NumWorks Graphing Calculator

I ended up switching to this from the awful and overpriced calculator recommended by most UK schools (since for some reason the company beginning with "C" and ending with "asio" has a monopoly on calculators). Anyway, the NumWorks is one of the few well-featured calculators with an intuitive UI, and the only open-source exam calculator. It worked perfectly for my A-levels (it has all required features + exam mode + it behaves as expected). Also a decent price compared to competitors. There's even a free app and an online version if you'd like to test the UI first (and to use as your default phone calculator of couse!). maaaaaaaaath ♥

As a long-time user of graphing calculators and teacher of maths at IB Higher level/AP/A-level I can say without doubt that this is the best calculator for any pre-university maths course. I own and use Ti 84s, Ti Nspires, Casio FX-CG50s and have used the HP Prime in emulator form, and finding this calculator has been a breath of fresh air. It is so much easier to pick up and learn to use, more powerful, more flexible, and overall better thought out than the exam board accepted alternatives. It's lightning fast and significantly cheaper than the Ti/Casio/HP alternatives. Best of all you can try before you buy! There is a free emulator app that you can use on your phone, iPad, or computer. I used it for a good year and a half on my phone before I bought the physical calculator as I could no longer justify being a bad example to my students and constantly getting my phone out in class. If you need a graphing calculator for your maths course then get this one. You'll save at least £30 on the competition and find your life easier. If you currently are using an alternative and possibly finding it tricky to learn (looking at you Ti 84, looking at you...) then download the app to your phone or tablet, and try it for free. Be warned, however, if you do then you will want to purchase a physical copy as it is that much better that you'll end up addicted. The only negative that I can think of to offer in the way of balance is that if you are a student then your teacher is less likely to be familiar with it to help you as it is the new kid on the block. To this I always say Google is your friend, and the online tutorials and help pages are easy to find and follow (again, those of you with Ti's will know that this is a refreshing change).

This must be one of the most powerful but thinnest and smallest graphing calculators! Performing better than the Ti-Nspire CX II, GC50 and only slightly below the HP Prime, the super intuitive interface and minimalist design makes it the best option for any exam! (allowed for IB and A Level etc) Not to say the amazing value at £89! Only missing a CAS (which has been removed in recent updates and can only be added by a custom OS), and also I can’t not mention the controversy of Numworks locking down custom OS flashing both on software and hardware with the new versions…

This probably has Casio, TI, HP etc. very worried, because it's cheaper, better designed hardware and software, including a clean/fresh look, and will probably continue to add more functionality, via firmware updates, until it more than matches the tired old products from the incumbents. I like that this calculator has easy copy and paste, remembers what you were doing in each of the menu sections, is instant on/off, and has a built-in rechargeable battery. It astonishes me that any graphics calculator still uses disposal batteries, given the short battery life! This may replace all school calculators, not just graphical ones, especially given Casio's WT* idiotic design in recent scientific calculator models! Such limited calculators will continue to be needed until someone produces a far more powerful, approved, mobile-phone-sized like tablet, with no wireless connectivity, which you can sideload existing, approved apps, into it via USB file transfer, and educators/exam-boards recognise that such further revolution needs support. This calculator could be seen as a precursor to that.

Literally the best calculator I’ve ever used, had it for the past 3 years in uni studying engineering and it’s been a life saver

Well worth the money, my son couldn't have been without it for his GCSE and A Levels

I am a big nostalgic of my TI 92... but at the same time I was not very proud to see that teenagers still use the same repackaged calculator 20 years later! That new calculator is a refreshing change! Thin, light, and with such an easy to use interface. I remember the user guide of my Ti 92, thick as a dictionary. I didn't even bother looking for one, finally a calculator with a user experience of the iPhone era, not from the 80s when the best was the Commodore 64... And this is really a modern device: color screen, rechargeable battery, stunning graph display. And, cherry on the cake, it's an open source device: using the provided USB cable I could very quickly update my device - and they already had built a Python app! Last but not least, it comes with a free simulator on the manufacturer's website which is very cool. So happy to recommend this to all the teenagers and looking forward to a new generation of coders who will have learnt to program on their calculator using Python and ASM or TI-Basic!

Intuitive Design and Powerful