I don’t have the Cricut Explore 3 to test yet, but I cut the same file (Cricut Design Space #M910B84D) on my Cricut Maker and my Cricut Maker 3 to show the difference in speed. The Cricut Explore 3 should be similarly faster. There are three types of Cricut Smart Materials launching with these new Cricut machines. These materials cut at that faster speed demonstrated above! Smart Vinyl The Cricut Explore 3 is one good looking machine. Unlike the older Explore Air 2, which comes in various colours, this machine comes in just one shade: soft mint green. The Cricut Explore 3 is a very stylish looking cutting machine, and the rounded edges make it look sleek and compact. It measures 15 x 17 x 56cm, so it’ll effortlessly sit on any workspace without taking up too much room. It’s also lightweight at just 10lbs, which is almost half the weight of the Cricut Maker 3. You might have noticed that the Cricut Explore 3 has a bit of a sleeker design than previous Explore models. This is because Cricut has removed the material selection dial from the machine, moving the material selection process into the Design Space software. What do I need to get started with Cricut Explore 3? Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you may vary.

With 13-inch Smart Materials, the machine needs wider margins to grip the materials itself. So, the maximum width of projects made with Smart Materials is just 11.7 inches. So technically, yes, you can do wider projects, but only but 0.2 inches. Cricut Explore Air 2 vs. Cricut Explore 3: Different tools and accessories? Don’t worry—this machine cuts wirelessly even if it doesn’t specifically say so in the machine name! In the Cricut Explore 3 Box Cricut Smart Materials are a range of products specially designed to be cut without having to be attached to a Cricut Mat. It’s a feature that was first introduced when the Cricut Joy was released and has now been made a standard feature across both the Cricut Explore 3 and the Cricut Maker 3.Cricut Explore 3 cuts at up to 8 inches per second, vs. the Cricut Explore Air 2’s 4 inches per second. To get a little technical, this 8 inches per second cutting speed is on both the X and Y axis, meaning that the cutting speed is also faster than competitor machines. I’ll be doing a comparison on that soon too, so be on the lookout! You may have noticed that the “Air” got dropped between the Cricut Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Explore 3. The word “Air” was originally added because it showed that the machine had Bluetooth (wireless) capability compared to the original Cricut Explore. But because all machines are Bluetooth now, they dropped the Air. When it comes to accessories, you can use nearly all of the same ones as the other Cricut machines. Read our Cricut EasyPress Mini review to see why this a great accessory to have on hand, especially if you plan to personalise your own clothes. Our Cricut The MugPress review also shows why this gadget is fun, and it works very well with the Cricut Explore 3, as you can use the Smart Infusible Ink material to create your own mug designs. From there, you can select your new machine and follow the on-screen instructions to get it hooked up to your computer. How is Cricut Explore 3 different than other Cricut Explore machines? It also has a handy cutting blade attached, making it easy to trim up your design from the roll once it’s finished cutting. What can you do with the Cricut Explore 3?

When it comes to faster cutting times, the Cricut Explore 3 is outstanding […] This is a noticeable difference for anyone who has used the older Cricut machines They also added a holder for your device like on the Maker. This is helpful if you work in the mobile apps—it just gives you a place to set your device. The product offered by the competitor is exactly the same as the one we sell, and is offered on the same terms Other than that, Cricut Explore 3 is the basically same as a Cricut Explore Air 2, so everything you can do with your Cricut Explore Air 2 you can also do with this new machine. All of the same tools, mats, blades, and accessories work, so you don’t have to worry about also upgrading everything if you decide you want a Cricut Explore Air 2!Increased cutting speed – Being able to cut Smart Materials at 2 x the speed of previous Explore models is a great upgrade. Projects that are created in Design Space can be saved to the Cloud so that they can be accessed anywhere you are (as long as you have an internet connection). Alternatively, you can save projects to the device you are creating them on, though you will not be able to access these on any other device. The setup process for Cricut Explore 3 is very easy, and Cricut Design Space will take you through you're first project (Image credit: Rachael Phillips)

A handy expanded storage cup can be accessed when you open up the machine and offers plenty of room for all your tools

CricutExplore 3 can cut big banners or create an entire solar system of stars – the sky is the limit! Cut up to 12 ft (3.6m) in one go with Smart Materials, no mat needed – just load & go. Since you can cut leather with a Maker, you can use it to make jewelry and other leather accessories. You can even make clothing and costumes. Cutting matboard means you can professionally mat your artwork; no need to take it to a framer. Basswood is quite thin as wood goes; it's certainly not for building furniture. But, there are several creative applications such as carving and even musical instruments. The new machines, however, throw those limits out the window. That means you can create larger than life projects without having to do a ton of piecing together. Plus you’ll save time because you don’t have to prepare your mats. Just insert the material and go! You do not need the Cricut Roll Holder to use Smart Materials, but it does make corralling and trimming materials easier.