When it comes to finding the best laptop for Cricut under $500, you’ll want a device that strikes the perfect balance between performance and affordability. Whether you’re a seasoned craft enthusiast or just getting started with your Cricut machine, having the right laptop can make all the difference in unleashing your creativity. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore a range of budget-friendly laptops that are well-suited for running Cricut’s design software smoothly, ensuring you can bring your crafting projects to life without breaking the bank. Join us as we dive into the top options that combine affordability with the power you need to take your Cricut projects to the next level.
Our expert team has researched the best laptops for Cricut. Thanks to these machines, you will get a quality, enjoyable and efficient result with Cricut. So keep reading. You can also click here: Best laptop to use with Cricut
Cricut laptop requirements
- Windows® 10 or later and macOS 11 or later
- CPU 1.83 GHz or better
- RAM: 4GB or higher
- Minimum 2 GB free disk space
- An available USB port or Bluetooth® connection
- Display: Minimum 1024px x 768px screen resolution
The best laptops for Cricut under $500 in 2023
- HP 15.6 Inch 15-dy2024nr Laptop
- SAMSUNG Electronics Galaxy Book 15
- Acer Aspire 5
- Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Business and Student Essential Laptop
- HP Business Laptop
- Bmax 14″ Laptop
- Dell Inspiron 3000 Laptop
1. HP 15.6 Inch 15-dy2024nr Laptop
HP 15.6 Inch Laptop, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 11th Generation Intel Core Processor, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Windows 11 Home (15-dy2024nr, Natural silver)
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 256 GB |
| CPU Model | Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 8 GB |
| Operating System | Widows 11 Home |
| Special Feature | Anti Glare Coating, Memory Card Slot, Numeric Keypad |
| Graphics Card Description | Integrated |
About HP 15
- TAKE IT ANYWHERE – With its thin and light design, 6.5 millimeter micro-edge bezel display, and 82% screen to body ratio, you can take this PC anywhere and see more of what you love (1).
- REVOLUTIONARY ENTERTAINMENT – Enjoy ultra-wide viewing angles and seamlessly perform multi-monitor set-ups with a 15.6-inch, Full HD, IPS, micro-edge, and anti-glare display (2).
- IMPESSIVE GRAPHICS – The Intel Iris Xe Graphics gives you a new level of performance with crisp, stunning visuals, plus the convenience of a thin and light laptop (3).
- UNSTOPPABLE PERFORMANCE – Get things done fast with the 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, which delivers instant responsiveness and best-in-class connectivity (4).
- MEMORY AND STORAGE – Get up to 15x faster performance than a traditional hard drive with 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage and experience improved multitasking with higher bandwidth thanks to 8 GB of RAM (5).
- WORK ON THE GO – Get work done on the go with a long battery life of up to 7 hours and 15 minutes (6), while HP Fast Charge lets you go from 0 to 50% charge in approximately 45 minutes (7).
- OS AND WARRANTY – Do more with greater peace of mind thanks to the familiar feel of the Windows 11 Home operating system and the HP 1-year limited hardware warranty (8).
2. SAMSUNG Electronics Galaxy Book 15
SAMSUNG Electronics Galaxy Book 15 Int 15.6″ Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor, 8GB, 256GB- Wi-Fi – Mystic Silver (NP750XDA-KD1US)
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| CPU Model | Intel Core i7 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 8 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| Special Feature | 2-1 PC Tablet, Touch Screen, Full HD Display |
| Graphics Card Description | Integrated |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel Iris Xe Max Graphics |
About Galaxy Book laptop
- Slim Clamshell.
- 15.6″ Size
- Package Weight: 2.948 kilograms
- Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
3. Acer Aspire 5 ($337)
Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R3UB | 15.6″ Full HD IPS Display | AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Quad-Core Mobile Processor | 4GB DDR4 | 128GB NVMe SSD | WiFi 6 | Backlit KB | FPR | Amazon Alexa | Windows 11 Home in S mode
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 128 GB |
| CPU Model | Ryzen 3 3350U |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 4 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Special Feature | Fingerprint Reader, Backlit Keyboard |
About Acer Aspire 5
- Powerful Productivity: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U delivers desktop-class performance and amazing battery life in a slim notebook. With Precision Boost, get up to 3.5GHz for your high-demand applications
- Maximized Visuals: See even more on the stunning 15.6″ Full HD display with 82.58% screen-to-body, 16:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels
- Backlit Keyboard and Fingerprint Reader: Biometric fingerprint reader and Windows Hello sign-in options help keep your Acer PC secure
- Internal Specifications: 4GB DDR4 on-board memory (1 slot available); 128GB NVMe solid-state drive storage (1 hard drive bay available) to store your files and media
- Acer’s Purified.Voice technology, features enhanced digital signal processing to cancel out background noise, improve speech accuracy and far-field pickup, which not only makes calls clearer, but makes talking to Alexa easier than before.
- With Alexa Show Mode, you can use your PC as a full-screen interactive experience that features rich visuals and lets you talk to Alexa from across the room.
