Rubik’s WOWCube adds complexity, possibility by reinventing the puzzle cube
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I think this could have some potential as long as apps are written for it and it functions well. One could write an app that does turn it into a 3x3x3 cube and assuming the touch sensitivity works right, you could make the twists look right even though it's physically a 2x2x2 cube. One could even make it provide instructions and provide help for those that need it. Like say you need to swap two corners, it could give you hints at sequences that could do so.
At $399 it will be a tough sell though when game systems are out there.
At $399 it will be a tough sell though when game systems are out there.
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Given the way an n*n cube works, you are only ever moving one layer, so it could be recreated in a 2*2 cube, if there's a way to push the internal layers incrementally to one side or another. I'm somewhat disappointed they didn't do that here.
Also, friends don't let friends buy the original Rubik's cube. They are overpriced and unpleasant to use. Go online and find a speedcube recommendation. For the same price or a little more, they are much, much better.
Edit: as per usual, ninja'd.
Also, friends don't let friends buy the original Rubik's cube. They are overpriced and unpleasant to use. Go online and find a speedcube recommendation. For the same price or a little more, they are much, much better.
Edit: as per usual, ninja'd.
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Is there a shared power bus, or does each corner go it alone? I.e. does the entire device run down all at once, or one corner at a time?
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How does this thing even charge? Wirelessly? The charging stand looks to have charging contacts but the thing is all screen, do they like...open up somehow?
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I think eight is wrong, as his eponymous toy is composed of 20 independent 'cubes' plus a central six in fixed formation.
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Everything Shall Be Shiny ! Bright ! Animated ! Connected ! Squirrel !
I guess people with small attention spans will never run out of things to marvel at, but not afford, after AI takes their jobs.
I guess people with small attention spans will never run out of things to marvel at, but not afford, after AI takes their jobs.
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The charging stand has a very thin, flat, upright piece of plastic that slides between the cubes to make contact on the inside. It is very finicky and not very reliable.
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I think I will just buy Nintendo Switch 2 and GaN 251 M Pro 2x2 cube for roughly the same price.
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Based on the features, the cost and the whole point to the original Rubik's Cube, that "possibly" is lifting a LOT of weight.
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Any physical device that relies on an app is just e-waste in the making. Especially if it's for a product that doesn't have a continuous revenue stream.
Also, that price is just absurd. It would be overpriced at $100, but $400 is laughable.
Also, that price is just absurd. It would be overpriced at $100, but $400 is laughable.
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Considering the internals, this is actually not a crazy price for what you get. 8xESP-32 boards, 24x1" square IPS screens, and 8x450mAh batteries, including the custom enclosure and the cube-to-cube interconnects, microphones, speakers, whatever circuits are necessary to facilitate communication and power delivery between the units, and a few accelerometers...the BOM alone is probably close to $300 just for the off-the-shelf parts, and who knows how much the custom materials run.
Might be a fun project to hack. 8 ESP32-S3s could be turned into a tiny cluster using something like Broccoli. Hell, if the individual boards have their USBs intact, you might be able to do some weird things with this form factor.
Might be a fun project to hack. 8 ESP32-S3s could be turned into a tiny cluster using something like Broccoli. Hell, if the individual boards have their USBs intact, you might be able to do some weird things with this form factor.
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Dupe? https://meincmagazine.com/culture/202...s-a-multi-game-multi-screened-gadget-for-299/
Rubik’s Cube gets a $299 update, complete with IPS screens and its own apps
The Rubik’s WOWCube is a 2×2 cube with modern twists.
SCHARON HARDING – OCT 9, 2025 11:10 AM
"New-age Rubik’s Cube" section header appears in both so if that's 100% organic Scharon H is consistent.
Rubik’s Cube gets a $299 update, complete with IPS screens and its own apps
The Rubik’s WOWCube is a 2×2 cube with modern twists.
SCHARON HARDING – OCT 9, 2025 11:10 AM
"New-age Rubik’s Cube" section header appears in both so if that's 100% organic Scharon H is consistent.
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As a Rubik's cube connoisseur and a tech enthusiast, this product is aimed squarely at me, but the fact that they charge extra for the games for it is insane when it is already $400 USD. If this was a 3x3x3, I might be willing to justify it, but with the jank mentioned here... no.
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Dupe. Good catch. It's weird that Scharon Harding wrote both articles, which are quite different, even the price is now quoted as $399 ("as of this writing") instead of $299, 4 and a half months apart without the latter referencing the former at all. Maybe indicating some promotion going on?
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Each cube is entirely independent
It's a very interesting design concept, and I'm glad it exists, but I also understand why it probably won't for very long
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Good question, as I'd think "Rubik's Cube" would still be trademarked and close enough to the name "Rubik's WOWCube" for a device close enough to the original toy that it would be infringing. In Scharon Harding's (oddly not mentioned in this article) 10/9/25 article about the same toy she said of the WOWCube:
Ernő Rubik licensed the Rubik's Cube with that name to Ideal Toys in 1980, after patenting it in 1975 in Hungary. The patent(s) expired in 2000, but the trademarks haven't expired. Canadian toy giant Spin Master bought Rubik's Brand Ltd (and the trademarks) for $50M (USD) in 2021. I assume that purchase was authorized by Rubik himself, who was Board Chairman of Rubik's Brand. He said at the time of that purchase that 'he's excited that Spin Master will "fulfil my vision of nurturing smarter, future generations through play."' However, I see no evidence he had any say in the production or branding of this WOWCube.
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"For people who are awful at the original Rubik’s Cube"
My understanding is that the average person can learns to solve a Rubik's Cube if they dedicate a weekend.
My understanding is that the average person can learns to solve a Rubik's Cube if they dedicate a weekend.
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I agree that it’s weird that this article doesn’t mention her prior one, but the first one was discussing the product announcement (with the actual device planning to be available for “Christmas 2025”) while this article is an actual review, so it makes at least some sense to have two articles.
Price hike is a bummer, and I can’t really tie it to normal computer components going through the roof thanks to AI hype either…
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Could do a whole new take on IBM’s torus interconnect for blue gene machines
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I seriously just had this conversation with a coworker. I have the 3, 4, and 5 speed cubes on my desk. He was amazed at how much easier they are to manipulate. I'd upvote this post twice if I could.
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Especially after the service shuts down and it's bricked, which was probably your point
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I'd even call it tone deaf. The original was near perfect because it challenged people and it was an inexpensive puzzle toy anyone could pick up and play around with. Even kids that may have had barely enough to eat could usually find one in a second hand shop of the day if they were inclined (ask me how I know). THIS toy is for people with $400 + tax of entirely disposable income. It doesn't do anything else and it's not even good at what it's supposed to do according to the article. If any product reflected just what's wrong with technophiles and people with too much income versus social responsibility, this is probably the poster product along with $2000 smart phones in gem encrusted cases when a < $200 phone can push 99% of people's personal computing these days.
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If a millenial cannot ask their AI agent to play and solve the cube FOR them, it is doomed, a “legacy toy.” /s
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An app requiring the user to click Allow on the "Allow App to Track Activity" dialogue in order to use core functionality is against the rules for App Developers, you can report them to Apple and get them kicked off the app store until they fix that. And you should.
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