While the Rubik’s WowCube might be the most exciting model on the horizon, cubers looking for another interesting take on the classic puzzle should check out the Pulse Cube. An official Rubik’s brand product, the Pulse Cube is a light-up variant that gives you 60 seconds to fully solve all six sides. Once the minute is up, the cube returns to its plain reflective state, and you’ll need to start again. The Rubik’s Pulse Cube launched this week and is in stock at Amazon for $20 (was $21).
$20 (was $21)
When you first pick up the cube, all you’ll notice is a mirrored finish on its sides. However, press its center button, and the sides will light up in all the usual Rubik’s colors. You’ve then got 60 seconds to unscramble the puzzle before the lights go off again. Extra time can be added by pressing the logo again. As the timer ticks closer to zero, the cube will begin to rapidly flash.
The cube is intended to help high-level solvers get ready for competition. Once the cube has been scrambled, it’ll be impossible to see the orientation of the cube until you press the button and its lights start to glow. That added element of surprise means you’ll have to be on your toes and quickly adapt to whatever the cube throws at you.
You really have to see the cube in action to appreciate how cool (and challenging) it is, so be sure to check out the video below if you’re interested in adding the Pulse to your collection:
The Pulse Cube isn’t the first challenging version of the 3 x 3 puzzle from Rubik’s brand. The Rubik’s Impossible Cube has iridescent colors that make the tiles appear as different colors depending on the angle you view them from. It’s available for $17.50 (was $20) at Amazon. The Rubik’s Phantom Cube is even trickier. Similar to the Pulse Cube, the Phantom starts as a blank slate, only this time all of the tiles are black. Heat from your fingers temporarily reveals tile colors, so you need to work quickly to slot tiles in the correct spots before the colors fade to black. The Rubik’s Phantom Cube is on sale for only $9.49 (was $17) at Amazon.
Rubik’s challenge cubes like the Pulse, Phantom, and Impossible are really only for puzzle enthusiasts who already know how to solve a cube. If you don’t know how to solve a Rubik’s Cube, we’d recommend the Rubik’s Cube ConnectedX for $20. This smart cube syncs to an app on your smartphone and will walk you through your first solve. The app also has various minigames, online leaderboards, and challenges.
Rubik’s Cubes at Amazon
Rubik’s Cuber Figures
Rubik’s has also partnered with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Disney, and more entertainment giants to create a series of figures called Rubik’s Cubers. Each figure has a standard Rubik’s Cube for a head, a small body, and a display stand. Just keep in mind that solving character and art cubes such as these can be much more challenging than a regular cube. If you don’t know how to solve a cube yet, we wouldn’t recommend scrambling the cube–unless you want Batman to look really weird, of course.
The aforementioned $20 Rubik’s Cube ConnectedX is a budget-friendly way to learn how to solve the cube, but we’d also like to shout out the GoCube Edge Smart Cube. On sale for only $45 (was $85), the GoCube Edge is a higher-quality magnetic speed cube with a better app and precise positional tracking.
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