As we take the cubes apart from last year

This is correct. The only “weaker” pins that are denoted purely by color were the original 2013-era maroon 1x1 Connector Pins. But we didn’t like how weak those were, so we intentionally increased the holding force when we switched over to blue parts for VEX IQ and launched HEXBUG VEX Robotics kits in 2014.

The colors of parts in all VEX IQ, VEX IQ Challenge, and HEXBUG VEX Robotics kits available after that have been a mix aesthetics/design, usability, and commonization where possible. Both the normal 1x1 and capped 0x2 Connector Pins have each been made in about a dozen different colors over the years.

That being said, nearly every snap geometry part available in the upcoming VEX GO kits will have an intentionally weaker snap to improve usability for younger students. These weaker VEX GO snaps will be similar to the original 2013 maroon 1x1 Connector Pins. Since the IQ snaps were intentionally made strong to withstand the rigors of the VEX IQ Challenge, we wanted a way for users to be able to tell the difference if IQ and GO connector parts ever get mixed up.

Since we could not rely on part color, we instead changed the shape of the flange on the VEX GO pins, standoffs, and corner connectors. Whereas all IQ snaps have a round profile at their flange, all of the weaker VEX GO snap parts will have a hexagon flange.

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