The TI-84 Evo is the 2026 update to the TI-84 Plus CE. It runs about three times faster, gives graphs 50 percent more room, adds an icon home screen and built in Python, and charges over USB-C. Both are approved for the SAT, ACT, AP, and IB. If you already own a Plus CE, you do not need to upgrade.
TI-84 Evo vs TI-84 Plus CE specs
Texas Instruments released the TI-84 Evo on April 28, 2026. This table puts the published specs side by side.
| Feature | TI-84 Plus CE | TI-84 Evo |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 48 MHz | 156 MHz, about 3 times faster |
| Screen | 320 by 240 pixels, 2.8 inch, 16-bit color, backlit | 320 by 240 pixels, 2.8 inch, 16-bit color |
| Graphing area | Standard | 50 percent larger |
| Memory | 3 MB flash and 149 KB free RAM | 3.5 MB user available memory |
| Battery | Rechargeable TI battery | Rechargeable TI battery |
| Port | Mini-B USB | USB-C |
| Home screen | Text menus | Icon based home screen with a status bar that shows hints |
| Programming | TI-Basic, with Python on the separate Python edition | TI-Basic and Python built in |
| Exam approval | SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP, IB | SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP, IB |
The screen itself did not change. Both use the same 320 by 240 color display. The Evo gets its extra graphing room by giving the graph more of that screen, not by adding pixels.
What is new on the TI-84 Evo
The Evo's changes fall into three groups: speed, the way you find tools, and the graphing features.
Speed
The 156 MHz processor is roughly three times faster than the 48 MHz chip in the Plus CE. You notice it most on slow tasks, such as graphing several functions, running long programs, or finding intersections, which Texas Instruments says the Evo does faster.
Menus and keypad
The Evo opens to an icon based home screen that puts the most used math tools in plain view. Texas Instruments describes a simplified keypad and reorganized menus, plus a status bar that shows hints about what to press next.
That redesign is the one real tradeoff. Many button sequences taught in class, and on most websites, were written for the Plus CE. Some of them land in different places on the Evo, so check your teacher's steps against the Evo screen.
Graphing features
- Points of Interest Trace marks zeros, minimums, maximums, y-intercepts, and intersections as you trace.
- Up to sixteen inequalities can be graphed at once.
- A redesigned Lines and Conics app.
- About 50 percent more of the screen goes to the graph itself.
Python and charging
Python is built into every Evo, so you no longer need a special edition to code. The USB-C port matches most phones and laptops, which makes a lost cable easy to replace.
Texas Instruments also includes a four-year license for its online calculator with retail purchases of the Evo.
What stays the same
For most students, the Evo works like the calculator they already know. These parts did not change.
- The same 320 by 240 color screen and a rechargeable battery.
- TI-Basic programming, so the programs you write for one can be adapted for the other.
- No CAS. Neither model solves equations with letters, which is why both are allowed on the SAT and ACT.
- Approval for the SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP, and IB, as listed by Texas Instruments.
For the exact rules on each test, use the exam calculator checker, which is built from the official College Board and ACT policies.
Should you buy the Evo or the Plus CE?
Buy the Evo if you are getting your first graphing calculator and will use it for several years. It is faster, it includes Python, and it is the model that new features will target.
Keep your Plus CE if you already have one. It does every calculation that high school and intro college math needs, it is approved on the same exams, and a new calculator will not raise a test score.
Think about the Plus CE if your teacher teaches exact button presses from the front of the room on a Plus CE. Matching your teacher's calculator makes notes easier to follow. The calculator buying guide walks through these choices with a short quiz.
The Evo's list price is about $160, and stores have sold it for less during back to school sales. Compare current prices before you buy, since both models go on sale often.
Try TI-84 math before you buy
You can practice TI-84 math right now on the free TI-84 calculator online. It follows the Plus CE keypad and menus. Its Evo setting gives graphs the full screen, the way the Evo enlarges its graphing area, but it does not copy the Evo's new icon menus.
For graphing practice on a bigger screen, the online graphing calculator lists zeros, minimums, and intersections in one click, which is close to what Points of Interest Trace does on the Evo.
FAQ
Is the TI-84 Evo worth it?
It is worth it if you are buying your first graphing calculator. You get three times the speed, built in Python, USB-C, and a larger graphing area. It is not worth replacing a working TI-84 Plus CE, since both handle the same courses and are approved for the same exams.
When did the TI-84 Evo come out?
Texas Instruments launched the TI-84 Evo on April 28, 2026, and called it the most advanced TI-84 it has built. It arrived in time for the 2026 to 2027 school year. The TI-84 Plus CE, released years earlier, is still sold alongside it.
Is the TI-84 Evo allowed on the SAT?
Yes. The SAT allows graphing calculators without CAS, and the TI-84 Evo has no CAS. Texas Instruments lists it as approved for the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, ACT, IB, and AP exams. The College Board's banned list names CAS models such as the TI-Nspire CAS, not the Evo.
Does the TI-84 Evo have Python?
Yes. Python programming is built into every TI-84 Evo, alongside TI-Basic. On the older line you needed the separate TI-84 Plus CE Python edition to get it. That makes the Evo a good fit for students who also take a coding or computer science class.
How much does the TI-84 Evo cost?
The list price is about $160. Office supply stores and online sellers have offered it for less during sales, especially before the school year. Retail purchases include a four-year license for the Texas Instruments online calculator, which adds value if you study on a laptop too.
Is the TI-84 Evo better than the TI-84 Plus CE?
It is faster and has more features, including Python, USB-C, and Points of Interest Trace. It is not more accurate, and it does not handle harder math, since neither has CAS. For a new buyer the Evo is the stronger pick. For a current Plus CE owner the difference rarely matters.