What is the newest Cricut model in 2026?
Quick answer for September 2026
As of September 3, 2026, the newest Cricut model depends on what you mean by “newest.” By launch date, Cricut introduced two cutting machines on February 26, 2026: Cricut Joy 2 and Cricut Explore 5. Joy 2 is the newest ultra-compact Cricut, while Explore 5 is the newest full-size Cricut cutting machine and the successor in the Explore line.
If you are looking for the newest premium Maker machine, that is Cricut Maker 4, announced in February 2025. If you need the largest and fastest Cricut cutter, Cricut Venture still fills that role, although it launched in July 2023. For most buyers searching for the newest Cricut model, the practical shortlist is Explore 5 for general crafting, Joy 2 for compact everyday projects, and Maker 4 for heavier materials and specialty tools.
The dates and specification details in this guide are based on Cricut’s official machine announcements, current product pages, and machine comparison information available in September 2026. For more coverage of home electronics, tools, and maker gear, visit DIY Tech.
What changed in the 2026 Cricut machines
Cricut’s 2026 machine update refreshed the lower and middle parts of the lineup rather than replacing every cutter at once. Joy 2 updates the smallest Cricut format, and Explore 5 updates the mainstream full-size format. Maker 4 and Venture remain current for different reasons: broader material versatility and large-format production.
Cricut Joy 2
Cricut Joy 2 is the newest compact Cricut cutting machine. It keeps the small-footprint concept of the original Joy and adds Print Then Cut capability, so users can print full-color designs on a home inkjet printer and then have the machine cut around them. That is a meaningful upgrade for stickers, labels, small decals, cards, and quick personalization projects.
According to Cricut’s product information, Joy 2 works with 75+ materials and has a 4.5-inch cutting format. Its listed size is about 9.1 inches by 5.4 inches by 2.8 inches, and it weighs about 2.7 pounds. It supports Smart Materials for cuts up to 48 inches long, which helps with longer labels and simple vinyl designs without a machine mat, within its narrow width limit.
The trade-off is clear. Joy 2 is convenient, portable, and relatively affordable, but it is not the right machine for large shirt graphics, wide wall decals, or heavier specialty materials. It is best understood as the newest Cricut for small spaces, quick jobs, and casual everyday making.
Cricut Explore 5
Cricut Explore 5 is the newest full-size Cricut model. Cricut describes it as 30% more compact than previous Explore models while keeping the 12-inch cutting performance that makes the Explore line useful for decals, cards, stickers, iron-on designs, and many home craft projects. Its listed dimensions are about 19.8 inches by 7.5 inches by 4.7 inches, with a listed weight around 10 pounds.
Explore 5 works with 100+ materials and six compatible tools, including cutting, writing, drawing, scoring, foiling, and deeper cutting with the appropriate sold-separately tool. It also supports Print Then Cut and Smart Materials. With Smart Materials, Cricut lists projects up to 12 feet long, which is useful for banners, repeated decals, and longer iron-on designs.
The main buying point is that Explore 5 is the newest Cricut for typical home crafters who want full-size projects but do not need the more advanced Maker tool system. It is also the model that most closely matches the broad search intent behind newest Cricut model because it is new, full-size, and positioned for common craft use.
Recent Cricut cutting machine timeline
A timeline helps separate genuinely new cutting machines from older models that are still sold and still relevant. Cricut’s 2026 press activity also included software, materials, promotions, and heat-press products, but those announcements were not newer cutting-machine successors to Joy 2 or Explore 5.
| Date | Machine | What changed | Current role in the lineup |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2023 | Cricut Venture | Large-format cutter introduced for wider and higher-volume projects | Largest and fastest Cricut cutting machine |
| February 27, 2025 | Cricut Explore 4 and Cricut Maker 4 | Next-generation smart cutting machines with faster mat cutting and more materials included in the box | Maker 4 remains the newest Maker model |
| February 26, 2026 | Cricut Joy 2 and Cricut Explore 5 | New compact Joy model and new full-size Explore model with a redesigned experience | Newest Cricut cutting-machine launch |
| February 27, 2026 | Joy 2 and Explore 5 availability | Initial availability began through Cricut’s official store and Michaels in the United States and Canada | Current newest options for most buyers |
| March 13, 2026 | Broader North America availability | Cricut stated that both models would become available wherever Cricut is sold in North America | Wider retail availability |
This timeline also explains why older machines still appear in stores and comparison charts. A newer release does not automatically make Maker 4 or Venture obsolete. It means the Joy and Explore families received the latest redesign first.
How the newest models compare with Maker 4 and Venture
The newest Cricut model is only the right choice if it matches your materials, project size, and workflow. Buying by release date alone can lead to the wrong machine. Explore 5 is newer than Maker 4, but Maker 4 still offers broader material and tool capability. Joy 2 is newer than Venture, but Venture belongs to a very different large-format category.
| Model | Best for | Materials and tools | Project size | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cricut Joy 2 | Small labels, cards, stickers, decals, quick gifts | 75+ materials, compact tool set, Print Then Cut | 4.5-inch class, Smart Materials up to 48 inches long | Too narrow for many full-size apparel and decor projects |
| Cricut Explore 5 | General home crafting, vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, stickers, cards | 100+ materials and six compatible tools | 12-inch class, Smart Materials up to 12 feet long | Less material versatility than Maker 4 |
| Cricut Maker 4 | More advanced crafting, fabric, leather, chipboard-style projects, engraving and debossing | 300+ materials and 13 compatible tools | 12-inch class, Smart Materials up to 12 feet long | Higher price and more tool decisions for beginners |
| Cricut Venture | Large signs, wider decals, batches of shirts or totes, production-style work | 100+ materials with wide-format workflow | 24-inch class, repeated images up to very long runs | Larger, heavier, and aimed at dedicated workspaces |
For beginners, Explore 5 is the most balanced answer. For a small apartment or occasional labeling, Joy 2 makes more sense. For mixed materials and specialty finishing, Maker 4 remains the stronger tool. For a side hustle that needs size and volume, Venture is the specialized option.
