Precision-cutting seemed a tough task with scissors in one’s hand. No matter how well you try, you’ll always go out of the line making your cutout look rough. Thanks to the technology, we now have welcomed electronic cutting machines like Cricut to cut us unique designs accurately in a matter of seconds.
But wouldn’t it be unfair to fully rely on such a gadget to improve your crafts, while ignoring the fact that you also need a decent enough laptop to go along with it?
And don’t you worry, it doesn’t have to be a high-end, pricey machine. Whether it’s a Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker, the best is that you can get it working with even a low-end laptop. But since you’ll be editing designs on renowned designing software, we’ll see the ones in a friendly budget of $500. So, let the shopping begin.
During our testing, we discovered that the ASUS VivoBook 15 is ideal for Cricut applications. Apart from the fact that it has some enticing specifications and a long-lasting battery. It’s also thin and light enough to carry around while making edits. However, because everyone has different preferences, we’ve included 5 additional options that you might like. So, let’s get shopping.
Top 3 Picks of Laptops for Cricut Under $500
- Lightweight Design
- Fingerprint reading sensor
- Comfy keyboard with Numpad
- Good processing performance
- Great Processor performance
- Modern Connectivity
- Good battery life
- Well-priced
- A variety of ports
- Pre-installed Windows 11
- Long-lasting battery
- Solid built quality
How We Did The Test?
We began the process by searching for the top-rated laptops on the market, considering the following factors to ensure it works best with any Cricut machine you’re friends with.
Processor
For laptops under a budget of $500, it gets pretty daunting to find the best one with the latest processing power. Therefore, we tried to pick the ones with, if not more but a decent processor to ensure optimal performance.
RAM
Along with the processor, RAM supports a system for stead-fast performance. And we ensured that our choices have a memory size, enough to execute and use the software related to the Cricut.
Compatibility
As soon as we realized, Cricut has made things difficult with its Design Space’s non-compatibility with other operating systems except for Windows and macOS. We ensured not to include laptops running such operating systems.
How do you decide on a Best Laptop for Cricut?
Before you jump to the decision-making stage, we assume you need more knowledge to make a perfect choice. Therefore, have a look at the following characteristics which make a laptop best for Cricut.
Compatibility
The first thing that may get in your way is compatibility. But Cricut is just another machine that just needs to be plugged in what are we talking about?
You’re right. But Cricut’s official editing software known as the Design Space can get you worrying about your OS. Because it’s only compatible with the macOS and Windows devices. And for Windows, it won’t work with the one in S mode, which comes pre-installed in most low-budget devices.
Processor
We’re done with the compatibility but is your processor strong enough to handle the other high-end software?
Well, considering your budget, it’s fine to go with any dual-core processor for now. We’ll recommend the minimum of AMD Ryzen 3 and Intel Celeron N4000 to get your crafting right. But if you get a Core-i3 or i5 performance in this budget. Buddy, that’s more than to ask for!
Memory
Nobody would prefer a stuttering performance, even with a low budget. And more RAM means prevention of stuttering and slow program execution. But how much RAM is enough for you? It’s all up to you.
If you may be multitasking and using hefty editing software, then it’s best to look for RAM with 8 GB of memory. However, the minimum we recommend is 4 GB, and that works well with your Cricut’s own Design Space.
Display
Since you’ll be making endless edits for cutouts. You’ll need a nice display. And you’ll eventually get it when you get your hands on one of the latest laptops because they come with a minimum of a 1080P HD display.
You may like Best Laptops for Digital Art
But, if you’re planning on editing complex designs, then you surely should look for a better display equipped with the latest display technology such as LED or OLED. And make sure you get the screen size you prefer.
Top Laptop for Cricut Under $500 (Recommended Picks)
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
Our pick | ASUS VivoBook 15.6'' Touchscreen Thin Laptop
| 9.8 | View on Amazon |
Highly rated  | Lenovo - IdeaPad 3 15" Laptop - 256GB SSD
| 9.2 | View on Amazon |
Bang for the Buck | Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Core(TM) i3-1115G4 Processor4GB
| 9.1 | View on Amazon |
Good Value  |
| 8.8 | View on Amazon |
Good Value  | HP 14" Touchscreen Home and Business Laptop
| 8.6 | View on Amazon |
Best Budget  | HP 2021 Premium Stream 11 Laptop Computer
| 9.2 | View on Amazon |
1. ASUS VivoBook 15.6'' Touchscreen Thin and Light Laptop
- Screen Size: 15.6-inch
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Weight: 3.75 lbs
- Color: Slate Grey
The ASUS VivoBook 15 adds up to its compact design with plenty of ports to enable you to connect with whatever device you want.
Technology has taken a flight to advancement. And now in the fierce market of 2022, with $500 in your pocket, you can have a hard time searching for a suitable device for your needs.
