The matte black is amazing on shirts. Its intuitive and very user-friendly. Thanks to its impressive 8.81 lbs (4 kg) cutting force, you will be able to cut more than 300 materials that are up to 0.09 in (2.4 mm) thick. It works for several types of crafting, whether your business handles clothing, greeting cards, embroidery, art prints, wall art, custom vinyl stickers and decals, wedding decor and favors, or something else. The doors open with a bit of delay. You only have to pay if you want to use Cricuts library for fonts and designs. I never get tired of how the machine opens. You can find out more in our Cricut Maker 3 review. When purchasing Cricut Maker 3 or Cricut Explore Air 2, you get a free copy of Design Space, which you can use to create your crafting designs and send them to the machine for cutting. Yes, they have tried fixing this by releasing an iOS app, but its not the real deal. Furthermore, you can use the Maker 3 to cut materials up to 12 ft (3.6 m) long and 13 in (33 cm) wide, compared to Explore Air 2s 24 in (60.96 cm) long and 12 in (30.48 cm) wide. If youre using a Windows or Mac PC, you can either download and install the tool, or use it in your web browser after creating a free account. If you have feedback or any question, please, ask them below. It looks like it can cut a hundred different materials. This means that by having Bluetooth technology, you can connect and control your Cricut machine. When the blades become dull and need to be replaced, you wont need to also change the housing tool, thanks to the QuickSwap Housing System. If youre looking to cut different materials and value printing power and design flexibility the cricut air 2 will serve you great. Great for beginners, this step-by-step guide covers getting started with Sure Cuts A Lot and Cricut! As you have seen, there wasnt a significant change in the design, but they added Dual Carriage (double tool holder) and wireless communication. Without a doubt, the 8.81 lbs (4 kg) cutting force of Cricut Maker 3 surpasses Explore Air 2s 0.88 lbs (400 g), which allows you to cut harder materials with up to 0.09 in (2.4 mm) thickness Explore Air 2 cant cut through materials that are thicker than 0.07 (2 mm). Discover everything about this machine in our Cricut Explore Air 2 review. Print & Cut is supported, but only on white. If you ever plan on expanding your business, though, its safer to get Maker 3 now rather than regretting it later, assuming that that $150 difference wont make a hole in your budget. It also has a USB port on standby if you want to also charge your tablet or smartphone. Looking for a fun Cricut project? The financial gap is too small to matter, but the extra tools and materials can make a difference and give you a clear idea of all that you can achieve with this cutting machine. Every time they launch a new machine, something gets significantly better. Second, it works on any device, at anytime, and without compatibility issues. If you get tangled in wires, you can easily pull on the machine, or maybe even break it. First of all, its easy to use no learning curve. As far as the speed is concerned, we havent noticed anything significant between the two. If you find your cutting mat extremely sticky, put a T-shirt on and voil, its done! It may not seem like much, but it matters when you still need to pack up your cutting machine and head off to a crafting convention. Theres more to be revealed in the Cricut Explore Air 2 Review. Its perfect for home use and sewing projects. But since its cloud-based, you need internet access to it. Moving it around left and right may be difficult. The cutting size is fair (11.5 X 23.5 inches), which is ample space for most crafters. The cutting width 11.5 wide. This is not the case with Cricut. Read More: How to Change a Cricut Blade. Check it out on the Best Electronic Cutting Machine post. Always follow the instructions manual. And last but not least, theres a subscription model for the designs ($4.99 and $9.99). The maximum cutting width is set to 11.5 inches and that cant be changed. With the global online presence, its usually hard to protect your own work. The same way as described above for the computer. But its still an excellent choice for niche crafting businesses that deal with paper, vinyl and cardstock. The Cricut explore AIR 2 can cut over 100 materials. Sure, it can cut multiple materials, but theres a huge learning curve for those. Theres no doubt that between the two cricut machines the cricut maker is better than the cricut explore air 2. The New Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine in Red. They maybe went overboard because the Maker only has 4. The 6 tools compatible with the Smart Set Dial also work for the Adaptive Tool System. With the deep point blade youre looking to cut different materials such as: vinyl iron, bonded fabric, heat transfer vinyl, vinyl decals, pattern paper, glitter paper, poster