First Look at Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 4

The unexpected Cricut Maker 4 release date, February 28, 2025, makes hobbyists wonder which smart cutting machine is the best for their crafts room. Let's look at Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 4, compare their specs, dimensions, price, and colors, and learn the main difference between Cricut machines you own or wish to buy.

How much does the newest Cricut Maker 4 differ from the original Maker? Should you expect new features in 2025? See how the Maker vs Maker 4 comparison can surprise you or influence your decision about upgrading your crafts companion.

Read also: Do You Need Maker 3 or 4? Compare Two Smart Cutting Machines by Cricut.

Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 4

The original Maker was released in August 2017. The newest Maker 4 was released in February 2025. There are less than 8 years between these machines, and in the world of technology, eight years is a lot for incredible changes, breathtaking features, and fantastic extras. Sadly, not in our situation.

Before we get to the main difference between Cricut Maker and Cricut Maker 4, we should mention the price point. The older machine can still be found on the store shelves at Joann at $179 (the stores are closing all across the US by May 2025) or more expensive on Amazon or eBay. At Walmart, Target, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby, you won't find it anymore. Maker 4 costs $399 for the seashell version (machine without a bundle) and $449 for the exclusive sage version offered at Michaels only.

Cricut Maker 4 Dimensions

The new Cricut Maker 4 dimensions are 22.1 x 7.1 x 6.2 inches.

The original Cricut Maker dimensions are 21.18 x 6.99 x 5.93 inches. Thus, not much has been upgraded about the size of the smart cutting machine or its weight, although the newest Maker 4 is slightly bigger and heavier.

Cricut Maker 4 Colors

If you look at Cricut Maker 1 vs 4, you'll see how different they are in terms of colors. The newest 2025 machine is available in two versions: seashell and sage (exclusive color sold at Michaels only).

The original Maker arrived in multiple color options, including champagne, lilac, rose, mint, and blue. The machine itself was white, but the lid's color was different.

Read also: Unboxing, Setting Up, Cutting with Cricut Maker Champagne.

Supported Tools

When you upgrade your smart-cutting machine, you first worry about how much you'll be forced to invest in updating all the tools that go along with it. With Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 4, you don't have this concern. Both machines work with exactly the same type of tools and accessories. They both support:

• Premium fine-point blade;
• Knife blade;
• Deep cut blade;
• Rotary blade;
• Wavy blade;
• Perforation blade;
• Bonded fabric blade;
• Foil transfer tool;
• Engraving tip;
• Debossing tip;
• Scoring wheel;
• Scoring stylus;
• Cricut markers and pens.

It means that if you have or used to have the original Maker and now plan to upgrade to Maker 4, you can keep all your old tools that worked with Maker and use them with the latest machine without issues.

Speed

So far, the only significant differences between Cricut machines Maker vs Maker 4 were their color options and price. Speed is probably the most significant difference between the two, and it can absolutely influence your decision on which smart cutting machine to buy in 2025.

According to Cricut, their latest Maker 4 is up to twice as fast as Maker 3, which was up to twice as fast as Maker, meaning Maker 4 is up to three or four times faster than the original Maker.

Hobbyists who have already tested both smart cutting machines will assure you that the fastest speeds you can observe while using Maker 4 is when cutting Smart Materials (you can use them without a mat). Maker does not support Smart Materials, thus it cannot cut too fast and constantly requires you to use a mat.

The other difference hobbyists notice is that it takes way faster for Maker 4 to read your project and begin cutting. Maker is slower, and it takes some time from when you load your mat to when the machine starts cutting your project. Thus, the Cricut Maker machine vs Cricut Maker 4 specs mainly differ in their speed.

Read also: Cricut Maker vs Cricut Maker 3.

Design

The two machines look very much alike, if not judging by their color options. When you open the lid, you'll see their primary differences and look-alikes in designs:

• Inside, both the Maker 4 and Maker's lids have a cute pattern;
• The cute "C" as "Go" button present in Maker is replaced with a triangle shape in Maker 4;
• The storage area is the same in both smart cutting machines;
• The rubber wheels used in Maker have been replaced with plastic wheels in Maker 4.

Cricut Comparison Chart

Difference

When looking at Maker vs Maker 4, you should remember that Maker 4 is faster. It can cut with speeds up to 14.1 ips (compared to Maker's 5.7 ips), which can help speed up your projects. At the same time, it's louder. It also supports Smart Materials, which require no mat and let you create projects up to 12 feet long (Maker's project space is limited by its biggest supported mat of 12 x 24 inches).

There are no major differences in design or features offered by the smart cutting machine from Cricut. They do differ in colors, and one of the buttons ("Go") has a different symbol, but otherwise, they look pretty similar.

If you still own the original Maker and your machine runs pretty good, letting you accomplish all your tasks and enjoy your hobby, you can keep using it without spending over $399 on a new Maker 4. If your Maker is getting old and you feel that it's time to replace it, you can try to find Maker 3 on sale for under $200 or go for Maker 4 and enjoy the newest smart cutting machine in your crafts room.