Is there an official Rubik‘s Cube?
Yes, the original Rubik‘s Cube invented in 1974 and produced by Seven Towns is considered the official and authentic Rubik‘s Cube. Modern speed cubes may perform better, but cannot match the classic status of the iconic original.
The Rubik‘s Cube is one of the most popular toys ever created. Since it took the world by storm in the 1980s, people have been fascinated by the simple yet endlessly complex puzzle. Let‘s examine the history and evolution of the "Magic Cube" to see why it has endured across generations.
Origins of the Rubik‘s Cube
In 1974, Hungarian professor of architecture Ernő Rubik first built his prototype "Magic Cube" out of wood. An inventor at heart, Rubik was not satisfied with the existing toy puzzles at the time, stating:
"It was nice, but too simple. I wanted to see if I could make it more challenging, more complicated. My goals was to invent a three-dimensional puzzle that presented serious difficulties and took some ingenuity to solve." [1]
After refining the cube design through several iterations, Rubik applied for a patent in Hungary on January 30, 1975. [2] He formed odd cubes, cubes within cubes, and spheres before settling on the classic cubic form.
Rubik has said his inspiration came from teaching 3D geometry:
"It was an exciting discovery to see how we can mix up the facelets and still get it back to the original pattern." [3]
According to his Rubik‘s Cube Compendium book, over a 6 month period Rubik worked obsessively to try and solve the cube after scrambling it:
"For the first month there was no result. I tried everything but after about a month I realized that I had to analyze the problem by the method of group theory." [4]
Going mainstream
The puzzle that would become known as the Rubik‘s Cube gradually spread around Budapest as Rubik demonstrated it at science fairs and meetings.
In 1977, the first deal was struck with Politechnika to mass produce the cubes. However, they could only manage modest production.
The real breakthrough came when at the 1979 Nuremberg Toy Fair, Ideal Toy Company founder Tibor Laczi spotted the cube and negotiated a deal. Renaming it the Rubik‘s Cube, Ideal took the puzzle global in 1980.
Global Rubik‘s Cube Sales By Year: [5]
| Year | Units Sold | Revenue (est) |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 4.5 million | $15 million |
| 1981 | 100 million | $350 million |
| 1982 | 200 million | $700 million |
The New York Times called it "a puzzle that has simultaneously enthralled and frustrated people around the world." Solving competitions popped up everywhere, and books teaching solutions flooded the market.
By January 2009, 350 million cubes had been sold worldwide, making it the world‘s top-selling puzzle game. [6] As of 2022, over 450 million cubes have been sold.
The original Rubik‘s Cube
The first manufactured cubes used a sticker-based color scheme patented by Rubik. While newer cubes swapped stickers for printed tiles, the iconic look remained.
According to Seven Towns Ltd., which has produced the cubes since acquiring Rubik‘s Brand in 1987, the original cube has: [7]
- White plastic with colored stickers on faces
- A 6-color combination of white, yellow, orange, red, blue and green
- Black plastic core holding the mechanism
The original cube is slower, harder to manipulate, and prone to deteriorating stickers. However, it provides an authentic and challenging solve reminiscent of the 1980s. For many nostalgic Rubik‘s fans, the official cube made by Seven Towns is the only one worth having in a collection.
Evolution of speed cubes
Once the patent expired in 2000, alternative cube designs flooded the market, focused on speed rather than nostalgia. Hardware innovations made speedcubes extremely fast:
- Corner cutting – twisting a layer even when not perfectly aligned to allow faster turns
- Lubricants – adding silicone oil/grease enables smooth, flowing movement
- Tensioning – adjustable elasticity of the parts improves speed
- Magnets – adds stability and prevents overshooting
Top speed cube brands used in world championships include Gan, Moyu, QiYi, and Dayan Cubes. Models like the GAN 11 M Pro and Dayan Tengyun V1 are engineered for world-class speedcubers.
| Brand | Prominent Models |
|---|---|
| Gan | GAN 11 M Pro, GAN 12 Maglev |
| Moyu | Weilong WR M 2020, RS3 M 2020 |
| QiYi | QiYi MS, Valk 3 Elite |
| Dayan | Dayan Tengyun V1, Dayan Zhanchi |
However, Rubik‘s Brand cubes have fallen behind when it comes to hardware innovation. In 2006, champion speedcuber Tyson Mao formed a team to create the superior DIY V-Cube. This led to a period of patent disputes between V-Cube and Rubik‘s Brand. [8] While settled now, the disputes illustrated the wide gap between official cubes and specialized speed cubes.
Variations on the cube
While the original 3×3 cube reigns supreme, many derivative puzzles have been created:
| Cube Size | Name | # of Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| 2x2x2 | Pocket Cube | 7 |
| 3x3x3 | Rubik‘s Cube | 20 |
| 4x4x4 | Rubik‘s Revenge | 56 |
| 5x5x5 | Professor‘s Cube | 60 |
| 6x6x6 | 92 | |
| 7x7x7 | 218 | |
| 33x33x33 | 19,508 |
Other variations change the shape altogether, like the Rubik‘s Snake that can be twisted and tied in knots. Novelty cubes have added floating mirrors, impossible geometry, and even electronic screens.
However, Ernő Rubik has misgivings about straying too far from the original:
"I don‘t endorse every Rubikcubic implementation, or the more complex forms such as the Snake. Paradoxically, the simpler it is, the more meaningful it is." [9]
World records
As speedcubing exploded in popularity, competitions pushed solving times lower and lower over the decades:
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June 1982 – first Rubik‘s Cube World Championship, won by Minh Thai with 22.95 second average solve. [10]
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March 2021 – current 3×3 record holder Yusheng Du (China) averages 3.47 seconds. [11]
The pursuit of faster and faster times has spurred innovations in speedcube technology. Specialized lubricants shave off milliseconds. Gloved hands prevent friction. Some even memorize entire solving algorithms!
The largest Rubik‘s Cube solved had 33 layers and was solved by a 4 person relay team in 28 hours, 56 minutes.
Global impact
The Rubik‘s Cube has cemented itself as a cultural icon and seminal toy.
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Google created a virtual Rubik‘s Cube Doodle in 2014, which was played over 48 million times. [12]
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Ernő Rubik was named by Time Magazine among 100 most influential people of the modern era. [13]
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Research studies have shown spatial skills in teenagers improve after casual and hardcore cubing. [14]
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Rubik‘s Cube animated films, books like The Pursuit of Endurance, and TikTok speedcubing keep it relevant.
50 years since its birth, the cube has made Ernő Rubik a household name. And 43 years later, the iconic status of the original Rubik‘s Cube lives on.
Conclusion
So is there an official Rubik‘s Cube? Definitely – the authentic Rubik‘s Cube made by Rubik‘s Brand. It stands as a testament to sublime design – elementary in concept, yet possessing almost infinite potential. Newfangled speedcubes may offer faster solves, but cannot replace the magic of the original that sparked a global phenomenon. As Ernő Rubik said, sometimes the simplest ideas shine the brightest.