TI-84 Plus series

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Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox Calculator The TI-84 Plus series is a line of graphing calculators produced by Texas Instruments. They have amassed a significant following for their support of assembly language and TI-BASIC programs, and the original TI-84 Plus was one of the first calculators to have a substantial hobbyist community. As a result, the series boasts a large library of community-created programs and software.

The family was superseded by the TI-84 Plus CE series in 2015; of the original series, only the TI-84 Plus is still in production, the Silver Edition and C Silver Edition having been discontinued that same year. However, they remain popular in the United States, with the TI-84 Plus being issued by schools more than 20 years after its introduction.

Beginning from around 2011, the series has received media attention from technology publications due to hobbyist app releases for the platform, such as an unofficial ChatGPT client, a web browser, and a neural network. In recent years, however, the TI-84 Plus has been increasingly criticized for its antiquated technology and poor value for money, with critics contending that its continued sale is a result of Texas Instruments' calculator monopoly.

Editions

TI-84 Plus

The original TI-84 PlusTemplate:Efn was released in 2004 as an upgrade to the TI-83 Plus.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Together with the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, they are known as the monochromes due to their monochrome displays.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The keyboard layout, program compatibility, and user interface of the TI-84 Plus are identical to that of its predecessor. Despite this, it has significantly improved hardware; its CPU, the Zilog Z80, is 2.5 times as fast as the one in the TI-83 Plus, its display is of a higher contrast, and it has thrice as much flash memory.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> The TI-84 Plus introduced a real-time clock and a mini-USB data transfer port.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The USB port is USB On-The-Go compliant—similar to the TI-Nspire calculator—allowing the TI-84 Plus to connect to, and exchange data with, another calculator; Texas Instruments calls this feature Link Mode.<ref name="guidebook" /> It can also connect to a computer to transfer programs and files using Texas Instruments' proprietary program, TI-Connect.<ref name="connect">Template:Cite web</ref>

An all-white variant of the TI-84 Plus was introduced in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2025, the TI-84 Plus is still in production and issued by schools around the United States; critics argue that the enduring prevalence of the TI-84 Plus—which is considerably less powerful than a smartphone, yet still costs more than some—has hindered innovation in calculator technology and is a result of monopoly, which Texas Instruments exploits by keeping prices at a level roughly twice that of competing calculators.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

TI-84 Plus Silver Edition

File:TI 84 Plus Silver Edition.svg
TI-84 Plus Silver Edition

The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition (SE) was introduced on January 7, 2004 as an upgrade to the TI-83 Plus Silver Edition. It features 24 KB of user-available RAM; the calculator technically has 128 KB—48 KB in newer revisions—but the operating system was never updated to utilize it. It has 1.5 MB of user-accessible ROM, more than three times the 480 KB in the TI-84 Plus. It came preloaded with approximately 30 applications.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>

The Silver Edition has interchangeable faceplates, and new, colored faceplates were available for purchase at Texas Instruments' online store.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was discontinued in 2015, making the TI-84 Plus the only currently produced calculator in the series.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>

TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition

The TI-84 Plus C Silver Edition (C SE) was released in 2013 as the first Z80-based Texas Instruments graphing calculator with a color screen.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref>

It introduced a 320-by-240 pixel color screen, a modified version of the TI-84 Plus's 2.55MP operating system, and a removable 1200 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":8" /> It was praised for its high-resolution color screen, which added new capabilities such as the ability to graph multiple simultaneous functions in different colors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The C Silver Edition would not be Texas Instruments' last foray into color-screen calculators for the student market; the TI-84 Plus CE was introduced—with an upgraded CPU—two years later.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> The C Silver Edition was discontinued a few months after the launch of the CE.<ref name=":4" />

Software

Programs and applications

The TI-84 Plus series supports both programs and applications. Programs are written by the user; some programs, like those written in TI-BASIC, are interpreted during execution and can thus be edited directly on the calculator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Applications (also called Flash applicationsTemplate:Efn) are stored in the calculator's ROM; these tend to be more complex than standard programs, and are usually from Texas Instruments themselves.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Officially, two programming languages are supported: TI-BASIC and Z80 assembly.<ref name=":5" /> However, there are unofficial, community-developed languages—such as the Axe Parser—made specifically for the TI-84 Plus series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The series has a significant hobbyist following, and a wide variety of official and community-made software has been developed for it over the years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These include video games, math programs, educational tools, and graphing software.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In recent years, programmers have created internet-based programs like a ChatGPT client, graphical ray-casting software, a web browser, and a neural network that incorporates primitive artificial intelligence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These developments have attracted the attention of technology publications.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Operating systems

