I’ve loved playing with magnets since I was a kid. I remember that anytime something in the house would break that might have a motor in it, I would snatch it out of the trash, dismantle it and retrieve the magnets from the motor. I even had a little metal fishing tackle box with tools and scavenged magnets that I kept under my bed. I was an odd child. 
) Now that I’m an adult, I’m still odd and I still love magnets. That’s why I was really excited to be able to review two magnetic puzzle sets. One from NeoCube and one from CyberCube.
CyberCube
The CyberCube is made of 216, 6mm, Neodymium spherical magnets otherwise known as rare earth magnets.
It comes packaged in a simple but nice presentation box in the shape of a 6×6 cube. Unlucky for me, the CyberCube was shipped to my day job and when my boss saw it, he took it out of the box and wrecked the cube shape. At the time, I didn’t know how to get it back into that shape. I actually had to email the company and ask for directions so that I could take the image that you see above. )
Each magnet is about the size of a BB. These magnets are extremely strong and it takes a bit of effort to detach one from the group. Often, when you pull one magnet, you come away with a whole string. In a weird way, it almost makes the group of magnets feel like one living thing.
What’s the purpose of these magnet sets? There isn’t one really… It’s a fidget object. Something to keep your hands and mind busy when you’re bored or need a break from some other task. You can make all sorts of shapes. Above you see a cube in process.
Impressive huh? The videos on the CyberCube site make this lowly cube look like nothing.
If you set this on your desk at work, people won’t be able to help themselves and will have to pick it up. It’s as if it were a magnet. Sorry, couldn’t resist ;o)
Price: $39.99
NeoCube
NeoCube is another magnet set that uses rare earth magnets. It doesn’t come in a nice box like the CyberCube, but you do get a few extra magnets just in case you lose a few. While CyberCube only sells one set of magnets, NeoCube has a 6×6 cube set (216 magnets) which they call the NeoCube Alpha set and a NeoCube Mini set, that can create a 3×3 cube (27 magnets). You can also buy both sets together if you’re a complete magnet maniac.
Besides the difference in the the number of magnets per set, the only other difference between the NeoCube and CyberCube is the size of each magnet. The NeoCube magnets are smaller.
I didn’t have a set of calipers handy to measure the exact size, but here you see the CyberCube 6×6 cube on the Left and the NeoCube 6×6 on the right.
The NeoCube magnets perform the same as the CyberCube magnets in that you can create all sorts of shapes with them.
So far the shapes that I try to create are super lame. But both the CyberCube and NeoCube sites have videos with someone showing how to create things. They make it look so easy ;o) It’s really not that easy for me – at least not yet.
Price: Alpha and Mini set $34.95, Alpha set $29.95, Mini set $13.95
Summary
Which set should you buy? The combination Alpha / Mini set from NeoCube is the better buy because you get 35 more magnets than the CuberCube set for a cheaper price. The only issue might be the size of the magnets… the Neo’s are smaller. Heck, buy a set from both company’s and then go wild and stick them altogether! Regardless as to which set you might choose, they will keep you entertained for hours and make a great gift for your favorite geek. Anyone else out there have a “thing” for magnets?
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What a neat find – love magnets – my first set was that little plastic dog set – too funny.
Just be careful with small magnetic toys around kids. Children have swallowed small magnets in other toys, which have proven fatal when the magnets connected in the digestive tract.
I have so often thought about buying these….wonder if they present a challenge in being delivered, and getting stuck inside my mailbox.
I have also thought about whether I can crack open the pile of harddrives in my cubicle….though the government has different requirements for how the drives get destroyed….
The Dreamer
Lawrence:
Both types arrived just fine in my mailbox ;o)
The magnetic fields of magnetic balls are concentrated more at the poles than disc or block magnets. These balls are great for experimentation and magic tricks and are just plain fascinating to play with.
NeoCube is consisted of hundreds of individual strong neodymium balls.
You can create huge number of shapes and models according to your imagination by this amazing NeoCube.
NeoCube is wonderfully suitable for experiments and combining with other magnets.
No one who comes into contact with these magnets ever wants to give them back. These small but very powerful NeoCube inevitably arouse a sense of play.
The more, the better.
Eric
http://www.neo-cube.cn
sales@neo-cube.cn
There’s a Black Friday sale on NeoMinis starting today 11/28/08 and ending on Monday 12/01/08. Buy one get one Free!
http://www.theneocube.com
OurQQmag Neocube is really an amazing toy. Both good for children and adualts. With huge number of shapes, you name it, then you can build it. With a beautiful packing, it is really a good gifts for your children, friends, and lovers! Since the Christmas is coming, we provide a special price for this toy! More details, please send mail to usï¼
Thank you!
sales@cndailymag.com
http://www.iqmagtoy.com
Vivian
You can get a Cube called the 7×7 Creation Cube that has a wopping 343 Spheres for 30 bucks! I just bought one a week ago and looking to buy a few others. They have different sizes. All very cost effective. Check the site at http://www.TheCyberCube.com. TheCyberCube.com
I’ve just ordered 2 (6×6) cube set from http://www.thecybercube.com today. How long does the shipping take? Anyones?
Why not buy a Cybercube??? they are cheaper and you get more spheres. To get 10% off, enter the promo code cordawg92. Just go to thecybercube(dot)com!
Yeah cordawg92, I bought a Cybercube today from http://www.thecybercube.com/?ref=cordawg92 using your code, thanks for the 10% off
im pretty sure that the 7×7 creation cube from cybercube is just a bigger neo cube lol. The normal 6×6 cube is 6mm (cyber cube) and the 7×7 creation cube (cybercube, again) is 4.7mm, idk bout the neo cube’s size though……
I would definitely not buy the NeoCube. The website is shady and filled with broken English, and their domain is hiding behind a proxy. It’s probably a Chinese company.
CyberCube is in Ohio, and has a heck of a lot more information on their website.
Alex, the company probably is Chinese, yes. Why is that a downside? I ordered two alpha cubes, and they both shipped to me in a week, I live in Norway.. The magnets are excellent, and you get a coupon code as well
Neocube was the orignal. Cybercube is a knockoff brand that has crappy magnets. Zenmagnets.com has the strongest magnets. And Buckyballs are the best marketed. If you plan on playing with the magnets for a long time, don’t buy from Neocube OR Cybercube.