The Cricut Explore 3 is the latest and most advanced cutting machine from Cricut, the leading brand in DIY and crafting technology. With improvements in cutting speed, precision, and smart material settings, the Explore 3 represents a significant upgrade over previous Cricut models.
In this in-depth review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the key features, specs, accessories, software, and performance of the Cricut Explore 3. Whether you’re looking to buy your first cutting machine or upgrade from an older Cricut model, this review will help you determine if the Explore 3 is the right fit for your crafting and DIY projects.
Overview of the Cricut Explore 3 Features
The Cricut Explore 3 builds upon the success of the previous Explore Air 2 model with the following upgrades and new features:
- Faster cutting speed up to 2x faster than the Explore Air 2
- Enhanced precision and control with the all-new Precision Blade
- Smart Material Settings automatically detect and cut over 100 materials
- Dual carriage for quick tool changing between the blade and pen
- Bluetooth connectivity to send projects wirelessly from iOS/Android devices
- Cricut Design Space software with thousands of images, fonts, and projects
The increased cutting speed allows you to finish projects faster than ever. Cricut claims the Explore 3 can cut vinyl projects up to 2 feet per second, twice as fast as the 1 foot per second maximum speed on the Explore Air 2.
The new Precision Blade is the star of the show, providing finer detail and control on intricate cuts. This promises better results when cutting thinner materials like vinyl, cardstock, and iron-on.
Smart Material Settings use sensors to automatically detect different materials you load in the machine. This makes setup much easier compared to previous models where you had to manually set material types and settings.
Unboxing and Setup of the Cricut Explore 3
Unboxing and setting up the Cricut Explore 3 is quick and straightforward. The contents include:
- Cricut Explore 3 machine
- Cricut Fine Point Blade
- Cricut Pen
- 12″ x 12″ Cutting Mat
- Cricut Power Adapter and Cord
- Accessory Adapter for Cricut Pens
- 50 Free Project Cards
- Quick Start Guide
The Explore 3 weighs around 15 pounds and measures 9.5″ deep x 5.6″ tall x 13.6” wide. The casing has a nice white and mint color scheme that looks clean and modern.
You’ll need to download the Cricut Design Space software on your computer or Cricut mobile app to set up the machine. Just follow the on-screen setup instructions to get connected via Bluetooth. The process only takes about 5-10 minutes.
Cutting Performance and Tests
We tested the cutting performance of the Explore 3 on a variety of materials including vinyl, cardstock, faux leather, and others. Here are the key results:
- Vinyl: Clean, accurate cuts with no tearing on intricate designs. The blade easily cuts through vinyl.
- Cardstock: Very precise cuts through 80lb and 90lb with the Multi-Point debossing blade. Minimal fraying on detailed cuts.
- Iron-on: The 50+ iron-on materials we tried all cut smoothly and transferred perfectly.
- Faux Leather: The machine handled faux leather up to 2mm thick very well. Only slight fraying on small details.
- Glitter Iron-on: Flawless cutting of glitter iron-on, no flaking or lifting of the glitter material.
- Acrylic: Although not officially supported, the Explore 3 was able to cut 2mm cast acrylic with the Fine Point blade using custom settings.
The cutting performance meets or exceeds what Cricut claims the Explore 3 can handle. The combination of speed and precision is very impressive for a machine at this price point.
Design Space Software
Cricut Design Space is the free software you’ll use to create and cut projects with the Explore 3. It works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
Design Space gives you access to:
- Over 200,000 images and ready-to-make projects
- Hundreds of fonts to write your own text and phrases
- Upload your own images and SVGs to cut
- Design tools to create your own images and shapes
- 100 free ready-to-cut designs for new users
The library of images and projects makes getting started very easy. Even if you’re not artistically inclined, you can browse categories like home decor, wall art, clothing, cards, and many more to find designs to cut.
Uploading your own images is another option if you want to cut highly custom designs. Just save SVG, JPG, PNG, and other file types to upload. The “Image” tool lets you trace and vectorize images to get them ready for cutting.
Overall, Design Space offers an impressive selection of content and effective design tools in a user-friendly interface. It has just enough capabilities for beginners, but advanced users may want more precise layout and editing tools.
