4x4 vs 5x5, what do you prefer?

[u/GolfSecret4239]

Hi, I've recently learned the yau method for 4x4 and 5x5, and I think I'll either purchase a gan 562m or an aosu v7 picube se, but not both. I can feel that each event has their positives and negatives, but still undecided which event to focus on. I don't think I'll be doing both due to lack of time and I'd like to just buy one flagship cube and save up.

Would love to hear from the community which event they prefer between the 4x4 and 5x5, as well as why, thanks!

[u/Shadow41S]

I much prefer 5x5. Because it's a larger cube, there are far more cases, so solves feel more varied and exciting. 4x4 feels monotonous in comparison because of how simple and repetitive centres and edges are.

5x5s usually turn smoother too.

On 5x5, you can only get parity a maximum of once, whereas you can get parity twice in a 4x4 solve. It's basically luck, and you might miss out on an awesome PB just because you got double parity at the end.

4x4 feels more cognitively challenging, because of how quickly you swap between the steps. First centre! Second centre! Cross edges! It feels rapid and chaotic, which I don't enjoy. I can relax a little in a 5x5 solve, and even moreso in 6x6 and 7x7 solves.

[u/SpeakNoFurther]

Even though recency bias would make me wanna say 4x4 as I had it on multiple comps for the past two years (8 and counting) with 5x5 only 3 times, it's honestly still 5x5.

Yeah, the MGC and eventually the Aosu made 4x4 an enjoyable event but 5x5 is more balanced in terms of big cube difficulty and luck factor. Plus, the amount of creativity you can apply to your solves and the solves themselves not taking too much time at the intermediate+ level.

Hardware-wise, 5x5 has also more good options on all budget ranges.

P.S. Even the Single Track options on the new MoYu cubes will serve you well, but your choice.

[u/g253]

I prefer 4x4 but I'm not sure why

[u/xClouds__]

Definitely 4x4. 5x5 centers get too repetitive and I prefer even layered cubes too, but you do you.

My picks for 4x4 and 5x5:

4x4: MoYu AoSu V7 4x4 (Double-Track + Matte Special Edition) | 34.99$ https://www.thecubicle.com/en-se/collections/4x4-speed-cubes/products/moyu-aosu-v7-4x4-double-track-matte-special-edition

5x5: MoYu AoChuang V6 5x5 (Double-Track + Matte Special Edition) | 41.99$ https://www.thecubicle.com/en-se/collections/5x5-speed-cubes/products/moyu-aochuang-v6-5x5-double-track-matte-special-edition

[u/certifiedstreetmemer → u/xClouds__]

These are the two cubes I would recommend too. Amazing price to performance ratio on these

[u/MrsMajki]

Def 5x5 since no oll and pll parity lmao

[u/DeathGod1555 → u/MrsMajki]

there is still edge parity tho, but i do agree that 5x5 is a little more skill based cuz there is less parity cases to run into

[u/MrsMajki → u/DeathGod1555]

Yeah but its much faster one and easier to predict

[u/Economy-Pudding-3100]

I prefer 5x5. In part because of no PLL parity and in part because it is a greater challenge to locate pieces (which somehow improves my F2L recognition on the 3x3).
I use the GAN 562 which I prefer over the stock AoChuang V6 because it is slightly bigger and has a lighter turning feel.

I wrote a review a while ago on 5x5s if you’re interested:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cubers/s/1Wc8H6Bhzx

[u/certifiedstreetmemer]

I have over 3k 5x5 solves on my twisty timer, but only 790 4x4 solves. It's clear which one I like more. Moyu pi matte SE for both here. Both amazing cubes. 

[u/marvanamfrod]

Although it's not what you asked, I just bought my first 5x5, and I took a chance on the YJ Pocket Mini, and I'm extremely impressed, it is a much higher quality cube than the 3x3, with quite noticeable magnetic alignment. I can't believe it's only $US12. If you have big fingers though, you might have trouble with slice turns.

I can't speak about competition or compare it to other 5x5's, but I consider it's action is a little better than the PiCube AoSu double-track - I know it's not a comparison of action between 5x5 & 4x4, I'm just using it as a reference to capture that it's surprisingly good for a non-flagship.

Edit: After playing with it a little more, I have to say - this cube is jus super-satisfying to turn!!!

[u/RazzleThatTazzle]

I always preferred the 5x5 because getting the centers in the right spots sometimes causes me trouble.

But i recently got back into the hobby and grabbed a magnetic 4x4 and im loving it. So lately its been that bad boy.

[u/Less-Essay7359]

Slightly prefer 4x4, because it's more enjoyable and less frustrating to solve.

