Cricut Launches New Explore 4 and Maker 4 Cutting Machines
Cricut just announced the launch of two new machines: the Explore 4 and Maker 4 — both faster and more affordable than their predecessors.
If you’ve been ignoring craft cutting machines, then you really should give them another look. They’re useful for all kinds of tasks, from making graphics and labels for your devices to cutting cardboard prototypes. The two biggest players in the consumer segment of that market have long been Cricut and Silhouette, with the former being the more popular. Cricut just announced the launch of two new machines: the Explore 4 and Maker 4 — both stated to be faster and more affordable than their predecessors.
Cricut currently sells four lines of cutting machines: the Joy, the Explore, the Maker, and the Venture. Of the consumer-oriented models, the Joy is the cheapest of the bunch and the Maker is the most expensive, with the Explore fitting between the two. The Venture is more of a prosumer machine.
The two new models, the Explore 4 and Maker 4, are identical in overall size and work with materials of the same size. But the Maker 4 has more tool options. Most notably, it has special blades and engraving tips that make it suitable for some work on wood and even light engraving on metal.
The biggest upgrade for this generation, compared to the last, is to speed. Cricut’s press release promises that the 4thgeneration models have twice the maximum cutting speed of the 3rdgeneration models. That is a significant performance boost that should appeal to those who use their machines a lot and want to increase efficiency.
Cricut also says that the new generation models will be cheaper (at least in the United States and Canada). That is a difficult claim to verify, as the 3rd generation has been available for quite some time and discounts abound. MSRP alone isn’t a solid indicator of actual retail prices.
The Explore 4 does seem to be about $50 cheaper than current Explore 3 options. The Maker 4, on the other hand, appears to be priced similarly to current Maker 3 options.
However, Cricut will be bundling more material and tools with the 4th generation machines, which add overall value. As always, you’ll want to compare prices when shopping to determine if they fit your budget.
Finally, Cricut promises that, in conjunction with the revamped Design Space software/app, the new 4th generation machines will be easier than ever to use. Cricut has always prioritized user-friendliness, but these machines can still be a bit intimidating and software improvements are always welcome.
If you’re interested in the Cricut Explore 4 or Maker 4, you can purchase a machine from the Cricut website or from Michaels. If you want the Sage color, that is exclusive to Michaels. At this time, the only color option on the Cricut website is seashell.
