almost every new flagship speedcube now includes at least one magnetic system, while many premium puzzles combine several different types of magnets to improve stability, alignment and turning performance.
However, magnetic cubes have only been widely available for around a decade. During that relatively short period, the technology has progressed from cubers manually gluing magnets into their own puzzles to modern cubes containing well over 100 carefully positioned magnets.
In this article, we will look at how magnets became standard in speedcubes, the different magnetic structures manufacturers have developed and how these systems affect the way a cube turns.
The Beginning of Magnetic Speedcubes
Although cubers had experimented with magnetic puzzles before, the idea was popularised by Chris Tran in 2016. At the time, cube manufacturers did not produce factory-magnetised speedcubes, so anyone who wanted a magnetic cube had to install the magnets themselves.
This usually involved opening the corner and edge pieces, carefully positioning small neodymium magnets inside them and fixing the magnets in place with glue. The polarity of every magnet had to be checked, as a single incorrectly positioned magnet could repel the neighbouring piece instead of attracting it.
The benefits quickly became clear. Magnets helped the layers align at the end of each turn, making cubes more stable and predictable without preventing fast turning. This was especially useful on the increasingly fast and flexible speedcubes being released at the time.
Within two or three years, factory-installed magnets had gone from being an unusual premium feature to becoming standard in almost every new speedcube.
Corner-Edge Magnets: The Original Standard
The original and still most common magnetic structure is the traditional corner-edge magnetic system.
On a standard 3×3, this normally uses 48 magnets. Each of the eight corners contains three magnets, while each of the 12 edges contains two. The magnets inside the corners attract the corresponding magnets inside the edges as a layer approaches alignment.
This magnetic pull provides several benefits:
- Improved layer alignment
- Greater stability during fast turning
- More consistent corner cutting
- Clearer feedback at the end of each move
- Fewer accidental layer movements
For several years, this was the only magnetic structure commonly found in speedcubes. Even today, most magnetic cubes still use corner-edge magnets as the foundation of their magnetic system.
A relatively affordable cube may only have standard corner-edge magnets, while a more expensive version of the same design may combine these magnets with a ball core, MagLev or additional magnetic tracks.
For example, the basic MoYu RS3M V5 Standard uses a conventional corner-edge magnetic system, while many premium modern 3×3s add several other sets of magnets.
Adjustable Corner-Edge Magnets
Once magnets became standard, manufacturers began developing systems that allowed cubers to adjust their strength.
Some cubes use interchangeable magnetic capsules, while others include rotating adjustment dials inside the corner or edge pieces. These systems alter the position or orientation of the magnets, changing the amount of attraction between the pieces.
Stronger magnets generally make a cube feel more stable and provide more noticeable alignment at the end of each turn. Weaker magnets allow the puzzle to feel lighter and more flexible, but may offer less control during aggressive turning.
Adjustable magnets are particularly useful because two cubes with identical piece designs can feel very different depending on their magnet strength.
Edge-Centre Magnets and the Valk Elite
In 2019, QiYi released the Valk Elite, one of the first major attempts to add an additional magnetic track to a 3×3.
Alongside its normal corner-edge magnets, the Valk Elite included magnets between the edges and centres. QiYi achieved this using interchangeable centre caps containing different magnetic strengths.
The cube came with three sets of centre caps:
- Centre caps without magnets
- Centre caps with weak magnets
- Centre caps with strong magnets
This allowed the cuber to change the edge-centre magnetic strength simply by replacing the centre caps.
The additional magnets were designed to improve stability and encourage the edges to align with the centres. It was an interesting system, but changing all six centre caps was less convenient than using a built-in adjustment dial.
A similar idea later appeared in the MSCUBE MS3 V1, which was also sold under the DianSheng name. However, its magnets were positioned lower inside the puzzle. Magnets near the bottom of the centre pieces attracted magnets positioned in the feet of the edges.
