As dedicated Cricut users who have tested the software across various machines, we've picked the best laptops for Cricut makers to help you get the most from Design Space.
The best laptop for Cricut needs at least 8GB of RAM, a fast processor to run the software's advanced tools smoothly, and a high-quality display for accurate design previewing. Our top pick is the ASUS Zenbook A14: a featherweight powerhouse with a stunning OLED screen and extraordinary battery life.
The best laptop for Cricut overall
30-second review: The ASUS Zenbook A14 is a remarkably portable laptop that brings serious computing power in an ultralight package. Weighing less than 1kg, this is built for creators who need to work on the go without sacrificing performance. With its stunning OLED display and superb battery life, this is an excellent choice for Cricut makers who value portability and colour accuracy.
Pricing: At £1,099.99, the Zenbook A14 sits in the premium category, competing directly with the MacBook Air. Cricut users get more than enough power to run Design Space smoothly, along with the versatility to handle design work in apps like Adobe Illustrator. The Snapdragon X processor provides excellent everyday performance, and whilst it's not cheap, the combination of portability, battery life and that gorgeous OLED screen makes it a sensible investment for makers who work in multiple locations or at craft fairs and workshops.
Design and build: The A14's standout feature is its featherweight construction at just 980g – you'll barely notice it in your bag. The 14-inch OLED display is another highlight, offering excellent colour coverage (97% DCI-P3, 98% Adobe RGB) and good brightness at 405 nits, ensuring your Cricut designs look accurate and vibrant. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides extra vertical space that's particularly useful when working with Design Space's interface. The port selection is thoughtfully curated, with a full-size HDMI that's perfect for presenting at workshops, plus USB 4 Type-C ports for fast data transfer and charging.
Performance: We were thoroughly impressed with the Zenbook A14's capabilities for Cricut work. The Snapdragon X processor handled Design Space effortlessly, and we had no issues working on complex projects with multiple layers and intricate cuts. The OLED screen's colour accuracy meant we could trust that our designs would look as intended when cut, and the screen remained visible even in bright workshop environments. Where the laptop truly excels is battery life, achieving over 20 hours in testing means you can work through multiple crafting sessions, take it to workshops, or spend a full day at a craft fair without hunting for a power socket.
Read more: ASUS Zenbook A14 review
The best budget laptop for Cricut
30-second review: The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a rugged, budget-friendly 2-in-1 that prioritises durability and utility over raw power. Its 360-degree hinge and responsive 11.6-inch touchscreen make it a capable companion for Cricut Design Space via the web browser or Android app, while MIL-STD 810H certification means it can handle the knocks of a busy craft room. The processor won't win benchmarks, but it's more than adequate for running the Cricut app, managing cut files, and light design work in web-based tools like Canva.
Pricing: At £349 / $579.99, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is one of the most affordable options for Cricut makers. Bear in mind that ChromeOS means you'll be using the Android or browser version of Design Space rather than the full desktop app, but for simple to mid-complexity Cricut projects this is perfectly workable – and the price is hard to argue with.
Design and build: Similar to the standard Chromebook 311 in looks, the Spin adds a robust 360-degree hinge that holds the screen at any angle without slipping. MIL-STD 810H certification covers drops, vibration, and temperature extremes – reassuring in a busy craft environment. At 1.26kg it's impressively light. The touchscreen uses Corning Gorilla Glass and supports 10-point multi-touch, which works well for selecting and positioning elements in Design Space.
Connectivity: Two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm jack give you plenty of options for connecting your Cricut machine. Wi-Fi 7 provides fast, stable wireless connectivity – a notable inclusion at this price – and Bluetooth 5.3 is also on board.
Performance: The MediaTek Kompanio 540 with 4GB RAM delivers a slightly sluggish ChromeOS experience, with brief delays when switching apps, but it handles the Cricut Android app and web-based design tools without issue. Battery life is claimed at up to 15 hours, with fast charging supported – more than enough for a full day of crafting.
