Most of those people who are looking to buy a graphing calculator are on a budget. The most popular models are the TI-83 and TI-84 but the upgraded version, the TI-84 Plus is definitely a superior product, however the price can be prohibitive for a lot of students. Before you’re tempted to buy a used product, take note of the “heads-up” below – it may end up costing you more than a brand new model.

The TI 83 and TI 84 are very similar, but the TI 84 Plus does have a lot of functions added which are not part of the older models. The 84 looks slightly different in that it’s curved and its keys are smaller, except for the numeric keypad. The TI 84 also has a clock, which is a new addition.

The TI-84 is a lot faster than the TI 83 and has three times its memory capacity. Although you can still get the job done using the 83, and certainly if you’re on a tight budget and the TI83 is cheaper, it will be sufficient, if you’re able to find the TI-84 Plus for a good price, it’s well worth getting that upgraded version of this graphing calculator.

A word of warning: It’s worth buying a brand new graphing calculator from a reputable dealer to make sure that if there are any problems, you’re covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. If you buy a second hand product, the warranty will not be valid; and if you buy a new one from a retailer not based in America, your warranty may be invalid.

Weirdly enough I’ve found the TI-84 Plus for less than the TI-83 – brand new and from a reputable dealer based in the USA. I’ve been keeping an eye on the prices for these calculators for a while now and there’s been a big gap between the 83 and the 84 with the TI 84 Plus being a lot more expensive than the TI-83. However, just now, there has definitely been a switch and it seems you’d need to pay more for the privilege of using an outdated, older model than you would to use the upgraded version!

It used to also be cheaper to buy used graphing calculators, but it seems that, considering the prices of brand new ones have dropped dramatically recently, combined with the fact that you’re only covered by the warranty if you buy a new one, it’d definitely worth buying a brand new TI-84 Plus for less than the TI-83 or a used one.