Cricut explore 3 what’s new? What’s the features? Explore 3 change the at-home crafting game

Cricut is releasing its greatest product upgrade yet today: the all-new Maker 3 and Explore 3. This time, both devices have a lot in common, but there are a few distinctions that we’ll point out. The most significant update to the lineup this time is that both the Maker 3 and Explore 3 can cut materials without a mat and at up to double the speed of their predecessors. So, what’s the deal? So, what are the capabilities of these new machines? Let’s look at it more closely. Also, as we come closer to the actual debut on June 10, stay tuned for our hands-on review, which will be released in the following weeks.

Cricut Maker 3 is your all-in-one crafting companion

We’ll start with Cricut’s flagship machine, the Maker 3. After owning the previous-generation Maker for over a year, I can attest to how much better the Maker 3 is. It has carriage movement that is up to twice as quick on the new Smart Materials, and it even extends to traditional materials based on the machine’s present operation.

Fabric, wood, leather, chipboard, and a variety of other materials can all be cut with the Maker 3. We’ve made leather notebooks, birthday cards, signs, and other personalized items with it.

Cricut Explore 3 ditches the dial for a sleeker look

While the Maker 3 didn’t change much from the outside, the Explore 3 took on a whole new persona. The dial has been removed, and the general appearance has been improved. Cardstock, vinyl, HTV, and a variety of other materials are all compatible with the Explore 3. Plus, when utilizing Smart Materials, it now cuts up to twice as fast as the previous model.

Smart Materials eliminate the need for mats and allow you to craft up to 12-feet in length.

The ability to cut Cricut’s new Smart Materials is something that both machines have in common. These new Smart Materials are only available on the Maker 3 and Explore 3, and will not function with older models. Smart Materials, in essence, have a built-in mat, so you don’t have to worry about selecting and replacing mats for different projects.

Because no mat is required, you may now cut projects up to 12-feet long at once, whereas cuttable designs used to be limited to 2-feet. Another significant improvement is that Cricut now sells certain materials in 75-foot-long rolls. That’s true, you can now purchase colossal vinyl rolls for your projects.

Cricut’s new 12-foot cutting capability allows you to set a roll of vinyl in front of the machine, which will measure it (using a new sensor) and cut up to 12 feet at a time. Depending on your demands, this can be used to generate large signs or little graphics multiple times. This feature excites me the most because it makes cutting big wall decals or signage much easier than previously, as you no longer have to make many smaller templates or cuts and then piece them together.

Cricut Design Space has been overhauled to handle larger projects easier

Cricut Design Space has long been a source of dispute among Cricut users. Personally, I’ve had a lot of trouble with the application when working on larger projects, as it would get sluggish and unresponsive, even on my i9 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is more than capable of running it. Because Cricut’s team needed to create projects up to 12-feet long, they went back to the drawing board with Design Space and entirely refactored the canvas area. When working on large projects, it is now a lot faster and simple to utilize. This is a significant upgrade that will benefit all Cricut users, not just those with the Maker 3 or Explore 3.

Pricing and availability

The Explore 3 will set you back $299, while the Maker 3 will set you back $399. Cricut, Amazon, Michaels, JOANN, Best Buy, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart will all have them on June 10. Do you like to pick it up in person? That won’t be until June 27th, and only at Michaels, JOANN, Walmart, Target, and Hobby Lobby.