Cubikook CS-T01 3-Stage vs. Zwilling 4-Stage Manual Sharpener: A Surprising Win

Overall Verdict

Ranking by

Showing: 2/2 Items

The Cubikook CS-T01 3-stage may not have the same fancy features that the Zwilling 4-stage sharpener offers, but that didn’t stop it from outperforming the latter in our tests.

The Cubikook CS-T01 sports a function-oriented design, with a sturdy body, a wide base, and a low center of gravity. This helps it maintain great stability during sharpening. Its abrasives, although looking rather modest in size, did a great job sharpening the knife and left a sharp, smooth, and even edge.

The Zwilling sharpener accommodates both Asian and standard knives and boasts that it can put an edge on your knife after “a few strokes”. However, its performance didn’t quite match up with what we expected from a Zwilling product. It took a long time to sharpen, shaved off a considerable amount of knife material, and couldn’t achieve the same level of sharpness the Cubikook offered.

Pros & Cons

Excellent stability
Affordable price
Consistent sharpness
Solid and sturdy construction

Substantial weight
Sharpens both Asian and standard knives
Strong build, high-quality body material
Slot cover
Beautiful design

Small ceramic rods
Flaky brand label

Brittle sharpening blades
Anti-slip pad doesn’t fully cover the base
Awkward grip

Key Specs

Stages

Scissor sharpener

Abrasives

diamond, tungsten carbide, ceramic

Ceramic discs

Grit size

Coarse, Medium, Fine

Coarse, Fine

Dimensions

L8.4 x W1.9 x H2.3 inches

L9.3 x W1.7 x H3.1 inches

Suitable for

Quick, casual sharpening on a low budget

Where to Buy

Price at publication

$17.50

$29.53

Check Price on Amazon

*You help support HealthyKitchen101's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring

8.0

4.7

Sharpening Time to Cut a Lemon

7.6

1.0

Sharpening Time

1 minutes 30 seconds

3 minutes

Cutting Feel

Swift and smooth

Slightly forced

Material Retention

8.0

6.0

Medal residue on the three abrasive slots on the Cubikook knife sharpener

A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the Cubikook sharpener

Medal dust on an abrasive slot on the Zwilling knife sharpener

A bowl containing metal sharpening residue next to the Zwilling sharpener

Sharpening Time

1 minute

Target Sharpness

Maximum Sharpness Achieved

8.0

7.0

ZWILLING Maximum Sharpness Achieved video

ZWILLING Maximum Sharpness Achieved video 1

Sharpening Time

6 minutes

Sharpness Level

8 (Chicken breast with skin, 1 swipe)

8 - (Chicken breast with skin, 2 swipes)

Edge Smoothness

8.7

7.3

Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Cubikook Chef' Sharpener

Close up view in vignette of the knife blade and edge after sharpening with the Zwilling

Design

Overall Design Scoring

8.5

7.5

In the Box

The Cubikook 3-stage knife sharpener next to its package box

The Zwilling Henckels knife sharpener in between its clear plastic case and instruction manual

Dimensions

Length

8.4" (21.3 cm)

9.3" (23.6 cm)

Width

1.9" (4.8 cm)

1.7" (4.3 cm)

Height

2.3" (5.8 cm)

3.1" (7.9 cm)

Weight

7.9 oz (225 g)

11.2 oz (318 g)

Build Quality

8.8

7.8

The abrasives and part of the handle of the Cubikook CS-T01

The Zwilling Henckels 4-stage knife sharpener standing on a surface

Working Section

Levels of Sharpening

Coarse, Medium, Fine

Sharpen, Polish

Abrasive

Diamond rods, tungsten carbide blades, ceramic rods

Ceramic blades

Mechanism

Pull through

Sharpening Angle

20 degrees

15 degrees, 10 degrees

Base

The Zwilling sharpener lying on a surface with its base in full view

The Zwilling sharpener’s base and base pad

Material

ABS plastic

Plastic

Feet Type

silicone base

EVA pad

Grip

7.5

6.5

The grip of the Cubikook kitchen knife sharpener

The grip of the Zwilling 4-stage knife sharpener

A hand holding the Zwilling knife sharpener and a hand resting on the table

Material

ABS

ABS, EVA

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring

9.4

8.2

Slot Arrangement

The working section on the Cubikook, with 3 slots featuring diamond rods, tungsten carbide blades, ceramic rods

The working section on the Zwilling sharpener, with 4 slots featuring Coarse and Fine gits for standard and Asian knives

Insertion

9.5

9.0

Top view of a knife being sharpened with the Cubikook, the sharpener being held in one hand

Top view of a knife being sharpened with the Zwilling pro 4 stage sharpener, the sharpener being held in one hand

Pulling Through

9.0

7.5

Cubikook Knife Sharpener Pulling Through

2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling Henckels 4 stage knife sharpener

Stability on a Clean Surface

9.5

7.5

2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Cubikook sharpener on a countertop — The Cubikook has a low height and a wide base which helps minimize the risks of flipping during sharpening.

2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling knife sharpener on a countertop

Stability on a Wet and Dirty Surface

8.0

6.0

2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Cubikook on a salt-sprinkled countertop

2 hands holding and sharpening a kitchen knife with the Zwilling 4-stage sharpener on a salt-sprinkled countertop

Behind the Comparison

Anh NgoSenior Editorial Director

Anh Ngo is a writer with 9 years experience at different media outlets, covering from public news and events to product testing and analysis. At HealthyKitchen101, she works across different departments, communicating closely with its network of writers, editors, and health, tech, and search engine experts to provide a meaningful and pleasant reading experience for visitors.

Lap VoTest Lead

Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.

Nguyen NtkVisual Specialist

Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.