Texas Instruments refreshes its iconic calculator with the faster TI-84 Evo

[Skye Jacobs]

First look: Texas Instruments is updating its long-running graphing calculator line with the TI-84 Evo, a device that sticks to its core purpose while adding hardware and interface upgrades. The company has kept the familiar graphing calculator format intact while introducing a faster internal architecture, a redesigned UI, and a handful of usability improvements to modernize the experience.

The Evo doesn't try to compete with smartphones or apps. Instead, Texas Instruments is effectively doubling down on the idea of a single-purpose tool at a time when most computing devices aim to consolidate tasks. There's no Wi-Fi, no notifications, and no app ecosystem. As the company puts it, the calculator is designed to do one thing exceptionally well – math.

The biggest change is under the hood. The TI-84 Evo uses a processor that is three times faster than the previous model, which should noticeably improve how quickly graphs render and calculations are processed. For students working through complex equations, that speed increase is likely to be the most meaningful upgrade.

Texas Instruments also expanded the graphing workspace by 50%, giving users more room to view functions without constantly adjusting the display. A new graph-tracing feature allows users to move along a curve and identify specific points more easily.

The interface has been updated with an icon-based home screen, replacing the more text-heavy navigation of earlier versions. The keypad has been simplified as well, though it still follows the familiar layout that has defined the TI-84 line for years.

The hardware also gets a few updates. It now charges via USB-C and comes in several color options, including mint, pink, purple, teal, raspberry, silver, and a standard white model.

The lack of connectivity is deliberate. While calculator apps on phones and computers offer more flexibility, they also introduce distractions. Texas Instruments is positioning the Evo as a focused alternative, particularly for classroom settings where simplicity and reliability still matter.

The TI-84 Evo is available now for $160, with bulk pricing offered to school districts. The update doesn't reinvent the graphing calculator, but it does make it faster and easier to use while keeping the same basic formula intact.

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Texas Instruments refreshes its iconic calculator with the faster TI-84 Evo

 

[passwordistaco]

There are many scams in education, and the TI graphing calculator is one of the longest-running.

 

[Lowhangingfruit]

There are many scams in education, and the TI graphing calculator is one of the longest-running.

What would you recommend instead for graphing simple quadratic functions? A computer with a matlab subscription?

troll.

 

[CrisisDog]

My kids are not allowed computers or cell phones in school, only these TI calculators…

 

[VariableSpike]

What would you recommend instead for graphing simple quadratic functions? A computer with a matlab subscription?

troll.

Desmos, among which it and many others are free and more featured, TI just run this scam across schools because they dangle exam certification and supposedly no abolity to cheat with these (of course, for the parents / student, TI will happily tear them a new one for a device that uses what is still basically a Zilog z80 like a TRS-80 had in 1977 (sure, its turned up in frequency and what not by 3x vs the original z80, but its hilariously basic and wholly not worth the price TI charge) )

 

[rmcrys]

A Ti 84 color costs in my country around 160€ with VAT. The hardware costs at most 15€. In 2026 kids should learn more advanced and practical things, because then they won't touch again these devices in decades. They should use similar programs but on a more advanced hardware (cheaper or as costly), so you can use more advanced educational methods.

 

[Endymio]

... for a device that uses what is still basically a Zilog z80 like a TRS-80 had in 1977 (sure, its turned up in frequency and what not by 3x vs the original z80, but its hilariously basic.

The eZ80 is a 24-bit version of the original Z80. With the more than tripling of frequency, it's about 10X faster than the original. And this new Ti 84 Evo doesn't even use that CPU, but rather an ARM processor.

You're right the bill of materials is still very low, but hey, if you want to save $100 by buying all the components, soldering them together, and writing all the control software, it's always an option.

In terms of raw hardware, there are much better calculators for the price ... but don't discount the time and money TI spends to market these to educators, train educators on their use, provide related coursework, give educator discounts, etc, etc. That's a strong incentive for teachers to standardize on these models, rather than attempting to learn and support dozens of different models.

 

[passwordistaco]

What would you recommend instead for graphing simple quadratic functions? A computer with a matlab subscription?

troll.

HP, Casio, and others make graphing calculators.

My wife took College Algebra a few years ago. It was required to purchase a TI84 graphing calculator, and coincidentally, the book on programming the TI84 written by the instructor. It was not College Algebra, it was a class on programming a piece of hardware that is decades out of date and obsolete.

It's a scam.

 

[Hecate91]

the time and money TI spends to market these to educators, train educators on their use, provide related coursework, give educator discounts, etc, etc. That's a strong incentive for teachers to standardize on these models, rather than attempting to learn and support dozens of different models.

In other words bribing the education sector to only use TI calculators.

There are better alternatives to overpriced TI calculators, as mentioned Desmos being one of them which can run on the powerful computer everyone already carries in their pocket.

 

[Endymio]

In other words bribing the education sector to only use TI calculators.

Why use misleading, loaded language? Spending money to educate teachers on using your products makes good business sense, as does providing them with tools to save them time. Notice that HP and Casio both ALSO give discounts to educators ... they're just not as good at marketing their products.

There are better alternatives to overpriced TI calculators, as mentioned Desmos being one of them which can run on the powerful computer everyone already carries in their pocket.

HP's and Casio both have calculators that are somewhat better, yes -- but they both cost about the same as the TI model. It's not a huge difference.

As for the notion that one can allow an online app to be used to for scored math tests ... I can't even find words to express what a bad idea that is.

 

[passwordistaco]

Why use misleading, loaded language? Spending money to educate teachers on using your products makes good business sense, as does providing them with tools to save them time. Notice that HP and Casio both ALSO give discounts to educators ... they're just not as good at marketing their products.


HP's and Casio both have calculators that are somewhat better, yes -- but they both cost about the same as the TI model. It's not a huge difference.

As for the notion that one can allow an online app to be used to for scored math tests ... I can't even find words to express what a bad idea that is.

"For the small percentage of you that are going to be doing this in the real world, you are not allowed to prepare by learning to use real world tools because that would be cheating.

Instead, everybody is required to buy this overpriced piece of cr@p that is harder to use than any of the other many tools that do the same thing. And which, as soon as you're done with classes, will sit in a drawer until the day you finally throw it away."

The only use for a TI graphing calculator is classes that require a TI graphing calculator.

 

[fadingfool]

We had the Casio GX range back when I was a wee lad. £50 back then was a lot of money just for GCSEs (my 5am 7 day paper round paid £7 a week). Techcalc+ on my phone was £1.50 (there is a free version with ads) and doesn't require online access (faraday cage the exam room if need be). Whilst I like tactile feedback of an actual calculator this looks like the old school uniform scam that meant you had one shop in the local area you had to by the uniform from (at vastly inflated prices). $160 - get them a raspberry pi500 instead.

 

[Endymio]

"For the small percentage of you that are going to be doing this in the real world, you are not allowed to prepare by learning to use real world tools because that would be cheating. Instead, everybody is required to buy this overpriced piece of cr@p that is harder to use than any of the other many tools that do the same thing.

Anyone who takes more than 90 seconds to learn one calculator vs. another isn't going to be using these maths in the real world. And the only calculators that are substantially faster to use are the HP models that have RPN ... which their base models lack anyway.

... And which, as soon as you're done with classes, will sit in a drawer until the day you finally throw it away."

You mean, like 90% of the textbooks you paid thousands of $$ for during college, most of which were selected because they were written by the instructor, or one of his friends?

 

[passwordistaco]

You mean, like 90% of the textbooks you paid thousands of $$ for during college, most of which were selected because they were written by the instructor, or one of his friends?

Yes, one of the other widespread scams in education.