Cricut is a great way for creatives to express their ideas. Whether you prefer to use a laptop for Cricut with your Cricut machine or a tablet, the quality of your output is the most important thing.
In this article, we will explain the most important factors to consider when choosing the Best laptop for Cricut Makers and which one is best for you.
If you are however yet to get a Cricut Machine or want to use a tablet instead, check out our guide for best-buy Cricut machines and the best tablet for Cricut design space. If you however prefer a desktop computer, please check out our review of top computers for Cricut.
What is the best laptop for Cricut?
- Acer Aspire 5 best budget laptop for Cricut
- Dell XPS 15 Best Windows laptops for Cricut
- HP Business Laptop
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3i cheapest laptop for Cricut makers
- MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1, 2021) The best MacBook for Cricut markers
- MacBook Air (M1, 2020) The best value MacBook for Cricut
- HP Pavilion x360 14 best laptops for Cricut Explore Air 2
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Asus Zenbook Duo 14 Best laptop for Cricut under $1000
Best laptop for Cricut Design Space
Acer Aspire 5 Best Laptop for Cricut Makers under $500
- Screen: 15.6 inches
- Res: 1920×1080 Px
- Color Gamut: 57% sign
- CPU: Core i5
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage Space: 128 GB SSD
- Battery Life: 5 to 8 hours
If you are on a budget, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great pick for you. This laptop packs great power especially when you consider its price range. First of all the laptop has a large enough screen to view your work. At 15.6 inches, this laptop is one of the largest you can get for under 500$.
When working with graphic design work, HD resolution is recommended for optimal performance. This laptop comes with 1920 x 1080 pixels of screen resolution which is perfect. Unfortunately, 261 nits brightness is low especially if you intend to use it in high-light situations like outdoors. Additionally, the 57% sRGB color Gamut is a bit low and may appear dull, especially when dealing with rich color artwork.
The laptop is very fairly priced especially if you factor in the very powerful processing power. Although the RAM is at 4 GB which is the minimum recommended, this is the only laptop under 500$ that comes with a quad-core processor instead of a dual-core. Quadcore basically means that instead of 2 processors found in a Dual core, this laptop comes with 4 making it faster and easier to multitask.
If you want a full review guide covering the body and build plus storage space, we have created a detailed review of the Acer Aspire in our review for Best Budget Laptops for Photoshop. However, the bottom line is that this is a great deal laptop with powerful features for a very cheap price. You will not get any better south of the 500$ mark.
If you are not on a fixed budget, you might consider checking out the larger Acer Aspire 3 which will give more value for money. Here are some of its features.
Pros
- Powerful Processor
- Ergonomic Keyboard and Mouse design
- Affordable Price
- Upgradable RAM and Storage
Cons
- Low brightness and Color Richness
- Low RAM
Dell XPS 15 Best Windows laptop for Cricut machines
- Operating system: Windows 10 / Windows 11
- CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 – Intel Core i9
- RAM: 8GB – 64GB
- Display: 15.6-inch
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 / 3,840 x 2,400
- Connectivity: 2 x Thunderbolt 3 ports, USB-C port, SD card reader, audio jack
The Dell XPS 15 takes the spot for Best Windows laptop for Cricut machines. First of all the Laptop is powerful and a fast performer. The Dell XPS comes with a large 8GB RAM with options up to 64 GB. To add to this it has a nice Intel Core i5 processor, with an Intel Core i9 processor.
When it comes to processors, both core i5 and core i9 are some of the latest technology you can get for PCS. Combined power from the massive RAM, Processor, and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, ensures your laptop will run programs without hanging or unnecessary lags.
The screen size is well above the 13 inches minimum and what is great is that the 1920 x 1080 HD resolutions are well above the minimum. It is a great Laptop with a wide range of options because you can even opt for a 4K screen resolution option.
Although this is more crisp and clear, it is unnecessary and the HD option and 15.6 inches of screen size are more than enough. The Laptop can run on both Windows 10 and 11 systems and surely overperforms on the checklist provided earlier. Unfortunately, however, this is not a cheap laptop and will cost over 1000$.
Pros
- Fast Performance
- Long Battery Life
- High Resolution both HD and 4K options
Cons
- Expensive
- More than you need
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is the cheapest laptop for Cricut makers
- Operating system: Windows 10
- CPU: 11th gen Intel Core i3 / Intel Core i5
- RAM: 4GB
- Connectivity: HDMI, 3 x USB, audio jack, Novo Button, SD card
- Screen Size: 14-inch
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Pixels
The Dell XPS is almost perfect for the job but is a little expensive. If you are on a budget, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is a cheaper alternative with adequate specifications to comfortably run Cricut apps without problems.
The RAM meets the minimum 4GB requirements and added to the new 11th Generation Intel Core i3 / Intel Core i5 is fast enough. The HD screen that comes at 14 inches size is adequate for this task.
If you work remotely without power, however, the battery life is short and may disappoint you. All in all, however, this is a great device, that can get the job done and comes at a very fair price.
