Buying a Cricut machine needs an ecosystem that can give you the best results. For this reason, the most important thing you need to have in your Cricut machine setup is a powerful laptop for your projects. Luckily, some are under $500 and can get the job done efficiently and quickly. We have compiled the best laptop for Cricut under 500 dollars to make your design space productive.
What is a Laptop for Cricut?
To work with a Cricut machine, you need to create the designs you are hoping to cut out using a program called design space. Naturally, you need a laptop to run this program. However, once you have bought yourself the best Cricut maker, you can rest easy knowing that the designs can be done using a budget-friendly laptop that we shall discuss below.
Best Laptop for Cricut Under 500 Dollars
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1. Lenovo Chromebook Flex
- Touch Screen Type :Capacitive.Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Work from home, school, or anywhere with the outstanding...
- This 2-in-1 laptop combines a keyboard and touchscreen to make it...
- The 13.3-inch FHD display in this slim, light 360° convertible...
- Use your Google account to easily access files, videos, music,...
This 1oth generation intel core i3 laptop will prove useful for your school and personal projects. The laptop has a 64 GB hard disk, which is a good place to start your design projects. In addition, the portable laptop has a sleek design that is easy to carry around with you everywhere you go.
The Lenovo Chromebook flex has a touch screen that makes the interaction between you and your designs easier and more intuitive. Furthermore, you can buy the Lenovo digital pen to make working with the touch screen even easier.
image source: lenovo.com
Lenovo has a screen size of 13.3 inches, which is enough for you to carry out your projects without feeling limited to a small screen size. In addition, the laptop has strong Bluetooth connectivity to make your work even easier. The Bluetooth version is 5.0, making Lenovo Chromebook flex perfect for your wireless Cricut machine.
Lenovo is not only one of the best laptops. It is a reliable and affordable laptop that you can count on to deliver.
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2. Lenovo Ideapad
- Powerhouse performance from AMD Ryzen 5 5500U mobile processor,...
- The IdeaPad 3 14-inch laptop has 4-side narrow bezels that let...
- Quieter and cooler with intelligent thermals, plus you can...
- Protect your webcam lens and guarantee your privacy with the...
- WiFi 6 (2x2 802.11 ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, plus USB,...
Lenovo is the best laptop for Cricut under 500 dollars so far because of the features that you will love using. The laptop has a designer's look, which goes a long way toward boosting your creativity. Lenovo Ideapad has a 14-inch screen size that makes creating designs on the laptop easy and fun.
image source: lenovo.com
Lenovo Ideapad has intelligent thermals that help cool the laptop for better performance. You can use either USB ports on the computer or fast Bluetooth connectivity to connect to the Cricut machine. To make your work even easier, the laptop is Alexa activated to make wireless functions better and more personalized.
With Lenovo IdeaPad, you are not restricted as 1920 by 1080 pixels screen allows you to view your project from different angles. Moreover, with a hard disk size of 256 GB, you have a strong foundation to lay your design space.
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3. ASUS Vivobook
- Touch Screen Type : Capacitive.Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Latest 11th generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor (6M Cache,...
- Windows 10 Home in S mode, 128GB SSD and 4GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 14” Full HD Wideview touch display with up to 178° viewing...
- 12.9” wide, 0.7” thin with a stunning 82% screen-to-body...
Asus vivobook is a thin and light laptop that will change how you approach your design life. Asus has the latest generation intel core, making it your most efficient option. The thin laptop is sleek and easy to slide into your laptop to use in the restaurant or the park. Your design life is no longer limited to your studio.
Asus vivobook is the most versatile laptop for Cricut under 500 dollars compared to the other laptops in the same price range. Asus easily have the best-looking windows laptop designs on the market. Their performance is just as good as their look.
image source: asus.com
With the Asus vivobook, you are getting a screen that has an 82% screen-to-body ratio, focusing all your attention on the screen while creating. Better, the screen has a 178-degree viewing angle, making it easier for you to swing on your chair as you design your projects. In addition, you will be enjoying gaming laptop advantages with this laptop.
