Brother ScanNCut SDX125E review

The Brother ScanNCut SDX125E is one of the most capable die cutting machines you can buy, but it's also one of the most expensive.

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E
(Image: © Brother)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

Pros

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    No internet required

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    Plenty of in-built designs

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    You won't need a subscription

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    Automatically detects material thickness

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    Comes with everything you need to get started

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    Touchscreen display

Cons

  • -

    Users report issues with the mat

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    Expensive

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    Limited to three millimeters thickness

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The Brother ScanNCut features a large full-color screen, simple menus and comes with a generous starter kit of patterns and tools for inspiration. It's the only one of the best die cutting machines we reviewed to feature a screen, which makes it easy to adjust designs, and this paper die cutter doubles as a scanner. However, you may have trouble printing on materials over a three millimeters thick, so you may want to think twice about buying it if you plan to cut wood, leather, rubber or metal projects.

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E: What you need to know

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E

(Image credit: Brother)

The Brother ScanNCut SDX125E features a unique LCD touchscreen display that makes it easy to control without additional software. This die cutting machine can also be used as a scanner, meaning you can scan and upload any creations to the machine to be cut or recreated on an array of fabrics. This die cutting machine resembles a compact printer, especially thanks to its LCD display. It measures 8.4 inches deep, 20.9 inches wide, and 6.8 inches tall. Like the Cricut Explore Air 2, this die cutter has plenty of in-built storage to take advantage of. This includes an upright pen holder, a groove on top to hold accessories for easy access, and closed compartments to keep blades and other essential items safe. 

Retailing at $399 RRP, this is certainly one of the more expensive die cutting machines you can buy. It does come with a bunch of extras you'll need to get started, though, when other machines can require you to order these things separately. This includes the standard tack mat, black pen, auto blade, auto blade holder, pen holder, touch pen, accessory pouch, and a pattern collection which includes 76 pre-programmed shapes and designs. 

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E: Main features

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E

(Image credit: Brother)

Many die cutting machines require you to connect your device to WiFi or Bluetooth, and you'll need to pair it with a phone or laptop to do just about anything. The Brother ScanNCut SDX125E comes with 682 built-in designs, meaning you'll have plenty of functionality built right in. This includes 100 quilting patterns and nine fonts, and you can add more using the USB port of WiFi connection. 

Many die cutting machines come with a dial to select your material, and they feature a variety of material types for you to choose from via smartphone as well. The Brother ScanNCut SDX125E doesn't do this, because it has a ScanNCut DX auto blade that automatically detects the thickness of your material and adjusts automatically. You'll be limited to three millimeters of thickness with any material you do use, so you may be left disappointed if you want to use the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E for heftier materials. That said, it explicitly states that it can cut balsa wood, chipboard, foam, and felt, so almost all bases should be covered.

As we mentioned earlier, the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E comes with in-built scanning. This allows you to scan a drawing or design and convert it via your machine to a file that can be printed or cut onto materials such as vinyl or paper. 

Although they're not included, you can buy additional accessories to use this die cutting machine to emboss, rhinestone, or foil your designs. You can also buy a specific fabric blade that allows you to cut fabrics for quilting or other crafts. 

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E: User reviews

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E

(Image credit: Brother)

The Brother ScanNCut SDX125E is one of the most popular die cutting machines you can buy. It has over 500 Amazon reviews, with an average rating of 4.4 stars, and it's a similar story on the Brother site itself. 

Most negative reviews for the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E mention the mat, which apparently loses tackiness rather fast and can impact accuracy. Of course, you could buy another 12-inch mat from the internet for a better result, but it's still a shame that the included accessories disappoint some users. 

The things users love include the fact that you don't need to be online to use the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E. This means you can use it regardless of signal strength, and you won't have to worry about connections dropping and interrupting your progress. Users also love how quiet this machine is, and the ease of use they experience with the LCD touchscreen display. 

Should you buy the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E? 

The Brother ScanNCut SDX125E is one of our top choices when it comes to die cutting machines. It doesn't require internet connection or any software subscriptions to use, and its scanning features will be perfect for replicating designs numerous times. We also like how many accessories come with the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E, and you can always buy more to emboss or use foil. The auto-detection settings mean you won't need to adjust depending on what fabric you're using, but keep in mind that you can't use anything over three millimeters thick. 

Users complain about the mat with this machine, so make sure you have access to an alternative via the internet or local craft stores just in case you experience the same issues. That said, this is a smart die cutting machine with unique features such as in-built designs and an LCD screen that definitely help it to stand out among the crowd. 

Millie Fender
Head of Reviews

Millie Fender is Head of Reviews at Top Ten Reviews. She also works on our sister sites: Real Homes, Ideal Home, Homes & Gardens, and Livingetc. As Head of Reviews, Millie is on a mission to make sure that we are reviewing all of the latest and greatest products for you and your home, whether it's a vacuum cleaner or an inflatable hot tub.