Cutting speed
Most Cricut Machines operate at an optimal speed. However, there are newer and advanced models that provide an even quicker cutting time. The Cricut Maker and the Explore Air 2 are the best in terms of speed.
In fact, they are two times faster as compared to other models. And yet, faster cutting times do not affect the overall finesse of your projects. This is especially suitable for commercial applications. Cutting enthusiasts at home can go for standard models considering they come in a lower price range.
The material you want to work with
Each and every Cricut machine is equipped to handle a variety of materials. However, if you are looking to work with something specific, we recommend that you go through all of these Cricut machine reviews in detail.
The Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore Air 2 are also the best Cricut machines in terms of material suitability. They can cut through all common materials as well as exclusive ones.
The Cricut Maker cutting machine can cut any material as thick as 2.4mm. This includes balsa wood and stencils. For an ultimate Cricut cutting experience, the Cricut Maker comes equipped with two highly efficient cutting blades.
To enhance the overall cutting experience, Cricut has provided us with many useful tools as well. The Cricut Bright Pad is there to help you with weeding. The Cricut Easy Press 2 and the Easy Press Mini are the most advanced iron-on machines available on the market today. These, along with many other Cricut tools, are designed to bring out the best in a variety of materials and make the overall experience fun and efficient.
Compatibility with blades and pen
All Cricut cutting machines are equipped to work with a selection of specific, compatible blades. These include premium fine points, deep points, rotary blades, knife blades, bonded fabrics, and scoring wheels.
While buying replacement blades, make sure that you’re buying ones that are compatible with your device. The same approach should be applied while looking for Cricut Pens. Make sure that the Cricut Pen you are buying is compatible with the model you are using.
Scoring and Writing Needs
The writing feature enables users to create handwritten style cards, among other projects. Most Cricut Machines are equipped with hundreds of built-in lettering fonts that you can tweak according to your requirements. You can also download a variety of fonts, images, designs from the internet and Cricut’s own platform, “Design Space.” Design space is design software that can run on both iOs and Android devices.
Scoring is another feature in these Cricut machines that lets you create folding lines in your projects, especially papercrafts. These are used for creating boxes, envelopes, greeting cards, etc.
The Cricut Maker machine is exclusively equipped with a scoring wheel. The scoring wheel helps the users to make crisp creases on a variety of materials. The Cricut Maker is also the best in terms of using the pressure of the scoring stylus. This allows for better score lines on your papercrafts.
There are very few cutting machines, however, that are equipped with dual carriage systems. The Explore Air is the best Cricut machine if you are looking for dual functionalities. It can cut and write, or cut and score simultaneously.
Depth and Pressure Adjustment
Depth and pressure adjustment are the key factors that enhance the final results of your cut. Each material requires specific settings, especially if you are using thicker materials.
The Explore Air 2 is the best cutting machine in terms of proper pressure adjustment and depth. It 2 is equipped to cut materials as thick as 2.44mm.
Tool holders
Tool holders come in very handy if they are present on the Cricut machine. Having a tool holder located on the Cricut machine means easy accessibility. You will not have to move or scramble from drawer to drawer to find them every time you require a tool, allowing for quicker processes.
Having a dedicated station for your tools to be placed on keeps them away from getting misplaced. The tool holder also presents a sense of organization to the users.
Tool holders also help in protecting your tools, enabling a prolonged life. Some Cricut machines have one tool holder, while others have two. If you are a professional and require lots of tools during your projects, the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the optimal choice. The Cricut Explore Air 2 is equipped with two tool holders to guide you optimally while you are working on complex projects.
Wireless Cricut machine
Having a Cricut machine that is wireless increases creativity. A wireless Cricut cutting machine will allow you to connect anywhere and discover thousands of new designs through various devices.
Some Cricut machines can become wireless with some additional accessories. Like the Cricut Explore that can be enabled wirelessly with an adapter. Whereas the Cricut Explore Air 2 with the embedded Bluetooth features is what we call a purely wireless cutting machine.
If you plan to use your Cricut machine through multiple devices around your house, a wireless cutting machine will be a better and more practical option.