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Cricut Easy Press 3 Review: Is it Worth it?

By Anika Gandhi

A complete Cricut Easy Press 3 review and why you need it for flawless easy heat transfer projects.

Woman operating EasyPress 3 with text overlay.

The MOST popular projects made using a Cricut machine are heat transfer projects ranging from t-shirts, baby clothes, tote bags, pillows, home decor and so much more!

A good quality heat press is important to achieve flawless repeatable results. In this article, we dive into all the reasons you need the Cricut EasyPress 3.

A few days ago Cricut announced a whole new set of heat press models. One of them is – Cricut EasyPress 3.

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What is Cricut EasyPress 3?

A Cricut EasyPress is a heating tool specifically designed to apply heat-activated designs to a project like iron-on or infusible ink.

The Cricut Easy Press2 makes transferring designs quick and efficient with a flat base and great temperature controls.

The Cricut EasyPress 3 is Cricut’s newest EasyPress! It is Smart EasyPress. It combines all the great features of the EasyPress 2 PLUS it has Bluetooth.

This means you can use the Cricut Heat app and set, send and control the settings of the EasyPress 3.

EasyPress 3 on craft table

Cricut EasyPress 3 features

All of the Cricut EasyPress 2 features that we know and love are also a part of Cricut EasyPress 3 and then some.

Precise Temperature Control

One of the most important factors for a successful heat transfer is temperature control.

The EasyPress 3 can be controlled to the precise temperature needed up to 400F using either the Cricut Heat app or the control buttons on the machine.

In comparison, a household iron has only preset heat settings where you simply have to guess – maybe set it to the highest setting and hope that it works.

close up of controls of the Cricut EasyPress 3

Flat base

Another important factor for heat transfer is how evenly the heat is applied.

The base of the EasyPress 3 is a heat plate composed of aluminum with a ceramic, non-stick coating.

The base is completely flat and evenly heated without any hot or cold spots helping make sure the transfers are as flawless as possible.

The Size

The EasyPress 3 comes in 2 sizes:

  • 9″ x 9″
  • 12″ x 10″

The 9×9 can handle most small projects although an average-sized t-shirt will require multiple sessions.

The 12×10 one is great and covers large surfaces in one go. Of course, it is larger and may not be easy to travel/transport if that’s something that’s needed.

Safety

Cricut takes safety very seriously and is especially important when dealing with high heat machines.

The two main safety features are –

  • Auto-Off
  • Safety Base
close up of the base of the EasyPress 3

Auto-Off feature: This is really important for peace of mind. The Cricut EasyPress 3 will automatically turn itself off after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Safety Base: An insulated Safety Base is included with the machine so the work surface doesn’t get damaged as you use the machine.

BlueTooth Control

YES!! The EasyPress 3 is a Smart Heat Press.

This, in my opinion, is what completely sets the EasyPress 3 apart from anything ever before.

The BlueTooth control through the Cricut Heat app makes using the Cricut EasyPress 3 a breeze.

Lots more details on that below.

What if you don’t want to use the app?

Unfortunately, you do need the app to activate your EasyPress 3. But once it is activated, you can use it without the app just like you would use the EasyPress 2. But honestly, that would be like driving a sports car on a city road.

Differences between EasyPress 2 and EasyPress 3

The main difference between the EasyPress 2 and EasyPress 3 is the BlueTooth capability which makes it a Smart Heat press.

You can easily control your EasyPress 3 using the Cricut Heat App (available to download for free in the iOS App Store or Google Play Store).

Within the Cricut Heat App, you can easily pick the heat transfer material and the blank, send the settings to the EasyPress 3.

The App then guides you step-by-step through the entire process of transferring unlike with the EasyPress2, where you have to find the exact temperature and time settings for your materials and program them in.

The Cricut Heat App

The Cricut Heat App is Cricut’s all-new app that helps control BlueTooth enabled heat presses.

Currently, that includes EasyPress3 and hat press.

The app is available to download for free in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store in 12 languages.

The Cricut Heat App to control the EasyPress 3

Within the app, you can:

  • pick your heat transfer materials
  • pick the blank you are using
  • pick the pressing surface.
  • Send the settings directly to the heat press
  • Finish your project guided by the app.

The app guides you step-by-step with details and animated videos showing exactly how to set up and how to layer.

When you press the “play” button on the heat press, the app automatically counts down the time for you and tells you what the next step is.

No more looking up the heat guide and remembering if you needed to pre-heat or if you need a warm or cold peel.

Which EasyPress to buy

If you are in the market for an easy-to-use, store, and control heat press then the EasyPress 3 is your answer.

It includes all the important features like precise temperature control, even heating, and safety with the addition of BlueTooth connectivity which puts it far above the household iron in terms of results.

There are two sizes available – 9×9 and 12 x 10.

The 12 x 10 EasyPress 3 is the winner in my opinion because it is large enough to help make a t-shirt in one pass.

However, if you will be traveling with the EasyPress 3, you may want to consider the 9×9.

When compared to the EasyPress 2, there is only a $10 difference in pricing and for the convenience of not having to look up the settings and instructions for your project every time, I think it is totally worth it!

