GANCUBE Inc. (GAN / GansPuzzle) is one of the most recognizable premium speedcube brands in the world. The company was founded by Chinese speedcuber and engineer Jiang Ganyuan, who became China’s first national 3×3 champion. The modern GANCUBE brand was established in 2014 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China.

Among cubers, GAN is often called “the Apple of speedcubes” for its design focus, distinctive tech features, polished packaging and relatively high pricing.

History & reputation

• Roots in speedcubing. Jiang got his first cube in 1988, later became China’s first national 3×3 champion in 2006, and then moved into cube design and engineering.
• From GansPuzzle to GANCUBE. The first cube under the GansPuzzle name appeared in 2011 (Ganspuzzle I). Later, the company was incorporated as Guangzhou Ganyuan Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., with GANCUBE as the main brand.
• Innovation-driven. GAN was among the first to popularize:
  • honeycomb internal texture for better lube distribution;
  • advanced tension systems (GES, GES+, numerical IPG);
  • mass-produced magnetic cube GAN356 Air UM (2016);
  • adjustable magnet strength (GAN356 X, 2017–2018);
  • core–corner magnetic positioning (GAN11 M Pro, 2020), later ball-core & MagLev technologies.
• Smart cubes & ecosystem. GAN is also a pioneer in smart cubes (GAN356 i, 2018) and the Cube Station + GAN Robot ecosystem.

Overall reputation: a high-tech premium brand — excellent feel, a lot of engineering, and obviously higher prices than average.

Key product lines & specialization

Flagship 3×3

• Families like GAN356, GAN11, GAN12/13/14/15 with MagLev, ball-core, UV versions etc.
• Typical traits: very high speed, strong/adjustable magnet feel, complex tension systems, low weight.

Smart cubes & ecosystem

• The GAN356 i series (i / i2 / i3 / i Carry etc.) — Bluetooth cubes with sensors, connected to the Cube Station app:
  • real-time tracking, statistics, online battles, tutorials;
  • integration with the GAN Robot for automatic scrambling/solving.

Other WCA puzzles

• 2×2, 4×4–7×7, megaminx, pyraminx, skewb, square-1, clock — usually as light, magnetic, bright stickerless “premium” options.

Shape-mods & specials

• Mirror M series, megaminxes, shape-mods, collectible editions, special colorways.

Educational branch

• The sub-brand Monster Go offers more affordable educational cubes and puzzles built on GAN’s core technology, aimed at kids and beginners.

Who GANCUBE is mainly for

• Advanced and competitive cubers — because of the flagship 3×3 and big cubes with detailed tuning options.
• Tech-minded users & smart-cube fans — thanks to Cube Station, smart cubes and GAN Robot.
• Collectors — due to many limited editions, UV versions, special color schemes and premium packaging.
• Ambitious beginners or parents buying “one good cube right away” — especially when combined with Monster Go products.

If MoYu is often seen as “a wide range from budget to flagship”, GANCUBE is first and foremost about premium feel and innovation, not about minimum price.

Hits and weaker points

Notable successes

• Flagship 3×3 lines (GAN356, GAN11/12/13/14/15) — frequently used by top cubers and associated with multiple high-level results and records.
• GAN356 i smart-cube family — one of the most mature smart-cube ecosystems on the market.
• Mirror/megaminx/shape-mods — often chosen as “the nicest-feeling premium” versions in their categories.

Typical criticisms from the community

• High prices: often several times more expensive than decent budget cubes.
• Many similar-looking versions (XS, X, X V2, 11, 11 M Pro, 13 MagLev/FX/15, etc.), which makes it confusing for newcomers to pick “the right one”.

Still, among experienced cubers, GAN is widely regarded as a benchmark for “top-tier feel” that others try to match.

Fun facts

• The founder is a former national 3×3 record holder and still an active figure in the speedcubing world.
• One of the first mass-produced magnetic cubes from the factory was the GAN356 Air UM (2016).
• GANCUBE pushes not only hardware but also software: app, robot, smart cubes — effectively turning a classic puzzle into an interactive training system.