There are four main differences between the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Maker 3. First, the Cricut Maker 3 can cut Cricut brand Smart Materials without a cutting mat. The first-generation Maker can still cut Smart Materials, but you'll need a cutting mat. Second, the Cricut Maker 3 can cut up to 12 feet using Smart Materials. The first-generation Maker can cut up to 23.5 inches, just under two feet. Third, the Cricut Maker 3 can cut Smart Materials up to 2 times faster than the first generation Maker. Lastly, the new Maker 3 is much quieter than older version.