Updated July 2026 — full rewrite with current-gen picks and a Chromebook compatibility check
Can a Chromebook run Cricut Design Space in 2026? We checked Cricut’s own system requirements page directly, and the answer is still no — not even through the Android app, which some guides now recommend. It’s a mix-up worth clearing up before you spend money on the wrong machine.
The good news: Cricut Design Space itself barely asks anything of a laptop. A dual-core processor and 4GB of RAM technically clear the bar. The picks below cover that floor and a comfortable amount of headroom above it, from an affordable budget option to a Mac.
Editor’s Pick
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
More headroom than Cricut actually needs, at a price that still makes sense once you factor in that most crafters also run Photoshop or Illustrator alongside Design Space.
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350
- 16GB RAM
- 1TB SSD
- 16-inch WUXGA display
What’s Inside
- 1 – Cricut Laptop Buyer's Guide
- 2 – Cricut Laptop Comparison Table
- 3 – Best Laptops for Cricut Maker in 2026 — Reviews
- 3.1 – 1. ASUS Vivobook 16 (Best Overall)
- 3.2 – 2. HP OmniBook 5 Flip (Cheapest Pick)
- 3.3 – 3. Acer Aspire Go 15 AI (Budget, Non-Touch)
- 3.4 – 4. Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (Best Big-Screen 2-in-1)
- 3.5 – 5. LG gram 15 (Most Portable)
- 3.6 – 6. Samsung Galaxy Book6 16-inch (Most Powerful)
- 3.7 – 7. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 (Best Mac)
- 3.8 – 8. Apple MacBook Neo (Budget Mac)
- 4 – Recommended Accessories
- 5 – Which Cricut Laptop Should You Buy?
- 6 – Cricut Laptop FAQ
- 7 – Final Thoughts on Cricut Laptops
Cricut Laptop Buyer’s Guide
Processor
Cricut’s own minimum is an Intel dual-core or equivalent AMD chip — that’s a low bar even a several-year-old budget laptop clears. If Design Space is the only thing on your machine, a current entry-level chip like the Intel Core 5 120U or AMD Ryzen 5 series handles it without issue.
Where it actually matters is what else runs alongside it. Cricut users doing Print-Then-Cut work or building custom designs often have Photoshop, Illustrator, or Canva open at the same time — that’s where a Core i5/Ryzen 5-and-up chip earns its keep, not the cutting software itself.
Memory (RAM)
Cricut lists 4GB as the official minimum, but that number hasn’t moved in years while Design Space itself has grown heavier with each update. 8GB is a safer real-world floor, and 16GB gives you comfortable room if you’re multitasking with a design app open.
None of the picks below ship with less than 8GB, and most default to 16GB — treat that as the practical baseline rather than Cricut’s official one.
Display
Cricut’s minimum resolution is a modest 1024×768, and every laptop on this list clears it by a wide margin. Full HD (1920×1080) is the practical sweet spot for seeing intricate cut lines and layered designs clearly; going higher helps, but it’s a nice-to-have rather than a requirement.
A touchscreen isn’t required either, but several picks below include one — useful if you like navigating Design Space’s canvas directly with a finger or stylus instead of a trackpad.
Storage
Design Space itself is a light footprint, but Cricut project files, fonts, and image libraries add up fast if you’re a frequent crafter. 256GB is a workable floor; 512GB gives you room to grow without thinking about it. Every pick here ships on an SSD — skip anything still running a mechanical hard drive, since even Cricut’s own installer runs noticeably slower on one.
Connectivity Options
Every current Cricut machine (Joy, Explore 3, Maker 3) connects over Bluetooth or USB. Bluetooth 5.0+ keeps the connection stable; a USB-A port is worth having as a fallback if pairing ever gives you trouble, which still happens occasionally with older Bluetooth stacks.
Does Design Space Work on a Chromebook?
No — and this hasn’t changed. Cricut’s official system requirements page explicitly lists Chromebooks as unsupported, and that applies across the board: the Windows/Mac desktop app, and even the Android app, which Cricut’s own device chart marks “Chromebooks not supported” under. If you’ve seen a laptop guide recommend a Chromebook for Cricut work, including some current ones, that recommendation doesn’t hold up against Cricut’s own documentation.
