Past a certain level in your education, there will come a time when a scientific calculator alone won’t be enough to get you through your course work. As your math/engineering courses become more advanced, you will need a graphing calculator to tackle your course work’s increasing complexity.

A graphing calculator is a portable computer designed to display and plot graphs, solve simultaneous equations and perform a multitude of other tasks that include variables. An excellent graphing calculator is also programmable, which allows you to create your customized programs for engineering applications.

Picking out a capable graphing calculator can be confusing because there are hundreds to choose from. However, there are always a select few devices in any industry that is the most sought after. To figure out which graphing calculators people trust and buy the most, I have curated a list of top 10 graphing calculators.

10. Texas Instruments TI-89 Titanium CAS Graphing Calculator

The first graphing calculator on our list comes from Texas Instruments, the leading graphing calculator company in the world. Their TI-89 Titanium was first released in 2004 and improved over their ultimate calculator when released way back in 1998.

The titanium version of TI-89 solved many problems of its predecessor and is still regarded as one the best graphing calculators to ever exist. It has a powerful CAS system and is perfect for high-school and college students taking calculus and above.

It is completely capable of solving complex algebra and trigonometry expressions as well as plot graphs. However, since this calculator is more than two decades old, it doesn’t hold up very well when it comes to technical specifications. Still, if you are not too concerned about a color display and other flashy features, then this calculator can be a great value as it is very cheap compared to modern offerings.

Key Features:

• Monochrome 100×160 pixel display.
• About 188 K bytes of user-available RAM
• About 2.7 MB of user-available Flash ROM for data archive and apps
• USB port for computer connectivity, unit-to-unit communication with TI-89 Titanium graphing calculators via Presentation Link adapter.
• Included apps: CellSheet, EE*Pro®, Finance, NoteFolio, Organizer, Polynomial Root Finder, Simultaneous Equation Solver, StudyCards, Symbolic Math Guide.
• Over 100 symbolic units in 28 categories for use in equations, computations, and unit conversions.
• Twenty stored constants with symbolic units for scientific calculations.
• Up to 99 graphing equations defined and saved for each graphing mode
• Powered by four AAA batteries with a silver oxide battery backup to protect RAM during main battery change

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Read the complete list of functions and specs here.

9. Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator

If you want something simple that isn’t flashy but gets the job done, then this Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus is the calculator. It doesn’t have a color display. It doesn’t have a rechargeable battery. It doesn’t have the fastest processor or the highest ram, but it has a decades-old reputation for durability and reliability. This graphing calculator has been in use for so long that it is pretty much an industry veteran.

It has a monochrome LCD that can display 8×16 lines at once. It has 160KB ROM and 24KB RAM. The technical specifications are nothing to write home about by today’s standard. Still, because you can get this calculator very cheap in today’s market, its value cannot be beaten if all you need it for is algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. It graphs 10 rectangular functions, six parametric expressions, six polar expressions, and three recursively defined sequences.

Key Features:

• Monochrome 8×16 line display
• 160 KB ROM and 24KB RAM
• Real and complex numbers calculated to 14-digit accuracy and displayed with 10 digits plus a two-digit exponent
• Up to 10 graphing functions defined, saved, graphed, and analyzed at one time
• Sequence graphing mode shows time series plot, cobweb/stair-step plot, and phase plots
• Interactive analysis of function values, roots, maximums, minimums, integrals, and derivatives
• Horizontal and vertical split-screen options
• Powered by four AAA batteries with a lithium battery backup to protect RAM during main battery change

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Read the complete list of functions and specs here.

8. Casio fx-9750GIII Black Graphing Calculator

The Casio FX-9750GIII is an industry classic when it comes to graphing calculators. It comes in black, pink, and white colors. It features a dot-matrix display with a resolution of 128×64. The LCD size is 2.63 inches.

This Casio can tackle pretty much any trigonometry, algebra, or calculus problem you can throw at it. Moreover, it won’t be much of a graphing calculator if it couldn’t plot graphs, which is why it has graphing functionality. You can plot all the different graphs, including X=f(y) graph, inequality graph, composite function graph, etc. It can’t, however, do any 3D graphics due to its dot-matrix limitation.

