The Best Apps for Solving Rubik’s Cube
The Rubik’s Cube or “magic cube” can be configured in over 43 quintillion ways, and each configuration can technically be solved in 20 moves or less . In practice, the most experienced people solving cubes usually requires more than 40 moves. But these mobile apps can solve this problem faster or teach you how to solve it like an expert. Here are the best ones.
There are many cube solver applications, and each one has its own quirks and disadvantages. Whatever you use, you will face one problem or another. So be patient and give each app a couple of tries before moving on to the next.
Best Universal App
Magic Cube Solver : iOS, Free, No Ads / $ 4 All Features
This app either solves your cube for you or teaches you how to solve the cube. Either way, you manually enter the current cube configuration by clicking the colors you want to fill the cube.
This app has a great input system where you can “type” the colors on the cube in order, or select specific squares to fill. This is the most intuitive app I’ve tried, except the one that only uses your camera.
If you ask him to build a cube for you, Magic Cube Solver will give you a list of graphical instructions. In addition, each application displays instructions differently, and MCS does it best. While space can be lost, the steps are like a Lego instruction booklet. You can click any move to see how the cube looks before and after it. MCS is very efficient, always solving the cube in 22 steps or less.
If you ask “decide and learn,” MCS will do something amazing. Many tutorials can teach you a general strategy for building a cube. (For example, the first step to creating a cube (at least for beginners) is to form a “white cross”: arranging four white edge pieces around a white center piece.) But MCS can teach you this strategy using a specific configuration. your cube .
For example, MCS may notice that with this cube it is faster to start with a green or red cross. The tour guide will tell you what things to do, so you can figure out the exact movements yourself. (You can take a look at the moves, but they only work if you haven’t tried it yourself yet.)
If I wanted to know how to assemble any cube without any help, I would practice, mess up my cube, put it into MCS, solve the cube using the app, and repeat.
Best scam app
Cube AR : iOS Free Trial / $ 1 Solution
This app solves your cube by telling you what moves to do. This is the only AR based problem solving app I’ve found. Point the camera at the cube and show the application all sides. The app recognizes colors and uses arrows to show you which to turn. Just follow his instructions and you will “solve” the cube.
There are two big drawbacks: first, you won’t learn how to assemble the cube yourself. Secondly, it is physically uncomfortable. If you cannot hold your phone up by pointing it at the cube, it will be difficult for you to move the cube with your other hand.
But since you don’t have to manually enter the cube configuration, this is still the fastest way to complete the cube.
The app is heavily underestimated in the app store due to a lack of understanding as to whether it is really free. You pay one dollar once, but only pay when your cube is mostly harvested. You will never have to pay anything again.
Also worth a try
If you want to learn how to collect cubes, try the other cheap or free options. You will get to know the Rubik’s Cube better by seeing it in terms of all of these applications.
Rubik’s Cube Guide : iOS, Free, No Ads
A serious guide to solving cubes using words, notation, and 3D illustrations. Try this if you like the minimalist mathematical approach. (This app will not help you solve a specific configuration.)
Rubik’s Cube Tutorial: Android / iOS , Free / $ 1 to Remove Ads
A very helpful guide to general solution techniques with some specific situation explanations that I have not seen in other applications. Ads are a little buggy, so pay to remove them.
Cube Snap : iOS, $ 1
A competent auto cube solver app that uses a camera to populate your cube configuration. (You will have to fix a few cells manually.) The walkthrough interface is not as robust as the MCS instructions, but I love the way it renders the cube. I prefer it to the updated version of Cube Snap 2 .
Cube Solver : Web / Android / iOS, Free, Video Ads
A standard cube solver app worth trying if you’re tired of our best solutions. Color input is awkward, you have to select each color from the palette to apply it to specific squares.
YouTube video
All of these applications will become more useful if you also watch some videos on solutions. Trythis Wired tutorial , orthis solver’s home video , orthis video full of typical bouncy music . They have some differences in method, but they are not enough to confuse you.
Not worth trying
Rubik’s Solver : Android / iOS , Free, No Ads / $ 2 All Features
The official Rubik’s Cube learning app is a complete mess. Its interface is not intuitive. The tutorial on solving your own cubes is tricky to understand as you have to jump back and forth between diagrams and poorly written videos . To even start using the app, you need to ask for an error confirmation email twice. Don’t waste your time (or your two dollars) on this just because this is the official app.