If you already own a Chromebook and don’t want to buy a second device, Cricut’s own FAQ still supports designing in a browser at design.cricut.com on Chrome — you just can’t run the full desktop or Android app, and cutting still requires a supported device to actually communicate with the machine.
Cricut Laptop Comparison Table
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Laptops for Cricut Maker in 2026 — Reviews
Here are 8 laptops that actually clear Cricut’s requirements, chosen across budget, portability, and power — plus two Mac options, since Design Space runs natively on macOS.
1. ASUS Vivobook 16 (Best Overall)
Best Overall
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorAMD Ryzen AI 7 350
- GPUAMD Radeon (integrated)
- RAM16GB
- Storage1TB SSD
- Display16-inch WUXGA (1920×1200)
- BatteryUp to 8 hours rated
The Vivobook 16 isn’t the cheapest laptop here, but it’s the one we’d actually buy if you want to stop thinking about specs entirely. Cricut Design Space uses a fraction of what this machine offers, and that headroom matters the moment you add Photoshop, Illustrator, or a browser full of tabs alongside your Design Space canvas — the Ryzen AI 7 350 and 16GB of RAM handle that combination without the slowdown a budget chip would show.
The 16-inch WUXGA display gives you real working room for detailed layouts, and at 4.14 lbs and 0.7 inches thin, it’s reasonable to carry between a desk and a craft table. One thing worth knowing before you buy: independent testing on this configuration found the speakers unremarkable — fine for tutorial videos, less fine if you like music on while you work. Keep a pair of headphones nearby.
Pros
- Genuine multitasking headroom beyond Design Space alone
- Large, sharp 16-inch WUXGA display
- 1TB of storage for project files and fonts
- Slim, light for its screen size
Cons
- Costs more than Cricut’s requirements alone justify
- Speakers are unremarkable — plan on headphones for music
2. HP OmniBook 5 Flip (Cheapest Pick)
Cheapest Pick
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorIntel Core 5 120U
- GPUIntel Graphics (integrated)
- RAM8GB DDR5
- Storage512GB SSD
- Display14-inch 2K IPS touchscreen (1920×1200)
- BatteryUp to 21 hours rated
The OmniBook 5 Flip is the cheapest laptop on this list that still feels like a real laptop rather than a compromise. The hinge holds firm with no wobble in daily use, which matters if you’re folding it flat to sketch directly on the canvas.
The 360° hinge and 14-inch touchscreen are a genuine plus for Design Space specifically — tapping and dragging directly on the canvas is more natural than a trackpad for a lot of crafters, and this is the most affordable touch option here. The speakers are clear enough for tutorial videos but not the strongest here, so don’t expect it to double as your workshop music speaker.
8GB of RAM is the practical floor we’d recommend, and it’s exactly what this ships with — enough for Design Space plus a browser tab or two, without much room to spare beyond that.
Pros
- Lowest price on this list with a genuine touchscreen
- 360° hinge for tablet-style Design Space use
- Strong rated battery life for the price
Cons
- 8GB RAM leaves little headroom for heavier multitasking
- Display brightness is modest for outdoor use
3. Acer Aspire Go 15 AI (Budget, Non-Touch)
Budget Non-Touch
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorAMD Ryzen 7 7730U
- GPUAMD Radeon (integrated)
- RAM16GB DDR4
- Storage512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Display15.6-inch Full HD IPS (1920×1080)
- Battery12.5 hours rated
If you don’t want a touchscreen and don’t want to pay for one, the Aspire Go 15 AI covers the same ground as the OmniBook above at a similar price, with a bigger 15.6-inch screen and double the RAM out of the box — real value at this price point.
Worth knowing before you buy: independent testing has measured the display at around 67-69% sRGB coverage, which is fine for Design Space’s flat vector colors but not something you’d want for judging a print-then-cut project’s exact shade against fabric or cardstock. Independent testing found the speakers quiet with limited bass too. Neither is a dealbreaker for Cricut work specifically — just don’t expect this screen to double as your color reference.
