Rubik's Cube

by Winning Moves

• "43 Quintillion" possible moves and only "ONE" solution!
• As a special added bonus, a Free Rubik's Cube stand is included
• This completely redesigned gift package is a sure-fire, must-have collectable!
• Twist and turn the Cube® using various combinations to return it to its original state...every side finally having one solid color!
• A stimulating challenging puzzle! Rubik's Cube is the world's popular 3-D puzzle phenomenon!

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 5 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00081RYNC
• Item model number: 5025
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #1 in Toys & Games > Puzzles > Brain Teasers > Puzzle Boxes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (209 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com

The date is 1974. The place is Budapest, Hungary. Erno Rubik, an admirer of geometry and 3-D forms creates the world's most perfect -- and addictive -- puzzle. More than three decades later the Rubik's cube is still one of the best selling brainteasers. Whether it was full size or the smaller keychain version almost every child had this puzzle by in 1980 when it found worldwide success. Elementary school kids were seen solving it with their feet on "That's Incredible!", conspiracy theorists believed it was an Eastern bloc tactic to distract American youth from getting an education, and Cubaholics Anonymous was formally established to help cure the compulsive need to solve it.

Each side is just over 2", while each sticker is about ½" square.

For all of the hullabaloo, the Rubik’s Cube actually has a pretty straightforward premise. The faces of the cube are covered by nine stickers in six solid colors (one for each 2.25" side); when the puzzle is solved, each face is one solid color. Then you realize as you turn the rows and columns and see all the colors flash by that there are 43 quintillion possible pattern combinations (that’s 43 million millions), but just one right one. Maybe Cubaholics Anonymous wasn’t such a bad idea after all….

This Rubik’s Cube has reflective red, white, blue, yellow, green, and orange colored stickers with an official twenty-fifth anniversary sticker in the center white square. The cube is packaged in a clear hexagon box and includes a black display stand. There is also a solutions hint and game suggestion book, just in case.

Product Description

With "43 quintillion" possible moves and only 1 solution, the Rubik's Cube has been challenging puzzle fans for a quarter century. This 25th anniversary edition cube is just like the classic toy, with an official anniversary sticker in the center white square and a bonus display stand. Ages 8 years and up. Imported. 3Hx3Wx3L".

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 118 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing substitute from the Original October 26, 2006

By Edward Y. Wong

Out of the box, the cube is stiff, cannot be really speeded very well, and I assume it's going to go downhill from here. Doesn't have the feel, crispness, and mechanical snap of the original by Ideal. Why is it so difficult to duplicate the original? Well for us addicts what are we going to do?

270 of 295 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Deserves ZERO Stars... July 14, 2006

By Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

I've gotten better quality Rubik's cubes for free from IT conventions. Shame on Rubik's for endorsing such a horrible piece of crap. Just feeling the cube (even if you haven't touched one for 20 years) you'll realize how cheap/light this thing actually is. After repeated use, the stickers begin to curl up. With even more use, the cubes begin to loosen up & eventually break away. I guess they realized that the older cubes were too well made & defied the rules for the standards of economics.

You've been forewarned...

89 of 96 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars bought two, both crappy August 31, 2006

By J. Chau

I'm just a beginner, and even I can feel how stiff and narrow this thing is when you try to rotate a face. I could be doing it wrong, but the cube gets all crooked when I spin a face quickly. You have to align the cube just right to get this darn thing to turn, otherwise, it'll get stuck in position. Even forcing it will make the cube feel like the corner piece will break off. I tried using spray, but it did not make a difference. Works sort of okay for beginners like me, but totally not recommended for speed cubers.

146 of 166 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Peice of Garbage July 18, 2006

By B. Carlson

I recently bought each of my boys one of these Rubic's cubes. What a mistake. After only a few hours of use the stickers started coming off the squares and they looked terrible. It is amazing that a company could let such garbage out the door. I would look for another brand if you really want one of these time wasters.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not built to last. June 17, 2007

By John M. Fritsche

Durability: 1.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

My mother bought a rubik's cube back when it first came out. She still has it, and, despite being older than I am, it is still intact. It's a little bit stiff, but that is to be expected for a toy over 25 years old. THAT is how well these things used to be made.

This one, however. is a piece of junk. If you're a beginner to rubik's cubes, you'll probably have no problems with it (and, in all likelihood, you'll give up long before the thing starts to show signs of wear) because you'll be doing slow moves. However, if you're more experienced (and thus making much faster and vigorous moves/turns), then the stickers will come off very quickly. I have also experienced the internal mechanism becoming too loose and having the external cubes pop off.

I've owned about five of these because they're the only brand I can find locally, and they've all worn out pretty quickly.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars the stickers suck May 16, 2007

By S. PHAN

Durability: 1.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

I love the rubik but the stickers they have suck. it's not the old school stickers, this rubik is made up of 3 layers. a white base layer, then the color layer (which seems like it's painted on) and then a thin clear sticker. after a week of use, the thin clear sticker starting peeling and after that the color layer just rubs off. I hope they redesign how they put the colors on this b/c it' worthless if you can't tell what color the sides are.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars The cubes from Asia are WAY Better (lighter, faster, smoother) April 11, 2007

By Mark Twain

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 1.0 out of 5 stars   

If you're new to cubing and want to buy a really good Rubiks cube, read this! I've read through all of these reviews, and anyone who rated this Rubiks Cube at 4-5 stars seems to be a novice and does not know a thing about Rubiks cubes (FYI, a heavier cube is not a good thing, you want them to be light and spin fast). I'm getting ahead of myself - Allow me to enlighten you;

I bought a few of these cubes 4 years ago when I was a beginner. I thought they were really cheap, like $8 at the time. It wasn't a great cube but I had no complaints then (what did I know anyway?), although turning a face felt like trying to open a tightly sealed jar. I also never knew what 'finger tricks' were, as they were virtually impossible without finger/forearms of steel. This cube was just heavy, hard to turn, and locked up a lot. I simply didn't know any better.

Then last year I took a trip to Asia and discovered their "Magic cubes" ("Magic" is the literal translation in Chinese). Are they the original Rubiks cube? No, but who cares? They are practical neither is this brand. They typically come in colors of white (instead of black) and are extremely smooth, fast, and have corner cutting abilities of 20-45 degrees. They are the "professional" cubes that speed cubers use. Thus, I have been collecting these various Magic cubes for about a year now, purchasing them online (eBay, and a few great vendors and great chinese-based websites!). They range from $4-12 with free shipping from China. And it is not a scam, believe me. If you want to buy a Rubiks cube Google the "F II cube" or "Alpha V cube" (those are just a few names of cubes) and you'll see what I'm talking about.

I wish I had known all of this even when I was a beginner....

So if you're going to buy a Rubiks cube, please do yourself a favor and avoid these American cubes. I typically don't gun for Chinese products, but this is the one time you'll be happy you bought from China instead of the US. For starters, google "shengen F II cube" or "Haiyan Alpha V cube" or "Dayan Guhong cube." Just trying to help everyone out. Thanks for reading! Read more ›

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Junk January 2, 2007

By S.

Just like every Rubik's cube I've ever had, this one is a piece of junk. The folks at Rubik's have always made a substandard product. I had one of the knock-off brand cubes as a kid and it seemed to be much sturdier. Common problems with Rubiks' products...1) stickers fall off, and 2) the whole thing becomes loose and sub-cubes start to fall off the main cube. It's junk.