More than once, Leonardo showed a generic error popup with no explanation of how to fix the problem. You’re forced to dismiss the message before doing anything else, which feels like reaching a dead end before trying to fix the problem yourself or looking up the error code in Leonardo.

Connectivity, fortunately, is super simple and seamless. Romeo connects to your computer via Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth, which sounds like a minor detail until you’ve wrestled with the quirks that Bluetooth can sometimes pose (looking at you, Design Space). During my testing of the Explore 5, I would occasionally lose my Bluetooth connection, requiring me to disconnect the machine from my computer, reconnect, and try again. I’m not sure if this is a Design Space issue or my laptop is juggling too many Bluetooth devices, but it can be a pain. During my testing, not once did the Romeo machine disconnect unexpectedly.

making space

There’s no way around it: the Romeo is big—It has twice the cutting width of the Explore 5. It’s not the type of machine that easily sits on a closet shelf when you’re not using it. Most people will want to dedicate a table to it. That’s not necessarily a disadvantage, but it is meant to exist as a permanent fixture in your workspace. (And remember to consider clearance behind the machine, as materials are fed from the rear!) But it is sturdy and well built; It never moved on the table while cutting, there was very little vibration, the carriage moved smoothly, no rattles and nothing flexed or creaked.

Its open design is another trade-off. Unlike the Explore 5, which folds, in the Romeo everything remains exposed. I haven’t noticed any buildup yet, but I’m concerned about pet hair and dust getting inside, and it’s something I’ll keep an eye on over time.

When cut, the Romeo beeps and squeaks like a dial-up Internet access, while the Cricut hums and hums more like an old inkjet printer. Neither is particularly loud, but it’s worth mentioning if you share a workspace.

Is it time to graduate?

Photography: Nicole Kinning

After spending time with both machines, my biggest takeaway is that the Cricut is designed to eliminate as many decisions and friction points as possible. Romeo hands you the controls and expects you to learn how to use them.