Edge-centre magnets did not become a standard feature at the time, with most manufacturers instead focusing on corner-core and ball-core technology. However, the concept has not disappeared completely. A variation of the edge-to-core or edge-to-centre idea has appeared again in more recent puzzles, including the GAN 16 MagLev Max UV.
The Introduction of Corner-Core Magnets
One of the most significant developments in magnetic cube technology arrived in 2020 with the release of the GAN 11 M Pro.
This was the first widely available mass-produced 3×3 to feature corner-core magnets.
Traditional corner-edge magnets only affect the relationship between neighbouring pieces. Corner-core magnets instead connect each corner to the central core of the puzzle.
GAN's system used magnetic rods extending out from the core. Magnets inside the bottom of each corner were attracted to magnets mounted at the ends of these rods.
This provided a much more centralised form of magnetic positioning. Rather than only helping individual layers align, corner-core magnets pulled the corners towards the core and improved the stability of the entire cube.
The result was stronger automatic alignment, better control and a more consistent feel across different types of turns.
GAN's Core-Rod Structure
GAN continued using and developing its core-rod system across several generations of flagship cubes.
The structure appeared in products including the GAN 11, GAN 12, GAN 13, GAN 14 and GAN 15. Newer versions improved the adjustment system, reduced weight and altered the shape and positioning of the magnetic components.
However, the exposed rod structure has a potential disadvantage. Because the rods extend from the core towards the corners, manufacturing imperfections or loose settings can allow the bottom of a corner piece to scrape against them.
This does not affect every cube, but it creates an additional point of possible contact inside the puzzle.
GAN's latest flagship designs have continued to develop much more complex magnetic arrangements. The GAN 16 MagLev Max UV, for example, combines multiple magnetic systems with MagLev and extensive adjustment options.
There is also a GAN 16 MagLev UV with a slightly simplified magnetic structure, as well as a larger 57mm GAN 16 MagLev Max UV.
The Development of the Ball Core
While GAN initially used exposed magnetic rods, most other manufacturers adopted what is now known as a ball core.
In a ball-core design, the corner-core magnets are enclosed inside a spherical plastic structure surrounding the central core. Magnets inside the feet of the corners are attracted to magnets positioned around this ball.
The operating principle is similar to GAN's original corner-core system, but the magnetic components are enclosed within the spherical structure.
This design offers several advantages:
- Fewer exposed internal components
- Reduced risk of corners scraping against core rods
- Good structural strength
- Consistent magnet positioning
- Strong corner-to-core alignment
The ball core has become one of the defining features of modern flagship speedcubes.
An example is the X-Man Tornado V5 Flagship UV, which uses an 8-magnet ball core alongside its normal piece magnets.
What Is an 8-Magnet Ball Core?
A standard 8-magnet ball core contains one magnet corresponding to each of the cube's eight corners.
Each core magnet attracts a magnet positioned inside the foot of the corresponding corner. This helps keep the cube centred while also pulling layers towards their solved positions.
Compared with a cube containing only corner-edge magnets, an 8-magnet ball core will usually provide:
- Stronger automatic alignment
- Greater overall stability
- A more connected turning feel
- Better control during fast algorithms
- More consistent performance during slice moves
The strength of the effect depends on the distance between the magnets, their size and whether the magnetic strength is adjustable.
Corner-Edge Feet Magnets
Another less common magnetic structure places additional magnets between the feet of the corners and edges.
This idea appeared on a small number of 3×3s, including the MSCUBE or DianSheng MS3R, but it never became a particularly common feature on standard 3×3 speedcubes.
However, the structure has become far more important on modern big cubes.
Large cubes present a particular magnetic challenge. The outer layers contain corners and edges, but the inner layers contain different types of centre and wing pieces. A basic magnetic system may therefore create inconsistent magnetic strength between the outer and inner layers.
