Whether you’re a speed cuber looking for the best 2×2 cube, or a beginner whose just finished with a 3×3 speed cube I’m here to help you find the best 2×2 cube for your needs. First we’ll break down what exactly makes a good 2×2 cube, and I’ll share several cubes that should cover the best 2×2 speed cube, the best budget 2×2, and more.
Best 2×2 Cube Reviews: The Table
| 2x2 Cubes | The Cube | PuzzleDude's Rating | Quick Review | Get it here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayan 2x2 |  |  (4 / 5) | Great corner cutting, fast, and quiet cube. | |
| MoYu Lingpo |  |  (4.5 / 5) | Best corner cutting, minimal catching, clicky. | |
| ShengShou Aurora |  |  (3.5 / 5) | Best budget 2x2! | |
| Fangshi ShiShuang 55mm |  | (4 / 5) | Best 2x2 for big hands | |
| Type C WitTwo |  | (4 / 5) | A fast and crunchy cube |
Finding the Best 2×2 Cube
The best 2×2 cube is one that lets you solve the puzzle as fast as you physically can. So for a beginner, if the puzzle turns and has no errors that should be sufficient. However, as humans we learn quickly so you’ll be wanting a faster cube sooner than later. This is why I almost always recommend getting the best/fastest cube on the market at the time so you’re never limited by your cube.
When it comes to 2×2’s there’s not much popping or locking so all of the cubes are pretty similar except some minor differences in build quality, speed, feel, AND SIZE. Let’s go over the criteria when it comes to picking the best 2×2:
- Build quality – This is pretty well dictated by price, you get what you pay for in most cases but I will highlight some 2×2 cubes that give you excellent performance for the value
- Speed – This is going to be mainly preferential, there are insanely fast 2×2’s and also slower ones. I don’t think that speed is a limiting factor but more of a preference.
- Popping – There’s no popping in 2×2’s that should worry you.
- Feel – This is another important one, do you want smooth, clicky, sandy, or what? I’ll try to describe the options as best as I can.
- Size – This is key when it comes to choosing the right 2×2. Depending on your hand/finger size you might want a larger or smaller 2×2. Since it’s basically the smallest cube option out there when looking at the 3×3 or 4×4 it actually matters and there are specific options to offer larger 2×2’s.
- Price – You can never discount price, some cubes are plainly more expensive than others and that can certainly weigh in on my analysis
- Beginner or speed cuber – Like I said earlier, I think it’s almost always the right idea to purchase the best cube available so you can grow and get better with the cube rather than having to buy another one later – make your own choice.
- Stickers or not – Since
Best 2×2 Cube Reviews
Let’s get into the best 2×2 cube reviews now, with options for beginners, speed cubers, budgets, and different sizes for each and every one of us.
DaYan 2×2 (4 / 5)
For a long time the DaYan 2×2 was the most popular option for the 2×2 crowd. In a poll on the speed cubing sub0reddit it was voted one of the most commonly owned cubes and that still holds true to this day. If you’ve ever used a DaYan 3×3 you know that they’re very smooth and solid cubes. Due to the design of the cube it has the best forward and reverse corner cutting out of all of the 2×2’s on thist list.
- No popping
- Fast and stable cube
- Very popular 2×2 for competition speed cubing
- Available in stickered or stickleress
- Best corner cutting on the list
- One of the quietest cubes
- Get it in stickered or stickerless!
- PuzzleDude’s rating (4 / 5) – considered the best 2×2 cube by a lot of speed cubers
The DaYan 2×2 is often referred to as the best option for speed cubing by many cubers. If you like a fast, smooth cube with great corner cutting then this is a great option for you. I believe that the DaYan can be the best 2×2 but it requires some breaking in, proper tensioning, and lubing. Some even go as far as replacing the springs and hardware with MoYu pieces but leaving the DaYan plastic parts.
MoYu Lingpo (4.5 / 5)
The MoYu Lingpo is my favorite 2×2 due to the clicky and fast feel it has. It’s comparable t the DaYan in quality but offers a different feel. Many people prefer the Lingpo over the DaYan because they love MoYu’s clicky and clacky feel. Depending on your style, the MoYu could be for you if you want a little bet less stable but faster cube. It’s also a lot louder than the DaYan.
- Minimal catching
- Fast and loose cube
- Another really popular 2×2
- Great corner cutting
- Clicky feel
- PuzzleDude’s rating (4.5 / 5) – great 2×2 option, fast and clicky
The Lingpo is ready out of the box which is why I gave it a better rating than the DaYan. I think that the DaYan has a bit more potential with modifications but comparing the products alone, the Lingpo pulls ahead.
