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If you think trapping yourself is going to make me stop testing, you're sorely mistaken; here's another cube.
— GLaDOS
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Cubes are common testing elements throughout the Portal series.
Cubes
Weighted Storage Cube
The Weighted Storage Cube was first introduced in Portal, and remains prevalent in Portal 2. In Portal 2 however, the cube is given a blue ring in the center instead of a blue cross, and can turn yellow when placed upon a Super Button.
Weighted Companion Cube
The Weighted Companion Cube was first introduced in Portal, and remains prevalent in Portal 2. Similar to the Weighted Storage Cube, the Companion Cube possesses a different design in Portal 2. The Cube functions in the same way as a Weighted Storage Cube, being differentiated to encourage test subjects to feel attached to the Cube. A feature to the new Companion Cube in Portal 2 is that it is able to sing.
Edgeless Safety Cube
The Edgeless Safety Cube was officially introduced in Portal 2, where it is used only in the co-op campaign. However, it also appears once in the single-player campaign as garbage. The entire name is given out of irony, however it still retains the coloring scheme and patterns present in the designs of the other cubes.
The Edgeless Safety Cube did have an appearance in a Portal Challenge Map, however it was unnamed and also did not have an accompanying receptacle, thus is not widely considered to have its first appearence until Portal 2.
Discouragement Redirection Cube
The Discouragement Redirection Cube was introduced in Portal 2. Its main purpose is to redirect the Thermal Discouragement Beam to other places or through portals if necessary. However, the cube has a second use as a Weighted Storage Cube, as it can be used to activate the Heavy-Duty Super Button.
Scalable Cube
The Scalable Cube is exclusively featured in the Portal 2 Sixense DLC Test Chambers. The only way to scale the Cube is with the Razer Hydra Controllers, a feature supported by the Portal Gun in the DLC. The size of the Cube changes simultaneously with its mass. The Scalable Cube can be used to build bridges between gaps or to crush Turrets.
Contraption Cube
The Contraption Cube is exclusively featured in the Portal 2 - Education Version Puzzle Creator. It has adjustable mass, friction and elasticity. The minimum mass is 1kg, maximum mass is 85kg. There are 5 levels for friction: frictionless, slippery, normal, sticky and very sticky. There are also 5 levels for elasticity: no rebound, slight rebound, normal, bouncy, very bouncy. The default feature is 40kg, frictionless and no rebound. Different feature will have different outlook.
Frankenturret
Frankenturrets are bizarre Sentry Turret-Weighted Storage Cube hybrids created by Wheatley in order to complete test chambers when he had no test subjects. They are present in the single-player chapters, The Itch and The Part Where He Kills You.
Frankenturrets do not speak, and instead emits incomprehensible chirping sounds. They act as Wheatley's replacement for Storage Cubes, their only difference being that Frankenturrets will hop around aimlessly while not placed on a button. When picked up by Chell, they retract their legs inside their cubes. If they fall over on their sides or upside down, they will wave their legs trying to get up.
Receptacles
Heavy Duty Super Button
The Heavy Duty Super Button is a receptacle that can be triggered by the weights of player characters, Weighted Storage Cubes, Edgeless Safety Cubes, and Frankenturrets. The button was introduced in Portal and remained prevalent in Portal 2.
An older prototype variant from the 50-70s era of the Super Buttons can be seen in the Portal 2 single-player chapters The Fall and The Reunion.
Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle
Weighted Storage Cube Receptacles, as obvious by its name, serves as a receptacle only for the Weighted Storage Cubes. This receptacle is only present in the co-op campaign of Portal 2.
The Storage Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle in order for test subjects to proceed. Although its appearance is similar to the Super Button, it cannot be activated by the weight of test subjects or any other objects being placed upon it.
Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle
The Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle is a receptacle for the Edgeless Safety Cube, introduced in Portal 2. The Cube must be placed securely inside the receptacle in order for the player to proceed.
Edgeless Safety Cubes and their receptacles only appear as testing elements in the game's cooperative campaign.
Contraption Cube Receptacle
The Contraption Cube Receptacle is exclusively featured in the educational version of Portal 2. Even though it is designed for the Contraption Cube, the Receptacle will not recognize the Contraption Cube and won't activate any puzzle elements which are connected with it. Additionally, it appears entirely black in-game, when the model itself has different colors.
Related achievements
Portal
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Fratricide
Do whatever it takes to survive.
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Portal 2
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Drop Box
Place a cube on a button without touching the cube
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Preservation of Mass
Break the rules in Test Chamber 07
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Schrodinger's Catch
Catch a blue-painted box before it touches the ground
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Iron Grip
Never lose a cube in Chamber 6 of the Mass and Velocity co-op course
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Party of Three
Find the hidden companion cube in co-op test chamber
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Talent Show
Never lose a cube in Chamber 6 of the Mobility Gels co-op course
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Gallery
Portal
| A spherical replacement seen in an advanced chamber.
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| A Heavy Duty Super Button.
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Portal 2
| New Weighted Storage Cube.
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| New Weighted Companion Cube.
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| Weighted Companion Cube, activated.
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| Discouragement Redirection Cube.
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| Old Weighted Storage Cube.
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| Edgeless Safety Cube, activated.
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| The Heavy Duty Super Button.
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| Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.
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| Active Weighted Storage Cube Receptacle.
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| Contraption Cube Receptacle.
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| Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.
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| Active Edgeless Safety Cube Receptacle.
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| A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Repulsion Gel.
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| A Weighted Storage Cube covered in Propulsion Gel.
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