Read more: Acer Chromebook Spin 311 review
The best mid-price laptop for Cricut
30-second review: The Acer Aspire Vero 16 offers solid performance with a commitment to sustainability. Built with over 70% recycled materials in its chassis, this laptop is perfect for Cricut users who want a large screen at a mid-range price.
Price: At $999 / £999, the Aspire Vero 16 represents good value. Whilst you could find laptops with more powerful discrete graphics at this price point, the Vero's combination of a large 16-inch display, decent battery life and sustainable construction makes it an appealing choice. The Intel Core Ultra 7 processor provides more than enough power to run Design Space smoothly, and the USB4 ports offer excellent connectivity for your Cricut machine and other peripherals.
Design: The Aspire Vero 16 is very distinctive with its textured grey 'Iron' finish made from recycled plastic and bio-based oyster shell materials. Despite its 16-inch screen, it remains reasonably portable at 1.8kg, making it suitable for taking to craft workshops or working in different rooms. The keyboard lifts slightly when you open the screen, creating a more comfortable typing angle long Design Space sessions. The 16-inch IPS display offers a resolution of 1920 x 1200, providing ample workspace for managing complex Cricut projects with multiple layers and elements.
Performance: In our testing, the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor handled Design Space admirably, allowing us to work on intricate multi-layer designs without frustration. The 16GB of RAM proved adequate for running Design Space alongside web browsers and design applications like Inkscape or Canva. The IPS screen, whilst not OLED, delivers good brightness at 407 nits and respectable colour accuracy (100% sRGB, 83% DCI-P3), ensuring your designs look accurate before cutting. The USB4 ports are particularly useful, offering fast data transfer when working with large design files or connecting to external storage. Battery life exceeded 11 hours in our tests, meaning you can comfortably work through a full day of crafting without hunting for a power socket.
Learn more: Acer Aspire Vero 16 review
The best laptop for Cricut for portability
30-second review: The Microsoft Surface Pro 12 is a lightweight, versatile tablet-laptop hybrid running full Windows 11. It's ideal for Cricut users who need maximum portability and the flexibility to work anywhere, from craft fairs to workshops to the sofa.
Pricing: Starting at £799 / $799.99, the Surface Pro 12 appears competitively priced, but it's important to note that the keyboard case ($249 / £249) and stylus are sold separately, which can significantly increase the total cost. However, for Cricut users who prioritise portability and touchscreen functionality, the base package offers good value. The Snapdragon X Plus processor provides ample power for Design Space, and you can use any Bluetooth keyboard you already own to keep costs down. The touchscreen interface is particularly valuable for direct manipulation of designs in Design Space.
Design and build: At just 686g, the Surface Pro 12 is remarkably portable – you'll barely notice it in your bag alongside your Cricut supplies. Microsoft's clean, tablet-first design includes a built-in kickstand on the rear, allowing you to position the screen at various angles for comfortable working or presenting at craft workshops. The 12-inch touchscreen with its 3:2 aspect ratio provides a good workspace for Design Space, and the 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and manipulating designs feel smooth and responsive. The two USB-C ports handle charging, video output, and data transfer, though you may want a small USB hub for connecting your Cricut machine whilst charging. The 12MP rear camera is useful for photographing materials or finished projects, whilst the 1080p front camera supports Windows Hello facial recognition for quick login.
Performance: In our testing, the Snapdragon X Plus processor handled Cricut Design Space admirably, allowing us to work on multi-layer projects without frustration. The touchscreen proved particularly useful for selecting and moving elements in Design Space: it's far more intuitive than using a trackpad for many design tasks. The screen displays 96% of sRGB with good brightness at 442 nits, ensuring your designs look accurate whether you're working indoors or near windows. Battery life exceeded 14 hours in our tests, which is exceptional for such a portable device: you can easily work through multiple crafting sessions or an entire day at a craft fair without needing to recharge. Whilst the integrated Adreno GPU won't handle intensive 3D rendering, it's fine for the 2D design work that Cricut projects require.