ShengShou Aurora (3.5 / 5)
Here’s our budget option for the best 2×2 cube. ShengShou makes a reliable, fast turning, smooth, and quiet product but they’re not on the level of the DaYan or Lingpo 2×2 simply becaues of corner cutting, and catching issues. If you’re just getting into solving 2×2 cubes or you’re on a budget the ShengShou would work just fine for you.
- Some catching
- Fast, smooth cube
- Solid construction and stickering
- Very quiet
- PuzzleDude’s rating (3.5 / 5) – best budget 2×2 cube!
Fangshi ShiShuang 55mm (4 / 5)
As discussed previously, size can play a very important role when selecting the right 2×2. The Fangshi ShiShuang is that solution – this 55mm cube is the saving grace for cubers wanting to compete in 2×2 with larger hands. I have a ton of friends who are into 2×2 and all of the larger hand cubers resort to this one no matter what. They’ve tried the DaYan, Lingpo, and more and they always resort to the Fangshi 55mm because of the size.
- Good speed, awesome cutting
- Great for larger hands
- Requires some set up
- PuzzleDude’s rating (4 / 5) – best 2×2 for big hands!
Type C WitTwo (4 / 5)
The WitTwo is one of the first 2×2’s to see consistent use in speed cubing competitions. This cube is still used by many cubers today who find its unique crunchy feeling and demonic speed very appealing. I’d recommend this cube for someone who knows they like crunchy cubes and can handle a fast 2×2.
- Specific crunchy feeling
- Very fast 2×2
- Historically a very popular cube
- Trusted by many top 2×2 solvers – almost impossible to pop
- PuzzleDude’s rating (4 / 5)
I feel like this cube is almost on its own in terms of the feel .For me to recommend this cube to you, you’ll need a specific desire for a very crunchy cube that I know the WitTwo can satisfy.
Picking the best 2×2 for you
Now that we’ve gone over what to look for in a 2×2, and some of the more popular ones, let’s break it down a bit further.
- DaYan 2×2 – Great all around 2×2 that almost anyone will like. Smotoh and reliable
- MoYu Lingpo – Faster 2×2 with perfect cutting and a buttery Moyu feel
- ShengShou 2×2 – Best budget 2×2 cube around half the price of the rest
- Fangshi ShiShuang 55mm – Best 2×2 cube for big hands – loved by the big-handed cubers
- Type C WitTwo – Super crunchy 2×2 that some cubers swear by, I peersonally don’t like it.
Basically if you know your preferences you should be able to find a suitable 2×2. Overall I think the DaYan 2×2 is the best with the Lingpo being a close second. If budget is ever a concern, just go with the ShengShou.
Learn about the 2×2
So if you’re looking this page up, you’re either a beginner to 2×2’s, or a speed cuber looking for their next cube. In either case, I wanted to add this section to educate my readers on the history of the 2×2 and share some fun facts.
The 2x2x2 Rubik’s cube, known as the 2×2 or Pocket Cube was actually patented two years before the invention of the Rubik’s cube by a Canadian named Larry Nichols. The fact that the corners are fixed reduces the amount of permutations largely, giving only 3,674,160 possible positions.
Interestingly, the maximum number of turns required to solve the cube is 11 including half or quarter turns. Due to the number of solves being highly based on the scramble you get, the world record for the 2×2 is heavily dependent on the variance of the scramble.
Solving the 2×2 cube
If you understand how to solve a 3×3, solving a 2×2 should be like second nature. It uses the same idea of positioning the corners once you’ve finished the first layer. Most cubes come with basic instructions and you could get a solve done within moments of opening the package. Here are some of my favorite resources for 2×2 solving and algorithms.
- Rubik’s Place guide
- Kewbz 2×2 solutions – nice images and cases here
If you need more than that to solve your cube, you might be doomed (just kidding). Try googling some other guides that fit your style, or checking our YouTube videos.
2×2 World Records
Since the number of moves to solve is very specific depending on the scramble, 2×2 World Records for individual are sort of fickle in the speed cubing community. In this category you definitely want to be looking at an average of 5 to determine a fair best 2×2 solver.
The world record was just broken this year by Maciej Czapiewski who solved it on under half a second (0.49 to be exact). The truly impressive average of 5 world record holder is Lucas Etter, he averaged 1.51 seconds in 2015.
Best 2×2 Cube Reviews Conclusion
Whether you’re a speed cuber, or a beginner – hopefully this guide has helped you pick the best 2×2 cube. Reading reviews, watching videos, and talking to other cubers is a great way to find out what cubes are good. Another great idea is to ask to try out other people’s cubes to get a feel for what you want in a 2×2 and other cubes.
Happy puzzling!
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