Pros
- 16GB RAM at a budget price point
- Large 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display
- 512GB SSD, more storage than most budget picks
Cons
- No touchscreen option
- Limited color gamut — not a color-reference display
4. Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (Best Big-Screen 2-in-1)
Best 2-in-1
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 155U
- GPUIntel Graphics (integrated)
- RAM16GB DDR5
- Storage1TB PCIe SSD
- Display16-inch 2K touchscreen (1920×1200)
- BatteryAll-day rated
If the OmniBook’s 14-inch touchscreen feels cramped for detailed layout work, the Yoga 7i’s 16-inch 2K touch panel is the upgrade — real extra canvas to work with when you’re arranging a multi-layer design. The keyboard is one of Lenovo’s better efforts too, roomy enough for long sessions without the cramped feel some 2-in-1s have.
The 360° hinge folds flat for drafting-tablet-style work, though it’s worth knowing that independent testing found the hinge excessively stiff, failing a one-finger lid-opening test entirely — fine if you mostly work in laptop mode and fold flat occasionally, less fine if tablet mode is your default. 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD give this real staying power alongside Design Space, whether that’s Illustrator, Photoshop, or just a large library of fonts and cut files.
Pros
- Large, sharp 16-inch 2K touchscreen
- Comfortable, roomy keyboard for long sessions
- 1TB SSD, the most storage in this price tier here
Cons
- Hinge is stiffer than ideal for frequent mode-switching
- Bigger and heavier than a standard clamshell
5. LG gram 15 (Most Portable)
Most Portable
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorAMD Ryzen AI 7 450
- GPUAMD Radeon (integrated)
- RAM16GB
- Storage512GB SSD
- Display15.6-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen (1920×1080)
- Battery28 hours rated
Heads up: the LG gram line has moved upmarket. Older “best laptops for Cricut” guides (including this one, previously) recommended the gram 15 as a budget pick — that’s no longer accurate. LG’s own 2026 pricing announcement confirms the 15-inch gram now sits in premium-ultrabook pricing territory, not bargain territory.
What you’re paying for is genuine: a 15.6-inch full HD touchscreen in a 2.8 lb body, a 72Wh battery rated for 28 hours, and MIL-STD-810H durability testing across seven separate tests. If you carry your laptop between rooms or work sites often, that combination is hard to match.
For Cricut work specifically, this is more laptop than most people need — but if portability without giving up a real touchscreen is the priority, it’s the clear pick on this list.
Pros
- 2.8 lbs with a full-size 15.6-inch touchscreen
- Exceptional 28-hour rated battery life
- Military-grade durability testing
Cons
- Premium price — no longer a budget option
- 512GB storage is modest for the price
6. Samsung Galaxy Book6 16-inch (Most Powerful)
Most Powerful
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 (Series 3, Panther Lake)
- GPUIntel Graphics (integrated)
- RAM16GB
- Storage1TB
- Display16-inch FHD+ (1920×1200)
- BatteryUp to 24 hours rated
You don’t need a gaming laptop for Cricut — that’s true even if you’re also running Illustrator or Photoshop daily. The Galaxy Book6 is the most capable machine on this list without tipping into gaming-laptop territory you’d never use. It’s built on Intel’s current Core Ultra Series 3 (“Panther Lake”) platform, and Samsung rates the 16-inch model at up to 24 hours of video playback — real long runway for a full day of project work.
16GB of RAM and a full terabyte of storage mean this handles a heavy multi-app workflow without hesitation. Unlike Samsung’s pricier Pro and Ultra tiers, this base Book6 keeps a full-size USB-A port and Ethernet jack — a small thing until you need to plug in an older USB dongle or a wired connection at a craft fair with unreliable Wi-Fi.
Pros
- Current-gen Panther Lake platform
- Rated for up to 24 hours of battery life
- Keeps USB-A and Ethernet, dropped on pricier Book6 tiers
Cons
- More laptop and more price than most Cricut users need
- Non-touch display
7. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 (Best Mac)
Best Mac
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorApple M5 (10-core CPU)
- GPUApple M5 (integrated)
- RAM16GB unified
- Storage512GB SSD
- Display13.6-inch Liquid Retina (2560×1664)
- Battery18 hours rated
Design Space runs natively on macOS, and the MacBook Air M5 is the model we’d point most Mac-leaning readers toward. 16GB of unified memory is more than Cricut needs on its own, with plenty left over for a design app running alongside it.
