I am excited to show you the new Cricut Maker 4 machine and all it can do. Cricut is launching this new machine today and I’ve had one for a little while so I can test it and see all it can do.
Do you need this newest Cricut machine? We are going to test it side by side against the Cricut Maker 3 to see what’s different to help you answer this question.
Along with the Maker 4, Cricut is also releasing the new Explore 4 machine today. Read about the Cricut Explore 4 here if you want to see more about it.
If you really want to see the Cricut Maker 4 in action, be sure to check watch my YouTube video. I am testing each material side by side with Maker 3 to help you see exactly how much faster it is in real-time.
Click play on the video below to watch it now:
The Cricut Maker 4 Machine
I am going to dive in depth into this machine below and give you everything you need to know. No matter if you are looking at a Cricut Maker for the first time or want to upgrade, I can help!
When and where is the Maker 4 for sale?
Before we get into the machine itself, let’s talk about when it will be available and where you can get it.
The Cricut Maker 4 will be available starting February 28, 2025. It will come in two colors, seashell with a metallic lid and sage green.
You can purchase the seashell color here if you live in the US or Canada. You can purchase the sage color in a bundle on Michaels.com if you live in the US, Canada, or Mexico.
If you live in another part of the world, you can purchase your machine beginning March 14th and it will be available in the sage color worldwide.
The MSRP for Cricut Maker 4 is $399.
How is Maker 4 Different than the Maker 3?
I know this is the question that everyone really wants the answer to so let’s look at how it is different. I will dive deeper into these below but the two main differences are:
- The Maker 4 is up to 2x faster than previous machines even with materials on the mat. And yes I put that to the test so see my results below!
- This machine comes with more materials in the box so you can get crafting right away. I personally think this makes the machine an even better deal.
What is in the Box?
When you open the box you’ll find your Cricut Maker 4. There is packing materials that you will need to remove from outside and inside the machine.
Included inside the machine is the Fine Point Blade and the housing for the blade. In the box you’ll find a black Cricut pen, a mini weeding tool, a power and USB cord, a blue LightGrip mat, and enough different materials to make approximately 10 projects.
Is the Physical Machine Different?
Compared to the Maker 3 and original Maker, the dimensions are the same. Other than the color difference Maker 4 looks very similar.
The buttons are the same. On the right side of the machine, there is a power button, a load/unload button, a Go/start button, and a pause button.
On the left side of the machine, there are storage cups. The tray that opens also has additional storage just like older machines.
The Cricut Maker 4 has both an A and B clamp just like other machines.
I call the A clamp the accessory clamp. This clamp holds pens, markers, and can also hold a scoring stylus.
Clamp B is the blade clamp. When you receive your machine it will have the fine point blade installed.
What Tools Work with Maker 4?
Every tool that worked in previous machines will work with the Maker 4. You can use all tools that work with previous Explore and Maker machines.
This includes:
- Fine Point Blade
- Deep Cut Blade
- Bonded Fabric Blade
- Scoring Stylus
- Rotary Blade
- Knife Blade
- Quick Swap Tools including; Engraving Tool, Double and Single Scoring Wheels, Deboss Tool, Wavy Blade, Perf Blade
- All Cricut Pens and Markers including Infusible Ink
Note: Before starting every project your Cricut machine will check to make sure the right blade is installed. If the right blade is not installed you will receive an error message to change the blade.
Some blades are not available for use on mobile. Because of how long cuts take with the Knife Blade you cannot use a mobile device.
If you have the smart material Roll Holder that was available with the release of Maker and Explore 3 machines, that roll holder will also work with the new Maker 4. This is not a necessary accessory but it is available and will work with this machine.
What mats work with Cricut Maker 4?
All Explore and Maker mats, including LightGrip, StandardGrip, StrongGrip, FabricGrip, and Card Mat will work with this machine. See a full guide on what mat works for each material here.
What is the Maximum Cut Size for Cricut Maker 4?
When cutting Smart materials, you can cut 11.7 inches wide by 12 feet long. When using a mat, you are limited by the mat. If you have a 12×12 mat, the maximum cut size is 11.5×11.5. If you’re using the 12×24 mat, the maximum cut size is 11.5 by 23.5 inches.
What materials does the Maker 4 cut?
The maximum thickness is 2.4mm. This thickness depends on the material.
You can find a full list of all materials that can be cut with Cricut Maker 4 on the Cricut website and what thickness those machines can be. I will cut some examples below but there is no way I can cut all of the materials this machine can cut in one post!
How to Set Up Cricut Maker 4
To set up your new machine, head to Cricut.com/Setup and follow the setup process. The process is very simple and quick. You can set up your machine via either Bluetooth or USB. It will walk you through setting up your machine and making your first project.
