If you are looking for the best laptop for Cricut under $500, you are at the right place. Cricut software, specifically Cricut Design Space, is a design software used by Architects, Crafters, and designers. This software is used with Cricut cutting machines to cut designs on different materials like paper, fabric, vinyl, and more. It is web-based software, can also be installed on your system, and does not require any extensive computational power. There are a few requirements for the best laptop for Cricut under $500, including a full HD display with a big screen as it involves high detailing and accuracy and a good processor with enough RAM and storage.
In this comprehensive guide, we have covered all the aspects of choosing the best laptop for Cricut under $500.
Minimum requirements for the best laptop for Cricut under $500
- Windows® 10 or later
- CPU: Intel™ Dual-Core or equivalent AMD® processor
- RAM: 4GB or more
- 2 GB free disk space
- USB port or Bluetooth® connection
- Display: Minimum 1024px x 768px screen resolution
Budget and Pricing
The budget for the laptops for Cricut is fixed at $500. However, we can also look at the refurbished laptops with high-end specifications to maximize features within our specified budget.
What to consider in Best Laptop for Cricut under $500
Processor
While opting for the Best laptop for Cricut under $500, go with at least an Intel Core i3 or an equivalent AMD processor.
RAM
There should be at least 8 GB RAM for an overall smooth experience, and choose upgradable RAM for future enhancements.
Storage
There should be at least a 128 GB Solid State Drive (SSD) for the operating system and the Cricut software.
Display
As this is design software, we need a big screen for better visuals. The screen size should be more than 14 inches with a 1080p resolution. An IPS or anti-glare display is recommended for better color representation.
Battery Life
There should be at least 3 to 4 hours of battery backup for the smooth usage of Cricut software.
Connectivity
There should be a USB port on the laptop to connect it to the Cricut machine. Also, there should be a port for HDMI for external displays.
Top 07 Best Laptops for Cricut under $500
Acer Aspire 5
Acer Aspire 5 is the best laptop for Cricut under $500 as it meets all the requirements of the Cricut software. This laptop has an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 256 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM with Windows 10 Home operating system. It has 15.6 inches Full HD screen with IPS display that is good for the Cricut design space users. It also gives you a long battey backup of almost 11 hours. The detailed specifications of this laptop are given below.
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6 Inches FHD 1920 x 1080p IPS Display |
| Keyboard | Backlit Keyboard |
| Battery | Average 11 hours |
| Weight | 3.88 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71 inches |
| Ports | 1 USB 2.0 Port, 3x USB 3.0 Ports |
| Color | Silver |
| Amazon Rating | 4.5 Stars |
Pros
- Light weight and slim design of the laptop
- Long battery backup
- FHD 1080p display
- Multiple ports
Cons
- No dedicated graphic card
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is most suitable laptop for the Cricut users under $500 as it meets all the requirements of the software. This laptop has an 11th Generation Intel Core i3 processor, 1 TB SSD storage, and 20 GB RAM with Windows 11 Home operating system. It has 14 inches Full HD screen. It also gives you a long battey backup of almost 14 hours. It has HDMI cable port for external display. All these specifications make it the best laptop for Cricut under $500. The detailed specifications of this laptop are given below.
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i3 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Memory | 20 GB RAM |
| Storage | 1 TB SSD |
| Display | 14 inch FHD Display |
| Camera | 720 Pixels |
| Battery | Average 14 Hours |
| Weight | 3.5 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 12.88 x 9.49 x 0.78 inches |
| Ports | 2x USB 2.0 Port, 1x USB 3.0 Ports, HDMI |
| Color | Gray |
| Amazon Rating | 4.6 Stars |
Pros
- Affordable in price
- Inbuilt privacy shutter
- Light weight
- Adequate storage capacity
- Long battery backup
- FHD 1080p display
Cons
- Limited upgradability
- Average build quality
HP 15.6 Inch Laptop
HP 15.6 inch Laptop is also a good choice for the Cricut users as it has an 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, 256 GB SSD storage, and 8 GB RAM with Windows 11 Home operating system. It has 15.6 inches screen that is good for the Cricut design space users. It also gives you a battey backup of almost 8.15 hours. All these specifications make it the best laptop for Cricut under $500. The detailed specifications of this laptop are given below.