Asus is not only a cheap laptop for Cricut; it is one of the best laptops for Cricut under 500 dollars that will live up to their price. In addition, Asus gives you four viewing modes, making it easier to set up the laptop however you want.
Finally, you have a free upgrade to Windows 11, which future proofs your laptop.
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4. Acer Aspire 5
- 【Processor】AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Quad-Core Processor (Base...
- 【Display】15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED backlit...
- 【RAM and Storage】RAM is upgraded to 12GB high-bandwidth RAM...
- 【Tech Specs】Windows 11 Home 64-bit, English | 1 - USB 3.1...
- 【Included in the package】Bundled with Microfiber Cloth
Acer laptops would not miss a list like this because of their reliability over the years. The Acer Aspire 5 does not disappoint either. The slim design laptop for Cricut has a quad-core processor that runs the Cricut design space without any hitches. Acer Aspire 5 laptops are the cheapest in this tier.
image source: acer.com
The fingerprint reader improves the laptop's security, making it easier to use in public design spaces without long logging out and in processes. In addition, the battery life on this laptop is reliable, giving you enough battery backup when there is no power.
The 256 GB you are getting on the SSD storage improves the performance by a huge margin. You can rely on this computer to couple up with your Cricut machine and other devices to create quick designs.
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5. HP Pavilion Premium Laptop
- 【Upgraded】RAM is upgraded to 16 GB high-bandwidth RAM to...
- 【Processor】AMD Athlon Silver 3050U 2.3GHz Dual-Core Processor...
- 【Display】15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), NonTouch,...
- 【Operating System】Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, English
The Pavilion took the market by storm, and for good reasons. The HP Pavilion is suitable for your creative projects because of its long battery life and great graphics. The anti-glare feature on the screen makes creating with the laptop even better because your eyes will not be fatigued. In addition, the full HD display makes the graphics experience like that of a gaming laptop.
image source: hp.com
The HP Pavilion is the best laptop for Cricut under 500 dollars which will serve you both in your studio and outdoors because of the portable design. In addition, the laptop has a hard disk size of 512 GB, which is way more than the other laptops in the same tier.
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Features to Check Before Buying A Laptop for Cricut
If you are a designer, there are some features you have to look for in a laptop for Cricut. If you want your design work to be fast and efficient, you can not gamble on the kind of laptop you will use. Here are a few things you need to pay attention to when looking for the best laptop for Cricut under 500 dollars worth your money.
a) Storage Space
At least 500 GB will be a good place to start with your storage space.
The storage space in your laptop directly affects its performance. The recall speed in a computer depends on the storage, and the more storage you have, the faster your laptop will perform some functions. You do not want to expand your storage only months after buying your laptop.
Have you ever noticed how prices differ for similar models with different storage?
Getting a laptop with enough storage gives you space to store your files unless you are planning to buy external devices. Storage is one of the key features that will make your life easier in the long run.
b) Screen Size
If you are a designer, the laptop's screen size matters a lot. A large screen will make it more enjoyable to work on your designs. In addition, the Cricut design space will be easier to work with, and you will not have a lot of things crammed up in one space.
14 inches should be the least you go for. 16 inches and above would be better. While picking the screen, look for one with an anti-glare feature. This makes it easier to design without having problematic reflections.
c) Battery Life
The battery life on your laptop for Cricut is one of the main things you want to look at. A laptop running a program uses a lot of processing power. Sometimes, you need to cool down the laptop because it is overheating. Suppose the laptop has long battery life. In that case, you can use it remotely to design in your Cricut design space or connect wirelessly to external devices without having to plug in every second.
When getting a new laptop, look at reviews (like the ones we have provided above) to ensure you get the right one for your work.
d) Processor
If you are going for a design laptop, it is best to go for the latest processor on the market. It is better to go for a core i9 which will do a good job with Cricut machines. An intel core works on pcs, and the M1 chip is for apple computers. So the latest Intel processor will be the best option for you. The processor is where everything happens; the best thing to do is to futureproof your setup.
e) Operating System
This is important. The Cricut software does not run on the Google operating systems. However, macOS, Windows and Linux operating systems will do just fine. The operating system you get should be the latest because the latest OSs have support from the developers. In addition, you can get updates with the latest operating systems, which will make your design programs more compatible.
