TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Review
At a Glance
Our Verdict
Best for
High school students and those in introductory college courses requiring a reliable, test-approved graphing calculator without the need for a color display or advanced CAS features.
Value
Good
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Overview
The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition is a robust and widely adopted monochrome graphing calculator, serving as a reliable workhorse for high school and introductory college mathematics and science courses. While lacking a color display or rechargeable battery, its extensive functionality, programming capabilities, and widespread acceptance on standardized tests make it a dependable choice for its target audience.
Detailed Review
Key Features
- Monochrome LCD display (96x64 pixels)
- Preloaded with over 200 functions and applications (Apps)
- Flash ROM for software upgrades and additional app storage
- USB port for computer connectivity (TI-Connect software)
- I/O port for unit-to-unit communication
- Supports TI-Basic programming
- Graphing capabilities for functions, parametric, polar, and sequence equations
- Statistical plotting and analysis features
- Matrix operations
- Complex number calculations
- Approved for use on major standardized tests (SAT, ACT, AP, IB)
Reasons to Buy
- Widely accepted on standardized tests (SAT, ACT, AP, IB)
- Extensive functionality for high school and introductory college math/science
- Large community support and abundant online resources/tutorials
- Durable and reliable build quality
- Programming capabilities for custom solutions
- More affordable than newer color-screen models
Reasons to Avoid
- Monochrome display lacks backlighting, poor in low light
- Outdated display technology compared to modern calculators (no color)
- Uses AAA batteries instead of a rechargeable solution
- Bulkier form factor compared to newer models like TI-84 Plus CE
- Slower processing speed for complex tasks compared to advanced models
- No Computer Algebra System (CAS)
Technical Specifications
- display type
- Monochrome LCD
- screen size
- 96 x 64 pixels
- battery type
- 4 x AAA (main), 1 x CR1616 (backup)
- power source
- Battery
- number of functions
- Over 200 built-in functions, expandable via Apps
- programming capability
- yes
- graphing capability
- yes
- CAS
- no
- connectivity
- Mini-USB (computer), I/O port (unit-to-unit)
- dimensions
- Approx. 7.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches (19.05 x 8.89 x 2.54 cm)
- weight
- Approx. 8.5 oz (240g)
- build quality
- Durable plastic casing, standard for TI calculators
At a Glance
Our Verdict
Best for
High school students and those in introductory college courses requiring a reliable, test-approved graphing calculator without the need for a color display or advanced CAS features.
Value
Good
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.