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6 Inches |
| Keyboard | Numeric Keypad |
| Battery | Average 8.15 Hours |
| Weight | 3.75 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 14.11 x 9.53 x 0.71 inches |
| Ports | 3x USB 3.0 Ports |
| Color | Natural Silver |
| Amazon Rating | 4.4 Stars |
Pros
- Latest Intel processor
- Light weight
- Adequate storage capacity
- Long battery backup
Cons
- Low resolution screen
HP Newest Pavilion 15.6
HP Newest Pavilion 15.6 is the best laptop for Cricut under $500 as it meets all the requirements of the Cricut software as it has an Intel Core i3 processor, 1TB SSD storage, and 16 GB RAM with Windows 11 Home operating system. It has HD display with touch screen that is good for the Cricut design space users. It also gives you a long battey backup of almost 8 hours. It has HDMI port for external display. The detailed specifications of this laptop are given below.
| Processor | Intel Core i3-1115G4 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 1 TB SSD |
| Display | HD 1366 x 768 pixels, Touch Screen |
| Camera | 720p HD Camera |
| Battery | Up to 8 hours |
| Weight | 3.74 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 14.1 x 9.53 x 0.71 inches |
| Ports | USB Type C, USB Type A, HDMI, Headphone Jack |
| Color | Silver |
| Amazon Rating | 4.3 Stars |
Pros
- Affordable in price
- Light weight
- Adequate storage capacity
- Long battery backup
Cons
- Intel Core i3 processor
Dell Newest Inspiron 15 3511
Dell Newest Inspiron 15 3511 is the best laptop for Cricut under $500 as it meets all the requirements of the Cricut software. This laptop has Intel core i5 processor, 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM with Windows 11 Home operating system. It has 15.6 inches Full HD screen with anti glare and LED backlight that is good for the Cricut design space users. It also gives you a long battey backup with 42Wh. The detailed specifications of this laptop are given below.
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1035G1 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Memory | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6 FHD, Anti glare, LED Backlight |
| Keyboard | Numeric Keypad |
| Battery | 3-cell 42Wh |
| Weight | 3.74 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 14.11 x 0.74 x 9.27 inches |
| Ports | SD Card Reader, 1 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.2, HDMI 1.4 |
| Color | Black |
| Amazon Rating | 4.3 Stars |
Pros
- Light weight and slim design of the laptop
- Adequate storage capacity
- Long battery backup
- FHD 1080p display
- Anti glare and LED backlight
Cons
- No USB Type C port
ASUS VivoBook 15
ASUS VivoBool 15 is a good choice for Cricut users as it meets all the requirements of the Cricut software. This laptop has 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor, 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM with Windows 10 Home operating system. It has 15.6 inches Full HD screen that is good for the Cricut design space users. It also gives you a battey backup of almost 6 hours. All these specifications make this the best laptop for Cricut under $500. The detailed specifications of this laptop are given below.
| Processor | 10th Gen Intel i3-1005G1 CPU |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6 FHD |
| Keyboard | Ergonomic backlit |
| Battery | Average 6 Hours |
| Weight | 3.75 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 14.1 x 9.1 x 0.78 inches |
| Ports | 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0 |
| Color | Slate Gray |
| Amazon Rating | 4.5 Stars |
Pros
- Light weight and slim design of the laptop
- FHD 1080p display
Cons
- Less storage
- No graphic card
HP 17 Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 is the best laptop for Cricut under $500 as it 11th generation Core i3 processor, 256 GB storage, and 4 GB DDR4 RAM with Windows 11 Home operating system. It has 17.3 display that is good for the Cricut design space users. It also gives you a long battey backup of almost 8 hours. The detailed specifications of this laptop are given below.
| Processor | 11th Gen Core i3 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Memory | 4 GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD |
| Display | 17.3 inches 1600 x 900 Pixels |
| Camera | HP TrueVision HD camera |
| Keyboard | Numeric Keypad |
| Battery | Average 8 Hours |
| Weight | 5.25 Pounds |
| Dimensions | 10.72 x 0.96 x 16.33 inches |
| Ports | 1x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0 |
| Color | Natural Silver |
| Amazon Rating | 4.4 Stars |
Pros
- Adequate storage capacity
- Big display
Cons
- Average graphics
- Heavy weight
Conclusion
In this comprehensive guide we talked about the Cricut design space software, then we explored the requirements of the software, and based on those requirements, we selected laptops for you. The best laptop for Cricut under $500 is Acer Aspire 5 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3i as they are affordable in price and good in performance.
If you are also looking for security features in a laptop, you must read our comprehensive guide on the best laptops for cyber security.
The Cricut is a die-cutting machine for creating crafts of all sorts. Go to cricut.com/setup and check out the materials you can cut with your Cricut machine. For such a big investment, you cannot afford to lose your way while setting up Cricut. And that is why we have gathered the steps for you. From setting up the machine, setting up the cutting mat, cleaning the mat to downloading the design software, cricut.com/setup is the only answer.