This is a list of our top 5 favorite scientific calculators for 2018-19. Keep in mind that all the calculators on this list are great at what they do and just because one of them is #5 on the list doesn't mean that it's a bad buy. Also keep in mind that you may not wan't to just skip to #1 because even thought it's our favorite, and it's the one we would recommend to most people, it may not be right for everyone.
5. Sharp EL-WS16TBSL >>
The Sharp EL-WS16TBSL, like all of the calculators on this list, can do much more than your basic scientific calculator. This calculator features textbook printing, exact answers and a hand full of other modern calculator features that make it usable in many different situations. This calculator is very capable, however it didn't make it higher on the list because it isn't quite as easy to use as some of the other calculators. This is partly because it simply has too many features and the screen is low resolution which makes it hard to understand what is happening in menus and other places.
Pros
- Lots of features
- Gives exact, simplified answers
- Has a textbook-like display
Cons
- Not as easy to use as other scientific calculators
- Sharp calculators less common than Casio and TI
- Resolution is too low for more advanced apps
- Higher cost
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4. Casio fx-115ES PLUS >>
The Casio fx-115ES PLUS is one of Casio's best selling scientific calculators on Amazon. This calculator is easy to use, especially for people who may already be familiar with Casio calculators. We think the Casio fx-115ES PLUS is most likely better than the sharp, for a middle school student, because it doesn't have some of the (somewhat unnecessary) more advanced features that may cause confusion as seen on the Sharp above. This calculator also gives answers in simplified, fractional, and radical form.
Pros
- Pretty easy to use
- Less confusing features than the Sharp EL-WS16TBSL
- Gives exact simplified answers
- Has textbook-like display
- Low price (best bang for your buck)
Cons
- Casio is less widely used
- Not quite as intuitive as some of the next calculators on the list.
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3. Casio fx-991EX (ClassWiz) >>
The Casio ClassWiz is very similar to the Casio fx-115ES PLUS above, but it has a few more features and a higher resolution screen. The extra features provide more functionality and will make the calculator usable for a math student longer. That being said, the extra features could also cause confusion and make the calculator less user friendly. One thing that makes them more bearable though, is the Casio's higher resolution screen. The ClassWiz has about 4X as many pixels as the other calculators on this list. This means that there will be less confusion abbreviations in menus and other places. This calculator also gives answers in exact, simplified form with a textbook display.
Pros
- Includes more advanced features (Could make it less user friendly)
- Higher resolution
- Has an interesting way to view graphs, (See full review link below)
- Gives exact simplified answers
- Has Textbook-like display
Cons
- May be too advanced for lower level math students
- Casio is less widely used
- Higher price
Check Out Full Review >>
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2. TI-36x Pro >>
The TI-36X Pro is Texas Instruments' most advanced scientific calculator in terms of features and capabilities. Texas Instruments is the leading calculator brand for good reason. Most of Texas Instruments' calculators are intuitive and easy and easy to use, and the TI-36X Pro is no exception. The usability of and wide use of TI calculators makes them great for students. This calculator however is not #1 on the list because the number of features slightly takes away from the usability. It may not be the perfect choice for a middle school, or lower level math student for this reason.
Pros
- Pretty easy to use
- Widely used operating system
- TI's most advanced scientific calculator
- Gives Exact simplified answers
- Has Textbook-like display
- Comparatively low price
Cons
- Possibly too many features for some users
- Slightly more expensive than #1 on the list
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1. TI-30XS >>
The TI-30XS MultiView is #1 on our list because we think that it would be right for the largest number of people, especially middle school students. This calculator has an extremely simple and intuitive operating system. It includes all of the things that you need (like fraction templates and exact answers) and excludes all of the things that you don't (like apps for polynomials). This calculator is also TI's best selling scientific calculator on Amazon. And finally on top of all that it has the 2nd lowest price of all the calculators on this list.
Pros
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Widely used
- Gives exact answers
- Has a textbook-like display
Cons
- Less features than some other scientific calculators on this list
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See Next...
Scientific Calculator Reviews >>
Graphing Calculator Reviews >>
The top 5 graphing calculators for 2018 with detailed reviews >>
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