Are you searching for the best laptop for Cricut makers, Explore Air, And Air 2? If you cut a significant amount of materials for any type of craft using the Cricut Maker it will become a vital component of your work. You have to make sure that you have the best laptop for Cricut Maker.
On the most basic level, your laptop should satisfy the system requirements to run Cricut’s Design Space software. You can full fill your work need with a Windows laptop, MacBook, Chromebooks, or any other laptop running Unix/Linux.
The best part is that you do not need the most modern and expensive laptop for Cricut maker, the basic models can help you gain the most out of your equipment. We have reviewed and listed down the best laptops for Cricut Maker, Explore Air, and Air 2 with their Pros and Cons.
7 Best Laptops for Cricut Maker
Below Are The 7 Best Laptops For Cricut Maker.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1
Acer Aspire 5
ASUS VivoBook
Acer Nitro 5
Lenovo IdeaPad
Dell Inspiron 15 5000
ASUS ZenBook 15
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 – Overall Best Laptop For Cricut Maker
Lenovo laptops are a popular choice. Lenovo laptops are the product of a Chinese brand that appeals to an enormous audience. It comes with a variety of options and guarantees for long-term usage. This is the reason why Lenovo was awarded the 10 Editor’s Choice awards. The quality of Lenovo laptops is distinctive because of their effectiveness.
Fantastic keyboards, excellent build quality, long battery life, and the unique design of Lenovo laptops make them one of the most desirable laptops.
These laptops are ideal for Cricut to explore Air 2. They are able to run large software. Apart from their performance, Lenovo laptops are outstanding in the design department too.
Designs and Display
This Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop features 14-inch IPS anti-glare displays which are specifically designed to create stunning hand-crafted designs.
The slim and sleek laptop is black and has the Lenovo logo clearly visible in the right-hand corner of the lid’s outer edge.
If you lift the lid you will see that the Lenovo logo appears in the lower-left corner of the screen’s bezel which is written in gray with glossy finishes.
Performance
The Lenovo laptop is equipped with an Intel Core i5-6200U processor 2.30GHz (2 Cores with 3M cache that can reach 2.80GHz) Fixed with Intel HD Graphics 520 Graphics which helps to speed up graphical elements of circuits design applications.
Portability
The laptop comes with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD OPAL2.0 which enhances its performance. It weighs only 2.49 pounds (1.13 kilograms) as well as 0.6 inches thin, making it lightweight and easy to carry.
Connectivity
This laptop has a huge range of connectivity options, including 2 Intel Thunderbolt 3, 2 USB 3.0 and 1 HDMI and the indigenous RJ45 and Micro SD, and 1 Micro-SIM. It also has TPM 2.0 and protects your fingerprints with security choices.
High-speed WiFi WiFi Intel Dual Band 8260 Wireless AC (2 2.), as well as Bluetooth 4.1, are included. All these attributes make this laptop one of the best to meet Cricut’s system needs.
Other Aspects
This laptop is equipped with resolutions of 1920×1080 and Windows 10 pro as an operating system. The laptop comes with a high-definition camera that is 720p. It provides an excellent battery life of 15 hours.
2. Acer Aspire 5
If you’re on a budget and looking for the best laptop for Cricut Maker, and Explore Air system requirements, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, then you should go for this Acer Aspire 5, it is a good option according to the experts in good budget.
It’s not as powerful as the above laptop, however, it’s still a great choice for running the Cricut Design Space application.
Design and Display
It comes with a 15.6-inch display with a crisp 1920 x 1080 resolution. The design’s not an eye-catcher. But, still, it has an amazing design that is functional featuring the metallic finish that is brushed on the lid’s top and the keyboard, even though the laptop is made from plastic.
Performance
The most significant feature is the 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor, paired with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB of SSD, and the 8X drive. It has 13.5 hours of battery time. Which is fantastic.
Most of the time, gaming laptops and laptops with high-end specs will depend upon their battery’s lifespan. The longer battery time means more productivity.
Connectivity
In the case of connectivity, on its left-hand side, you will find 1 USB-3.2 Type-C connector and an Ethernet port as well as the VGA input as well as an HDMI port as well as the 2 USB 3.1 ports, 1 USB 2.0 and a Kensington lock to ensure the most efficient transfer of data. An SD card reader can be conveniently placed on the laptop’s front left edge.