The windows s mode is an operating system you need to be familiar with if you want better performance and security.
f) GPU
A GPU is normally incorporated on the same chip as the main processor. However, you can get a dedicated GPU for your laptop. While looking at the specifications of the device you want to buy, check out the GPU and what it can do.
The GPU might pass as the graphics card. The unit in the graphics card does the actual processing, while the larger graphics card generates the images you see.
The graphics card renders the images you see in the videos and animations.
g) Display
You know to know the resolution that your computer will be giving you. Some people go to the extent of buying dedicated screens for display.
For designers, you should go for 1440px or 1920px screen size. These pixels will give you a clearer picture of what you are working with.
h) Ports
The Cricut maker does not have its program to run it. Instead, think of the Cricut maker as a printer. Therefore, the Cricut maker needs to connect to your computer wirelessly or through a port. Look for a computer with a USB C port or a thunderbolt port connecting to the Cricut machine.
You can get machines with Bluetooth connectivity. However, you should not gamble on the physical ports as they increase the reliability of your setup.
i) RAM
Go for a laptop with at least 16GB of RAM.
Getting a laptop for Cricut with a large RAM increases the processing speed. In addition, memory transfer is increased between programs, increasing the general speed by which your computer functions.
How to Set Up Cricut Design Studio
We would recommend buying a wireless Cricut machine. Once you do, ensure you have both internet and Bluetooth connectivity. Then, use the following steps to set up your Cricut machine.
- Plug the machine into a power source.
- If your laptop for Cricut is set up near the Cricut machine, you can connect the two using a USB port or the thunderbolt.
- If your setup is not close to the laptop, you can connect the two machines using Bluetooth connectivity.
- Download Design Space.
- Once you download the program, install Design Space using on-screen prompts.
Other Things to Budget for When Setting Up Your Cricut Machine
image source: cricut.com
Having the best laptop for Cricut machine without being able to complete your projects would be a bit pointless. The Cricut machine allows you to work on different projects with different materials. To fully take advantage of the capabilities of the Cricut machine, you can budget for the following materials.
i) Cricut Blades
Cricut blades come in multiple sizes. When you buy the different blades, you can create more designs that will boost your productivity and creativity. You need to know about Cricut blades before choosing the one you want to buy.
The blades you buy might or might not be efficient for the materials you wish to work with. For this reason, you should pay attention to the blades you are getting and their capabilities.
ii) Materials
You will be working on a project once you get your computer and Cricut machine. For your projects to be successful, you will need to cut out, which requires materials. You can get these at an affordable price, and it is better to get them as soon as possible.
image source: cricut.com
You will need papers, infusible ink sheets, transfer tape, iron-on vinyl or adhesive vinyl. You need these materials to transfer your projects. Depending on the initial inspiration or ideas, you can buy materials that fit your needs. Eventually, you will find your favorite material to work with.
iii) Pens
You can write with your Cricut machine. This is one interesting feature you should take advantage of. However, once you create intricate designs on the laptop for Cricut, it might not be easy to transfer those results freehand. So here is where the Cricut machine comes in.
iv) Mats
The machines come with mats sometimes. However, when the Cricut machine does not come with cutting mats, you can get some for yourself. You will need cutting mats with different strengths depending on the projects you will be working on. The last thing you want is cut the surface of your Cricut desk.
v) Heat Press
If you are working using the iron-on vinyl, you will not want to buy a heat press to use on the final product.
image source: cricut.com
There are more hand tools you can buy to help you get started with the Cricut machine. However, when dealing with Cricut, the best place to start is to buy the best laptop for Cricut, and you can find good ones for 500 dollars.
Finally
Your Cricut is just an output device, making your computer a vital setup component. For this reason, you should look for the best laptop for Cricut under 500 dollars. Even if you are on a budget, the suggestions we have provided above will give you a strong place to start before you upgrade in the future.