Additional magnets in the feet of the pieces can help provide a second or third magnetic track deeper inside the puzzle. This improves stability and makes the magnetic feel more consistent across multiple layers.
Triple-Track Magnets on Big Cubes
MoYu has used this idea extensively in its recent flagship big-cube range.
The Triple-Track versions of the MoYu AoSu V7 4×4, MoYu AoChuang V6 5×5 and MoYu AoShi V4 6×6 combine several magnetic structures.
Depending on the puzzle, these may include:
- Standard corner-edge or outer-piece magnets
- Corner-core magnets
- Additional magnets in the feet of inner pieces
The MoYu AoSu V7 Triple-Track, for example, contains its normal piece magnets, 16 corner-core magnets and 48 additional inner-piece foot magnets.
The MoYu AoChuang V6 Triple-Track uses a similar approach on a 5×5, while the MoYu AoShi V4 Triple-Track extends the concept to a 6×6.
These additional magnetic tracks are especially useful on big cubes because they help control the increased number of pieces and reduce instability during rapid inner-layer turning.
Single-Track, Dual-Track and Triple-Track Cubes
Several modern big cubes are available in different versions based on the number of magnetic tracks they contain.
A Single-Track version generally contains the standard magnets between neighbouring pieces. These versions are normally the lightest and least expensive.
A Dual-Track version adds another magnetic system, usually corner-core magnets. This improves stability and gives the outer layers stronger automatic alignment.
A Triple-Track version adds a further set of magnets deeper inside the puzzle, often between the feet of inner pieces. These are normally the most stable and most expensive versions.
For example, the MoYu AoSu V7 range includes:
- MoYu AoSu V7 Single-Track Magnetic
- MoYu AoSu V7 Dual-Track Magnetic UV
- MoYu AoSu V7 Triple-Track Magnetic UV
The best version is not necessarily the one with the most magnets. Some cubers prefer the lighter and more flexible feel of a Single-Track model, while others value the additional control of a Triple-Track puzzle.
The GAN 460 V2 and GAN 562
GAN has also introduced more complex magnetic structures to its modern big cubes.
Puzzles such as the GAN 460 V2 and GAN 562 use additional magnetic tracks to improve alignment and compensate for the greater instability found in larger puzzles.
Big cubes need to remain stable without becoming excessively heavy or difficult to turn. Carefully positioned magnets allow manufacturers to use lighter pieces and more flexible designs while still maintaining control.
This has contributed to a major improvement in big-cube performance. Modern magnetic 5×5s and 6×6s can feel significantly faster and more stable than older puzzles, despite containing many more moving pieces than a 3×3.
The Introduction of 20-Magnet Ball Cores
Manufacturers have recently expanded the original 8-magnet ball-core design by adding more magnets around the core.
These systems are commonly marketed as 20-magnet ball cores.
The name normally refers to eight magnets that interact with the corners, together with 12 additional magnets associated with the edges. However, the precise structure can vary between manufacturers.
Some cubes have magnets positioned at the bottom of the edges, while others create an edge-core effect without placing a conventional magnet directly inside the edge foot.
The additional magnets do not always attract the pieces. In many designs, they use the opposite polarity and create a repelling force during part of the turn.
How Repelling Magnets Affect Turning
Traditional cube magnets pull a layer towards alignment as it approaches the end of a turn.
Repelling magnets behave differently. They can create resistance around the halfway point of a turn, particularly near 45 degrees. Once the layer passes this point, the combination of repulsion and attraction helps push the turn towards completion.
This can make the cube feel as though it actively assists each move.
The intended benefits include:
- Faster movement through the middle of a turn
- Stronger automatic alignment
- More decisive layer movement
- Reduced chance of stopping halfway through a turn
- A more responsive feel at high turning speeds
However, strong repelling magnets can also make a cube feel more aggressive. Cubers who prefer a calm, controllable or flexible puzzle may prefer a conventional 8-magnet ball core.
