Calculator Recommendations

Note: This information is outdated. The TI-83+, TI-86, TI-89, and TI-92+ have since been released and offer new options. I will update this page with the latest recommendations soon. Until then, you may want to refer to TI's web site for the latest information to decide which calculator you want to buy. Until this page is updated, here are the old recommendations:

So, which calculator do you want to buy? It depends on what you need.

If you want the most high-end calculator that can do symbolic algebra and calculus, and geometry, go for the TI-92. But, this may be too expensive (about $200), and it cannot be used on standardized tests, as well as tests in some math classes, depending on your teacher.

The TI-83 (as well as its compatible partner, the TI-82) has become a classroom standard, but one has to wonder why. It is lacking in features compared to the TI-86, and is only a little bit more expensive ($120 versus $100 for the TI-83). I would only recommend it if you need the financial functions, the inferential statistics and distributions, you need a calculator compatible with your classmates', or your school gives you a discount on TI-83s. Otherwise, get the TI-86. It has many advantages, such as unit conversions, number bases, polynomial and simultaneous equation solver, no limit to number of variables, superior matrix math, greek, international, and lowercase characters, equation variables, better calculus, and over 3 times as much memory. The TI-86 is TI's newest calculator, so there is almost nothing that the TI-83 can do better. The TI-86 makes up for the few things that the TI-83 has but the TI-85 didn't.

If you want the very best, and don't care about price or banning from standardized tests: TI-92

If you want a very good calc, but only want to spend around $120: TI-86

If you want a calc that more schools use, or you need finance or inferential statistics, or you only want to spend about $100: TI-83

There is no reason at all to get a TI-82 or a TI-85. They have each been replaced by the TI-83 and TI-86.

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