What’s in the box

The EasyPress 3 comes with everything you need to get started:

  • Cricut EasyPress 3
  • Safety Base
  • Dust cover
  • Materials for a sample project
  • User guide
  • Safety instructions
Cricut EasyPress 3 and other items in the package on the floor

The practice material is great to get a feel for the machine and make a custom dust cover for the machine!

More on that below.

How to set up Cricut EasyPress 3

Like with all Cricut machines, setup is super simple and easy.

Step 1: Download Cricut Heat app

The Cricut Heat app is available for free in the Apple app store and Google Play. Sign in using your Cricut Design Space login.

You need the Cricut Heat app in order to activate your machine.

However, once activated, you can use it with or without the app, Although, once you start using it with the app, you will never go back!

Step 2: Plugin you machine

  • Plugin the EasyPress 3 machine and press the power button.
  • The display shows “APP” while it is searching for the Cricut Heat app.
  • Hit set up on the Cricut Heat App.
Connecting the Cricut EasyPress 3 to the Cricut Heat app

Step 3: Connect to the Cricut Heat app

  • The app will automatically detect the EasyPress 3 and prompt you to connect.
  • Simply hit the connect button and you are done!
Connecting the EasyPress 3 to the Cricut Heat App

Step 4: Make a quick project

The EasyPress 3 comes with a dust bag and an Iron-on transfer to apply to it.

The app automatically prompts you to complete that project.

Cricut App prompting to complete sample project

I highly recommend doing this as this will not only show you exactly how it works but will help you walk through all the steps so you are comfortable using the app.

Simply hit “send settings to EasyPress” and the machine will heat up to the temperature required for the project.

Cricut Heat app sending settings to Cricut EasyPress 3

It even tells you in what sequence to lay down your materials.

Cricut Heat App showing how to place the materials for heat transfer
  • Once you place the EasyPress 3 on your Iron-on material, hit the “play” button and the app counts down for you.
    The app first countsdown the preheat, then prompts you to place the design and then countsdown the transfer.
Cricut Heat App counting down how long to transfer

Once complete, it gives you instructions on the next steps – how to peel the liner and how to care for your fabric.

EasyPress 3 dust cover with iron on

Easy Peasy!

Now you are ready to use Cricut EasyPress 3!

How to use Cricut EasyPress 3 with the App

Let’s make a quick wine bag using infusible ink with the Cricut EasyPress 3.

I am using the following materials :

supplies to make infusible ink wine bag using Cricut EasyPress 3

Step 1: Turn on the EasyPress 3

  • Plugin the EasyPress 3 and press the power button to turn on the machine.

The machine recalls the settings you used in the previous project and automatically starts heating up to that.

This is ok. When we send the new settings, it will adjust accordingly.

Step 2: Pick settings

Inside the app:

  • Pick your EasyPress 3 machine
  • Hit start new project
  • Pick the transfer material from a long list of available cricut materials including Smart materials and Infusible ink.
    In this case I picked Infusible Trasnfer Sheet.
  • Pick the blank you are applying to. In this case, it is wine bag.
  • Pick the work Surface. I am using the Cricut EasyPress Mat.

Step 3: Set up material

The app will guide through exactly how to layer the material to get the perfect results including using a lint roller at the start, pre-heating and the sequence of materials.

setting up the Cricut EasyPress 3 to transfer infusible ink to a wine bag

Step 4: Apply heat

Once everything is set up, place the EasyPress on the material and press the “play” button.

The app automatically starts the countdown timer.

Apply constant medium pressure on the machine.

Transferring infusible ink with EasyPress 3 with phone app showing timer

Once the timer is done, the machine beeps to let you know.

Step 5: Done!

As soon as the timer is complete, the screen shows you the next steps – in this case warm peel, and care for your project.

Woman removing liner from infusible ink wine bag with phone showing instructions

That’s it! The bag is done and ready for gifting!

Wine bottle in bag decorated with infusible ink next to EasyPress 3 and tools.

How much does Cricut EasyPress 3 cost?

The Cricut EasyPress 3 will be available for purchase starting March 13th.

The 9×9 model costs: $199 (USD)

The 12×10 model costs $249 (USD)

Each of these is only $10 more than the EasyPress 2 counterpart and is definitely a great return on investment.

Is Cricut EasyPress 3 worth it?

In one word – YES.

It is definitely a lot more reliable and accurate than a household iron. The BlueTooth connectivity makes it extremely easy to use. For the price difference between the EasyPress 2 and Easy Press 3, I would definitely recommend the EasyPress 3.

Just imagine all the time it would save you from looking up the temperature and time settings and remembering the process.

Cricut EasyPress 3 Review

Let’s sum it all up!

The Positives

  • The winner for me is the BlueTooth connectivity – I have said this a lot of times in this article already but anything that helps save time is totally worth it!
  • I love that I know that the heat press will be at the exact temperature and time settings I need to successfully complete the process
  • The safety base and the auto-off give me a peace of mind.
  • The color is a gorgeous blue and matches perfectly with my Cricut Maker 3.
  • If you don’t have access to the app due to any reason, you can use it just like you would use the EasyPress 2. (of course, you do need the app for activation though)

The Negative

No real negatives that I can think of. I absolutely love it.

I hope Cricut comes out with smart BlueTooth controlled versions for ALL of their products!

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