3. ASUS VivoBook
If you’re not a fan of laptops with high-end specs but looking for the best laptop to run Cricut maker, Explore Air, and Air 2 Air then opt for an Asus Vivobook Core i5-8250U.
Display and Design
We rated it as among the top 7 most loved Cricut Windows 10 versions in the list below. It includes the latest 8th Generation Intel Core I5-8250U processor that is capable enough to run the Cricut Design Space application.
Thus, its 15.6′ Full HD display offers a wide-view display that comes with ASUS Splendid’s software enhancement. In addition, 14.2” wide, 0.8” thin, and has a portable footprint, with a 0.3 nano-inch ASUS NanoEdge bezel to give the impressive 88% display and body proportion provides you with the experience of having an extremely costly laptop.
Most often Cricut Explore Air will mainly be used by women, therefore they’ll prefer a Cricut maker that is light and easy to carry.
The Asus Vivobook 8250U nails the mark since it weighs just 3.7 pounds making it among the lighter laptops in our list of hand-picked laptops.
Break out of the clouds The laptop is 0.8 inches thin and lightweight making it simple to slip into bags or laptop cases.
Furthermore, the Star Gray color of Asus Vivobook 8250U features a brushed metal finish that is topped with Asus, distinctive concentric shine that makes it a popular choice for those who want to use it.
The laptop, however, is made entirely of plastic, and it appears like a high-end model. For instance, with the help of the top laptop for the Cricut Explore the laptop is a top choice.
Performance
Additionally, it comes with 8GB DDR, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 1TB HDD, the most recent Windows 10 Operating System, Nano edge, a fingerprint reader with an 80% Screen-to-Body Ratio and is among the few traditional laptops that are lightweight and also mobile. It features a dual-band ultra-fast processor for the super-fast, compact performance.
4. Acer Nitro 5
The Acer Nitro 5 gives the best user experience, with an unforgettable design providing sharp colors when working in Cricut Design Space. It offers your handcrafted images a clearer and more vibrant appearance with its Cricut Explore system specifications. I rate it as one of the best notebooks that can run Cricut Explore Air 2 in 2024.
Design & Display
The Acer Nitro 5 is a fantastic combination of style and performance. It features a 15.6 Full HD IPS screen for creating the best-looking, handcrafted designs.
Performance
It comes with 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H processor that’s paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti and 8GB of DDR4, which provides power to run demanding software. In addition, you also get a 512GB SSD However, SSD storage is five to ten times more efficient than traditional hard disk, and can assist you in speeding through your tasks.
This laptop is great for those who use Cricut Explore Air for commercial reasons, and where time is crucial. Additionally, its weight is 4.8 pounds. Thanks to its speedy performance could be described as the best laptop for the fusion 360.
You can take high-quality video calls with your family and friends thanks to the HD cameras built-in and dual microphones as it is crucial for women to talk about their handicrafts when they need to.
Its precise touchscreen is much more powerful than traditional touchpads, assisting you to work more effectively and faster if you’re crafting for your handicraft.
Connectivity
It provides Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 USB Type-C & USB Charging, 3 USB 3.2, 1 HDMI 2.0 Port, and Headphone/Speaker/ Jack.
5. Lenovo IdeaPad
Lenovo laptops have been heaven on earth, for anyone who wants to work from home. In this regard, we’re introducing a Lenovo Ideapad high-performance laptop for Cricut Explore Air.
Lenovo laptops have become the most popular option to use with Cricut Explore Air 2 because of their performance, superior keyboards, excellent build quality, and longer battery life. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly (2 within 1) laptop that will work with Cricut Explore Air 2, I recommend it to be your first choice.
It also meets the basic specifications for Cricut Explore Air system 2. It’s the best laptop for crafting as well as sketching.
Display & Design
It is equipped with a 15.6-inch display with a 1366×768 screen resolution. In addition, it comes with AMD’s A12-9720P quad-core processor which is a lower mid-range laptop CPU. The Athlon Silver 3050U is a lower mid-range processor that has performance similar to the popular Intel Core i3-7100U. The Athlon Silver 3050U is a dual-core processor but only has one thread of computing per core.