The Tornado V5 Flagship and Pioneer
The X-Man Tornado V5 range provides a clear example of how manufacturers now offer different magnetic systems within the same basic cube design.
The X-Man Tornado V5 Flagship UV combines standard piece magnets with an 8-magnet ball core and traditional spring compression.
This version is designed to provide a balanced and controllable feel, with the ball core improving stability without making the cube excessively aggressive.
The X-Man Tornado V5 Pioneer UV adds a 20-magnet ball core and replaces the springs with MagLev.
The Pioneer therefore feels faster and provides stronger automatic alignment, while the Flagship offers a slightly lighter and more controlled experience.
| Version | Core | Compression | General Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado V5 Flagship UV | 8-Magnet Ball Core | Springs | Balanced and controllable |
| Tornado V5 Pioneer UV | 20-Magnet Ball Core | MagLev | Faster and more aggressive |
Ball-Core Magnets and MagLev Are Not the Same Thing
Ball-core magnets are sometimes confused with MagLev, but the two systems perform completely different jobs.
A ball core places magnets between the core and pieces to improve alignment and stability.
MagLev replaces the traditional springs underneath the centre pieces with two repelling ring magnets. These magnets provide compression while reducing the friction and spring noise associated with a conventional tensioning system.
A cube can therefore have:
- Corner-edge magnets without a ball core or MagLev
- A ball core with traditional springs
- MagLev without a ball core
- Both a ball core and MagLev
The Tornado V5 Flagship has a ball core but uses springs, while the Tornado V5 Pioneer combines its ball core with MagLev.
Why Do Manufacturers Release Several Versions?
Many cube manufacturers now release several versions of the same puzzle. The basic piece design may be identical, but each version includes a different combination of magnetic and adjustment systems.
A typical range might include:
- A basic magnetic version with corner-edge magnets
- A UV-coated version
- A ball-core version
- A MagLev ball-core version
- A version with additional repelling magnets
This allows manufacturers to sell the same underlying design at several price points while also giving cubers a genuine choice between different turning characteristics.
More magnets do not automatically make a cube better. Additional magnetic systems normally increase stability and automatic alignment, but they can also increase weight, complexity and price.
A cuber with very accurate turning may prefer a lighter magnetic structure, while someone with a more aggressive turning style may benefit from stronger magnetic assistance.
Which Magnetic System Is Best?
There is no single magnetic structure that is best for every speedcuber.
For most people, a cube combining conventional corner-edge magnets with an 8-magnet ball core provides an excellent balance of speed, control and stability.
A 20-magnet ball core may be better for cubers who want stronger automatic alignment and a more active, responsive feel. However, some people may find this type of system too aggressive.
On big cubes, Dual-Track and Triple-Track systems can provide a substantial improvement in stability. This is especially useful during inner-layer turns, where traditional outer-piece magnets have less influence.
Your preferred magnet system will ultimately depend on:
- Your turning accuracy
- How quickly and aggressively you turn
- Whether you prefer flexibility or stability
- Your preferred cube weight
- How much automatic alignment you want
- Your budget
The Future of Magnetic Speedcubes
Magnetic speedcube technology has progressed remarkably quickly.
In 2016, cubers were opening pieces and gluing in their own magnets. Today, premium cubes can contain corner-edge magnets, adjustable magnets, corner-core magnets, edge-core magnets, repelling magnets, multiple magnetic tracks and MagLev compression within a single puzzle.
Manufacturers are now experimenting not only with the number of magnets, but also with their polarity, position, angle and distance from neighbouring components.
Future cubes are likely to offer even more precise control over these systems. We may see independently adjustable magnetic tracks, lighter magnetic components and further combinations of attracting and repelling magnets.
Ultimately, the purpose of every system is the same: to make a speedcube faster, more stable and more predictable without taking control away from the solver.
Whether you prefer a simple magnetic cube or a flagship containing several advanced magnetic systems, there has never been a wider selection available.