boards and spider webs or thick materials like leather, balsa wood cherry blossom. Compared to their predecessors, both machines have been improved to now cut materials two times faster when using Fast Mode. It can work with other materials, but its much harder. It takes a lot of patience to get it right. And these babies last a long time! First of all, you dont need to install anything nor to worry whether its up to date or not. Yes, the Cricut Explore AIR 2 is a great cutter for beginners. And, thanks to the Dual-Carriage system, you can cut and draw at the same time. Plus once youve set the smart set dial it stays that way. Cricut Maker 3 isnt the loudest machine in the industry, but its not the quietest either. Does this machine comes with a getting started guide? Your email address will not be published. The double tool holder (tool holders) was designed to speed up your work. The Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine Full-color spectrum. This vinyl cutting machine is a decent sized one, and has significant weight to it. Finally the biggest upgrade since the first Explore Air is its speed. The double tool holder houses the fine point blade and the scoring stylus. All this without Cricut cartridges. The biggest issue that I could find is the Design Space software. Welcome to the Cricut Explore Air 2 Review!After 12 hours of rigorous testing, Im ready to share my findings of the Cricut Explore Air 2. It has a big analog switch which helps you select the material you are working on. That being said, the Cricut Explore Air 2 isnt just a basic cutting machine. These are: Knife Blade, Rotary Blade, Fine-Point Blade, Pens and Markers, Foil Transfer Tool, Wavy Blade, Debossing Tip, Engraving Tip, Scoring Wheels, Perforation Tools, Deep-Point Blade, Bonded-Fabric Blade, and Washable Fabric Pen. For example, the blades must be replaced when they become dull. Plus it has 2x speed so its faster than other machines as well. If you are looking for bundle deals, I recommend taking a look at the best cricut bundle deals page too. The app gives you the possibility to use more than 150,000 images and 500 fonts. You can directly use Design Space to locate and use various designs ready for cutting. Does this mean that the Silhouette is better than the Maker? The machine comes in multiple colors and can be used to perform cuts with or without a mat. If we were to exclude bundle deals, the Cricut Maker 3 box contains a Premium Fine-Point Blade with Housing, enough materials to practice cuts, a welcome card, a USB cable and power adapter, Design Space with 100 ready projects available online, and a 30-day free trial to Cricut Access (new subscribers only). We explore the types of wood you can use with your Cricut and how to get clean cuts every time! For example, the Silhouette Cameo has a cutting depth of 1.2mm, and Cricut Maker has one of 2.4mm. Its family of products includes Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore, Cricut Joy, Cricut EasyPress, and Cricut MugPress. And even here Cricut is different; it offers good privacy settings. Heres a hot tip for you. This means that if you have a dodgy or no internet at all, you cant communicate with your Cricut. The brand did an awesome job with it. On both machines, quality blades are made out of German carbide. This is why it can handle more than 100 different ones. The price is ok, and the accessories that come with it are the cheapest ones on the market. What are the best uses for the air 2 tool holder? Maybe this is where the heavier parts come into play. You can read my comparison on this page. You can discover cool templates that can be applied to your designs, reuse entire projects designed by other artisans, as well as upload your own images to the Cricut machine in .jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .svg, or .dxf format. To recap, Cricut Maker 3 represents the latest addition to the Cricut family, as well as the most complete cutting plotter released by this manufacturer. If I had to pick I would go with mint green or cherry blossom. If you havent heard of them before, the German carbide steel is ultra resistant. On the downside, the Maker 3 doesnt have a cartridge slot, so you will have to separately purchase an adapter if you need one. This will help you select the right settings with the material youre working with. Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine Dual Carriage in Action (pen tool and cutting tool). The faster the machine moves, the more sound it creates. Cricut Explore Air 2 is better than the Maker 3 if youre interested in a cheaper cutting machine for a niche crafting business that deals with softer materials. Whats the size of a standard grip cutting mat? Can you use the machine without the trial membership? So make sure to use a sturdy workbench. *Dont forget to check the price on both websites as they may be running exclusive discounts. When it comes to Cricut Explore Air 2, you should know that it has received plenty of upgrades. The cut settings are easy to master. Design Space isnt dedicated to experienced designers who want to create original projects from ground up. Frequent questions from our readers (FAQ): carbide premium blade which means that they will last a long time its one of the few vinyl cutter machines that do it. Although its not as powerful as the Maker 3, you can still use the Explore Air 2 to sustain a niche crafting business that deals with softer materials, such as paper, vinyl, iron-on, light cardstock, cardstock, fabric, or poster board. How do I connect my Cricut explore AIR 2 machine to my laptop? You might waste time and not focus on your business. Both machines can use mats, but only the Maker 3 can use Smart Materials (Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, and Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock) so that you can perform matless cuts that are up to 13 ft wide and 75 ft (up to 33 cm wide and 22.8 m). On the Explore Air 2 you can also connect to the device wirelessly. The Cricut explore AIR 2 is worth it. We cant wait to hear what you think! A workaround is to disable Fast Mode, which means slowing down your business operations. Maybe they use better quality parts; I have no clue about it. I havent been able to confirm it, so Ill let you to test it for yourself. Yes Cricut Explore Air 2 cuts vinyl with ease. For example, Brother charges sky-high prices for their accessories, and some crafters reported that they need to change tools frequently. Your email address will not be published. Its ideal for home use since the acetate pinwheels hold down perfectly iron ons and matte black vinyl. Explore air machines are also known as craft cutting machines. It put the Cricut on the map. First of all, theres the user experience. Once thats done, you just replicate it as many time as you want to. Warning: by activating the 2x speed, you are forfeiting the low noise level. Cricut Explore Air 2 has a Smart Set Dial that works with only 6 tools: Fine-Point Blade, Deep-Point Blade, Bonded-Fabric Blade, Foil Transfer Kit, Pens and Markers, and the Scoring Stylus. Just like the Maker 3, it supports Fast Mode, comes in multiple colors, and can be connected to your computer or smartphone using Bluetooth. Meanwhile, the complete asking price of Cricut Explore Air 2 is $249.99, but you can get it for $199.99 right now. Thanks to the Dual Carriage system, your machine can cut and draw at the same time. Also works with glitter paper, cork, and Infusible Ink, APP BASED CRAFTING TOOL WITH WIRELESS-BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY - With just a few clicks, create personalized and custom designs using the cloud-based Design Space app that works on mobile phones and laptops (iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac). The Cricut manufacturer designs quality cutting machines for crafting amateurs and business owners with online shops. On the downside, Design Space isnt a true graphic editing software program because you cant really use it to create elaborate designs from ground up. If you dont have one, then mind the weight. The smart set dial sets the right parameters for the cut. Explore Air 2 is significantly cheaper than the Maker 3 (by $150). The Adaptive Tool System is used by Cricut Maker 3 to easily swap between 13 distinct tools without changing the housing. Check you the perks below. And, it can do this two times faster than its predecessor, allowing you to fulfill customer orders in record time and thus bringing in more money for your business. If you choose the monthly subscription then its $9.99 if you go for the annual onetime payment than it will be $7.99 ($95.88 yearly) and if you choose the Premium than $9.99 ($119.88 yearly). It gives you the possibility to easily change 13 different tools and blades dedicated to scrapbooking, quilting, leatherworking, engraving, debossing, sewing, and other kinds of craftmaking. 2mm is the standard for these machines. The latest product is the flagship Cricut Maker. Through years of trials and errors, Ive become an expert in card making, decal making, stencil creation, and many more. In time, this will prove to be an excellent time-saving and cost-saving solution since you will complete crafting jobs quicker and by minimizing waste. Ive done a bunch of reviews and comparisons, and Cricut have outweighed them all. This is why I recommend the use these three materials. It can cut more than a hundred materials. Sometimes, its even hard to use the machine in normal mode because it gives the impression that its working in slow motion. Although its slightly smaller than Cricut Explore Air 2, the Maker 3 is heavier by 8.7 lbs (3.95 kg), making it difficult to move it around if you need to rearrange your workspace. The machine automatically calibrates itself for the Rotary Blade when first sending a