Key Points
- The MacBook Air M2 is one of the best overall laptops for Cricut.
- The Acer Aspire 5 is great for users on a budget.
- The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is great for users looking for both a tablet and a laptop.
- The Dell XPS 15 has great display resolution and superb battery life.
- Cricut users can benefit from larger high-resolution displays and at least 4 GB of RAM.
What are the best laptops for Cricut creators? Cricut doesn’t have as many demanding needs for creators, but there are five great laptops that let users realize their full creative potential.
You don’t need to struggle with thinking about the specs or compatibility; that’s what this guide is for, after all. Instead, you can purchase one of these great laptops and create at your own leisure.
Cricut’s own software doesn’t really have super demanding requirements, but there are some laptops that are better suited for handling graphic design work. There are quite a few laptops that are readily used for Cricut, but some are better suited than others.
You’ll want ample amounts of RAM because image files can sometimes require quite a bit of memory to get rolling. Higher resolution displays aren’t a must, but certainly reduce eye strain, especially if you’re creating for long spans of time.
Your needs when selecting a laptop for Cricut use aren’t necessarily dependent on top-of-the-line system specs, but that certainly is nice to have. So, with all this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the five best laptops for Cricut in 2023.
- Best Overall: MacBook Air M2
- Best Budget Choice: Acer Aspire 5
- Best Dual-Purpose Laptop: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Best Windows Laptop: Dell XPS 15
- Best Dual-Display Option: Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo
#1 Best Overall Laptop for Cricut: MacBook Air M2
- 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, and up to 24 GB of unified memory
- 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (P3 wide color)
- 1080p FaceTime HD camera
- 3-mic array and 4-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
The MacBook Air M2 has been a stellar choice for users in all sorts of creative fields. You get access to a gorgeous Retina display, as well as the nimble M2 processor. Cricut users can save a little extra on the side and go with the 8 GB configuration if desired, but you may want to opt for higher storage.
What makes the Apple MacBook Air M2 such a great choice is the absolutely stellar battery life. When coupled with the new M2 processor, you get a battery that performs at its best, regardless of whether it is plugged in.
The only real complaint that can be aimed at the MacBook Air is the lack of available ports. All MacBook Air laptops only come with two USB-C input ports. You’ll find yourself needing to pick up a USB hub of some sort, especially if you’re wanting to use an external mouse and keyboard while creating. Check out the MacBook Air M2 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The M2 processor is great for all sorts of workloads. | It needs a USB hub for extra ports. |
| The laptop comes with stellar battery life. | You cannot upgrade the RAM or SSD. |
Best Budget Choice: Acer Aspire 5
- 14" Full HD display
- Windows 11 Home
- Wi-Fi 6
- Performance up to 15x faster than with a traditional hard drive
The Acer Aspire 5 is no slouch when it comes to creating things on the Cricut despite its low cost. What makes it one of the best laptops for Cricut in 2023 is its low price and attractive feature set. Users get access to a full 1080p resolution display, as well as options for 4 GB, 8 GB, and 16 GB of high-speed RAM.
It does look rather old-fashioned, with styling more in line with the 2000s. However, if you’re willing to look past this, you get a capable laptop. Users also get the option of a Ryzen or Intel i7 processor, which are great when it comes to performance needs.
The Acer Aspire 5 may lack the bells and whistles of its contemporaries but is a great laptop for Cricut creators who want to save a little extra towards supplies. Check out the Acer Aspire 5 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| One of the most affordable high-speed laptops on the market. | The overall visual design is rather dated and plain. |
| The laptop comes with great specs, regardless of the desired configuration. | It only has one USB-C input. |
Best Dual-Purpose Laptop: Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Up to 15.5 hours of battery life
- 13” PixelSense touchscreen
- Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 16 GB RAM
- i7-2640M CPU
Doing the visual design portion of Cricut can be great with a touchscreen such as the Microsoft Surface Pro 9. If you’ve found yourself wanting a laptop and tablet in one handy device, then the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 has you covered. What makes it one of the best laptops for Cricut are the great specs, in addition to the functionality.
Users can choose between an Intel i5 or i7 processor, along with a base 8 GB of RAM. You’ll want to go with the Intel model, as well, because Cricut’s design software is not readily available for users on the ARM SQ3 processor.
It is on the pricier side, unfortunately, but given what you get access to, that isn’t a bad thing. The Surface Pro 9 is built for speed and comes with ample ports for connecting your accessories and Cricut. Check out the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 on Amazon.
