Learning · calculator
Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo
Long-lasting graphing calculator that students use through school and college for plotting, programming and arithmetic. Most common caveat: it costs too much for what it offers.
Summarized from 102 comments.
Long-lasting graphing calculator that students use through school and college for plotting, programming and arithmetic. Most common caveat: it costs too much for what it offers.
- recommend
- 41
- criticize
- 53
- months recommended
- 4 of 13
- median owned, 7 owners said
- 10 years
Why people love it
Good value for the money · 4
$100 for something you'll use all through middle and high school and into college isn't a bad deal.
May 2026 · comment2 dinners out for a family of four would cover the cost of this calculator.
May 2026 · commentHonestly a pretty good investment (from my parents) I'd say.
May 2026 · commentUsed through school and college · 5
$100 for something you'll use all through middle and high school and into college isn't a bad deal.
May 2026 · commentI certainly got a lot of educational value out of mine.
May 2026 · commentI use mine constantly in high school (now).
May 2026 · commentTaught programming and math basics · 3
It definitely taught me the basics in a way that made my CS classes much easier.
May 2026 · commentI learned programming because of that calculator.
May 2026 · commentThe Basic variant on a TI-84 was magic.
Jan 2026 · commentPlots equations and datasets · 2
I found great enjoyment in coming up with more and more involved plots in the Polar and Parametric modes
May 2026 · commentyou can plot equations and datasets with them and look at them right there
May 2026 · comment
What people warn about
Overpriced for its features · 6
it sure is a shame there's not competition here driving the cost of these things down and the features way up
May 2026 · commentTI have done a good (financial) job milking these products whilst under investing in real product innovation
May 2026 · commentI find it really hard to believe that they can't provide better specs and feature set for the cost
May 2026 · commentLocked in by schools and publishers · 4
it was a waste of money, felt like somebody must be paying somebody off to have thousands of students buy a device that they will certainly never have to use
May 2026 · commentThe math books even have content tailored to particular models so that you'll have to buy them instead of alternatives from other vendors
May 2026 · commentit was a giant racket between public schools and TI. Writing code for it was probably cool back in the 80s-90s but it's so dated now.
May 2026 · commentDated hardware and interface · 3
The way you input things like division, integrals, matrix, etc. on newer calculators like the nspire is far superior than the older calculators (eg. ti-84, ti-89, etc.)
May 2026 · commentit was a giant racket between public schools and TI. Writing code for it was probably cool back in the 80s-90s but it's so dated now.
May 2026 · commentWith a 156MHz processor and 3.5 megabytes of user-available memory the kids will even learn how to optimize their code!
May 2026 · commentEasy to replace with AI tools · 2
it's insane to me that in an era of Google Colab (et al) schools still require students to shell out >$100 for one of these
May 2026 · commentIt's expensive and any plot it can generate is 1 prompt away from the AI that students are already using.
May 2026 · comment
What hackers pick instead
- TI-89 calculatorPeople recommend it for covering basic and advanced math with a built-in CAS and long battery life, though critics warn it let some students skip learning the material.31recommend
- TI-83 PlusMany people say it taught them to program, and it lasts for years; the built-in BASIC is limited and awkward to type on, and critics call the price high.21recommend
- DesmosFree browser-based graphing tool people use to explore math concepts; critics find its interface clunky on touch screens.15recommend
- TI-85 calculatorOwners praise its durability, programmability and usefulness for calculus and small calculations, with many still using it for decades.11recommend
- HP 50GRecommended for its powerful symbolic algebra, unit handling and reliable build, with people saying it carried them through advanced math courses; a common alternative to school-approved calculators.10recommend
Every quote
The 40 most detailed of 102 comments. Each links to the original.
I found great enjoyment in coming up with more and more involved plots in the Polar and Parametric modes
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
$100 for something you'll use all through middle and high school and into college isn't a bad deal.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I think these graphing calculators are quite good for 2026 students! ... $160 is just evil.
Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
It definitely taught me the basics in a way that made my CS classes much easier.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
2 dinners out for a family of four would cover the cost of this calculator.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
you can plot equations and datasets with them and look at them right there
Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
Honestly a pretty good investment (from my parents) I'd say.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I certainly got a lot of educational value out of mine.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I learned programming because of that calculator.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I use mine constantly in high school (now).
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
The Basic variant on a TI-84 was magic.
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “The Tulip Creative Computer”
Best $100 ever spent, thanks mom & dad.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I used mine constantly in highschool
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I got a ton of value out of mine
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
The way you input things like division, integrals, matrix, etc. on newer calculators like the nspire is far superior than the older calculators (eg. ti-84, ti-89, etc.)
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
it was a waste of money, felt like somebody must be paying somebody off to have thousands of students buy a device that they will certainly never have to use
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
The math books even have content tailored to particular models so that you'll have to buy them instead of alternatives from other vendors
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
it was a giant racket between public schools and TI. Writing code for it was probably cool back in the 80s-90s but it's so dated now.
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
it's insane to me that in an era of Google Colab (et al) schools still require students to shell out >$100 for one of these
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
With a 156MHz processor and 3.5 megabytes of user-available memory the kids will even learn how to optimize their code!
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
it sure is a shame there's not competition here driving the cost of these things down and the features way up
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
TI have done a good (financial) job milking these products whilst under investing in real product innovation
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
It's expensive and any plot it can generate is 1 prompt away from the AI that students are already using.
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I find it really hard to believe that they can't provide better specs and feature set for the cost
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I have no idea how on earth a scientific calculator costs almost as much as a cheap android phone
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
the college board banned the 89 from certain tests/classes and so I had to cough up for an 84
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
the TI83/84 was way overpriced. It could have been like $20 at the scale they were produced.
Criticizes · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
Super useful outside of school but knowing that a good portion of my classmates using Ti-84s were doing the same problems on paper felt rather unfair.
Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
A graphing calculator is a fraction of the cost, has no security updates, is standardized, isn't connected to the internet
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
There is something impressive about a product line that can remain culturally relevant for this long
Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
Distraction free tools like this calculator, is increasingly important to help keeping focus.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
I find using it while working on stuff with dirty hands much easier than my phone or tablet.
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Ask HN: Do you still physical calculators?”
I still wish calculators were more open, or at least less locked into school-age pricing.
Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
Generating a QR code to see the graph online is kind of cool, but also kinda dumb too.
Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
It can survive an entire year out of use and would still have a usable charge
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
a calculator is purpose built with tons of shortcuts and contextual menus
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
Rechargeable sure is nice, but the older models lasted forever on 4 AAAs
Mixed · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
Used by millions of American schoolchildren, programmable in BASIC
Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “The Zilog Z80 has turned 50”
find myself reaching for it far more than I ever expected
Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Ask HN: Do you still physical calculators?”
If only kids of today loved this more than their phones.
Recommends · May 2026 · in “Ti-84 Evo”
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