William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream sums up the Cricut Joy 2 perfectly: “Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
Cricut have not just reinvented their popular Cricut Joy, they’ve given users the tiniest but most capable of workhorses in their stable of versatile crafting machines to date.
The original Joy was already positioned as their lightweight, entry level machine. Convenient, mostly capable, it does the job and well.
The transition to the Joy 2, however, shifts the benchmark again; forget occasional use, you’ll find a multitude of ways to use this little workhorse on a daily basis. This is not a dramatic reinvention. It is a refinement. But importantly, it is a refinement in the right places.
Mother’s Day Specials
Cricut is currently having a Mother’s Day sale with up to 61% off smart machines, heat presses and accessories. Key retailers include Spotlight, Harvey Norman, Officeworks and Big W. The Cricut Joy 2 Essentials Bundle is currently retailing for $249.00, Spotlight has it for $199 – that’s a $50 saving. So be quick and surprise your mum, grandma or mother figure in your life with a fantastic crafting experience. (Prices updated 23/4/2026.)
Design and positioning
The first thing to understand about the Cricut Joy 2 is that it is unapologetically small. And cute. The design of the Joy 2 packaging and instruction book is no coincidence. The Joy 2 is directly appealing to consumers who value small projects in the spirit of ‘kawaii’ (‘cute’ in Japanese) i.e. small decals, drawings or stickers.
At just 23.1 x 13.8 x 7 cm and weighing around 1.2 kg, it is designed to live on your desk, not be stored away in a cupboard. That matters more than you think. Craft machines and their novelty often fail not because they lack capability, but because they require effort to set up. The Joy 2 removes that concern, and looks good doing it too.
It is light, compact, and visually friendly. It looks like something that belongs in a home, not a workshop. And I would argue this is very much the point. 
Key specs at a glance
- Cutting width: 4.5 inches or 11.4 cm
- Maximum cut length: up to 4 feet for a single cut or longer for repeated designs
- Materials supported: 75 plus including vinyl, iron on, cardstock and printable materials
- Functions: cut, draw, write, foil, score and print then cut
- Connectivity: Bluetooth Low Energy
- Compatibility: iOS, Android, Windows and Mac via Design Space
- Speed: up to 5.3 inches per second
But why have I bolded a line above, you ask? Because the headline here is not speed or size. It is functionality.
What’s in the Box
I received the Essential Bundle, which comprises of the Joy 2 cutting machine and a range of materials, tools and accessories listed below.
There’s a variety of bundles available, from the more simple Starter Bundle, Deluxe Bundle, Ultimate Bundle and the piece ‘d resistance, the Ultimate + Bundle which provides everything you need, and then some.
The inclusion of Regional plug adapters is a step ahead for the international community, and I dare say a cost saving for Cricut. The nature of the Joy 2 is such that heavy regionally compatible power adapters also enhance its portability; flying internationally with your Joy 2? Now you absolutely can take it with you on holidays, and plug it in without the need for adapters once you’ve reached your destination. Excellent thinking!
I especially love the portable cutter. Extremely useful, it provides accurate cutting which both protects your fingers and gives a beautiful finish to your projects. I’m honestly quite impressed with the Essential Bundle.
What has actually improved
The most meaningful upgrade is the introduction of print then cut. This allows you to design something in colour, print it on a standard inkjet printer, and then have the Joy 2 cut around it with precision.
That single feature unlocks an entirely different category of projects. Stickers, labels, small business packaging, even temporary tattoos and magnets all become possible. For a machine this size, that is a big shift.
The addition of scoring is another subtle but important improvement. It allows for cleaner folds in cards and paper crafts, which moves the Joy 2 from “quick crafts” into something that feels more finished and intentional.
Real world performance
In use, the Joy 2 behaves exactly how you want a machine like this to behave. It is fast enough to not feel tedious, but precise enough that small, intricate designs still come out clean. It handles vinyl and iron on materials particularly well, which is where most users will spend their time.
The real advantage, though, is workflow. Because it works with Smart Materials, you can load material directly into the machine without using a cutting mat. This reduces setup time dramatically, and makes it far more convenient for regular use for small projects.
