The Cricut is a crafter’s dream tool, as it provides them with the necessary functions to cut all shapes and designs precisely. A laptop that can work well with the Cricut devices will help you create professional outcomes for your crafts.
Deciding on which laptop to buy can be tricky. There are so many different brands and models out there, each with its own set of features. But don’t worry, we have a guide that will help you find the perfect laptop to use with your Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker.
Our Top Picks
1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
The Aspire 5 is an excellent choice for anyone looking to use their Cricut Explore or Maker tools. With its sleek design and 15.6-inch screen, it’s perfect for working on projects at home or in the office.
This laptop is lower spec than the others on this list but it’s more than enough to run the software for your Cricut machine. It has 4GB DDR4 RAM and a 128 GB SSD with enough space to meet your needs without slowing down your work.
With this laptop, you can enjoy having a backlit keyboard and up to 7.5 hours of battery life. The screen is so crisp with full high definition that it will be hard not to get lost in all the visuals.
You know that feeling you get from staring at a computer for hours on end? It’s terrible and leaves your eyes tired. Well, with Acer BlueLightShield this will be no problem.
Pros
- Meets minimum requirements for Cricut
- Acer BlueLightShield for preventing eye strain
- Backlit keyboard to help when working in low light
- Lightweight sleek design
- High resolution
- Great battery life
Cons
- Slightly slower than other laptops
- Caps Lock/Num Lock does not have an indicator light
2. Apple MacBook Air
The Apple MacBook Air 2020 is the perfect computer for those looking to get into Cricut and other computing needs. It features 8GB RAM and a Core i3 processor that will keep any creative individual happy.
With a beautiful Retina display and an elegant design, the MacBook Air 2020 is perfect for those looking to prioritize portability without compromising on quality.
The Backlit Magic Keyboard is perfect for typing in the dark and Touch ID so you can control who gets access to your Mac. Apple’s MacBook Air is a thin lightweight laptop that will never let you down.
Pros
- Retina display
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Only has USB C ports
- Bad keyboard
- 720p webcam
- Low battery life with heavy use
3. ASUS VivoBook S15
The ASUS VivoBook S15 is the perfect laptop for any creative artist. It not only offers many features but it also supports Cricut software and has a reasonable price tag.
This laptop can handle any task with ease thanks to its 10th generation Intel Core i7-10210U up to 4.2GHz, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB PCIe SSD that makes it a workhorse in the office or on the go.
The laptop is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. It’s so thin that you can easily slide it into a backpack. The reversible USB Type C makes connecting devices a breeze. It also has HDMI, microSD card reader and USB 3.1/2.0 ports make it easy to connect with almost anything you need.
If you’re looking for a portable laptop that’s perfect for your Cricut Explore or Maker machine, then the ASUS VivoBook S15 is just what you need. It has a variety of features at an affordable price point and it performs brilliantly.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- HD display with narrow Edge bezel
- PCIe SSD storage
- USB Type-C port available
- Facial login via IR camera,
- Ergonomic backlit keyboard
Cons
- Battery life needs improving
4. Lenovo IdeaPad S340
You won’t be disappointed with the Lenovo IdeaPad S340. A 15.6-inch Full HD touchscreen is supported by an AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, which offers high performance for any task you throw at it.
It’s lightweight but powerful with 16GB DDR4 RAM for fast performance and 512GB PCIe SSD storage space to keep all your files close by. The Dolby Audio sound system will bring you a rich audio experience wherever you go.
You’ll be able to connect quickly with the laptop’s 2USB 3.0, HDMI and micro-SD ports as well as WLAN, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
The Lenovo IdeaPad S340 is the perfect device for someone who wants a PC with all of their needs in one package. Not only does it offer a large screen, powerful memory, and storage space, but also multiple connectivity options.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Exceptional performance
- Ergonomic keyboard
- Great battery life
Cons
5. LG Gram Ultra-Lightweight Laptop
This laptop is a bit pricey, but it’s worth every penny. LG Gram has a long-lasting battery and weighs less than 2 pounds. This lightweight machine can be used for up to 25 hours before needing a charge.
