For most of us, calculations is part of our daily lives. Sometimes, however, there comes the need to do more than just basic calculations and do more analytical work that involves graphing. This is where graphing calculators come to play. There is a good number of graphing calculators you could find in the market today, but truth be told, a majority of them are flawed and might not help you solve all the problems.
In search of the best graphing calculator in the market, we’ve handpicked some that will compute and execute almost any mathematical operation and offer excellent graphing solutions. But first, here are some of the things to look for when shopping for a good graphing calculator.
Choosing The Best Graphing Calculator Guide
Graphing Capabilities
If your main purpose of getting a calculator is to use it for graphing, then there are different ways in which the graphs can be presented depending on the calculator you get. Some calculators have advanced graphing capabilities like 3D graphing, where you could rotate and the graph in different dimensions. Depending on your level of professionalism, there are different graphing modes that you need to be keen on when buying a calculator.
Memory
Depending on how much calculations you are using a calculator to do, you may need to save that work at some point. Different calculators have different memory sizes while others even have an expandable memory which allows you to use external SD cards. Depending on what you intend to use the calculator, this is something that you have to be keen on.
Pricing
Calculators are priced differently based on the features and capabilities that they have. However, it doesn’t always mean that the most expensive ones are the best. Sometimes you could end up paying too much for the features that you will never use. It is therefore important to look beyond the price tag and get a calculator that is of good value and one that you are sure has all the features you will need.
Ease of Use
Let’s face it. Some calculators are hard to use and this isn’t something that you would want to get. The easier a calculator it is to use, the better you will work on your calculations and graphing.
Best Graphing Calculators 2021
With the above factors in mind, here is a countdown of some of the best graphing calculators you will find in the market today.
7. Sharp EL9600C Graphing Calculator
Key Features
Specific features: Intuitive touchscreen, built-in library of equations, Programmable.
Best used for: Student equation solving and graphing solutions.
The Sharp EL9600C graphing calculator is a simple calculator that has been around for quite some time. Despite being old school, it boasts having outstanding features and built-in library of equations that let the user solve most calculations and graphing problems. The touch-screen interface lets you draw your equations on the screen while also offering a 176 digit display which also offers a split screen option. It is powered by AAA batteries with CR2032 backup.
The calculator is programmable and allows you to input your own complex equations. The programming feature also allows the user to switch to a BASIC mode which uses an easier language.
Graphing display on the screen is basic but it can compute complex algebraic equations with much ease. The available graphing modes are Function, Polar, Parametric, and Sequence. There is a rapid graph button which lets the user quickly choose from 51 graphing templates. the calculator isn’t anything extraordinary but for the price, it is a good investment.
- Good for students.
- Good price for the features and performance.
- Straightforward and easy to use.
- Lacks some features for high-level graphing solutions.
6. HP G8X92AA LA Prime v2 Graphing Calculator
Key Features
Memory: 32 MB mDDR & Flash memory capacity 256 MB
Specific features: Parametric Plotting, 2D Function, Display and printer graphics.
Best used for: Both students and professionals.
The HP G8X92AA LA Prime v2 Graphing Calculator is one of HP’s best selling calculators and boasts having advanced features and graphing capabilities. Despite looking complicated at first glance, this graphing calculator is actually easy to use and can be used by persons of all levels from college level to a more professional level. High school level users may not find most of the features to be helpful.
This calculator has one of the fastest processors and has proven to be excellent for people looking to input their own programs by using the connectivity kit. Its battery life is also impressive and one recharge can go up to 3 weeks, depending on your usage.
For graphing, this calculator has a number of capabilities like parametric, differential equation solving, polar, scatter and bar plotting, Extremum among others. Some other useful functions that aren’t found in many other graphing calculators include time conversions, unit conversions, Boolean graphing and angle conversions. And with an impressive memory of 32 MB mDDR and a flash memory of 256 MB, you can save all the data and records you need to be stored.
- Lots of features that are rarely found in other graphing calculators.
- Excellent processing speed and performance.
- Some users have complained of connectivity issues.
5. Casio fx-9750GII Graphing Calculator
Key Features
Memory: Stores basic functions and data
Specific features: Programmable, USB connectivity, Very easy to use.
Best used for: Excellent graphing calculator for high school and college-level students.
The Casio fx-9750GII Graphing Calculator is perhaps one of the best-valued calculators in the market. Although it doesn’t have out of the world features and apps like the advanced popular Texas Instrumental calculators, it’s not easy to find a calculator that offers such graphing and analytical functions in this price range.
It is powered by 4 AAA batteries which makes it a little bulky and thicker than most calculators. Despite this, the calculator is straightforward and easy to use and any student will not have any difficulties solving any calculation or graphing solution.
The graphing interface is easy to use, and although you wouldn’t have 3D graphing capabilities or a full-color screen, it can do almost anything else. You can even transfer the assignment or share it with the USB connectivity capability. For anyone looking for a simple calculator for student use, without breaking the bank then this is a cheap graphing calculator worth buying.