Best Windows Laptop: Dell XPS 15
- 12th Intel Core i7-12700H
- 15.6" diagonal FHD+ display
- 64 GB RAM
- Windows 10 Pro
- 2TB NVMe m.2 solid-state drive
The Dell XPS 15 is a high-speed choice for any content creator. It is one of the best laptops for Cricut simply due to the fact that even the most basic configuration is overkill for the Cricut design software. You start with a base 16 GB of RAM and an Intel i5 processor in the cheapest configuration.
This scales up, too, so you can opt for 64 GB of RAM coupled with an Intel i7 processor. It has a gorgeous FHD+ display, so you can get down to business when editing images for your Cricut designs.
The XPS 15 does have a fair few ports on the side of the device. You get a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports that can also use the USB Type-C connector. Unfortunately, you will need an adapter for using older USB Type-A devices. Check out the Dell XPS 15 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The device comes with 2TB NVMe m.2 SSD. | It can be more expensive compared to other laptops. |
| The camera comes with integrated dual-array digital microphones. | There’s only one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. |
Best Dual-Display Option: Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo
- 14.5-inch 2.8K 120 Hz OLED NanoEdge touchscreen and a 12.7-inch, full-width secondary one
- ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus support
- 12th generation Intel Core i9-12900H Processor
- 32GB LPDDR5 RAM
Dual displays, such as the displays on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo, really make working with your Cricut an absolute dream. This isn’t usually the realm of most commercially available laptops. However, the Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo comes with a pair of fantastic OLED panels for your design work.
The Zenbook Pro 14 Duo is one of the best laptops for Cricut because it gives you a level of flexibility you regularly wouldn’t have access to in a portable device. If you’ve used multiple monitors, you understand the benefit of having more than one display.
The specs aren’t too shabby, either, with an Intel i5 processor at the bare minimum and 8 GB of RAM. You can, of course, splash out and go for the 32 GB and Intel i9 combination. The main display is a full 14.5 inches, so you’ve got plenty of space for work.
Unfortunately, battery life does suffer quite a bit with the Zenbook Pro 14 Duo. Since it is powering two displays, it burns right through battery life. Check out the Zenbook Pro 14 Duo on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes with dual displays. | The dual displays make for mediocre battery life. |
| Can be configured with 32 GB of RAM and an Intel i9 processor. | The orientation of screens may not fit user preference. |
What to Know Before Purchasing a Laptop for Cricut
©TierneyMJ/Shutterstock.com
Now, most users could get by with a budget laptop from your local department store. However, while those might eke out the bare minimum requirements, it won’t be a pleasant working experience overall.
Cricut’s design software requires at least 4 GB of RAM to use, which is more than covered by the laptops on this list. However, more RAM is always better, regardless of the use case for your computer. More RAM and a faster processor certainly make working with Cricut’s design software a better experience.
Using a Laptop for Cricut: What It’s Like
So, what is it really like using a laptop to work with your Cricut? If you’re accustomed to working with other image editors on a laptop, it is a similar overall experience. Cricut’s software isn’t quite as intuitive or featured as something like Photoshop, but does the job just fine.
Many Cricut designers will opt for external image editors, like the aforementioned Photoshop or Illustrator. When using a laptop for these image editing programs, you’ll want to make sure you have more than just the minimum specs to make working a smooth experience.
If your budget is supremely tight, you can get by just using your smartphone or tablet. However, this is a less-than-ideal solution. Smartphones have cramped displays, especially when considering the fine detail you might want to place in your Cricut designs.
Summary Table
| Rank | Laptop | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall for Cricut | MacBook Air M2 | The M2 processor is great for all sorts of workloads. The laptop comes with stellar battery life. |
| Best Budget Choice | Acer Aspire 5 | One of the most affordable high-speed laptops on the market. The laptop comes with great specs, regardless of the desired configuration. |
| Best-Dual Purpose Laptop | Microsoft Surface Pro 9 | The device has great specs in addition to functionality. There are ample ports for connecting your accessories and Cricut. |
| Best Windows Laptop | Dell XPS 15 | The device comes with 2TB NVMe m.2 SSD. The camera comes with integrated dual-array digital microphones. |
| Best Dual-Display Option | Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo | This device omes with dual displays and can be configured with 32 GB of RAM and an Intel i9 processor. |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Thannaree Deepul/Shutterstock.com.