Here, ASUS VivoBook 15 greets you with untiring computing performance. And stands head-to-head with its other under-budget rivals.
The VivoBook 15 surprises you with a powerful punch of an Intel Core-i5 processor. And an 8 GB of big memory that neglected the concept of ‘lag’ when we put it through its tests with several mid-end games and hefty editing software.
However, you’ll have to compromise on its display, because of its subpar brightness balance. But this lightweight and compact device’s incredibly comfortable keyboard and eight hours of long-lasting battery life still set it at the top among the other like-priced options.
The best is that the operating system it runs is a Windows 10 Home, compatible with Cricut’s Design Space. So if you’re looking for a device adding a mix of performance and lightweight design. Here’s what to go for.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 15.6-inch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| ROM | 128 GB |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Weight | 3.75 lbs |
| Colors | Slate Grey |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 0.78 x 14.1 x 9.1 inches |
- Thin and lightweight design
- Features plenty of ports
- Comfortable backlit keyboard with Numpad
- Features fingerprint reading sensor
- Not very bright display
- SSD storage is limiting
2. Lenovo - IdeaPad 3 15" Laptop 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD
- Screen Size: 15-inch
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Weight: 4.84 lbs
- Color: Platinum Grey, Cherry Red, Abyss Blue, Almond, Business Black
Lenovo Ideapad 3’s Dolby audio system enhances sound, so you can keep up and love what you hear and see as well.
Not being stupidly expensive and compromising on only a few things can be a good deal with only a few hundred dollars in hand. And nothing does it better than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15. The 15.6-inch silver-gray plastic slab is an outclassing option when it comes to performance and looks.
The device has a fast Intel Core i3 processor and 8 GB of memory, which was more than enough for the basic computer tasks we put it through while testing. Having thick bezels surrounding the screen.
This sleek design features a 15-inch FHD display with 1920 by 1080 pixels, which is quite decent for the price and seemed to be more captivating than our leading option, ASUS Vivobook 15’s display. So we actually approve it for occasional streamers.
Therefore, a laptop scoring high in terms of reliability and usability at an affordable price is everybody’s dream shot. And the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is worth it.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 15-inch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| ROM | 128 GB |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Weight | 4.84 lbs |
| Colors | Platinum Grey, Cherry Red, Abyss Blue, Almond, Business Black |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 14.25 x 9.98 x 0.79 inches |
- Modern design and strong build
- Great memory size
- Appreciable Core-i3 performance
- Reasonably priced for the offered specs
- Keyboard might be uncomfortable
- Features Wi-Fi 5 instead of the latest Wi-Fi 6
3. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Core(TM) i3-1115G4 Processor4GB
- Screen Size: 15.6-inch
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Weight: 3.82 lbs
- Color: Soft Mint, Quarry Blue, Accent Black, and Matte Snowflake
With Dell Inspiron 15 3000’s Core-i3 chip combined with integrated UHD graphics, your occasional gamer can come alive. It's Anti-glare LED display will also add up the fun.
How could Dell stand back and watch the show? The company couldn’t resist and threw off a blast in the name of Dell Inspiron 15 3000. And with no doubt, it’s giving a tough time to the rivals in the market.
The Inspiron 15 3000 will surely check most boxes on your must-have list. This amazing machine has an Intel Core-i3 chip and 4 GB of memory installed in its black, solid build. Although the memory is half of what we’d expect from a quality laptop, the chipset is still a big upgrade from the Celeron CPU featured in even cheaper laptops.
We didn’t overburden this feeble with high-end software throughout testing. Though, it was enough for basic apps and tasks such as browsing and multitasking. Also, the 15.6 inches HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels displayed all the on-screen content smoothly.
With the chipset upgrade, you get a battery life of up to 9 hours and the latest release of Windows 11. Isn’t it all good for your day-to-day use?
Specifications
| Screen Size | 15.6-inch |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| ROM | 128 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Weight | 3.82 lbs |
| Colors | Soft Mint, Quarry Blue, Accent Black, and Matte Snowflake |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 0.7 x 14.1 x 9.2 inches |
- Features a variety of ports
- Strong and high-quality build
- Optimal Core-i3 performance.
- Pre-installed Windows 11
- Lacks a USB-C port
- Not so satisfying speaker
4. HP 15.6-inch HD Laptop
- Screen Size: 15.6-inch
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Weight: 3.83 lbs
- Color: Natural Silver
HP Laptop 15 comes with a special fast charging technology that enables you to charge from 0% to 50% battery in just about 45 minutes.
With a thin micro-edge bezel design, HP has a laptop to introduce to the ones searching for a low-budget laptop but keeping a power-must factor in mind. And here it is, the HP Laptop 15.