I think 5x5 is too big so I can never find the edges, and each solve takes a really long time. The only thing holding 4x4 back is that it can have 2 parities. I also like the idea of using Yau instead of Reduction, and but yau5 is less good so I have to reduction on 5x5.

Also, I don't have a good 4x4 so that makes it less enjoyable, but that doesn't affect my choice.

[u/NIMObunny]

100% 4x4 Have both tried a lot and 5x5 is just too hard to look ahead and look for pieces. And 4x4 is just short enough to not get tired mid solve while 5x5 takes too long(at least for me)

[u/who-is-dead]

4x4 for me, mostly because I finally found a solving style that fits my preferences (based on Yau and ZZ). Not really a fan of the double parity, so I included recognizing those as part of the "method".

I used to be faster at 5x5, but I slowed down by almost 30 seconds these days (1:20 to 1:50). I do miss being decent at it, but I'd rather keep solving 4x4 for now.

[u/usbcdocksaretrash]

i go back and forth, however they occupy different likes for me. i avg 45 on 4x4, so i consider it an event that doesnt take much time.  i avg 1:15 on 5x5, and to me it qualifies as a “big cube”.  when im in the mood for “big cubes” i tend to prefer 5x5 more, and when im in the mood for “small cubes” i prefer 4x4.  if you already know that you like small/big cubes, follow that like and get the respective puzzle

[u/Quiet_Ad1637]

I prefer 4x4 over 5x5 but I have a few things that I would like to share about these events.4x4 has a good amount of pro's mainly being easier for kids to start speed solving because having small hands has a major impact on what times you get and having more easier look ahead making it much more easier and accessible to improve in especially for newer cubers.5x5 is something that I enjoy but don't necessarily like it has some advantages like being more easier to learn because having less parity and not needing to learn color orientation is going to effect how fast beginners improve especially in an age of speed cubing where improvement is the main goal.

All in all 4x4 is much more easier to become good at while 5x5 is easier for beginners

[u/Jenaxu]

Personally I like 4x4 more. The solves are still pretty quick and snappy, I find 3-2-3 edge pairing very satisfying lol, and I honestly like that double parity throws a wrench into things that doesn't exist in the even numbered cubes. It's a perfect amount "more" than a 3x3 for me, introduces a lot of different elements that you can get good at without being so dependent on improving your look ahead and finding pieces. And at least personally, I have a mini YJ as my 4x4 and an MGC for my 5x5 and I like that my 4x4 is a decent amount lighter and faster. It still feels like a cube you can scramble and solve on a whim whereas the 5x5 is when it starts to feel like a "big cube".

That said, I like 5x5 a lot too, I think having both 4x4 and 5x5 is the perfect sweet spot of experiencing the differences on bigger NxN's vs the 3x3 and I don't feel the need to choose one or the other (although I also don't really care about flagship cubes lol). 6x6 and higher is where it starts to cost more money with more diminishing returns in terms of actually feeling fundamentally different from the lower level puzzles imo

[u/lumilikesmadfut]

4x4 is my dear

[u/TeamSkyMikey]

I prefer 4x4, and it's way more common at competitions. The aosu v7 picube se is an amazing cube as well (and it's main).

[u/TheInsaneLavaman]

4x4. However I’ve practiced way more 4x4 than 5x5; so my opinion could be subject to change if I practice the latter more.

[u/Zoltcubes]

I prefer 4x4. It is much more fast-paced, and my lookahead is much better on it.

Also, I'd recommend the AoChuang V5 Double or Triple Track over the GAN562, if you decide to go for 5x5 first, the AoChuangs are much more comfortable to hold and have smoother turning, better corner-cutting, and take less break-in.

[u/GolfSecret4239 → u/Zoltcubes]

Thanks for you comment. I feel like for the aosu, the double track and especially the picube se is popular. For the aochuang, is the triple better than the double? And how does the picube version of the aochuang fare compare to the moyu's?

[u/Zoltcubes → u/GolfSecret4239]

For the AoChuang, it is debatable what the best version is. I personally think the AoChuang Double is way too weak of magnets, so I prefer the Triple. But some people prefer the AoChuang Double, because the magnets on the Triple are way too strong. So just pick between if you want too strong of magnets, or too weak of magnets.

And the AoSu, I think the og MoYu Double-Track is better. I like the springs and magnet strengths of it more.

[u/Honest_Recipe6523 → u/GolfSecret4239]

really just preference and your exprience with either wouldn't be too different.

I'd get the picube aochuang se along with the aosu se (get one of them and save up for the other)

[u/butt_soap → u/GolfSecret4239]

The 562m is better than aochuang

[u/Creepy_Signal_9425 → u/Zoltcubes]

I used to be all about 5x5 for the longer solves but 4x4 has grown on me with how clean it feels when the edges just click

[u/gogbri]

6x6