TI-84 vs TI-84 Plus CE
The TI-84 Plus CE is the newer, color-screen version of the classic TI-84 Plus. Both do the same math — but the screen, memory, and battery are very different. Here is the full comparison.
Try both before you buy. Use our free TI-84 style calculator online and see how the keys and graphs work.
Quick Answer: Which One Should You Get?
If you are buying a calculator today, get the TI-84 Plus CE. It has a color screen, more memory, and a rechargeable battery, and it costs about the same as the older model did when it was new. If your school lends you a TI-84 Plus for free, use that one — it does the same math, and the money you save is real.
If you only need a calculator for homework and practice, you may not need to buy either. Our free TI-84 style calculator online does the same graphing work in your browser. Buy the real device only when your class or exam requires a hand-held calculator.
TI-84 vs TI-84 Plus CE: Comparison Table
| Feature | TI-84 Plus | TI-84 Plus CE |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | Black and white, 96 × 64 pixels | Color, 320 × 240 pixels |
| RAM | 24 KB user RAM | 154 KB user RAM |
| Archive memory | 480 KB | 3 MB |
| Processor speed | 15 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Battery | 4 AAA batteries | Rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Weight | About 210 g | About 190 g |
| Thickness | Thicker, older case | Slimmer, lighter case |
| USB | Mini-USB | Mini-USB |
| Exam use | Allowed on ACT, SAT, AP | Allowed on ACT, SAT, AP |
| Price (new, typical) | Often $90–$120 if still sold | About $120–$150 |
Prices change by store and by season. The CE is usually the better buy now, because the older TI-84 Plus is no longer made in large numbers and its price stays high for an old model.
Screen: Color Changes Everything
The biggest difference is the screen. The TI-84 Plus has a black-and-white screen with 96 by 64 pixels. It is small and hard to read in low light. The TI-84 Plus CE has a color screen with 320 by 240 pixels — about ten times as many pixels.
Color matters most when you graph more than one function. On the TI-84 Plus, every curve is black, so you must trace each one to tell them apart. On the CE, each function gets its own color: red, blue, green, and more. You can see at a glance which curve is which. The color screen also makes the menus and the table easier to read, and it shows pictures and graphs in more detail.
If you graph one function at a time, the old screen is fine. If your class graphs three or four functions together — for example, to find intersections — the color screen saves real time and real mistakes.
Memory and Storage
The TI-84 Plus has 24 KB of user RAM and 480 KB of archive space. The TI-84 Plus CE has 154 KB of user RAM and 3 MB of archive space. In plain words, the CE holds far more programs, apps, and data before it runs out of room.
For most school work, 24 KB is enough. You will only feel the limit if you install many apps or large programs. The CE's extra memory is useful if you use apps like PlySmlt2, Cabri Jr, or Inequalz, or if you keep many programs archived. If you ever see ERR:MEMORY on an older model, the fix is to archive or delete programs you are not using — see our guide on how to clear TI-84 memory.
Speed and Battery
The CE is about three times faster than the older TI-84 Plus. You notice this when you graph a complex function or run a program that loops many times. The old model is not slow for normal homework, but the CE feels snappier, and its graphs draw faster.
The battery is a bigger daily difference. The TI-84 Plus uses four AAA batteries. They last a long time, but when they die in class, you need new ones. The CE has a rechargeable battery that you charge with a USB cable, like a phone. It lasts about a month of normal school use on one charge. Over a school year, the rechargeable battery is cheaper and easier.
One tip for both models: change or charge the battery before an exam. A low battery can cause strange errors and lost data at the worst time.
Price and Value
A new TI-84 Plus CE usually costs about $120 to $150. A new TI-84 Plus, when you can still find one, often costs $90 to $120. The price gap is small, and the CE gives you much more for it: a better screen, more memory, a faster chip, and a rechargeable battery.
Used prices are different. A used TI-84 Plus can cost $40 to $70, and it does the same math as the CE. If money is tight, a used TI-84 Plus is a smart buy — just test it first, check the screen for dead pixels, and put in fresh batteries. A used CE costs more, usually $80 to $110.
And remember the free option: our online graphing calculator free does the same graphing work with no cost at all. It is the right choice for homework and practice, and many students never need to buy a device.
Which One for Exams?
Both models are allowed on the ACT, the SAT, and AP exams, as long as the memory is cleared before the test. Neither has a computer algebra system, so both pass the rules. The CE's color screen is a small advantage on test day: when a question shows two graphs, color makes it faster to tell them apart.
One exam tip applies to both: practice on the calculator you will take to the test. If you practice online but take the real device to the exam, the keys will feel different under pressure. Spend at least a week doing homework on the same calculator you will use on test day.
For more on exam rules and the best free tools, see our best graphing calculator guide and our graphing calculator for ACT page.
The Bottom Line
Buy the TI-84 Plus CE if you are buying new. Use the TI-84 Plus if your school gives you one for free. Use a free online TI-84 style calculator if you only need it for homework. The math is the same on all three — what changes is the screen, the memory, and the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
The TI-84 Plus CE is the newer model. It has a color screen, more memory, a faster processor, and a rechargeable battery. The TI-84 Plus has a black-and-white screen, less memory, and runs on AAA batteries. Both do the same math, and both run the same programs.
For most students, yes. The color screen makes graphs much easier to read, especially with several functions at once. The rechargeable battery saves money over time, and the extra memory holds more apps. But if your school already lends you a TI-84 Plus, that model does the same math for free.
Yes. The TI-84 Plus CE is allowed on the ACT, the SAT, and AP exams, as long as its memory is cleared before the test. The older TI-84 Plus is also allowed. Always check the current rules on the official ACT and College Board websites.
Mostly yes. Programs written in TI-BASIC work on both models. Some very old assembly programs do not work on the CE because its hardware is different. If a program fails on the CE, look for a CE version of it.
Yes. Our free online TI-84 style calculator works in your browser with no download and no sign-up. It has the same keys and the same graph screen as the hand-held models, so you can learn and practice before you buy a real calculator.