My project used Cricut Smart Vinyl and cut out the Cricut logo as a decal. The whole process was very easy and the Smart Vinyl cut perfectly.
During the setup process, you will be prompted to download Cricut Design Space if you do not already have it. If you are new to Design Space, I have a full tutorial here to help you get started.
Cricut Maker 4 vs Maker 3 Side-by-Side Comparison
Now we’re going to test a variety of different materials side by side with both the Maker 4 and Maker 3 to see how much faster the Maker 4 actually cuts.
You can watch these comparisons in real-time by pressing play on the video above.
For all of these comparisons, I am using the exact same materials, I am using the same computer, and the same internet, and pressing play at the same time to make sure we are seeing what the difference is.
Smart Vinyl Cutting Comparison
When Maker 3 was released it was marketed as up to 2x faster for Smart materials vs using a mat. Now we’re going to see if that time is different between these two machines.
I actually had to do this comparison twice because the first time the Maker 3 took a while to process before it started cutting. I felt like that was a connection issue and wanted to make sure before I reported on the time difference.
The second time the processing was better for the Maker 3 and in conclusion, the Maker 4 was just SLIGHTLY faster cutting Smart Vinyl off the mat.
Iron-on On a Mat Comparison
When using Iron-on material you place the material shiny side down on the mat and mirror your image.
This comparison was more drastic. The Maker 4 cut Iron-on on a mat much faster than the Maker 3 did.
Cardstock and Pen Writing Comparison
For this next project, I wanted to test cutting cardstock but I also wanted to see if the writing was also faster.
This is an on-the-mat project and the Cricut Maker 4 was significantly faster with both the drawing and cutting.
Cricut Genuine Leather Comparison
For this material, I am using a timer because I only have one Deep Point Blade. To cut Cricut Genuine Leather, you need a Deep Point Blade and you need to move the star wheels out of the way so they don’t leave marks on the material.
I like to put my material good side down to protect my mat and that means you need to mirror the image.
There was not as much time difference between the two machines for this material. The Maker 4 was maybe one second faster than the Maker 3.
Basswood with Knife Blade Comparison
Again, I only have one Knife Blade so I am using a timer to do this comparison. To cut wood you need to use the StrongGrip Mat and you need to tape down the sides to ensure nothing moves as it does multiple passes.
For this material, I changed the design a little bit because the Knife Blade does not do well with intricate details. I removed the internal cut pieces and the cut time was the same for both Maker 3 and Maker 4.
Fabric Comparison
For this material, I also used a timer because I only have one Rotary Blade. I love cutting fabric with my Maker machines. The Rotary Blade is similar to the Knife Blade, you can’t do anything too intricate so I used the same design for this material.
The Maker 4 cut this material about 4 seconds faster than the Maker 3 did.
Print Then Cut Comparison
This comparison is the star of the show. The Print Then Cut cutting process was at least 2x faster on the Cricut Maker 4 than it was on the Maker 3.
If you’re new to Print Then Cut, you can learn how to do that here.
For this test, I did a die cut so the cut goes through the sticker and the carrier sheet.
Make sure you calibrate your machines before you begin. You should calibrate the Print Then Cut anytime there has been a big update in Design Space, if you haven’t used the machine for a while, or if you have replaced your blade.
Close Up of Finished Cuts
I was really impressed with all the cuts. Even when the Cricut Maker 4 cut twice as fast as the Maker 3 the cuts are still clean and a very high quality.
Do You Need Cricut Maker 4?
Here’s the big question, do you need a Cricut Maker 4? I think in the end it depends on what you’re doing.
When Cricut first contacted me about this machine I was not sure that up to 2x faster was really all that exciting or worth upgrading for. After testing it and finding that all the materials that were cut with the Fine Point Blade on a mat cut so much faster, I can definitely see a case for why you’d want this machine.
If you are a small business owner who cuts a lot of materials on the mat, this machine can save you so much time. Especially if you’re making projects with Print Then Cut.
If you are a hobby crafter or someone who doesn’t really need speed with your crafting, this may not be a machine you need right now.
If you do not already own a Cricut machine, I would recommend the Cricut Maker 4. It is the newest machine and it has the ability to cut more materials than even the new Explore 4.
Are Old Machines Going Away?
If you do not currently need a new machine and you’re a hobby crafter who doesn’t need to cut even faster, you don’t need to worry.
All Joy machines, Explore machines, Maker machines, and Cricut Venture are still supported by Cricut. All machines that work with Design Space are still supported and will continue to work. A few years ago Cricut stopped supporting what they call legacy machines. Those are machines from before the Explore and Design Space were released.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at the new Cricut Maker 4. I have to say, I was a lot more impressed with its speed than I thought I would be. I was also really impressed with how clean the cuts are even at a faster speed.
If you have any questions about this new machine, leave them in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them for you.