Which Cricut model fits different projects
Project type should drive the final choice. The newest model can be appealing, but the right machine is the one that creates the fewest compromises in your normal workflow.
Choose Joy 2 if space and speed matter most
Joy 2 is the best fit for users who want a small machine that can stay on a desk, shelf, or kitchen counter. It suits pantry labels, greeting cards, water-bottle decals, small full-color stickers, and quick personalization. It is also a low-friction way to learn Cricut basics without committing to a larger machine.
Do not choose Joy 2 if your main goal is large apparel graphics, 12-inch cardstock layouts, or wide vinyl decals. It can be surprisingly useful, but the narrow cutting width is a real boundary. See also: Gadgets.
Choose Explore 5 for the broadest beginner use case
Explore 5 is the safest recommendation for many first-time Cricut buyers in 2026. It supports common materials such as vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, printable materials, and sticker media. It also provides the wider format many people expect for shirts, party decor, decals, and cards.
Its biggest advantage over Joy 2 is project size. Its biggest disadvantage compared with Maker 4 is advanced material range. If your planned projects are mostly paper, vinyl, iron-on, and stickers, Explore 5 is usually the cleaner choice.
Choose Maker 4 when materials matter more than launch date
Maker 4 is not the newest Cricut overall, but it remains the newest Maker-family model and the better choice for users who expect to cut a wider material range. Cricut lists Maker 4 for 300+ materials and 13 compatible tools, including capabilities such as engraving, debossing, perforating, scoring, foiling, drawing, writing, and cutting when the appropriate tools are used.
This matters if you plan to experiment with heavier paper, leather, fabric, thin wood-type craft materials, or specialty finishes. The additional capability may be worth more than owning the very newest release.
Choose Venture only for wide-format needs
Cricut Venture is not new in 2026, but it remains the large-format option. Cricut introduced it as the largest and fastest cutting machine on its platform, with a wider working format and production-oriented use cases. It is more machine than many hobby users need, but it can make sense for large wall decals, event signage, repeated graphics, and higher-volume apparel decoration workflows.
The practical questions are space, budget, and volume. If you do not have a dedicated work area or consistent demand for wide projects, a smaller Explore or Maker machine is likely easier to live with.
Upgrade cautions before buying
Before replacing an older Cricut, look beyond the headline claim of newest Cricut model. A new generation can change the design experience, included materials, and starter bundles, but it may not change every core cutting need.
- Check tool compatibility. Some functions require tools that are sold separately, and certain pens or accessories may need adapters or specific compatibility confirmation.
- Separate machine cost from bundle cost. Cricut often sells machine-only and bundled versions. Bundles can be convenient, but the value depends on whether you will actually use the materials included.
- Do not overbuy for rare projects. If you mostly make vinyl labels and cards, Maker 4 or Venture may add capability you rarely use.
- Do not underbuy for business use. If you need to produce batches, wider signage, or large repeated designs, Joy 2 is too small and Explore 5 may still be limiting.
- Plan for software workflow. Cricut machines rely on Design Space, so your comfort with the app is part of the buying decision.
- Confirm age and safety expectations. Cricut’s launch materials for Joy 2 and Explore 5 state that those machines are not intended for children 12 years and younger.
There is also a simple upgrade test. If your current machine reliably cuts the materials and sizes you use every week, a newer model may be a convenience upgrade rather than a necessary one. If your projects are limited by width, speed, Print Then Cut needs, or material range, moving to Joy 2, Explore 5, Maker 4, or Venture can be easier to justify.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cricut Explore 5 newer than Cricut Maker 4?
Yes. Cricut Explore 5 was announced in February 2026, while Cricut Maker 4 was announced in February 2025. However, newer does not automatically mean more capable. Maker 4 still supports more materials and more compatible tools than Explore 5.
What is the newest Cricut for beginners?
For most beginners who want a full-size machine, Cricut Explore 5 is the strongest current fit. It covers common projects such as vinyl decals, iron-on shirts, cardstock crafts, cards, and stickers without the higher complexity of the Maker line. For small labels and compact spaces, Cricut Joy 2 is easier to start with.
Is Cricut Joy 2 better than Cricut Joy Xtra?
Joy 2 is newer and more compact, but Joy Xtra has a wider format. If you mainly want portability and quick labels or cards, Joy 2 is appealing. If you need more usable width while staying smaller than an Explore machine, Joy Xtra may still be worth comparing.
Should I buy the newest Cricut model or Maker 4?
Buy Explore 5 if your projects are mostly vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, stickers, cards, and general home crafts. Buy Maker 4 if you expect to use specialty tools or cut a wider range of materials. The right choice depends more on your project list than on release date.
Is Cricut Venture the newest Cricut machine?
No. Cricut Venture launched in 2023, so it is older than Joy 2, Explore 5, and Maker 4. It remains important because it is the wide-format, production-oriented Cricut cutter, not because it is the newest release.
