Top 5 Best FTO Speed Cubes 2026
For the first time in over twelve years, a new event will be added to speedcubing competitions! It’s FTO, Face Turning Octahedron, which will become an official competition event starting on the 2nd of January 2027.
FTO has long been a favorite among many cubers and has slowly but surely grown in popularity in recent years. DianSheng’s release of their magnetic FTO in the summer of 2024 in particular really kicked off FTO’s popularity.
However, with just a few months left before the competitions start, there are many who are looking to buy their first FTO. At the same time, it is not entirely easy to know which one to buy, partly depending on whether you want an affordable puzzle or simply the absolute best FTO on the market. Many manufacturers are reportedly working on developing new FTO puzzles at the time of writing, but based on those available in July 2026, we will list the best picks in the blog post below.
DaYan FTO M Ball Core
We start with what the FTO scene considers to be the best puzzle on the market right now: the Dayan FTO M Ball Core. The puzzle introduced the movable internal center tiles that greatly reduce the risk of pops, something that can otherwise be a problem on FTO puzzles. In terms of quality and performance, as usual, with DaYan you get an incredibly fast and easy-to-turn puzzle that is a pleasure to use. The only real drawback is the size of the puzzle, where many would have preferred a slightly smaller FTO.
✅ Fast and stable with a pleasant turning feel
✅ Anti pop mechanism
✅ Favorite among the pros
❌ Slightly too large in size
DianSheng FTO Neo (Magnetic + Ball-Core)
Want to save a buck and still get a great FTO? Then the DianSheng FTO Neo is perfect for you. Just like Dayan’s FTO, this one includes the same clever anti-pop mechanism, and has a magnetic core in the form of a ball-core. The puzzle is compact and actually slightly smaller than the Dayan, something that many prefer, especially cubers with slightly smaller hands. The puzzle gets slightly more frequent lockups and doesn’t quite live up to the Dayan’s performance, but it’s still clearly the second best puzzle on the market – perfect for those who want to get really fast times.
✅ Small and compact
✅ Anti pop mechanism
✅ Fast and crispy with a magnetic core
❌ More lockups compared to the Dayan FTO
ShengShou FTO
Have you realized that you want to try FTO, but without it breaking the bank? Then ShengShou FTO is perfect for you. The puzzle comes in two versions, where the slightly more expensive version has magnets pre-installed in the pieces. Considering that, the ShengShou FTO is actually really affordable! The standard version is the only FTO you can currently buy for less than €10. The puzzle may not have the same high performance and pops a little more often than the versions above, but it is still perfect for beginners.
✅ Affordable
✅ Soft and easy to turn
✅ Two variantss
❌ Budget feeling, pops quite often
DianSheng FTO M
The DianSheng FTO M will go down in history as the puzzle that really kicked off the huge popularity of FTO. The puzzle shares many features with their new “Neo” variant, including its compact size, magnetic tactility and fairly fast, crisp and slightly blocky turning feel. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a modern anti-pop mechanism though, so combined with the fact that it also gets a few more lockups, it’s hard to recommend unless price is an important factor for you.
✅ Magnetic
✅ Compact
✅ Fast and crispy
❌ Not as modern, pops relatively easily
QiYi FTO – Tiled
We finish with the QiYi FTO, which stands out already at first glance: It has colored tiles instead of the colored plastic (stickerless) that all other variants have. This gives it a classic, slightly old school, look that some prefer. This FTO also comes in two variants, where the slightly more expensive one has magnets pre-installed. Although the puzzle has a soft and smooth turning feel and a rather luxurious impression, unfortunately the overall performance does not quite live up to expectations, which means that it is primarily recommended for those who like its appearance.
✅ Stylish classic look with tiles instead of stickerless
✅ Two variants, one magnetic
✅ Soft and pleasant turning feel
❌ Lower overall performance
Do you miss something on the list?
These were our five picks! The market is however likely to expand in the future as more manufacturers are expected to release their own FTOs before it becomes an official event in 2027. Have we missed your favorite? If so, feel free to leave a comment!
