is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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One of the most iconic puzzle toys of the last 50 years has evolved to become a novel way to play mobile games. First announced earlier this year, the Rubik’s WOWCube is a simpler 2x2 version of the puzzle that trades colored squares for 24 tiny color LCD displays. It still rotates like a traditional Rubik’s Cube, but instead of aligning colored squares those mechanics are used to play mobile games such as guiding a race car to the finish line by lining up track pieces scattered across its various screens.
Cubios debuted an earlier version of the WOWCube a few years ago, but in 2024 the company announced a collaboration with Spin Master, which had acquired the Rubik’s brand in early 2021, for an officially licensed version of the device. It’s now finally available for preorder for a steep $299, with shipping expected ahead of the holidays this year. Battery life is claimed to be up to five hours, and the WOWCube comes with a proprietary charger.
The WOWCube expands what you can do with a Rubik’s Cube. Image: Spin Master and Cubios
In addition to being able to rotate the 24 screens, the WOWCube features sensors allowing games to be played by tilting the entire cube, shaking, or tapping it. Through a mobile app you have access to the WOWCube’s app store which includes a mix of free and paid titles that are sent to the device wirelessly over Bluetooth. Cubios also offers an SDK for developers wanting to make their own apps or games.
The WOWCube has its own app store with modified versions of games like 2048 and Cut the Rope. Image: Spin Master and Cubios
The selection isn’t anywhere near as expansive as what you’ll find on Apple or Google’s app stores, but it includes versions of popular games like Space Invaders, 2048, and Cut the Rope that have been customized with unique gameplay for the WOWCube. There are also productivity apps like timers, screensavers that create tiny aquariums, and widgets that can display the weather, upcoming appointments, and even stock prices.
And yes, the WOWCube can even function like a traditional Rubik’s Cube. Should you fail to solve it on your own, instead of having to peel and reposition stickers to realign the colored squares, you can just reset it.
The WOWCube relies on a proprietary charger with a unique design that doesn’t look very portable. Image: Spin Master and Cubios