The fanless design runs completely silent, which is a genuine plus for a craft room — no fan noise competing with your workspace. Push it hard enough for long enough (think batch-processing a big folder of print-then-cut images), and testing has shown the chip does throttle back under sustained heavy load — a non-issue for typical Design Space sessions, worth knowing if you lean on this machine for heavier work too. Battery life is rated at 18 hours, which comfortably covers a full day of project work.
The trade-off versus the Windows picks here is fewer ports — you’ll want a hub if you’re connecting a Cricut machine plus anything else at the same time.
Pros
- Silent, fanless operation
- 18-hour rated battery life
- 16GB unified memory as standard
Cons
- Limited port selection versus Windows alternatives
- Costs more than any Windows pick except the Samsung and Yoga 7i
8. Apple MacBook Neo (Budget Mac)
Budget Mac
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- ProcessorApple A18 Pro
- GPUApple A18 Pro (integrated)
- RAM8GB unified (not upgradeable)
- Storage256GB–512GB SSD
- Display13-inch Liquid Retina (2408×1506)
- BatteryAll-day rated
The MacBook Neo is Apple’s answer to a truly affordable Mac, undercutting the Air significantly while still running Design Space natively on macOS.
8GB of unified memory is the trade-off for the lower price, and it’s fixed — not upgradeable after purchase. That’s fine if Design Space plus light browsing is your actual use case, but think twice if you’re also running Photoshop regularly.
Demand has caused shipping delays on this model since launch — improving, but still worth ordering with some lead time if you’re working toward a deadline.
Pros
- Most affordable current MacBook by a wide margin
- Native macOS support for Design Space
- All-day battery life
Cons
- 8GB unified memory, not upgradeable
- Currently facing demand-driven shipping delays
Recommended Accessories
Last update on 2026-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Which Cricut Laptop Should You Buy?
| Best For | Pick |
|---|---|
| Overall | ASUS Vivobook 16 |
| Cheapest | HP OmniBook 5 Flip |
| Budget, Non-Touch | Acer Aspire Go 15 AI |
| Big-Screen 2-in-1 | Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 |
| Most Portable | LG gram 15 |
| Most Powerful | Samsung Galaxy Book6 16-inch |
| Best Mac | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 |
| Budget Mac | Apple MacBook Neo |
Cricut Laptop FAQ
Does Cricut Design Space work on a Mac?
Yes. Design Space runs natively on macOS, and both MacBook picks on this list handle it comfortably.
Does Cricut Design Space require an internet connection?
You need internet to sign in and to browse Cricut’s image library, but the desktop app supports offline design, editing, and cutting once you’re signed in.
Does Cricut Design Space cost money?
The software itself is free. Cricut Access is a paid subscription for extra fonts and images, but it’s optional — you can design and cut without it.
What’s the difference between Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Explore 3?
The Maker 3 supports 300+ materials and 13 tools, including sewing, engraving, and deep debossing — built for advanced or business use. The Explore 3 supports 100+ lighter materials with 6 tools and is better suited to hobbyists and beginners. Creative Bloq’s side-by-side comparison covers the full breakdown if you’re deciding between them.
Can I use an iPad instead of a laptop with my Cricut?
Yes — Design Space has a dedicated iOS app that works well for straightforward projects. A laptop still gives you more precise control for detailed custom designs.
Final Thoughts on Cricut Laptops
Cricut Design Space doesn’t ask much of a laptop — the real decisions here come down to touchscreen or not, portability, and how much other creative software you’re running alongside it. Any of the eight picks above will run Design Space itself without hesitation.
If you’re also picking up other creative software, our guide to laptops for clothing design and laptops for Adobe Lightroom cover similar ground from a slightly different angle. And if a touchscreen and detachable keyboard both matter to you, our detachable keyboard laptop guide is worth a look too.
