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Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker iii: which is right for you?

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3: The Cricut Maker 3 and roller accessory on a table with a woman

(Epitome credit: Cricut)

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3, which is best? This is the big question on many crafters minds at the moment. The Cricut Maker is a classic Cricut machine that can cut through over 300 materials, and hot off the back of the Maker'southward success comes the brand new Maker 3. In this Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3 characteristic, nosotros're going to compare the new model confronting the original to encounter if it's worth that heftier cost tag.

Cricuts are loved for their sleek and like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use designs. Uniform with Cricut's bespoke Pattern Studio software, and compatible with over 13 tools, there is no limit to what you can do with one. The best Cricut machines don't come inexpensive though, so earlier you make your investment, it's worth knowing which machine is correct for you. Or, if you already ain the Cricut Maker, you should be sure that the Maker 3 is worth the upgrade before you buy.

In this Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3 feature we're comparing price, design, functions, and everything else you could wish to know about these 2 great machines. When you lot've decided, take a look at the best Cricut accessories.

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker iii: price

Cricut Maker 3 on a table with Smart Materials — Smart Materials for the Cricut 3 are a serious upgrade (Paradigm credit: Cricut)

Neither the Cricut Maker nor the Cricut Maker 3 is cheap. You can pick upwards the Cricut Maker for $329 / £339, but the Maker 3 costs $399 / £380.

The correct one for you volition really depend on your budget and whether or non you'd utilise the added features that could brand the Maker 3 worth the investment. We'll get into those added features in a 2nd, but while the Maker iii is Cricut's most expensive machine, the Maker is nevertheless in second place.

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3: pattern

Three Cricut Makers in different colours — The original Cricut comes in three colours, and they're all lovely (Prototype credit: Cricut)

The Cricut Maker three is a couple of centimetres larger than the original Cricut Maker, but the difference isn't a significant 1. The Maker 3 is a little heavier though, at 6.9kg instead of iv.8kg. If portability is an important cistron to you, the original Maker may exist a niggling easier to take on the get.

The buttons are the same, too. There'southward a button to turn the auto off, a button to load and unload materials, and buttons to kickoff and pause the cutting process.

While colour pick far from the nearly important factor you'll consider when picking your Cricut, information technology's still an important blueprint distinction. The original Maker is also available in a range of colours, from Pink and Blue to a frosted Gold. Past dissimilarity, the Maker iii is currently but available in an all-over muted blue.

Overall though, both wait slap-up on any worktop, and on both the Maker and the Maker three you'll get on-lath tool storage and a groove to hold your tablet while you work.

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3: What's new?

The fundamental divergence between the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Maker 3 is that the Cricut Maker 3 works with Smart Materials, which is something that was lacking in the original.

Cricut's Smart Materials will allow you to work mat-free, pregnant yous tin can continuously work on projects up to 12 anxiety in length. By contrast, because it won't piece of work with Smart Materials, the Cricut Maker but works on materials up to 24 inches long, due to limitations in mat sizes. Yous tin can yet work on other materials, such as infusible ink and regular cardstock, using a mat with the Maker 3, but the option of mat-free cutting could really modify the way you lot work on larger projects.

A Cricut Maker on a table with materials — Both the Maker and Maker 3 can be adapted to almost whatever craft projection, including wood and metal work (Image credit: Cricut)

The other central divergence between the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Maker three is the cut speed. While the Cricut Maker has always been known for its speedy vinyl cutting, the Maker iii is twice as fast, which will allow you to ability through projects in record fourth dimension.

This could exist really useful for those who accept small businesses and have a lot of demand to keep up with, and if yous're used to crafting in the pockets of spare time yous become throughout the day, the Maker three will make sure that every minute counts.

The Maker iii also comes with a new, more powerful adaptor that increases output. The double speed works best on Smart Materials though, so if you don't program on making the most of these extras, it might be worth sticking with the original Maker.

While information technology's a small departure, the Maker can cutting materials up to 12 inches in width, whereas the Maker 3 goes upwardly to thirteen inches.

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3: common features

The Cricut Maker 3 official product photo — The Cricut machines are like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use and come with the excellent Blueprint Space app for pre-made projects (Image credit: Cricut)

There are some things that haven't changed with the new Cricut. Y'all tin can still use all 13 attachments with both machines, bringing optional functions from cutting and scoring to writing and even engraving to the table.

Both machines offer Print And so Cut adequacy on both white and coloured paper. The only other Cricut that offers this function is the Explore three, which works with half the number of tools.

The Maker works with over 300 material types, including tough ingredients like balsa wood and fabric. The Maker iii can also cut over 300 materials, with commerical-grade cutting and the exact same powerful tools for debossing, engraving, and more.

Connectivity is the verbal same too. Both the Maker and Maker iii work on Bluetooth and with USB. We're pleased that Cricut didn't remove USB connection with the Maker iii, which is something defective on the Cricut Joy, because it means you tin use the machine even when your connectedness isn't the best.

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3: Which is right for you lot?

The primary difference between the Maker and the Maker 3 is the addition of smart materials. Pairing Cricut'due south Smart Materials with your Maker 3 will mean yous can cut twice equally fast as any material you could cutting with the original Maker. They also remove the demand for a cutting mat, which ways you can continuously arts and crafts for upwards to 12 feet.

The Maker iii is also marginally larger, and two kilograms heavier. Both machines are expensive, just at around $400 / £400, the Maker 3 is a lot of money to role with. Withal Cricut's new machine is invaluable for crafters looking to get more from their time and attain a professional terminate. The option to extend materials to 12 anxiety will absolutely cut downward on time when making big projects.

Our communication? If you're new to Cricut and want to decide which auto is the best, the Maker 3 is essentially an amped-up Maker, with more than access to Cricut'southward own line of materials and speedier cut. This is the one nosotros'd pick for those who don't already own the original Maker,

But if you do already accept the Maker, you should really consider if information technology's worth ownership a new machine to replace it. Information technology will only be worth it if you plan on making the about of the Smart Material compatibility, which volition in turn speed up your crafting times and remove the need for a mat.

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Millie is a regular freelancer for Artistic Bloq, and an proficient in arts and crafts and design. In her day job Millie is Real Homes' Small Appliances and Cooking Editor, where she is constantly on the hunt for the latest (and best) kitchen appliances, and reviewing these products hands-on. She was previously at TopTenReviews as a Staff Author. Every bit a blistering enthusiast, Millie's task at Real Homes is the perfect excuse to cook up an countless supply of snacks. When she'due south not in the kitchen though, she loves knitting and exploring London's top food markets.

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