The Cricut Explore 3 is one good looking machine. Unlike the older Explore Air 2, which comes in various colours, this machine comes in just one shade: soft mint green. The Cricut Explore 3 is a very stylish looking cutting machine, and the rounded edges make it look sleek and compact. It measures 15 x 17 x 56cm, so it’ll effortlessly sit on any workspace without taking up too much room. It’s also lightweight at just 10lbs, which is almost half the weight of the Cricut Maker 3.

Prior to having Smart Materials and Matless Cutting, crafters have always been restricted to a maximum design size on Design Space of 30.5cm x 60cm (12” x 24”). With Smart Materials, you can cut designs that are much longer and avoid the issues that mats would sometimes cause with intricate cuts. The machine button design has also been slightly updated, with a “play” triangle button replacing the Cricut “C” button on the other Cricut Explore machines. Plus, the Cricut Explore 3's cutting speed is dramatically faster when using the Smart Materials, easily twice as fast. The Cricut Explore 3 allows you to print-then-cut on white or colored materials, whereas you can only print-then-cut on white materials with the Explore Air 2. Cricut Explore Air 2 vs. Cricut Explore 3: Wider projects?

The Cricut Explore 3 is the newest edition to the Cricut family and is faster, smarter and does away with the need for a mat.

CricutExplore 3 works with our all-new Smart Materials. What makes these new materials unique? Theyeasilyload directly into the machine (without a cutting mat!) and stay aligned without any manual adjustment. That means — for the first time ever — you can make cuts up to 12 ft long in one go. They also added a holder for your device like on the Maker. This is helpful if you work in the mobile apps—it just gives you a place to set your device. BUT don’t worry—support for Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore isn’t going anywhere. Because these new machines are within the same “ecosystem” as the original machines (meaning they use the same mats, blades, tools, and accessories as the Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore Air 2), support for these machines will still be readily available. Should I Upgrade to the Cricut Explore 3? There are also other smaller updates to the design and overall look of Cricut Explore 3. To start, Cricut got rid of the material selection dial on the top of the machine. Instead, materials are now selected in Cricut Design Space when you make your project. The Maker and Joy machines do not have dials, so this brings the Explore in line with those machines.

The most exciting upgraded features on the Explore 3 are its faster-cutting speed and its matless cutting functionality, allowing you to use Cricut's new Smart Materials product range. Cuts 2 x Faster Projects that are created in Design Space can be saved to the Cloud so that they can be accessed anywhere you are (as long as you have an internet connection). Alternatively, you can save projects to the device you are creating them on, though you will not be able to access these on any other device. The design has been smoothed our and brought in line with newer Cricut machines, such as the Cricut Maker 3 (Image credit: Rachael Phillips) Don’t worry, though – you can still use the old mats from your previous model of Cricut Explore, and there are always plenty of cutting mat options available online. Accessories for the Cricut Explore 3 Cricut Design Space will walk you through the set-up process and also take you through a small sample project to show you all the features of your new machineMax Material Load is subject to roll length and Design Space® software limitations. For more information about your warranty, visit cricut.com/warranty

When it comes to faster cutting times, the Cricut Explore 3 is outstanding […] This is a noticeable difference for anyone who has used the older Cricut machines You might have noticed that the Cricut Explore 3 has a bit of a sleeker design than previous Explore models. This is because Cricut has removed the material selection dial from the machine, moving the material selection process into the Design Space software. What do I need to get started with Cricut Explore 3? From there, you can select your new machine and follow the on-screen instructions to get it hooked up to your computer. How is Cricut Explore 3 different than other Cricut Explore machines? The Cricut Explore 3 is competitively priced just below the newer and more capable Cricut Maker 3 (Image credit: Rachael Phillips) When it comes to accessories, you can use nearly all of the same ones as the other Cricut machines. Read our Cricut EasyPress Mini review to see why this a great accessory to have on hand, especially if you plan to personalise your own clothes. Our Cricut The MugPress review also shows why this gadget is fun, and it works very well with the Cricut Explore 3, as you can use the Smart Infusible Ink material to create your own mug designs.The machine case color has been updated to a matte mint green and the size of the tool cup on the left side of the machine has been made bigger. Increased cutting speed – Being able to cut Smart Materials at 2 x the speed of previous Explore models is a great upgrade. However, the Cricut Explore 3 would let you do a large-scale project like that fast in a single cut, using Smart Materials without a mat. Plus, the Cricut Explore 3 can cut twice as fast when using Smart Materials. This is a major time-saver if you do large projects frequently.

Smart Iron On comes in a range of sizes up to 9′ in regular and specialty finishes, like holographic and glitter. The maximum cut width is 11.7″. Smart Iron On can be cut up to 4′ at a time, which is perfect for making things like vacation t-shirts for your whole family or a ton of tote bags to add to your online shop. Smart Paper Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error Other than that, Cricut Explore 3 is the basically same as a Cricut Explore Air 2, so everything you can do with your Cricut Explore Air 2 you can also do with this new machine. All of the same tools, mats, blades, and accessories work, so you don’t have to worry about also upgrading everything if you decide you want a Cricut Explore Air 2! All products are covered by a manufacturer guarantee covering manufacturing defects and breakdowns due to faulty components. Guarantees are limited to domestic use only and excludes consumable items such as belts and needles as well as misuse or accidental damage.If you've already got the Joy or an older machine, you might be wondering what the hype is around the new features and if it’s really worth upgrading to the Cricut Explore 3. Similarly, if you're ready to dip your toe into the world of Cricut, you may be wondering which is the best machine to buy. Serious crafters are going to look at the Cricut Maker 3 and the Explore 3, which are the latest and greatest.