Learn more: Microsoft Surface Pro 12 review
The best touchscreen laptop for Cricut
30-second review: The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI is a gorgeous, hyper-portable laptop that weighs in at just under 1kg. The headline feature is the world's first 3K OLED display treated with Corning Gorilla Matte Pro, which dramatically reduces glare in bright craft rooms and workshops. The touchscreen is responsive and accurate, making it a pleasure to use with Design Space's interface. Powered by Intel's Lunar Lake Core Ultra processor with integrated Arc graphics, it handles Cricut work, graphic design and light creative tasks with ease, and the nearly 14-hour battery life means it'll last a full day of making.
Pricing: The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI retails at $1,199 / £1,399, though it can be found for less at major retailers. That's a premium ask for a machine with integrated graphics, but the combination of sub-1kg portability, a class-leading 3K OLED touchscreen and capable all-day performance justifies the cost for makers who need to work on the move.
Design and build: Built from a high-grade magnesium-aluminium alloy, the Swift Edge 14 AI achieves a remarkable balance of lightness and durability. The 14-inch 3K OLED display is a clear highlight: 2880 x 1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 colour coverage and the Corning Gorilla Matte Pro anti-glare treatment that makes it far more usable in brightly lit environments than typical glossy OLED panels. The touchscreen is responsive and accurate for Design Space use, though the hinge stops short of 360 degrees so it can't be used in full tablet mode. Port selection is generous: two USB-C (with Thunderbolt 4 and charging support), two USB-A, full-size HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Performance: The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V CPU handles Cricut Design Space effortlessly, including complex multi-layer projects. For photo editing, the high single-core performance (up to 5.1GHz) delivers excellent responsiveness, and its AI acceleration via the 48-TOPS NPU adds useful speed to AI-powered tools. The integrated Intel Arc 140V GPU is capable for 2D design, light video editing and basic 3D work, though it won't match discrete GPU laptops for demanding production tasks. Battery life came in at nearly 14 hours in video playback testing; more than enough for a full day of crafting.
Read more: Acer Swift Edge 14 AI review
The best 2-in-1 laptop for Cricut
30-second review: The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is a hybrid device that combines the functionality of a traditional laptop with the flexibility of a tablet. With its large 16-inch touchscreen and sturdy 360-degree hinge, it's ideal for Cricut users who want to switch between laptop mode for design work and tent mode for presenting projects or following tutorials whilst crafting.
Pricing: The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 starts under £1,000 / $1,000 for the base model, with the higher-spec version (featuring 32GB RAM and a 2.5K Mini-LED screen) priced at £1,299 / $1,399. For Cricut users, this represents excellent value, particularly if you opt for the upgraded model with its superior display and additional memory.
Design and build: Dell's build quality is evident throughout: there's no flex in the body or lid, which is crucial when you're flipping between laptop, tent, and tablet modes. The 360-degree hinge is impressively sturdy, holding the screen firmly in whatever position you choose, whether you're working at your desk or propping it up in tent mode to follow a Cricut tutorial whilst cutting. The 16-inch Mini-LED touchscreen is the standout feature, offering exceptional brightness at 552 nits and excellent colour coverage (99.2% DCI-P3, 96% sRGB). However, portability is compromised by the device's 2.05kg weight, making it less suitable for frequent travellers but perfectly fine for moving between rooms or occasional trips.
Performance: In our testing, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 handled Cricut Design Space with ease, allowing us to work on complex projects with multiple layers without any lag. The Intel Core Ultra 7 processor provides solid performance for design applications, and we had no issues running Adobe Illustrator alongside Design Space and a web browser. The 32GB RAM configuration proved particularly useful when multitasking between design software, reference materials, and Cricut's various tools. Battery life came in at just under 9 hours in our tests, which should see you through a full day of crafting, though Dell has since released updates aimed at improving battery efficiency. The integrated Intel Arc graphics are adequate for 2D design work, though they won't match laptops with discrete graphics cards for heavy 3D rendering or video editing.
Learn more: Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 review
How to choose the best laptop for Cricut
What's the best laptop for Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Maker 3, Cricut Explore 3, and other Cricut machines? The good news is that the minimum requirements are met by a wide range of Windows laptops and MacBooks, including many budget models. If you're really short of cash, be aware that you don't actually need a laptop to run Cricut's Design Space. You can use a smartphone or tablet instead.