Pros
- Affordable
- Large and clear full HD screen
- Intel Core i5 processor available
Cons
- Short Battery Life
- Core i3 processor
MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1, 2021) The best MacBook Laptop for Cricut markers
- Operating system: MACOS Big Sur
- CPU: Apple M1 Pro / M1 Max
- RAM: 8GB – 64GB
- Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, HDMI port, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3 port
- Display: 14-inch
- Screen Resolution: 2,560 x 1,600
Although the screen size on the MacBook Pro 14-inch is so far one of the smallest at 13.3 inches, it makes up for it with a large 2,560 x 1,600 screen resolution that is one of the best of all reviewed devices so far.
The Apple M1 is one of the best processors in the market today. Additionally, just like most MAC laptops, the laptop has a cool and sleek body. Although the screen size on the MacBook Pro 14-inch is so far one of the smallest at 13.3 inches, it makes up for it with a large 2,560 x 1,600 screen resolution that is one of the best of all reviewed devices so far.
The Apple M1 is one of the best processors in the market today. Additionally, just like most MAC laptops, the laptop has a cool and sleek body. This laptop is however not cheap and its premium features come at a price.
If you like the MAC alternative over a PC but are on a budget, then the MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is the one for you. It takes the spot for the best-value MacBook for Cricut.
Pros
- Powerful processor
- Large RAM memory
- Perfect calibrated screen
- Good Keyboard and Mouse Pad design
Cons
- Expensive
MacBook Air (M1, 2020) The best value MacBook for Cricut
- Screen Size: 13.3 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 by 1600 Pixels
- RAM: 8 GB
- Memory: 256 GB
- Processor: Apple M1 chip; 8-core CPU
The MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1, 2021) is a great pick but is quite expensive. If you still want a MacBook for Cricut but are on a budget, MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is the best pick for you. The 13.3-inch screen is small but good enough to use for Cricut. The resolution is perfect displaying crisp and clear vivid colors.
The screen is able to display millions of colors with 2560 by 1600 Pixels native resolution and IPS display technology. This is more than you need for the Cricut design space.
HP Pavilion x360 14 best Laptop for Cricut explore air 2
- Screen Size: 14 inches
- Resolution: 1366 x 768 Pixels
- RAM: 8 GB DDR
- Processor: 3.5 GHz Intel core_i7
- Storage Space: 128 GB
- Integrated Graphics Card
- Windows 10 Operating system
HP Pavilion x360 is the best Laptop for Cricut explore air 2. It comes with a large 14 inches screen and a powerful Intel core i7 processor that is fast and reliable.
To add to this power, it comes with a large 8 GB RAM and an integrated graphics card that allows you to easily multitask. The laptop is slim and lightweight making it easily portable and you will easily use it on the go.
Unfortunately, the resolution is not the best at only 1366 x 768 Pixels. For the best user experience, we recommend 1920 x 1080 pixels full HD. Overall this powerful and affordable laptop is a perfect pick for any Cricut-related usage.
Pros
- Affordable Pricing
- Lightweight and easily portable
- Powerful processor and RAM
Cons
- Low storage
- Low resolution
How to choose the best laptop for Cricut?
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the best laptop for Cricut.
Operating system
An ideal laptop for Cricut programs should be able to run Windows 8 and above, preferably Windows 10 as the best. It is however important to note that you can run Cricut Software on both MAC and Windows operating systems.
RAM and Processor
A newly released processor version such as Intel Dual-Core or equivalent AMD processor is required for a Cricut Laptop. Together with a minimum of 4 GB RAM will ensure the Laptop runs without lag even when multitasking.
Free disk space
To install Cricut applications, a minimum of 2 GB of free disk space is needed. This is in your C disk or where you will store your Software. Additionally, you will need some space where you can store your files for future reference. A minimum of 256 GB of storage space is required.
Screen Size and Resolution
For most graphic design requirements, a 13 to 15 inches screen and above is recommended. This is a comfortable view to work on without strain or needless zooming. For screen resolution, most laptops qualify because anywhere from 1024 pixels to 768 pixels will work well.
Connectivity
You will need to move files from the USB port to your laptop and back. You, therefore, need to consider the laptop’s ability to connect to external storage.
What computer works best with Cricut
For optimal performance, most Cricut programs will smoothly run on the following laptop specs. A newly released processor version.
- 4 GB RAM and above
- 256 GB storage space and above
- The 13.3-inch screen and above
What is the best laptop for Cricut design space
- Dell XPS 15 Best Windows laptops for Cricut
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is The best budget laptop for Cricut
- MacBook Pro 14-inch (M1, 2021) The best MacBook for Cricut markers
- MacBook Air (M1, 2020) The best value MacBook for Cricut
- Acer Aspire 5 Best Laptop for Cricut Makers under $500
- HP Pavilion x360 14”
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Asus Zenbook Duo 14
Related Content: How To Use Cricut Explore Air 2 An easy beginners guide
What is the Best Laptop for Cricut Makers under $500
Acer Aspire 5 is the Best Laptop for Cricut that you can buy for under $500. Its key features include:
Screen: 15.6 inches
Res: 1920×1080 Px
Color Gamut: 57% sign
CPU: Core i5 Processor
RAM: 4 GB
Storage Space: 128 GB SSD
Battery Life: 5 to 8 hoursWhat laptop works well with Cricut Maker?
Cricut Maker is not a heavy program. Any laptop that runs Windows and MAC operating systems will easily run Cricut
Is a laptop or tablet better for Cricut?
A laptop is better for Cricut than a tablet. It will provide an overall better user experience because of its wider screen.
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