project to the machine, but you will have to manually adjust the calibration settings from the design software application every time you want to use a different material or tool. Pair and you are done. On the bright side, there are simple steps accompanied by intuitive instructions and illustrations in the design software. Plus the maker costs way more than this cutter. Yes, this machine comes with one to help you start on the right foot with all those different types of materials. However, that changes as soon as you enable Fast Mode to cut materials twice as fast as normal. Its considered by many to be the very best in the business, thanks to superior quality, versatile features, and excellent results. Finally, its simple and easy to use thanks to the intuitive software. Because everyones style is individual, customized pieces with a high-end look are what were always after. Silhouette machines are too boxy, and the Brothers LCD screen sticks out like a sore thumb. You wont believe the types of materials it can cut. Why would you buy this old Cricut Explore Air 2 today? Cricut Explore Air 2 is a step down since it comes with several limitations. If you are using the same material over and over, then you dont need to move the switch. As you can see, it surpasses the rest. Stay here! The old model relied on the cartridge system and cartridge port. Ive noticed that Cricut machines tend to lean towards the heavier side. Another pro of the Air 2 is that the machine can be connected to your desktop or smartphone through Wi-Fi. The material thickness size is decent. Warning: dont confuse this number with cutting depth. The tool holder as the name suggests it hold all your cutting tools: deep point blade, bonded fabric blade, deep cut blade. It doesnt work without an online connection, plus it tends to shrink designs. The fine point blade (german carbide premium blade) is perfect for die cutting. Also, it can cut tougher and thicker materials. However, there are maintenance costs involved. Cricut is a brand that creates cutting plotters for home crafters and small business owners. This is a huge help when youre working with a deadline. Design Space is a childs play. Now, its time for the Explore Air 2 to be better at something: compared to the Maker 3, the Explore Air 2 automatically calibrates settings without any problems. As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, the Cricut Maker 3 is more suitable for craftmakers whose business covers more areas since it would be a shame to not put the machine to good use by processing over 300 types of materials. The Adaptive Tool System works with 13 distinct tools. The Cricut Explore Air 2 made it in my best of the best article. Thats a huge variety of materials and its not just for die cutting. Its newer and it offers a wide range of options. Yes you can. Its easy to get started, and you can get your first sales super-fast. As previously mentioned most machines are limited to 210g of cutting power. This means that you wont have to manually adjust the pressure, depth, and speed when switching tools or materials. On top of that, Design Space requires around-the-clock online connection. Plus, Cricut Maker 3 is newer on the market. Be aware, if you get used to this feature, you wont be able to live without it. You can lace stationery designs, vinyl cardstock, create a wide variety of snowflake designs. After testing it over and over, the best materials to use with the Cricut Explore Air 2 are paper, vinyl, and cardboard. The app is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. With a machine that powerful, a new world opens up for crafters. But people may have a hard time deciding between multiple products from the same brand which serve similar purposes, especially when its impossible to test them first hand. This saves a lot of time, and you get quickly used to it. Print & Cut mode is supported. If you have a tendency (like me!) To extend your abilities you can also check out a heat press like the Cricut Easy Press 2 for iron on vinyl. Can you use the machine without the trial membership? Smart Materials are supported, so that you can cut materials up to 13 ft wide and 75 ft long (up to 33 cm wide and 22.8 m long). The full price for Cricut Maker 3 is $399.99. On top of that, it doesnt support Smart Materials or matless cuts. However, you can use any other software program to create and personalize designs that you can later import into Design Space, in order to just cut, or print and cut with your Cricut machine. In addition, compared to Explore Air 1, the Air 2 comes in different colors. Even with a test project you will need internet connection. Its by far the easiest software to learn on the market. This would only be an issue if you needed something very specific. If youre inclined toward purchasing Cricut Maker 3 for your small crafting business, you wont regret your decision since its the most complete product