However, there are two reasons why you might want to go for one of the more expensive laptops on the market. Firstly, because it’s going to provide a better computing experience in general. And secondly, because some of the more advanced Cricut features, such as Offset, are not supported with the minimum system requirements but require higher system specs, such as Windows 10 64-bit. Higher specs may also be needed if you do design work in other software, such as Illustrator, or if you make videos to promote your craft business.
How we test
Laptops are complex and extremely varied, so numerous capabilities need to be tested, prodded and assessed. Cricut isn't the most demanding application, but a good screen is still important, with brightness, contrast, colour coverage and pixel density all on the list.
Touch responsiveness including support for input pens is also key, with the number of pressure levels supported always an important factor. Next up we assess overall form factor, portability and build quality, which in this context means everything from conventional clamshell laptops to 2-in-1s and tablet convertibles with detachable keyboards and even foldable laptops.
You absolutely don't need an epic 16-core CPU or powerful graphics chip for Cricut, but we test laptops to ensure a decent baseline of both GPU and processor performance.
Connectivity is another key element for any laptop, which means looking out for features like Thunderbolt tom ensure plnty of bandwidth, USB-C for univrsal connectivity and the specification of wireless interfaces. Good battery life is of course always desirable for any portable drawing device.
We also assess ergonomics, build and usability, including keyboard quality, chassis rigidity, trackpad response and more to build up a practical picture of how well a laptop performs in the real world rather than merely benchmarks. That said, we do run a series of benchmark tests on all laptops we get in for review, which will be different based on the intended use for them. All the laptops in this guide have been run through the following tests (provided the OS is compatible for each one):
• Cinebench R23/2024 - this assesses the performance of a computer's CPU and GPU using real-world 3D rendering tasks
• Geekbench 5/6 - this tests the CPU's processing power, both by using a single core for a single task at a time as well as all the CPU's core to see its ability to multitask
• PCMark 10 - this test assesses a computer’s ability to run all everyday tasks from web browsing to digital content creation, testing app launch speeds, 3D rendering and even battery life
FAQs
What kind of laptop do you need for a Cricut?
Cricut recommends at least an Intel Core i3 or AMD equivalent, 4GB of RAM and 2GB of free storage, but in practice you'll want more headroom for a smooth experience. We'd suggest 8GB of RAM as a comfortable minimum for running Design Space alongside a browser and basic design tools, with 16GB recommended if you work on complex multi-layer projects or use additional software like Illustrator or Canva. A display with good colour accuracy is worth prioritising, since the colours you see on screen should match your finished cuts as closely as possible.
Do Chromebooks work with Cricut?
Yes, you can use a Cricut with a Chromebook via the Cricut Design Space Android app, available from the Google Play Store. It supports most core features, though some advanced functionality available in the full Windows or Mac desktop version may be limited or absent. For simple to mid-complexity projects (cutting shapes, working with pre-made designs and basic text work) a Chromebook works well. If you rely heavily on importing complex SVG files or advanced Design Space features, a Windows or Mac laptop will give you the most complete experience.
Do I need a touchscreen laptop for Cricut?
A touchscreen isn't essential for Cricut work, but it can make working in Design Space more intuitive, particularly for selecting, resizing and repositioning design elements. If you do opt for a touchscreen, a 2-in-1 that can fold into tent mode is especially useful for following along with tutorials while you cut. That said, the vast majority of Cricut users work perfectly well with a standard laptop and trackpad, and display quality and processing power will have a greater impact on your day-to-day experience than touchscreen capability.
Is a Mac or Windows laptop better for Cricut?
Cricut Design Space is available for both Mac and Windows, and the experience is broadly comparable on either platform. The choice largely comes down to your existing ecosystem, budget, and what else you use your laptop for. Macs – particularly those with Apple Silicon – offer excellent performance, colour-accurate displays, and strong battery life, but tend to cost more. Windows laptops offer a wider range of price points and hardware options. Either will run Design Space smoothly as long as the specs meet the recommended requirements.