There have been eight operating system releases for the monochrome calculators in the series (which include the TI-84 Plus and the Silver Edition),<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> and two releases for the C Silver Edition.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":8" /> TI-84 Plus series calculators can run custom user interface shells, such as MirageOS and Doors CS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, calculators with an older bootloader can run custom operating systems like KnightOS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Monochrome calculators

Version Release date Release information
2.21 March 2004 First release for the TI-84 Plus series. Added several new TI-BASIC commands.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref>
2.22 August 2004
2.30 December 2004 Added discontinuity detection when graphing asymptotes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also added four new TI-BASIC commands.<ref name=":9" />
2.40 November 2005 Added the Press-To-Test feature, which allows an exam supervisor to temporarily disable the execution of most programs and applications.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2.41 May 2006
2.43 December 2007
2.53MP February 2010 Introduced support for pretty-printing equations, called MathPrint.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2.55MP January 2011 Added two new statistics-related TI-BASIC commands. Final release for the TI-84 Plus and the Silver Edition.<ref name=":9" />

C Silver Edition

Version Release date Release information
4.0 April 2013 First release for the C Silver Edition; not compatible with previous calculators in the series.<ref name=":8" />
4.2 January 2014 Final release for the C Silver Edition.<ref name=":12" />

Linking software

Texas Instruments develops the TI-Connect linking software, which hosts a number of sub-programs (called software tools) to manage TI-84 Plus series calculators.<ref name="connect" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tool Function
ScreenCapture Capture and save a still of a calculator's screen.
DeviceInformation Generate an information report of a calculator, which includes details such as its model, available storage, and installed applications.
DataEditor Modify variables on a calculator, such as numbers, lists, and matrixes.
DeviceExplorer Copy files to and from a calculator, install programs and applications, and create file groups.
OS Downloader Upgrade or downgrade the operating system on a calculator.
Backup/Restore Create and restore complete calculator backups, including RAM, applications, and flash memory.

Texas Instruments' newer program for the TI-84 Plus CE series calculators, TI-Connect CE, is backwards-compatible with the TI-84 Plus series; it can be used in place of TI-Connect.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> TI-Connect is compatible with Windows XP and above,<ref name="connect" /> while TI-Connect CE is compatible with Windows 10 and above.<ref name=":3" />

There are multiple third-party linking programs compatible with the TI-84 Plus series; most were developed for archaic platforms like the Commodore Amiga, the Atari, and MS-DOS, and cannot be run on modern computers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, one of these programs—known as TiLPTemplate:Efn—is more recent and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Technical specifications

Model Processor Flash ROM RAM Display I/O Battery Weight Dimensions Ref.
TI-84 Plus Zilog Z80 6/15 MHz, overclockable to 26 Mhz<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref> 480 KB 29LV800 24 KB Toshiba T6K04, monochrome, 96x64 pixels, 16x8 characters<ref name=":11">Template:Cite web</ref> Mini USB, 96 kbps link port 4x AAA, 1x SR44 35 mA backup 7.4 ounces 7.5 x 3.3 x 0.85 inches <ref name=":5" />
TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Zilog Z80 6/15 MHz, overclockable to 26 Mhz<ref name=":7" /> 1.5 MB 29LV160 128 KB, later decreased to 48 KB. 24 KB user accessible. Toshiba T6K04, monochrome, 96x64 pixels, 16x8 characters<ref name=":11" /> Mini USB, 96 kbps link port 4x AAA, 1x SR44 35 mA backup 7.6 ounces 7.5 x 3.3 x 0.85 inches <ref name=":6" />
TI-84 Plus C Silver Ediiton Zilog Z80 6/15 MHz 3.5MB MX29LV320 21 KB Ilitek ILI9335, color, 320x240 pixels, 140 DPI Mini USB, 96 kbps link port 3.7L1200SP lithium-ion rechargeable 7.4 ounces 7.5 x 3.3 x 0.85 inches <ref name=":8" />

