Eastsheen vs Rubik’s Cubes

I’ve been “into” Rubik’s cubes for a while. A few years back, I made the foolish mistake of thinking the brand named Rubik’s cubes (or as cubers would call them; storebought cubes) were the best I could find. And that is true to a certain extent. Just a month ago, I received an Eastsheen cube from DealExtreme (4x4x4) (5x5x5), and at the same time, I borrowed another one from my neighbour.

If you are reading this, hopefully you already know how to complete a 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube, because I’m more or less focusing on the larger cubes (don’t worry, I’m just waiting for some new 3x3x3 cubes to come in the mail before giving some tips on which ones to buy). The Rubik’s Revenge (4x4x4) and the Professor Cube (5x5x5) are both available from Rubik’s and from Eastsheen. The difference is that the Rubik’s versions cost almost double in price. So foolishly enough, I took the dive, and bought both cubes at an incredibly ridiculous price on eBay.

It took me a few months to get my mind past the Rubik’s Revenge, but I never had time for the Professor Cube. As a result, I have a well worn Rubik’s Revenge cube, but a brand new Professor Cube. Now the real question is, can you trust the Eastsheen cubes from places such as DealExtreme? Well to be fair, they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Frankly, I wish I had bought the Eastsheen cubes and saved myself a bundle of cash instead.

The Eastsheen cubes are smaller and lighter. I think it is much easier to hold and grasp. The Rubik’s brand seems to weigh a ton and almost tire you out. They are only marginally larger than the Rubik’s 3x3x3 cube and a brand new Eastsheen is extremely smooth. If you’ve ever noticed that in some Youtube videos, the cubes almost glide across their spin, well the Eastsheen is exactly like that. You can really tap one side, and it’ll move accordingly. And remember, this is out of the box, without lubrication or anything. On the other hand, the Eastsheen cube feels a bit loose, which to me suggests that it is fragile. If you treat it badly, I think some of the pieces would chip pretty easily. It also locks up a lot. Meaning that if you don’t allign the cubes very accurately, it might stop and force you to go back a step to fix it.

On the other hand, the Rubik’s brand cubes are heavy, large, but are extremely durable. I think you could throw it out a window and it’ll be fine. The Rubik’s cubes are also EXTREMELY stiff when they are new. You turn it and turn it, but it is just extremely stiff. It is only after heavy use, and perhaps with the help of lubrication, when it loosens up. This is where the Rubik’s brand cubes are nice. They don’t have the slickness of an Eastsheen cube, however, you have really smooth and controlled spins. It is no longer stiff, and it doesn’t lock up as easily as the Easthseen cube. The difference between a worn cube and a new cube are incredible. I recently decided to pick up my Professor Cube again, and it actually took effort to turn, but the Rubik’s Revenge I had turned with a twist of the hand. The cubes are a bit heavier than the Eastsheens, again helping out with complete control of the cube and it generally feels really nice. The longer you use it, the better it becomes.

So what does this mean? If you were like me, and you only wanted a cube from a few quick solves to test yourself, or maybe just want to have one to play around with, then go with the Eastsheen cubes. They are cheaper, they are better out of the box, and you won’t be disappointed. However, if you plan to play the cube all day and night, and learn to solve it the fastest possible way, then the Rubik’s cubes may be better for you. You will definitely have to get over the fact that the cubes are absolutely horrible out of the box, and sort of work your way past that.