- Very affordable
- Simple to use and perfect for students.
- Its screen isn’t anything fancy.
4. HP 50g Graphing Calculator
Key Features
Memory: 2 MB ROM / 512 KB RAM
Specific features: SD card slot for expandable memory, over 2300 built-in functions, USB connectivity.
Best used for: Good for math, science and engineering students and professionals.
The HP 50g Graphing Calculator is a high-performance calculator that offers incredible flexibility to solving and graphing analytical data operations.
It is also simple to use and has a nice display screen which can also be easily adjusted for better clarity. And with a large equation library that has over 2,000 functions, students and professionals can do much with this graphing calculator.
It offers a wide range of graphing features including 2D, polar, parametric plotting, and 3D functionalities as well as handling differential equations and bar plots. Storing data and keeping analytical information is yet another big selling point for this graphing calculator. Besides a total of 2.5 MB in total memory, there is also an SD card slot to expand it, not to mention USB connectivity that takes this to another level. This is a good calculator for any student and anyone who needs a graphing calculator for professional work.
- This calculator has a lot of features and built-in functions.
- Enjoys an excellent customer satisfaction rate.
- Some users find the display hard to read.
- It tends to be much pricier than most other graphing calculators in the market.
3. Texas Instruments Ti-84 Plus
Key Features
Memory: 480KB ROM / 24K RAM
Specific features: Sequence graphing mode, Interactive value analysis, advanced matrix operations, dozens of preloaded applications.
Best used for: Good for students in all scientific, engineering and mathematical fields as well as for professional work.
The Texas Instruments Ti-84 is without a doubt the best graphing calculator that you can buy in the market today. Designed with almost every feature that a calculator could have, from computing complex calculations to presenting dynamic graphs, this calculator is the definition of excellence. It has all the features of the Ti-83 but has more additional features.
It also graphs 10 rectangular functions with one time graphing, 3 recursive sequences, 6 polar expressions, and 6 para metrics. The Ti-84 is also good when it comes to matrix operations and interactive analysis which includes 7 interactive graphing styles, a number of hypothesis testing and interval functions.
When it comes to memory and storage it is one of the best. With its 480KB ROM and 24K RAM, it can hold 10-50X50 matrices and store up to 999 elements. This calculator also comes with a USB cable for sharing and transferring data to other mediums.
- Has the most advanced features and capabilities.
- Good quality calculator for the price.
- Excellent performance and quality.
- Some junior students might find it uneasy to use at first.
2. NumWorks Graphing Calculator
Key Features
Memory: Basic storage memory.
Specific features: Multiple language support, high resolution screen, user friendly interface.
Best used for: high school students graphing and equation solving.
NumWorks Graphing Calculator is a new entry into the market and has already inspired positive reactions from users. It has a minimalist yet simple design with a fancy display screen and user interface. Beyond the design and the good looks, this graphing calculator offers an easy to use interface which one can easily get used to even without a manual. Its ergonomic keyboard has 3 thematic areas making it very convenient to use.
The calculator comes fully featured with all high school curriculum and also 6 built-in apps that makes it much easier to compute and solve graphical problems. Those are few applications compared with the leading graphing calculators like the Texas Instruments but for a calculator targeting high school students, it’s just perfect.
Its rechargeable Lithium-ion battery goes for over 20 hours on a full charge which is not the best, but good. The fact that it supports 5 languages offers different uses a chance to use the calculator easily. With all the functions for high school level and good performance, this calculator is an excellent choice for students.
- The calculator is easy to use.
- It is decently priced.
- Limited only to high school students use and basic graphing.
1. Texas Instruments Nspire CX II CAS Color Graphing Calculator
Key Features
Memory: 90+ MB user memory & 64 MB RAM
Specific features: Rechargeable battery, colored and backlit display, 125 DPI screen resolution, 3.5-inch screen size.
Best used for: Engineering and working professionals.
The Nspire CX II CAS Graphing Color Calculator is yet another graphing calculator by Texas instruments which has stood the test of time and outranked many out there to become one of the best graphing calculators in the industry.
It has a high memory capacity making it easy and convenient to store a lot of data. Besides this graphing calculator being one of the sleekest and thinnest, the overlay and color display on the 3.5-inch screen is also impressive. The graph and rotate 3D function is a great feature to take advanced data analysis and graphing to the next level. Clarity on its high-resolution display allows the user to clearly see every variable line and exponents without any issues.
This graphing calculator has tons of features and as such, it is not allowed in standardized tests. It is therefore perfect for engineering, architect, research and working professionals who are into exploring higher-level statistical concepts.
- Well priced for a calculator of this caliber.
- Large storage capacity.
- This calculator is straightforward and easy to use.
- The battery is rechargeable and lasts long.
- Not the best graphing calculator students as it may not be allowed in most standardized tests.
Final Verdict
These are the best graphing calculators you can find in the market. Hopefully, the guide has pointed you in the right graphing calculator that meets your graphing and calculation needs.
