Whether you are a full-time artisan, a part-time Etsy creator or a devoted hobbyist who loves arts and crafts, there’s a good chance that you are familiar with a Cricut machine. The Cricut is a machine that cuts materials such as vinyl, paper and cardstock to a set size and shape. It allows you to create designs for all kinds of crafting needs.
However, not all laptops work equally well with Cricut’s software, otherwise known as Design Space. This can become a big headache if you’re working with an older laptop that no longer supports this software.
If you want to use Cricut and be sure your designs will come to life without a hitch, it’s best to find a laptop that’s compatible with the software. You may be interested in a laptop like the 15.6-inch Dell Inspiron 15 3505 Full HD Laptop (FHD), which is a favorite among arts and crafts enthusiasts.
What to know before you buy a laptop for Cricut
Cost and warranty
As with any piece of technology that’s designed with a specific purpose in mind, the two most important things to consider are how much it will cost and warranty coverage. If you’re planning on investing in your crafting business, it’s a good idea to find a machine that will support your needs for the long term. Going cheap isn’t a great idea, especially since the cheapest Cricut machine costs $180 alone. And when it comes to a warranty, the last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on a laptop that isn’t covered in the event of an accident.
Just the same as with any electronic, you want to ensure your investment is covered in case something happens to it. So although a comprehensive warranty may cost a little more upfront, it will save you a lot of frustration in the long run. After all, it’s well worth spending an extra $200 to avoid paying $500 or more for a new laptop.
Screen resolution
When it comes to creating a high-quality design, it’s important to have a monitor that performs well. The greater the resolution, the better the images and designs will appear. And when you’re carefully designing something, it’s crucial to have a sharp, clear idea of how your work looks, so it’s essential to have a high number of pixels, as the high resolution will lessen any chance of graphics issues or design errors. If you tend to work on highly detailed designs, you should buy a laptop with at least HD resolution.
Laptop for Cricut features
Weight and portability
The last thing you want is to be weighed down by a heavy bag on your daily commute — and cheaper laptops are notorious for being heavier than others. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable laptops that are light, travel friendly and work well with Cricut.
Appropriate USB ports and other connection types
In order to physically connect your laptop with your Cricut, you need to make sure it has at least one USB 3.0 Type-A port. That said, many designers use external monitors with a higher resolution than their laptops provide. As such, it’s a good idea to at least have the option to connect cables like Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.0/2.1 and DisplayPort for greater design capabilities.
CPU power
The power of your laptop’s processor is directly responsible for how detailed you can get with your designs. If you only use your Cricut machine on occasion, a standard processor will be more than sufficient for your needs. However, if you tend to multitask or regularly make use of complex design programs like Photoshop or Illustrator, it’s a good idea to invest in a solid processor. This will prevent delays, freezing and lag in performance.
Laptop for Cricut cost
Depending on your desired features and overall budget, a good laptop for Cricut will cost between $350-$700 or more.
Laptop for Cricut FAQ
What are the minimum Cricut requirements for a Windows laptop?
A. The minimum Windows requirements are Windows 8 OS or later, and you should have at least 4GB of RAM and an Intel Dual-Core CPU or equivalent AMD processor. The display should have at least a 1024p x 768p screen resolution, and you should have a minimum 2GB of disk space free, as well as Bluetooth or a free USB port. The latest versions of Firefox, Chrome or Edge are the most compatible browsers.
What are the minimum Cricut requirements for a Mac laptop?
A. The minimum requirements for Mac are similar to Windows but with some exceptions. You’ll need a minimum of 4GB of RAM and at least a 1.83 GHz CPU processor. The display should have at least a 1024p x 768p screen resolution, and you should have a minimum 2GB of disk space free, as well as Bluetooth or a free USB port. The most compatible browsers are the latest versions of Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
Which laptop for Cricut should I get?
Best of the best laptop for Cricut
Dell Inspiron 15 3505 15.6-Inch Full HD Laptop: available at Amazon
Our take: If you’re ready to take your Cricut projects to the next level, this is a powerful option for both amateur and professional designers alike.
What we like: Responsive. Features an AMD Ryzen 5 3450U mobile processor with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics. Anti-glare LED Backlight. Comes with 12GB of RAM.
What we dislike: Users reported issues with the battery life.
Best bang for your buck laptop for Cricut
2021 Acer Aspire 15.6-inch FHD IPS Laptop Business and Student: available at Amazon
Our take: An affordable Cricut-friendly laptop for the budget-conscious and casual designer.
What we like: Intel Celeron N4020 Dual-Core Processor with a 15.6-inch screen and 10-hour battery life.
What we dislike: While decent for students and start-ups, this laptop is less than ideal for seasoned professionals.
Honorable mention laptop for Cricut
Apple MacBook Air 2020: available at Amazon
Our take: One of the best Cricut laptops for those who prefer the MacOS experience.
What we like: Lightning-fast processor and response times with advanced machine learning. Offers SSD storage for instantaneous file transfers.
What we dislike: As with almost everything Apple makes, it’s expensive.
Daniel Martin is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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