- Secure Operating System: Windows 11 Home in S mode comes with advanced security features built right in, like protections against phishing and malicious software so you don’t have to think twice when navigating to a new webpage or downloading an app
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3i ($439)
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Business and Student Essential Laptop,14” Full HD Display, 20GB RAM, 1TB SSD Storage, Intel 11th Gen i3 Processor (Up to 4.10 GHz), HDMI, Windows 11 Home
| Screen Size | 14 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Intel Core i3 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 20 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 S |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel UHD Graphics |
About Lenovo ideapad 3i
- 【Processor】 Powered by latest 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor (6M Cache, up to 4.1 GHz) for advanced multitasking, demanding computing, smooth gaming, multiple tabs browsing, and everyday tasks.
- 【Memory and Storage】 20GB High-bandwidth RAM to Smoothly Run Multiple Applications and Browser Tabs All at Once. Hard Drive is 1TB Solid State Drive (SSD) which Allows to Fast Boot-up and Data Transfer.
- 【Display】 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080) Display with Four Sided Narrow Bezels to deliver a clear, crispy image that’s easy on your eye.
- 【Operating System】 Windows 11 Home in S Model, English. You May Switch Win 11 S Mode to the Regular Win 11.
- 【Bundled Accessory】 Microfiber Cloth for Screen Cleaning.
5. HP Business Laptop ($469)
HP Business Laptop, 14″ FHD IPS Micro-Edge Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3250U (Beat i3-10110U), 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, Webcam, USB-C, HDMI, WiFi, SD Card Reader, SPS HDMI Cable, Win 11
| Screen Size | 14 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 1 TB |
| CPU Model | Ryzen 3 |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 32 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Graphics Coprocessor | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| CPU Speed | 2.6 GHz |
About HP Business Laptop
- 【Reliable Laptop】Stay connected to what matters most with long-lasting battery life and a thin and portable, micro-edge bezel design. Built to keep you productive and entertained from anywhere, the HP 14″ diagonal laptop features reliable performance and an expansive display – letting you stream, surf and speed through tasks
- 【View More, Carry Less】Enjoy the thin, micro-edge bezel 14-inch screen with 2 million pixels for crystal-clear visuals and vibrant image quality for all your entertainment
- 【Dependable Performance】Tackle your busiest days with the performance of an AMD processor. Save more of what you love with abundant storage for all your photos, videos and documents
- 【Stay Connected】Long-lasting battery life and HP Fast Charge technology lets you work, watch, and stay connected all day. Integrated precision touchpad speeds up navigation and productivity
- 【Multiple Ports Available】Connect your laptop with other devices. 1x SuperSpeed USB Type-C, 2x SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1x HDMI, 1x SD Card Reader
6. Bmax 14″ Laptop ($229)
Bmax 14″ Laptop 6GB RAM 256GB SSD Windows 10 Laptop 1920×1080 Full HD Thin Traditional Laptop Computer Expandable 1TB SSD, HDMI, BT, USB3.0, 2.4G/5G WiFi
| Screen Size | 14.1 Inches |
| CPU Model | Celeron |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 6 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD Graphics 500 |
| CPU Speed | 2.4 |
| Hard Disk Description | 256GB SSD |
About Bmax S14A
- ✅【Powerful Processor】The laptop installed with Windows 10 Pro system, Intel Celeron N Processor, Burst Frequency 2.4GHz. It supports a variety of office software and is compatible with a variety of mainstream video and gaming applications.
- ✅【Runs Smoothly without Waiting】6 BG high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple programs. 256GB SSD allow to quick boot-up times, rapidly loading software, store huge amoungs of files with ease. Meet the needs of work and save photos of a good life.Provide a separate M.2 SSD expansion slot expandable up to 512GB.
- ✅【14″ 2K resolution IPS Display】14 inch laptop computer with 2K resolution FHD IPS screen, boasts impressive color and clarity. Large 38Wh lithium-ion battery easily meet daily needs.
- ✅【Multi-Connection】Slim and Elegant Design — The elegant body weighs only 1.2 kg and is only 2 cm thick, making it easy to carry throughout the day. S14A laptop with USB*2, Microphone*1, Camera, Mini HDMI *1, fast charging DC port*1, 3.5mm headphone jack*1, TF card slot*1 and SSD expansion slot.
- ✅【One year warranty】Comes with a 12 months of warranty, worry-free 30-day return and 7 days/ 24 hours friendly customer serving. CONTACT US: Login your amazon account > choose “Your orders” > find the order ID > click “Contact seller”.
7. Dell Inspiron 3000 Laptop ($345)
Dell Inspiron 3000 Laptop, 15.6 HD LED-Backlit Display, Intel Celeron Processor N4020, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB PCIe SSD, Online Meeting Ready, Webcam, WiFi, HDMI, Bluetooth, Win10 Home
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Hard Disk Size | 128 GB |
| CPU Model | Celeron |
| Ram Memory Installed Size | 8 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel UHD Graphics |
About Dell Inspiron 3000
- 【Dell Inspiron Laptop】8GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once; 128GB PCIe NVME M.2 Solid State Drive for ample storage space.