from the Cricut family and we can see why. How do I connect my Cricut explore AIR 2 to my computer via Bluetooth connectivity? This concludes my circut explore air 2 review. Also one of the biggest problems with these machines is the cost of ownership. So, I give a bonus point for cordless connectivity. Another cool advantage of the Smart Set Dial is that you dont have to use a piece of software for calibration (like in Maker 3) since a physical button is easier to operate. All you have to do is set up the machine and let it do its job. After that, the design behaves like any other design that you have created or bought. Just take a look at the competition. If you frequently lose the Internet connection in your area, your crafting business will suffer since you wont be able to use the design program. Read More: How to Use Sure Cuts A Lot With Cricut Expression. You can online design free images. So, if you already have a Cricut Maker 3 or Cricut Explore 2 and decide to buy the other machine, you can use the same tools in both cases. Can I use my Cricut without a subscription? With a test project you can make vinyl decals. I just love cordless connectivity; it reduces accidents. The Android App is downloadable in the Google Play Store. It has 4000g of cutting power (just for reference, other machines are in the 210-350g range). You can use the Print & Cut feature in both cases, but the Explore Air 2 supports only white, while the Maker 3 can work with various colors without any issues. What are the main features of this Cricut cutting machine? Yes, you need a working Internet connection to operate Design Space, in order to explore online projects and use the cutting machine. This makes the Maker 3 more versatile if you want to go after bigger projects, such as long banners or large posters. Cricut Maker 3 can handle large-scaled crafting tasks in record time when enabling the Fast Mode. Yes you can. Cricut Explore Air 2 is the middle child of Cricut: smaller than Cricut Maker 3 but bigger than Cricut Joy. However its not always in stock. If you fall in this category, you still need to purchase a third-party graphic editing application like Photoshop unless you already own a copy. The noise level is acceptable, as compared to other brands, which are much louder than the Cricut. With the Cricut explore AIR 2 you can cut so many different materials that you wont believe. We are reader supported and may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Its ideal for home use since the acetate pinwheels hold down perfectly iron ons and matte black vinyl. Maybe in the future, Silhouette will manage to catch up, announcing their Cameo 4 having 5000g of cutting power? Learn how to safely and quickly change blades! After the connection is made you will need internet connection to finish the procedure. If you want to purchase Cricut Explore Air 2 (without a bundle), you will receive a Premium Fine-Point Blade with Housing, a black Fine-Point Pen, a LightGrip Machine Mat with the size of 12 x 12 in (30.5 x 30.5 cm), enough materials to practice cuts, a welcome book, a USB cable and power adapter, Design Space with 50 free, ready projects that you can download from the web, along with a 30-day free trial to Cricut Access (new subscribers only). However, if you want to come up with your own designs from scratch, you can use a third-party software program like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator to create the images that will be later imported into Design Space and sent to the Cricut cutting machine. For the Silhouette, the material thickness is set to 2mm as well. Compared to Cricut Maker 2, the previous version, Cricut Maker 3 can make matless cuts when using Smart Materials that are up to 12 ft (3.65 cm) long. How to Use Sure Cuts A Lot With Cricut Expression, Cricut Explore Air 2 - A DIY Cutting Machine for all Crafts, Create Customized Cards, Home Decor & More, Bluetooth Connectivity, Compatible with iOS, Android, Windows & Mac, Mint, heat press like the Cricut Easy Press 2 for iron on vinyl, Cutting Wood Veneer With Cricut Explore Air 2, How to Slice Text in Cricut Design Space (Quick TUTORIAL), How to Use Sure Cuts a Lot With Cricut Expression Guide, How to Make Sunflowers With Cricut Summertime DIY Crafts, How Much to Charge for Shirts Made With Cricut (COSTS), How to Make 3D Butterflies With Cricut IDEAS & Tutorials, How to Restick a Cricut Mat With Tacky Glue EASY FIX, How to Make Hand Sanitizer Labels With Cricut STEPS, ART AND CRAFT CUTTING MADE SIMPLE, EVEN FOR BEGINNERS - Designed with simplicity and value in mind, bust out your DIY dreams and create fresh styles for your T-shirts, home decor, and more with the Cricut Explore Air 2 classic cutting machine, CUTS 100+ MATERIALS WITH EASE The included Premium Fine-Point Blade lets crafters make precise, intricate cuts from a variety of popular materials like cardstock, vinyl decal, HTV iron-on and more.