Key Features:

• High-Resolution dot-matrix LCD Display.
• Battery-powered Lasts approx. 230 hours.
• 3MB Flash memory.
• Can display stacked fractions.
• Spreadsheet functionality
• Connect to PC via USB for file sharing
• Quick Pie Charts and Bar Graphs
• AP Statistics features

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Read the complete technical specifications pdf here.

7. HP G8X92AA LA PRIME V2 GRAPHING CALCULATOR

You have probably heard of HP as that company that makes laptops. There was a time when HP was also famous for their Palmtop devices, but those went out of fashion due to the modern smartphone’s advent right around 2010.

I was surprised to find out that HP also once made a graphing calculator that did very well and is bought and used to this day. The HP LA Prime is the only touch-screen full-color TFT graphing calculator on this list. The size of the display is also pretty decent at 3.5-inches with a resolution of 320×240 pixels.

Looks-wise I have to say I quite like the spacious feel of the keypad. Unlike most graphing calculators, the keys are not cramped up. There are no key labels on the body itself, which is always a plus for me.

As far as functionality is concerned, this graphing calculator does everything that any other calculator on this list does; however, the only possible downside if you can call it that, is the steep learning curve involved in learning the operation of this calculator.

Key Features:

• 3.5-inches 320×240 pixels multi-touch color display.
• Supports Engineering; Computer science; Surveying; Trigonometry; Statistics; Geometry; Biology; Chemistry; Physics.
• 2-D Function, Polar, Parametric Plot; Differential Equation, Bar Plot; Histogram, Scatter Plot; Find: Intersect, Extremum, Slope, Area; Zoom, Trace.
• 32 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM
• Pinch-to-zoom feature
• Adjustable font sizes to suit user preference.
• Rechargeable battery.
• Store equations and solve for variables with HP Solve.
• Optional Wi-Fi capability.

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Read the complete list of specs from here.

6. CASIO PRIZM FX-CG50 Color Graphing Calculator

The Casio PRIZM FX-CG50 is a color graphing calculator. It features all the previous Casio calculators’ functionality on this list with the addition of 3D graphing capability, thanks to its 65,000 colors. It has big numeric keys. However, I am not a fan of Casio’s use of yellow key labels, which are hard to read over a black body.

This Casio has a resolution of 216×384, which is considered decent amongst color graphing calculators. It has backlighting as opposed to the previous entry on this list. It can display and plot a variety of different graphs, including 3D.

Key Features:

• High-Resolution LCD Display is capable of 65,000 colors.
• Natural textbook display.
• Picture plot technology.
• 3D graphing capability.
• Built-in conic sections.
• 16MB ROM.
• Fully programmable.
• Password Protection
• PC connectivity via USB
• Solve equations with integral, differential, and probability functions

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Read the complete list of technical specifications here.

5. Casio fx-9860GII Graphing Calculator, Black

The Casio FX-9860GII is an iconic device that has passed the test of time. It is highly durable and reliable and features a black and white display. If you are not looking to plot 3D graphs and want a dedicated all-around device that will last you a lifetime, then go ahead and get this one.

Most monochrome calculators lack backlighting, which can hinder your usage in a poorly-lit environment; however, this Casio features a backlight, which is very convenient. Other than that, you can perform all the various tasks on it that you’d expect from a graphing calculator. It can create and show spreadsheets, plot graphs, perform numerous trigonometry, algebra, and calculus functions.

Key Features:

• 128×64 Monochrome LCD Display
• Backlight
• 1500KB Flash ROM
• Spreadsheet capabilities
• Icon-based menu for easy navigation.
• PC connectivity via USB
• Parametric function graphing, Inequality graphing
• Dynamic graph
• Conic section graph
• Recursion graph

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Read the complete list of specifications here.

4. NumWorks Graphing Calculator

This is the only calculator, besides HP Prime, on this list, not from either Casio or Texas Instruments. NumWorks is a relatively new company for graphing calculators, and I was surprised to see over 2500 amazon ratings for this one.

At a glance, this neat little calculator seems very simple and eye-catching with its all-white color. It looks very different from the usual suspects in this industry. It has a clutter-free keyboard that looks nice. There are no key labels on the body itself. This is by far the most elegant looking calculator I have ever seen.

As for functionality, it is capable of almost any sort of calculation or graph equation you can throw at it. The 2.8-inch color LCD can display over 260,000 colors, which makes 3D graphing a breeze. It has a 216 MHz ARMv7 processor, which is honestly one of the fastest I have seen on a calculator.