It is the difference between thinking “I should make that” and actually making it!
Set up
Literally plug and play, the Joy 2 pairs easily with Cricut’s flagship Design Space program. Updates will come through straight away, so make sure you complete these, and you’ll then be ready to design your project.
There’s no off/on button, and there’s no load button either. Those of you familiar with the larger stable mates will potentially, like me, spend a couple of minutes wondering where they are… calm down, it’s okay. The sensors will automatically load your materials once sensed. I admit to feeling a momentary panic as the Joy 2 enthusiastically set to work, but soon overcame my anxiety once I realised this sturdy workhorse had everything under control.
The Thank You cards below were made to see how the included pen and card mat worked (and also because mum needed some thank you cards). Check out the video here of how quickly the Joy 2 writes:
I realised once I’d finished printing that somehow the dimensions were out, and I had half a line on the page. No problem, using the portable cutter, I was able to trim them perfectly.
This was a great success, with both cards looking extremely professional and elegant.
Top Tip: Portable cutter: don’t forget to remove the plastic dot from under the cutting ruler, or you’ll wonder why it isn’t sitting flat.
A little issue
It wasn’t all roses, however this one was 100% my fault and intentional. What would happen if I make the pressure MORE? Lesson learned. Never go MORE pressure lest you end up with a rather messy vinyl decal. But I was able to quickly print another design perfectly and save the day. Good to know the default pressure is ideal and you don’t need to force a firmer outcome. Remember: I make these mistakes so you don’t have to!
How it started
How it ended – new design (Phew!)
Software experience
Like all Cricut machines, the Joy 2 lives and dies by Design Space.
On one hand, it is extremely beginner friendly. Templates are plentiful, projects are guided, and the overall experience is structured in a way that removes intimidation. On the downside, it is still a closed ecosystem. You are working within Cricut’s framework, and while you can import designs, the workflow is not as open or flexible as professional design software.
There is also the optional Cricut Access subscription, which unlocks additional assets. While not essential, it does become tempting over time for frequent users.
The latest inclusion of the AI framework adds an additional capacity to create cut-ready, single-layer black and white images from text prompts or personal photos. As part of your Cricut subscription, you receive 20 monthly credits to generate an AI image which may be shapes, silhouettes or doodles.
And don’t forget, The Cricut website is extremely helpful, with endless ‘how to’ tutorials which hit the spot with simple and straightforward explanations of how to use your cutting machine, heat press or accessories. Failing that, social media has plenty of channels dedicated to creating anything and everything using Cricut products.
Target Market
The Joy 2 is not trying to be everything to everyone. It is designed for:
- Beginners entering the Cricut ecosystem
- Casual crafters making cards, labels and gifts
- Teachers and parents doing quick projects
- Small scale creators testing ideas before scaling up
It is not built for high volume production or large format projects. The 4.5 inch width is a real limitation if you are trying to do anything substantial. But that limitation is also part of its identity.
This is a machine for everyday creativity, not industrial output.
Limitations worth noting
There are a couple of realities worth being upfront about:
- The cutting width is small. But that’s the point, right?
- A little more paper wastage was noted. Cricut advise Joy 2 machines need a little space above and below cuts for the rollers to grip and load, for the sensors to identify materials are loaded, and to feed material without ejection from the machine. An additional 0.75 in (1.9 cm) above the design, and 0.25 in (0.63 cm) below the design is recommended.
- And like all Cricut machines, you’re tied to Design Space. That will either feel supportive or restrictive depending on your expectations and skill level.
Winning Post
The Cricut Joy 2 is not about power. It is about accessibility. By taking the original Joy concept and tweaking limitations, Cricut have pivoted it from a novelty product into something genuinely useful.
It is still small. It is still limited. But it is now capable enough that those limitations feel intentional rather than restrictive. For the right user, that balance is exactly what makes it work.
This is not the machine you build a business on. It is the machine you actually use. Daily.
Thank you Cricut for the opportunity to review for you once again. It’s been an absolute Joy 2 to do so.