Equipment

Texas Instruments has released a variety of equipment for its graphing calculators. Even though only the Calculator-Based Ranger 2 features a USB port, the TI-84 Plus series can connect to older Texas Instruments equipment using its serial link port.<ref name=":5" /> Since the newer TI-84 Plus CE series does not have this port, it is not compatible with most of this equipment.<ref name=":2" />

ViewScreen

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The ViewScreen is an LCD display panel and projection system that mirrors the display of a calculator; it was first introduced in 1993, and there have been several models since. Unlike most other equipment, it does not use the link port,Template:Efn so it is only compatible with ViewScreen variants of Texas Instruments calculators. However, there is a dongle—the Presentation Link Adapter—that allows a standard TI-84 Plus to connect to a ViewScreen panel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Presenter

The Presenter, introduced in 2003, is an alternative piece of calculator screen display equipment; instead of using a proprietary display panel and overhead projection system like the ViewScreen, the Presenter connects to an existing display device—such as a television or interactive whiteboard—using either an RF modulator or composite video input. Since it uses the same communication protocol as the ViewScreen, it is compatible with both the Presentation Link Adapter and ViewScreen variants of the TI-84 Plus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Calculator-Based Laboratory

The Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL), a general purpose data acquisition unit, was introduced in 1994. It collects information from several types of modular sensors by Vernier, Inc.—at a speed of up to 10,000 data points per second—and sends it to a calculator via link cable, which records and graphs the data. It also features a display and basic firmware of its own for standalone data processing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1999, the CBL was superseded by the CBL 2, which lacked a display for standalone use but introduced flash memory and increased the single-channel sample rate to 50,000 data points per second.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Calculator-Based Ranger

The Calculator-Based Ranger (CBR), introduced in 1997, is, like the CBL, a data acquisition unit, but features a single built-in sonic sensor instead of multiple unique modular ones. It measures distances by emitting and receiving an ultrasonic pulse, and then calculating the distance traveled by performing a speed-of-sound calculation using its microprocessor. It then stores this information in a list—which can contain up to 512 data points—and transfers that to a calculator via link cable.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The CBR was replaced by the CBR 2 in 2004, which added a USB port for faster data transfer with the TI-84 Plus series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Orion Talking Graphing Calculator

The Orion TI-84 Plus Talking Graphing Calculator is an accessory for the TI-84 Plus produced by Texas Instruments in collaboration with Orbit Research and the American Printing House for the Blind. It adds general accessibility features such as speech access to menus and actions and being able to read out the contents of the calculator's display using speech synthesis. It requires a separate rechargeable battery in addition to the lithium-ion batteries normally used in the TI-84 Plus.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Variants

TI-84 Plus EZ-Spot

The TI-84 Plus EZ-Spot series, also known as the School editions and the School Property editions, are variants of TI-84 Plus series calculators produced by Texas Instruments and only made available for schools to purchase.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They have the words "School Property" emblazoned on their faceplate and are accented yellow; this easily distinguishable design was chosen in an effort to prevent theft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition and C Silver Edition also have EZ-Spot variants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

TI-84 Plus Silver Edition VSC

The TI-84 Plus Silver Edition ViewScreen Calculator, also known as the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition VSC, is a variant of the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition intended for educational use.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has a display output that allows it to connect to a ViewScreen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

TI-84 Plus T

The TI-84 Plus T is a variant of the TI-84 Plus; it was introduced in 2015 by Texas Instruments, exclusive to the Netherlands. This variant is similar to the rest of the series, but features an LED to indicate whether or not the calculator is in press-to-test mode. The hardware of the TI-84 Plus T is similar to the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, but the TI-84 Plus T is no longer able to run the assembler.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

TI-84 Pocket.fr and Plus Pocket SE

The TI-84 Pocket.frTemplate:Efn was introduced in 2011 as a miniaturized variant of the TI-84 Plus for the French market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was the first region-specific calculator in the TI-84 Plus series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A year later, the TI-84 Plus Pocket SE was introduced as a miniaturized variant of the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition for the Asian market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

Notes

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References

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