GAN 356 ME Review

0 comments

The short answer is yes. The GAN 356 ME allows beginners and intermediate-level solvers to use a premium speed cube without feeling that it is uncontrollable or beyond their range.

This puzzle combines GAN’s signature smooth turning, a lightweight feel and great corner cutting with one of the lowest prices in the GAN lineup.

While the cube is comparable to the MoYu RS3M in terms of performance (which is also much cheaper), the GAN experience is usually reserved for higher price ranges and so, this is a great entry point for any beginner to understand the difference in the feel right out of the box.

About the GAN 356 ME

As one of GAN’s entry-level speedcubes, the 356 ME removes many of the premium adjustment systems found on cubes like the GAN 15 or GAN 14.

However, it does so while retaining the smooth turning and premium quality that they’re known for, featuring the following:

Lightweight design, internal honeycomb contact surfaces, GES tension system, factory-installed systems, frosted plastic finish

So, the 356 ME is primarily aimed at beginner and intermediate solvers, and is not necessarily designed for elite-level competitors that are looking for greater customization options.

Key Features :

Build Quality

GAN as a brand is historically well known for their great build quality, and the 356 ME instantly gives one a premium feel for a decent price.

Compared to other budget cubes, the GAN 356 ME offers:

Minimal internal piece friction Lightweight construction, cleaner plastic finish High manufacturing quality Turning Feel

The signature turning feel of GAN puzzles is still available on the 356 ME, whose turning has been described as smooth, airy, effortless, and buttery. Unlike some MoYu and QiYi puzzles in similar price ranges that feel snappy or sandy out of the box, this puzzle feels softer and more fluid.

As a beginner, the effortless turning feel is more inviting as it allows you to execute algorithms in a gliding manner, and the difference compared to other entry-level magnetic cubes is instantly noticeable.

A ) Corner Cutting

The corner cutting on this puzzle is excellent, with it comfortably handling forward and reverse corner cutting up to and over 45 degrees.

This can result in fewer lockups while learning algorithms as a beginner, and can be a major confidence booster at an early stage, while still allowing you to develop your turning technique.

B) Magnetic Strengths

The “ME” in this cube stands for ‘Magnetic Edition’. However, unlike GAN’s flagship cubes, the magnetic strengths aren’t adjustable, and GAN has chosen a more balanced feel for this cube to cater to the general beginner or intermediate cuber audience.

The magnets have been noted to feel smooth and not too strong, which is usually a good thing when building a turning style. Lastly, too many adjustment options can be overwhelming as a beginner, and the factory setup does wonders by itself!

C) Customizability

This is where the ‘budget’ nature of this cube comes through, because you only the the standard GAN GES tension adjustment and basic elasticity adjustment features.

It doesn’t include the adjustable magnetic strengths, Maglev technology, ball core system and UV coating, meaning that it doesn’t offer many settings for experimentation. Fortunately, as a beginner, you may not need to explore these until much later in your cubing journey.

Is the GAN 356 ME better than the MoYu RS3M v5?

Looking at the pros of the 356 ME, it offers a premium feel, smooth turning, high build quality, great out-of-the-box setup and lighter weight, while the RS3M v5 offers flagship-level performance, ballcore and maglev setups, faster turning and an outstanding performance-to-price ratio.

When it comes to the cons, the 356 ME is still more expensive than most budget speed cubes that are on the market and has fewer advanced features than other similarly priced competitors. As for the RS3M v5, it is less buttery (louder turning noise), less refined, and might require more setup based on the version.

These cubes do perform at roughly the same level overall, and the main selling point for the RS3M v5 is the advanced features that are available for the same price range.

While the GAN can give you that premium feel, the highest end version of the RS3M v5 gives you a flagship feel while maintaining the same price! This doesn’t take away from the fact that they’re both great beginner-friendly cubes.

Final Thoughts

The GAN 356 ME is one of the best premium beginner speedcubes available in 2026, but the Rs. 2,000 price tag is important to fully understand before making any purchase.

If you’re looking for a cube with smooth turning, great build quality, turning consistency and the irreplaceable GAN feel, this cube is 100% worth it. The cube gives a highly polished and enjoyable experience straight out of the box, making it highly appealing for beginners to use for years without any need for an upgrade.

If you’re looking to buy your first premium speedcube and are a GAN fan, then what are you waiting for? Get your own GAN 356 ME here today!

FAQs

Yes, it’s one of the easiest premium cubes to recommend to any beginner because it’s smooth forgiving and provides exceptional performance without requiring much setup at all.

Yes, the puzzle is completely competition-legal and more than capable of achieving fast times.

Not necessarily, because there are pros and cons of both. GAN offers a more premium feel while MoYu provides better features for the price.

No, the magnets on this puzzle are factory-installed and have a fixed intermediate strength that is designed to suit most cubers.

If you’re a beginner, then the 356 ME is a great investment and more than enough, since most newer cubers wouldn’t benefit from advanced customization as much.