Do people still use dedicated calculators in 2026? We don’t know. Every smartphone out there can probably run dozen or so apps able to replicate the functions of the most advanced graphing calculators. But what if you make the calculator look really, really pretty, instead of the boring gray slabs we’ve always had back in the day? That seems to be the case Texas Instruments is making with the TI-84 Evo.
The latest installment in the outfit’s long-running TI-84 series, the graphing calculator is clad in colorful finishes that make it look so much more aesthetically-pleasant than the utilitarian styling of its old-school predecessors. We’re talking about eye candy colors like raspberry, mint, purple, and more, which could help compel some students to opt for it, instead of simply buying a graphing calc app.
The Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo looks like any modern graphing calculator. It has a 2.8-inch 16-bit color display with 319 x 209 resolution, where you can plot graphs and write out all your mathematical formulas, along with tons of physical buttons, so you can type in all your input data quickly without having to deal with inelegant touchscreen interfaces. According to the outfit, the higher resolution screen affords users 50 percent more graphing space than the last TI-84 flagship, making it more useful for complex math solutions. On the screen, by the way, you can see the new icon-based menu and app-based functions, which make it feel more like a modern device than a relic of old-school technology.
Inside, it’s equipped with a new 156Mhz processor that’s, at least, three times faster than its predecessor, although memory is still pretty limited at 3.5MB. They also redesigned the keypad for a more simplified layout, removing clutter to make finding important shortcuts and commands a lot easier. Plus, they coordinated the colors of the keypad to match the finishes, which is a really nice touch.
The Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo comes with USB-C charging, so it’s every bit the modern consumer electronic device. No word on how long it can be used between charges, but we’re hoping that full-color screen doesn’t run down battery life like the bigger screens on modern smartphones do. It’s got all the functions you could ask from a modern calculator, from basic operations and graphing to advanced statistics and equation editors to business functions. Even more importantly, the outfit claims it’s designed to engage students deeply with the concepts behind the solutions, instead of simply letting them skip directly to the answers.
Want to write custom programs to streamline calculations you often encounter? Not a problem, as it supports both Python and TI-Basic languages, so you can write and run code directly from the device. It’s supposedly approved for use in all major standardized exams, including the ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP, and IB Diploma Programme, so you can use the same calculator you use everyday when taking any of those tests. There’s no internet connection and no non-math apps, either, so it’s really focused on serving as a modern graphing calculator.
The Texas Instruments TI-84 Evo is available now, priced at $160.