This one features reliable performance powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 dual-core processor with a combo of 8 GB of memory to delight the Cricut professionals. As expected, this worked well for resource-intensive applications like Google Chrome surfing. And its rich HD display is not to be missed that comes along with a 15.6 inches screen size and shows more of what you love with bright colors.
What’s left is the Windows 10 Home’s perfect compatibility with the Cricut Design Space. And a long-lasting battery, so a break from work is now on the to-forget list.
Therefore, if you want a device that perfectly balances performance and design, then HP Laptop 15 deserves a space in your shopping cart.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 15.6-inch |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| ROM | 256 GB |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Weight | 3.83 lbs |
| Colors | Natural Sliver |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 14.11 x 9.53 x 0.78 inches |
- Slim bezel design
- Rich and sharp HD display
- A year of hardware warranty
- Features fast charging technology
- May heat up at times of heavy computing
- The keyboard isn’t backlit
5. HP 14" Touchscreen Home and Business Laptop
- Screen Size: 14-inch
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Weight: 3.24 lbs
- Color: Natural Silver
HP Laptop 14 has a fingerprint reader to add a layer of security and unlock your laptop with another option of using your finger.
The next one is again from HP. You may haven’t heard about these, because HP’s budget laptops don’t have a brand name, but just a simple name “HP Laptop” series. But, on touching the market, you’ll still find them as highly rated under-budget laptops. So here comes the HP Laptop 14.
Delivering a blend of performance and sleek design at a reasonable price, this machine is best for a worry-free computing experience. It has an AMD Ryzen 3 dual-core processor and 8 GB of RAM. That allows it to serve as a cost-effective workhorse since it easily handled various mid-range programs that it was challenged with, in our testing.
And while it completed all the demanded tasks, it stayed up for work for up to 8 hours. And that’s enough to get you tired of making designs for cutouts. All in all, this perfect candidate offering decent performance and handling whatever you throw at it, will surely make a good purchase.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 14-inch |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| ROM | 128 GB |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Weight | 3.24 lbs |
| Colors | Natural Sliver |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 0.71 x 12.8 x 8.9 inches |
- Touchscreen HD display
- Satisfying CPU performance
- Long lasting battery life
- Option for expanding memory
- The keyboard may cause a problem
- Fans are loud and noisy
6. HP 2021 Premium Stream 11 Laptop Computer
- Screen Size: 11.6-inch
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Weight: 2.74 lbs
- Color: Diamond White, Royal Blue
HP Stream 11 comes with a one-year free subscription of Office 365 personal that includes 1 TB of storage, all office apps, and security for all of your devices.
At last, time to pay some respect to the old one but in a newer build. It’s several times refreshed, HP’s Stream 11. As the term “old” suggests, HP never lets it get outdated.
And now in the latest build, the device carries an Intel Celeron N4020 CPU and 4 GB of memory to keep itself up, going through the market and serving as a low-budget device. Since this chipset is just for budget options to get through everyday tasks like surfing, editing docs and media playback. It isn’t strong enough for advanced applications. However, tested for Cricut editing, it worked perfectly.
And it really goes along wherever you take it. The 11 hours of long battery life is a sign that it’s still young and capable enough for light productivity. Because during our tests, such battery timing was still a challenge for our more power-packed options, HP 14 Laptop and HP 15 Laptop. However, if you have the lowest of the low budget, this one awaits you at the shop.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 11.6-inch |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| ROM | 32 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Weight | 2.74 lbs |
| Colors | Diamond White, Royal Blue |
| Material | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 0.7 x 11 x 7.5 inches |
- Compact and easy-to-carry
- Stylish and attractive design
- Slot available for storage expansion
- Impressive battery life
- Screen size is quite small
- 32 GB of low internal storage
- Not a good quality webcam
Conclusion
Choosing the best under-budget laptop for Cricut and summing up a list was a way hard job. And we’re sure that you’ll too have a hard time making a final decision. Because of the compromises, the low-budget laptops come along with.
However, to make it simple, if you’re looking for the best performance and design to keep up with you in the long run, then ASUS VivoBook 15, Lenovo IdeaPad 13, and Dell Inspiron 15 3000 are enough to satisfy you.
And if you’re not even close to the $400 budget, then our respected elder but refreshed HP Stream 11 can have your back.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use any other device with Cricut?
Yes, you can. If you don’t have enough money to invest in a laptop, you can go with a tablet or smartphone instead. Just pair it with your Cricut machine, and you’re all good to go. The Design Space is also available as a mobile phone application.
Does Cricut’s Design Space work with the Chromebook?
No, it doesn’t. At the moment, Cricut only supports Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS. No other operating system is mentioned in its system requirements.
Why is the Design Space incompatible with Windows in S mode?
The Windows in S mode limits the user from downloading third-party applications for the sake of security. But you can switch to the full version if you want to use third-party software.