- 【Processor】Intel Celeron Processor N4020 (2 cores, 2 Threads, 4MB Cache, up to 2.8 GHz)
- 【Display】15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Non-touch Display, Intel UHD Graphics with Shared Graphics Memory
- 【Tech Specs】802.11ac 1×1 WiFi and Bluetooth, 1 x SD Card Reader, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x Wedge-shaped lock slot, 1 x Power, 1 x HDMI 1.4b, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x Headphone & Microphone Audio Jack, Win10 Home
In conclusion, finding the best laptop for Cricut under $500 is a budget-friendly quest that requires careful consideration of performance, compatibility, and affordability. While there are several viable options available in this price range, it’s crucial to prioritize a laptop with sufficient processing power, RAM, and a compatible operating system to ensure seamless usage with your Cricut machine. Keep an eye out for deals, discounts, and user reviews to make an informed decision that meets both your creative needs and budget constraints. By doing so, you can embark on your crafting journey with confidence, armed with a reliable laptop that won’t break the bank.
Best laptop for Cricut under $500 – faq
- Which laptops are compatible with Cricut?
- Laptops here are compatible with Cricut.
- What laptops are not compatible with Cricut Design Space?
- Not compatible with laptops other than Windows or Mac operating system.
- Is a laptop or tablet better for Cricut?
- For Cricut, a laptop is better than a tablet.
- Is 8GB RAM enough for Cricut Design space?
- Yes, 8GB of RAM is definitely enough for Cricut Design space.
- Can I run Cricut on a Chromebook?
- No, unfortunately Design Space only requires a Windows or Mac operating system. Chromebooks run Google’s Chrome operating system, which is not compatible with Design Space.
Do you need a special computer for a Cricut?
No, you don’t need a special computer for a Cricut. Cricut cutting machines are compatible with both Windows and Mac computers. The system requirements are generally modest, requiring a computer with basic specifications like a USB port and internet connectivity. You can use a desktop or laptop computer to design and control your Cricut machine. Additionally, Cricut offers web-based design software called Design Space, which works in most modern web browsers, eliminating the need for high-end hardware. So, whether you have a basic or more advanced computer, you can enjoy the creative possibilities of a Cricut machine without the need for a specialized setup.
How to choose the best laptop for Cricut under $500
Choosing the best laptop for Cricut under $500 requires careful consideration of your specific needs and priorities. Cricut design software, such as Cricut Design Space, does not demand high-end hardware, but you still need a laptop that can run it smoothly. Here are some steps to help you make an informed decision:
- Check System Requirements: Start by reviewing the official system requirements for Cricut Design Space on the Cricut website. Make sure the laptop you choose meets or exceeds these requirements. The minimum requirements included a Windows 8 or later operating system or macOS 10.15 or later, 4GB of RAM, and an available USB port. Be sure to verify these requirements, as they may have changed since then.
- Operating System: Cricut Design Space is available for both Windows and macOS. Choose the operating system you are most comfortable with and make sure the laptop you select supports it.
- Processor: Look for a laptop with at least an Intel Core i3 or equivalent AMD processor. This should provide enough processing power for Cricut Design Space to run smoothly.
- RAM (Memory): Aim for a laptop with a minimum of 8GB of RAM. More RAM will help with multitasking and overall system performance.
- Storage: While Cricut Design Space itself doesn’t require much storage space, it’s a good idea to have at least 256GB of storage for your files and projects. Consider a laptop with an SSD (Solid State Drive) for faster data access and system boot times.
- Graphics: You don’t need a dedicated graphics card for Cricut Design Space, as it primarily relies on your CPU. Integrated graphics should suffice, but ensure they meet the software’s requirements.
- Screen: A clear and color-accurate screen is important for designing and editing projects. Look for a laptop with an IPS (In-Plane Switching) display for better viewing angles and color reproduction. A Full HD (1920×1080) resolution is recommended.
- Portability: Depending on your preferences, you may want a laptop that is lightweight and portable for easy transport between your workspace and the Cricut machine.
- Battery Life: If you plan to use the laptop on the go, consider a model with good battery life to avoid frequent charging.
- Budget: Stick to your $500 budget but be open to refurbished or older models, which may offer better specifications within your price range.
- Brand and Warranty: Choose a reputable laptop brand with good customer support and warranty options. This can be helpful in case you encounter any issues with your laptop.
- Read Reviews: Before making a final decision, read user reviews and expert opinions to see how well the laptop performs in real-world scenarios, including running design software like Cricut Design Space.
Popular laptop brands to consider in this price range include Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, and HP. Keep in mind that prices and available models may have changed since my last update, so be sure to check the latest options within your budget.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to visit electronics stores or browse online retailers to compare laptops and test their keyboards, displays, and overall build quality before making a purchase. This can help you find the best laptop for your needs and budget.