GAN16 MagLev MAX UV 3x3

I was a Gan tester for this product, and it is AMAZING. This cube has edge-to-center magnets, that have never been in a cube before. Because of them, this cube has insane auto alignment. The cube also has a new design for the edges, making it almost unpopable. You can loosen it a ton and it will still not pop. It is a great cube for all types of solvers. If you like a very fast cube, , this is the fastest in the world, because of how much you can loosen it without it coming apart use weak magnets too. Or, if you want a control cube, tighten it, and add stronger magnets. I have mine pretty loose, with medium magnets. I usually use Lunar, or Martian and Lunar for my cubes. This cube you can have so loose without coming apart I use Galaxy or maybe even a thicker lube. With Galaxy and it moderately loose, it becomes the most satisfying and smooth/fast amazing cube ever! All MoYu or Tornado lovers, it may be time to get a Gan. IT IS WORTH EVERY BUCK. (Even if I got mine for free). The tensions and magnetic rods are the same as the 15. The rods are the same colors, but have a white plastic covering the magnets, making them look better. It also has a very similar tool, except this one is white instead of clear dark blue. I like the blue better, but it does not really matter. It does make a clicking sound when turning though. Satisfying, but can get annoying after a couple hundred solves in one sitting. By far, best 3x3. Buy it.

I had a chance to try this cube at GAN's offline Shanghai store, and you can view my video review below as well for an in-depth look at the puzzle.

This cube is the combination of the GAN14 Pro and the Super Weilong v2 / Weilong v11. It retains GAN's signature hard plastic, giving it a very clacky and tactile feel, similar to GAN's more recent 3x3s. This feeling is the most apparent on the 14 Pro and 14. However, this cube also has the nice rounded feeling that comes from the cuts, otherwise described as "bubbly", similar to MoYu's recent Weilong piece designs.

The cube is very lubed out-of-the-box, and you can feel the cube breaking in. However, the lube that they use is quite light and breaks in very quickly, leaving you with an extremely fast puzzle. The demo cube at Shanghai was completely dry (likely due to the amount of turns that cube experiences daily, being a demo cube), and you can see how ridiculously low-friction that cube was by going to the timestamp 9:48 in the video below. If you want the cube to be more controllable, I'd suggest using some heavier lube (I like to use XMT10 to retain a faster feel, but Phil from TheCubicle recommends Super Honey for heavier turners) and a higher maglev tension setting (the default is setting 8 out of 12 total settings, and I use setting 11).

The cube has pretty good corner-cutting, better than any of GAN's recent flagships, however I still wouldn't classify this cube as forgiving in any way. It is still a modern GANCUBE, after all. If you don't have light or accurate turning, you won't have a good time with this cube. On the other hand, if you perform well with modern GANs but enjoy the newer Weilong's feel, then this cube is perfect for you.

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Some things that might be interesting to hardware nerds out there:
1. The edge-core magnet is removable, it is not interchangable (meaning there are no replacement magnets of a different strength for the edge-core). You can remove it just like you do with the corner-core magnets, using the same "fire-hydrant" tool. Removing the edge-core magnet reduces the severity of auto-align. (The magnet is a bit finnicky to remove, so be careful)

2. The adjustment system is held together with a screw. This screw is NOT for adjusting axis distance, and you SHOULD NOT touch it. If you go to 7:53 in the video below, you'll see a cross-section of the core, and the screw only goes through the top bit of the core. This indicates that the only real purpose of having the screw there is to replicate the little cross on the top of older GAN cores which holds the GES together and in place. If you tighten or loosen the screw, the adjustment system will be more difficult to adjust and the cube will lock up, or the adjustment system will start adjusting itself and the centers will pop out, respectively.

3. Just something minor I've noticed, but a good side-effect of using a screw instead of a cross to hold the GES in place is that, when adjusting axis distance, you can press down with the tool and turn the opposite way without removing the whole GES. This can help save a bit of time and effort when increasing the axis distance one-by-one (for example, when adjusting from 4 -> 5 you can do it directly by going backwards, instead of going forwards: 4 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1 -> 6 -> 5). This does not work with maglev tension though, so you still have to adjust that normally.

Good, feel very close to the gan 12, I would say a little more stable, the edge magnet feel more stable compare to the 13 and 14. The plastic much much plush and softer than 15

If I'm honest, I've used MoYu cubes most of my life. Ive always shied away from GAN because the corner cutting was slightly mediocre which didn't really suit me being an aggressive turner. This cube is really great with all the cutting edge(lol) tech, but it absolutely WILL NOT cut past 45. I've tried all the different tensions and magnet settings, and it just won't make the cut, so to speak. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think so. This particular issue makes OLL and PLL really difficult for me because that's when I turn the fastest and usually need a bit of leniency to get that extra speed. To sum up, if you prefer MoYu or are an inaccurate turner like me, don't spend the whopping 95$(including tax) for a cube you may or may not be satisfied with. this is by no means a bad cube, its just not for me with the lackluster corner cutting.

So. Ootb this cube felt very different from the previous gan releases. id say the feel of the cube when turning is tactile, airy, and very smoooooth. its also very quiet compared to most cubes i have. The settings and adjustments have a pretty wide variety of tensions, so you can make your cube feel however you want. Another thing I noticed when i was solving on it was that I wasnt getting any corner twists! It takes some force to twist a corner. Overall its an amazing cube and its even better when you set it up.

but is the elephant in the room is that…………………..

the cube is $84 🫩

personally, if u have the money and you really want it, then buy it! You certainly will not regret it. But if you are looking for a cube that has also rlly good performance and for a little less money? id get either the rs3m v5, the weilong v11, or even the v10 really. But all in all. i think that the GAN 16 is the BEST PERFORMING 3x3 OUT THERE! The only thing ofc is the price tag.

similar feel to the GAN12, in that it slots into place like a bolt-action rifle, or a Miata’s shifter. Smooth and precise. Only this one trades some lightness for absolute speed. Amazing something this fast still feels controlled.

Really good new main

got this while visiting china a week ago and ootb it was really fast. as we all know this cube has similar mech of recent moyu cubes with the center skirts They also put in center to edge magnets like the valk elite but in a different position. Solving on this cube is addicting and all you other cubes will feel very slow. This cube needs angstrom or super honey to be controllable.

tldr; really good cube, arguably the best. Just put heavy lube in it.

edges are compeletly scratched and scraped making an annoying nosie when turning

Extremely smooth but extremely fast once broken in, but the crazy wide range of adjustments finds a sweet spot for even me as a 20ish second solver. Granted, very expensive, if you’ve got the change lying around and are looking for a new main, this is one heck of an option.