This laptop offers a lot of power with its Windows 10 Home operating system, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 256 PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD and it’s known for being excellent because of the 11th generation processor.
You can also type in the dark with an illuminated keyboard and it also supports multi-touch gestures on up to four fingers. The webcam is high resolution for skype and zoom calls too.
If you’re looking for a laptop that can withstand the toughest of conditions, LG gram is your best bet. In fact, this laptop passes seven different military-grade durability tests and its frame is made with durable magnesium alloy to ensure it doesn’t break when dropped either.
Pros
- Lightweight body
- Long battery life
- Excellent keyboard
- Widened touchpad
- Great performance for multitasking
Cons
- Fragile power plug
- Trackpad feels cheap
Factors to consider when purchasing a laptop for Cricut Explore and Maker
Laptop specs
There are so many factors that go into choosing the perfect laptop. One of them is screen size, but there’s also processor type and speeds, graphics card and memory. All these affect how fast your laptop will run.
Check out two or more laptops before you decide on which one to buy.
Lightweight Design
Do you want to take your laptop and Cricut Maker with you? If so, make sure it’s lightweight. You don’t need a bulky old-fashioned machine that will weigh down your bag.
Battery Life
The battery is the life of your laptop. Sometimes you need to do a ton of work on it but don’t have access to electricity, take into account how long its battery will last and what type of charge time each unit offers.
CPU
Your laptop’s CPU is one of the most important components. If it doesn’t have a powerful processor, then there really isn’t any point in buying that device because it will be too slow and not worth your money.
RAM
The more RAM the better, that’s what they always say. But how much is enough? That answer depends on you and your computing needs.
A 4GB RAM laptop is enough for Cricut Design Space and its offline application. However, 8 GB of RAM will be better if you are an intensive user who also uses Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
Display
One of the most overlooked features when shopping for a laptop is how big your screen should be. The resolution and display size are two key factors to consider while working on large-scale projects, but don’t forget about portability.
We recommend going with a laptop that has at least 12-inch screen size for better viewing experience.
Operating System
It’s safe to say that most of the laptops come with an operating system. If it doesn’t, you have to purchase and install one on your computer.
Most crafting software like Cricut Explore Air is compatible for both Windows or Mac computers. The OS can work in Windows 7, 8 and 10.
Storage
The storage of the laptop is one of the most important aspects to have. Make sure that you get a laptop with at least 128 GBs, but if you find yourself in need for more space then expand as needed.
Connectivity
To connect your cricut machine with a laptop, you need to have the right kind of USB port. Most laptops come equipped with either USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, but there are some that offer type C. Make sure Wi-Fi connectivity is available as well.
FAQ
Does your Cricut need internet connectivity?
If you find yourself in a situation where there’s no internet, don’t fret. You can still use Cricut without so much as a Wi-Fi connection.
In order to do this, just make sure that your computer has downloaded and installed the offline designing software from design.cricut.com on it first
Can I Use a Chromebook With My Cricut?
Despite the fact that Chromebooks are becoming more and more popular, they cannot be used to run Cricut Design Space. The program requires either a Windows or Mac operating system on your laptop in order for it to work properly.
Can You Use A Tablet With Cricut?
Yes, you can use a tablet for your Cricut. Design Space is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android and iOS so using a tablet to cut out designs isn’t an issue.
Does Cricut Design Space Work With Windows 10?
Yes, Cricut Design Space is compatible with Windows or Mac. It just needs to be used on a desktop system – which could either be PC-based or Apple based, and it will run flawlessly.
Final thoughts
As we all know, the market is filled with a lot of options when it comes to laptops. But because not every laptop can be created equal, you need to do your research before making any decision.
If you’re looking for the best laptop to work with a Cricut machine, this list has all of them. You can always find out more about what features it might need based on your needs.