Moreover, if you want to get into programming, you can code in Python on this calculator!

Key Features:

• 2.8 Inch 320×240 pixels LCD Display capable of 262,144 colors.
• 8MB ROM.
• 256KB RAM.
• It has an integrated rechargeable 1450 mAh battery that lasts 20 hours on a full charge.
• Code in Python
• Capable of probability, fractions, roots, trigonometry, statistics, etc.
• Perform statistical computations on two-dimensional data sets.
• Can store numbers, matrices, or functions in variables for calculations.
• Plot recursive and explicit sequences.

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Read the complete list of technical specifications from here.

3. Casio FX-CG10 PRIZM Color Graphing Calculator

This Casio calculator is very different from typical Casio calculators. It has a non-rectangular shape and a d-pad that is not centered. The keypad has that old mobile-keypad type feel as there is no spacing in-between. Moreover, it has a color display, which is always a nice feature in a graphing calculator.

The display size on this calculator is 3.7 inches, one of the biggest I have seen on a graphing calculator. This enables users to view multiple equations at once and plot more detailed graphs. It would have been nice if it came with a built-in rechargeable battery, but sadly you’d have to use 4 AAA batteries.

Key Features:

• 3.7-inch color LCD at 384×216 resolution and 65,000 colors.
• Create graphs over pictures of real-life scenes.
• Capable of color-link and conditional formatting for graphs, charts, and spreadsheet formatting.
• 16MB ROM.
• PC connectivity via USB.
• 3D graph capability.
• Can plot Recursion, conic, dynamic graphs.
• Capable of displaying spreadsheets, tables, matrices.

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Read the complete list of specs and functions here.

2. Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX II CAS Color Graphing Calculator

The Texas Instruments TI-Nspire CX II CAS is one of the industry favorites. Texas Instruments is a world-renowned brand of scientific and graphing calculators and has hundreds of different devices under its name. Their only real competitor in the market is Casio.

This graphing calculator features a 3.5-inch 320×240 pixels color display. It has a rechargeable battery included in the box, which you rarely see in a Casio calculator. It can last up to 2 weeks on a full charge, which is impressive.

Users can select from up to 15 colors for their graphs with six different graph styles. As for functionality, this calculator leaves nothing to be desired; it can plot 3D graphs, display tables, and spreadsheets, display multiple equations at once, and much more.

Key Features:

• 3.5-inch 320×240 pixels color display.
• Rechargeable battery included, lasts up to 2 weeks on a full charge.
• Includes the TI-Inspire CX Student Software delivering enhanced graphing capabilities and other functionality.
• PC connectivity via USB Port.
• 90MB of storage memory.
• 64MB of operating memory.
• Function, parametric, polar, sequence, and 3D graphing.
• Multiple graphing functions can be defined, saved, graphed, and analyzed at one time.
• User-defined list names in Lists & Spreadsheet.
• Numeric evaluations in table format for all graphing modes
• Advanced statistics analysis, including 10 hypothesis testing functions.

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Read the complete list of technical specs and functions here.

1. Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus CE Color Graphing Calculator

With over 16,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, the Texas Instruments TI-84 has rightfully won the #1 Best Seller badge. It features a robust plastic construction that is both durable and lightweight. It has a 2.8-inch color display with a resolution of 320×240 pixels. It comes with a rechargeable TI battery.

As for functionality, the complete list is a bit too long to go over, but it can do anything that you want when it comes to plotting graphs, both 3D and 2D. It can show multiple linear equations at once, has a detailed menu, and boasts a feature-rich UI.

Key Features:

• 2.8-inch color display with a resolution of 320×240 pixels.
• Rechargeable battery included.
• PC connectivity via USB Port.
• Impact-resistant slide case.
• 3 MB FLASH ROM memory for data archive and storage of apps.
• 154 KB of available RAM.
• Fifteen colors for function graphing.
• Add images to graph background.
• Real and complex numbers are calculated to 14-digit accuracy and displayed with 10 digits plus a two-digit exponent.
• Up to 10 graphing functions defined, saved, graphed, and analyzed at one time.
• Eight different graph styles for differentiating the look of each graph drawn.
• Stores up to 10 20×20 matrices.
• Matrix operations including inverse, determinant, transpose, augment, reduced row echelon form, and elementary row operations; convert matrices to lists and vice-versa.

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Read the complete list of specs and functions here.