Accessories and Materials for the Explore 3
The Explore 3 is compatible with all the same Cricut accessories and materials as the Cricut Maker. Here are some of the most popular supplies to use with this cutting machine:
Blades and Pens
- Rotary Blade for fabrics
- Knife Blade for thick materials
- Wavy Blade for decorative cuts
- Calligraphy and Gel Pens
- Scoring Stylus
Mats
- 12″ x 24″ Mats for large projects
- 12″ x 12″ Mats including sticky, lite grip, and more
- Clear overlay mat to align layered projects
Materials
- Cricut Vinyl (iron-on, permanent, removable, glitter, patterned, etc)
- Cardstock and specialty paper (vellum, glitter, etc)
- Adhesive Foils to cut foil designs
- Heat Transfer Films to DIY apparel
- Cricut Infusible Ink Pens and Blank Infusible Items
- Cricut Papercraft Products (paper, scissors, scoring tools, embossers)
This represents just a sampling of the hundreds of Cricut accessories and materials you can use. As long as you stick to lighter-weight materials, the Explore 3 can handle most projects hobbyists will throw at it. Bulkier and thicker materials may require stepping up to the Maker.
Advantages of the Cricut Explore 3
Based on our testing and reviews, here are the biggest benefits of choosing the Cricut Explore 3:
Faster cutting speed – Up to 2x faster cutting lets you complete projects in half the time.
Enhanced precision – The new Precision Blade delivers more detailed and intricate cuts.
Easy smart materials – Auto material detection removes guesswork to cut over 100 materials.
Great value – More affordable than the Maker with performance to handle most crafts and DIY projects.
Simplified operation – Easy to set up and use even for beginners.
Powerful software – Design Space gives you tons of images, fonts, and design capabilities.
For crafters that don’t need to cut thick materials like balsa wood and leather, the Explore 3 hits a sweet spot of price, performance and features. It handles all the most common DIY materials with impressive results.
Limitations of the Cricut Explore 3
While the Explore 3 improves upon previous Cricut cutting machines in many ways, there are still some limitations to consider:
- Not designed for thick materials – Leather, mat board, and balsa wood are better handled by the Maker.
- Smaller cutting area – The Explore 3 is limited to 12” x 24” mats vs. the Maker’s 12” x 24” or 12” x 12” with the roll feed.
- Requires a internet connection – You need an internet connection for initial set up and updates.
- Accuracy suffers on intricate cuts – Very detailed cuts produce more fraying and tearing than on the Maker.
- Design Space lacks advanced design features – Software is geared more towards beginners vs. designers.
The cutting area is large enough for most hobby and DIY projects. However, serious crafters or small business owners may want the extra width and length from the Maker’s 24” mats or continuous roll feeding option.
For flawless cuts on detailed designs, the additional precision of the Maker may be required. The comparison depends on the complexity of materials and designs you plan to cut.
Cricut Explore 3 vs. Cricut Maker
The Cricut Maker represents the top-of-the-line for Cricut’s cutting machines. But is it worth the extra $170 over the Explore 3? Here’s how the key specs compare:
Cutting Area – Maker: 12” x 24” or continuous with roll feeder. Explore 3: 12” x 24” mats only.
Cutting Force – Maker: Up to 4kg of force. Explore 3: Up to 2kg force.
Blades – Maker includes Rotary and Knife Blade. Explore 3 uses Fine Point blade only.
Speed – Roughly equivalent speed of 1-2 feet per second on most materials.
Materials – Maker handles thicker materials like leather and balsa wood. Explore focuses on lighter materials.
Accessories – Maker is compatible with Fold Tool, Knife Blade, and other accessories the Explore 3 can’t use.
For advanced crafters that work with thicker materials or want the versatility of roll feeding and extra large projects, the investment in the Cricut Maker is likely worth it. It’s the only Cricut machine that can cut materials like leather and balsa wood.
Yet for users focused on vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, and other common craft supplies, the Explore 3 offers tremendous value. It delivers professional-quality cutting for everything from home decor to clothing projects. Unless you have specialized needs, the Explore 3 is the best choice for most hobby crafters.
Cricut Explore 3 Review Verdict
The Cricut Explore 3 earns our recommendation as a cutting machine that balances performance, value, and ease of use. Compared to earlier Cricut models, it adds faster cutting, smarter operation, and more precise results to take DIY projects to the next level.
While the higher-end Maker has advantages for thick materials and extra large projects, the Explore 3 is the best Cricut machine for general hobbyists. It’s approachable for beginners but can still satisfy advanced crafters working on moderately complex designs.
From decals and stickers to home decor, t-shirts, papercrafts, and more, the Cricut Explore 3 handles an amazing variety of materials. It’s an excellent investment for anyone interested in crafting or exploring a creative small business using a digital die cutting machine.