Performance
In addition, it is quad-core, meaning that it runs with four processors which give double the power compared to other versions. It is therefore the most appropriate for Cricut to test Computer needs.
It includes all features of other laptops, it can cloak speed up to 3.1GHz, 8GB DDR4 256GB SSD. If you’re just looking to meet your requirements, then it is a good laptop for your Cricut needs.
It can seamlessly run your video editing programs in addition to various browser and program tabs simultaneously. (most importantly it will run Cricut Explore Air 2 applications). It weighs 3.52 lbs and it comes with multiple connectivity options.
6. Dell Inspiron 15 5000
Dell is among the laptop companies that regularly introduce new and modern features. Dell has launched the slimmest laptop designs.
In third place on the list of market rankings, Dell has an awesome range of innovative laptops and a variety of warranties that are lavish, and an extensive selection of budget-friendly laptops that have made Dell Company favorable for its clients.
If you’re looking for a laptop that’s budget friendly and durable, then I suggest you go with The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 as it runs various software from Cricut makers.
Design and Display
The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 has 15.6 inches wide LED-backlit touch screen with a resolution of 1920×1080 and Intel Iris Xe Graphics making it perfect for people who want to create their own designs.
The emblem of Dell is located in the middle of the top of the laptop. It is available in silver which gives it a classy design.
If you open the slim-looking Dell laptop’s lid, you’ll see the large touch screen, as well as the logo of Dell on the left side of the screen, and in the middle. The full-size keyboard is extremely comfortable to type on.
The laptop is equipped with MaxxAudio professional Stereo Speakers as well as a Dual Digital Microphone with an Integrated HD webcam, which lets you work and take advantage of other features of the laptop.
Performance
In Computers and laptops, it is the processor that is the main feature. Laptops like Dell Inspiron have 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-11320H processor which can cloak speed 4.5 Ghz, with Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which creates an amazing graphic element in the Cricut Design Space application.
The Dell laptop comes with 126GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB SSD fast storage that is extremely cool to work on or play games on, as well as stream. The laptop features a large keyboard that allows you to write comfortably.
Connectivity
The laptop comes with a large screen as well as a wide range of choices for connectivity. It comes with 2 USB 3.1 as well as 1 USB 2.0 and 1 HDMI. It comes with a combo headset jack and an audio microphone that allow users to communicate via voice chat. HD webcam equipped with a dual digital microphone is included, making it suitable for high-quality video production.
It is easy to transfer data through Bluetooth 4.2. The Wireless AC WLAN (802.11) has been utilized to allow laptops access to the internet through Wi-Fi. Windows 10 is the operating system that runs on the Dell Inspiron, along with a 3-cells 42 WHr battery that offers 5 hours of battery life.
All configurations make Dell Inspiron one of the most suitable laptops for the Cricut system.
7. ASUS ZenBook 15
It’s a no-brainer that the Asus ZenBook 15 is the ideal computer for Cricut models, particularly when you need a secondary display. It’s more precise: a ScreenPad. Asus brings laptop technology to the next level, and even meets the diverse laptop requirements for Cricut machines as well as Cricut’s exclusive Design Space.
CPU
The U-series processor by Intel boasts turbo clock speeds up to 4.9GHz. Its Intel Core i7-10510U chip isn’t the most expensive, but it’s capable of handling all Cricut-friendly designs using Photoshop, Illustrator, and other tools.
GPU
The quad-core processor can be supported by its GTX 1650 graphics card. But, Asus reduces the graphic card’s power by offering a low-power Max-Q version identical. The next step is a 16GB module that makes it the perfect laptop for using Cricut’s design space.
RAM and Storage
In terms of storage options, there’s an SSD with 512GB that is in place and meets the Cricut Explore Air 2 requirements. Additionally this ZenBook 15 runs Windows 10 OS out of the box.
Display
is equipped with a 15.6-inch 4K screen which is among the most impressive features that come with the laptop that is compatible with Cricut. The 4K screen offers a total resolution that is 3840×2160 pixels. It is followed by slimmer bezels as well as the ability to view from a wide angle specifically to help you see each Cricut component, exactly as it appears.
