Welp MagazineThe Cricut Maker is a popular cutting machine that allows users to create a variety of projects, from cards and invitations to home decor and gifts. While the Cricut Maker is a powerful machine, it requires a computer to operate. But if you’re on a budget, you might not have the funds to buy an expensive new computer. You need to know which is the best laptop for Cricut under $500.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best laptops for Cricut under $500. All of these laptops have the necessary features and specifications to run Cricut Design Space, including a powerful processor, enough memory, and ample storage space. They also have a Full HD display, which is important for Cricut users who want to see their designs in high detail. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned Cricut user, we’ve got you covered. So read on to find out which is the best laptop for Cricut under $500!
Product Comparison Table: Best Laptop for Cricut Under $500
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | ASUS VivoBook 15 | $$$$ | 4.5 stars | Best Design | Amazon |
 | HP Pavilion HD Display Laptop | $$$$ | 4.5 stars | Most Reliable | Amazon |
 | Acer Aspire 5 Slim | $$$ | 4 stars | Best Budget | Amazon |
 | Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop | $$$$ | 4 stars | Best Storage Space | Amazon |
 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Laptop | $$$$ | 4.5 stars | Best Overall | Amazon |
ASUS VivoBook 15
Show off your style with ASUS Vivobook 15, the feature-packed laptop that combines great design with great functionality. Everything about Vivobook 15 is well-designed, from its powerful AMD Ryzen 5 4600H Mobile Processor (6C/12T, 11MB Cache, 4.0 GHz Max Boost) and AMD Radeon Graphics to its crisp and clear display. There’s also a 180° lay-flat hinge, modern color and sleek geometric design. It also boasts a tiny, lightweight build; the body weighs only 3.3 lbs, and is only 0.78 inches thick.
Unlock Vivobook 15 laptop with the built-in fingerprint sensor on the touchpad and Windows Hello. Plus, there’s an integrated privacy shield that slides over the webcam for instant privacy. Lastly, Vivobook 15’s backlit keyboard comes with ASUS Antibacterial Guard — a special surface treatment that prevents bacteria from accumulating.
Pros
- Powerful processor and graphics capability
- 180 degree lay flat hinge
- Lightweight and stylish design
Cons
- Not the longest battery life
Verdict
If you’re a Cricut creator, chances are you’re the creative type. You know good design when you see it – and the ASUS Vivobook 15 has style in spades. It has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, has a Full HD display and runs Windows 10 – and looks incredible to boot. The biggest issue is the battery life, which could be longer. However, it’s portable enough that it won’t be too heavy to carry the charger around too.
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HP Pavilion HD Display Laptop
The HP Pavilion 15 has a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. This gives you plenty of screen real estate for working on Cricut projects. Internally, it’s powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, a powerful piece of kit that can handle most tasks with ease. As for memory, it has 8GB of RAM. This should be enough RAM for most users, but if you need more, you can upgrade it to 16GB or 32GB.
As for storage space has 256GB of storage, customisable to 512GB or 1TB. You can also expect to get up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge. Lastly, the HP Pavilion 15 runs Windows 10. This is the latest version of Windows, which comes with a number of features that make it a great operating system for students, professionals, and anyone else who wants a powerful and reliable machine.
Pros
- Large amount of flexible memory
- Full-HD display
- Compatible with Cricut Joy
Cons
- Comes with the lowest level of memory
Verdict
Overall, the HP Pavilion 15 is a great laptop for students, professionals, and anyone who wants a powerful and affordable machine. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It also has a long battery life and runs Windows 10. All of these features combine to make the HP Pavilion our most reliable laptop for Cricut under $500. If you opt for this model, you can guarantee it won’t let you down.
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Acer Aspire 5 Slim
The Acer Aspire 5 Slim has an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core Processor, AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics, and 4GB of memory. This is more than enough power for most Cricut projects, such as cutting vinyl or paper. It also has a long battery life, lasting up to 7.5 hours on a single charge. This is great for Cricut users who want to be able to use their laptop for extended periods of time without having to worry about running out of battery.
The specs are impressive for the price: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core Processor, AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics, and a decent 4GB of memory. These impressive specs translate into a solid machine that works well for just about every demand of the average beginner or hobbyist Cricut user.
Pros
- Value for money
- Long battery life
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Struggles with more demanding software
- Average graphics
Verdict
While not everyone can afford the best laptop for Cricut, the Acer Aspire 5 Slim is a great option for those on a budget. It may not have the same graphical or processing power as more expensive laptops, but it still offers enough power for most Cricut users. It also has a long battery life and is lightweight and portable, so you can take it with you wherever you go.
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Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop
The Dell Inspiron 15 has an Intel Core i5-1035G1 Quad-Core Processor (4 Cores, 6MB Cache, 8 Threads, Base Frequency at 1.0 GHz, up to 3.6 GHz at Maximum Turbo Speed). This means that it can handle multiple tasks at once without slowing down, including multiple Cricut projects. It also has up to 32GB DDR4 RAM, which allows you to run multiple programs and applications alongside Cricut Design Space, without experiencing lag. The 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED Backlight Narrow Border WVA Touchscreen is super sensitive, too.
It even has a 2TB PCIe Solid State Drive, which means that you have plenty of storage space for all of your files. It also also has a number of ports, including an SD Card Reader, a USB 2.0 port, two USB 3.2 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, and a Headphone & Microphone Audio Jack. This means that you can connect a variety of devices to the laptop – such as your Cricut!
Pros
- Powerful processor and graphics capability
- Sensitive backlit touchscreen
- Lots of ports and connectors
- Huge storage drive
Cons
- Bad battery life
Verdict
The Dell Inspiron 15 is our best laptop for Cricut under $500 if you’re looking for storage space. For those who like to save lots and lots of projects, the size of this laptop’s drive allows you to save to your heart’s content without any slow-down. The only issue is the battery life – it only lasts around 2 hours, so you might have to cart your charger around with you if you’re planning on going outside.
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Laptop
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Laptop has 20GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once. Plus, th 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive allows for faster boot-up and data transfer. Intel technology is an integral part of the build, too; it has Intel UHD Graphics and an Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor (2 Cores, 4 Threads, 6MB Intel Smart Cache, Base clock at 3.0 GHz, Up to 4.1 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology).
With up to 14 hours of battery life, you can bring the features of the IdeaPad 3i laptop anywhere. On top of this, it has an incredibly light and thin build, weighing from just 3.30lbs and less than 1.0″ thick. It also has exceptional connectivity; Wi-Fi 6 can result in up to 75% less latency and bring wired and wireless signals closer to parity.
Pros
- Large amount of RAM and storage
- Huge amount of battery life
- Extremely light and thin build
- Bright, clear UHD screen
Cons
- Poor camera quality
Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Laptop is our best overall laptop for Cricut under $500, combining the best features of every other laptop on this list into one lightweight, slim-built package. It has huge amounts of processing power, memory, and storage – perfect for running memory-intensive programs like Cricut Design Studio. It also has great connectivity, which is surprisingly essential for Cricut – you need Wifi to speak to some Cricuts, and you don’t want your connection to drop mid-cut.