Keyboard and Design
This notebook isn’t any less than you need and incorporates a number of essential tools, including its IR camera, Alexa connectivity, backlit keyboards, MIL-STD durability, and the innovative ScreenPad 2.0.
In spite of the impressive specifications sheet, it’s the screen pad 2.0 that leaves a lasting impression by providing a 5.65-inch touchscreen for Cricut professionals. The secondary screen functions to act as an application switcher, or Slide Xpert upon demand and enhances the multi-functional capabilities of the laptop.
Ports
And don’t forget the lightweight appearance of its ZenBook 15 weighing a mere 3.6 pounds, to be precise. The wide range of Type-A, Type-C, and HDMI ports, accompanied by the Wi-Fi 6 makes this one of the best alternatives to use with Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore as well as almost every other machine.
The Cricut Maker Bluetooth support is very fast and lets you connect the devices, without delay. In addition, the device can produce approximately 9 hours of battery life even with a screen that is 4K and stretched up to the edge.
Buyer’s Guide: Best Laptop For Cricut Maker
There are recommended specifications for Cricut Maker apps for Windows and MacOS. To be more precise laptops can run the Cricut app if it comes with the following hardware requirements:
| Specifications | Windows | MacOS |
| OS | Windows 10 & Windows 11 | MacOS 11 & MacOS 12 |
| CPU | Intel i3/ AMD Ryzen 3 or higher | Minimum 1.83 GHZ Processor |
| RAM | 8GB or greater | 8GB or greater |
| Disk Space | 2GB | 2GB |
| Display | 1024×768 or higher | 1024×768 or higher |
Be aware that as the Cricut software is regularly updated and the minimum requirements change periodically. If you do have an operating system that is compatible with the minimum requirements then your laptop can run cricut app for long time.
The things you need to look for when selecting the best laptop for Cricut maker are relatively basic. You’ll require Windows 10 or Mac OS, and a processor with a speed of more than 2 GHz. This means that an Intel dual-core processor or an MD can be used.
A laptop that is lightweight and portable with high resolution displays of 1080 pixels is ideal. It is also possible to use an external monitor in case your laptop’s screen isn’t large enough to accommodate your Cricut maker requirements. Nearly every MacBook I’ve tested runs Cricut maker without issue.
FAQ’S
Do I need a laptop to use a Cricut design space?
It is suggested to work on a laptop however you can work on Cricut maker software on iOS and Android mobile device too. The ability to be flexible is among the most appealing features of the Cricut software. It is important to remember that both the Windows and MacOS version are more extensive in terms of tools and features.
Can a ChromeBook run Cricut Maker App?
No, the Cricut Maker software can not run on ChromeBooks. This is also true for Linux and Unix computers.
What Operating systems on a laptop work with Cricut?
The Cricut Maker software is available to Windows and MacOS laptops. In short that if you’re planning to create stunning designs using Cricut, the choice is between the 2 versions of the program. The good thing is that the specifications for Cricut aren’t too high.
How to use Cricut Maker Software on a laptop?
After you’ve downloaded and installed the software now launched Cricut Maker on your computer or laptop. You’ll require an create cut ID to set up the settings.
It is possible to connect your Cricut maker to your computer or laptop via the USB port or a Bluetooth connection.
Here’s how to download, and launch Cricut Maker:
Install and download the Desktop version of Cricut Maker.
Now install Cricut onto Your Windows or Mac desktop or laptop.
After installation, download any desired Cricut fonts to utilize them offline.
Make sure you are using the up-to-date version of your Cricut Maker on your laptop.
Sign in with your Cricut ID. Follow the prompts for setting up.
Conclusion
The best laptop for cricut maker is the one which is able to handle the processing tasks that Cricut software demands. Our best choices have been listed above. The laptop you select must come with at least a USB connection and a Bluetooth connection. If it doesn’t include an USB port, you can purchase an adapter. Our top picks come with Bluetooth connectivity.
The Cricut Maker software isn’t only compatible with a laptop but also with Android and iPhone. Cricut has been developed to be able to function effectively on several operating systems, including Mac OS, iOS, Android, and Windows.