Calculator emulators
A calculator is typically a portable electronic device used to perform calculations, ranging from basic arithmetic to complex mathematics.
The first solid-state electronic calculator was created in the early 1960s. Pocket-sized devices became available in the 1970s when microprocessors were first developed.
Computer operating systems as far back as early Unix have included interactive calculator programs such as dc and hoc, and calculator functions are included in almost all personal digital assistant (PDA) type devices, the exceptions being a few dedicated address book and dictionary devices.
In addition to general purpose calculators, there are those designed for specific markets. For example, there are scientific calculators which include trigonometric and statistical calculations. Some calculators even have the ability to do computer algebra. Graphing calculators can be used to graph functions defined on the real line, or higher-dimensional Euclidean space. Basic and scientific calculators are cheaper than graphing models.
Even gaming is possible on some TI models, the TI-83 is an example and it can run Pong, Tetris and Doom. The newer model TI-Nspire is the most powerful and it can run 3D graphics and emulators.
Contents
Texas Instruments
TI-83 / TI-84 series
Generations of TI-83/84 hardware
There are actually 3 generations of TI-83/84 hardware, despite all of them being categorized under the same TI-83/84 model number. Notice that assembly programs written for one generation won't be able to run on a TI-83/84 with another generation of hardware.
- Monochrome Z80: Featuring Zilog Z80 microprocessor, monochrome LCD, and AAA batteries. Including TI-83/84 Plus (Sliver Edition) and all their variations such as TI-83 Plus.fr, TI-84 Plus Pocket etc.
- Color Z80: Featuring Zilog Z80 microprocessor but with color LCD and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. There is only one model in this generation: TI-84 Plus C Sliver Edition.
- eZ80: Featuring Zilog eZ80 microprocessor with color LCD and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Including TI-83 Premium CE (Python Edition) and TI-84 CE (Python Edition).
| Name | Platform(s) | Version | Monochrome Z80 | Color Z80 | eZ80 | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabbitemu[M 1] |   
|
git | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CEmu | 
|
git | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| jsTIfied | 
|
✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✓ | |
| TI-SmartView |
|
1.1.0 4.0.0.x |
✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ? | ✓ |
| TI-SmartView CE |
|
5.6 | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TI-84 Mode |  [M 2]
|
✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
TI-89 series
| Name | Platform(s) | Version | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TiEmu |
|
3.03 macOS |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| TI-89 Online Simulator |
|
? | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Graph 89[N 1] |
|
1.1.3c | ? | ✗ | ✓ |
| Virtual TI-89 | 
|
2.5 beta 5 | ✗ | ✗ | ? |
- ↑ Also supports emulation for other Motorola 68000 based calculators including TI-92(II/+) and Voyage 200.
TI-Nspire series
| Name | Platform(s) | Version | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firebird | 
|
git | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TI-Nspire™ CX CAS Student Software |
|
5.3.2 | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| kArmTI |
|
1.81 | ✗ | ✗ | ~ |
| nspire_emu |
|
0.70 | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
Hewlett-Packard
monochrome graphic models
HP monochrome graphic calculators are a big family of products sharing similarities while each product has its unique features.
Older models run on in-house developed 4-bit "Saturn" processors. Newer models have an unusual practice that emulates the Saturn processor via an ARM processor, so technically speaking those calculator models are actually emulation boxes.
| Name | Platform(s) | Version | Emulates | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emu48 |    [Q 1]
|
1.64 [Q 2] | 38G, 39G, 40G, 48S, 48SX, 48G, 48G+, 48GX, 49G, 39g+, 39gs, 40gs, 48gII, 49g+, 50g | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emu28 |
|
1.35 | 18C, 28C | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Droid48 |
|
1.72 | 48G, 48S | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Power48 | 
|
1.0.0/1.5.1 | 48SX, 48GX, 49G | ✓ | ✗ | ~ |
| PSPX48 | 
|
1.0.5 | 48G | ✓ | ✗ | ~ |
| m48 [Q 3] |
|
2020/06/06 | 38G, 39G, 40G, 48SX, 48GX, 49G | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Alucin | 
|
1.1 | 48G, 48S | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| NeXTStep EM48 | 
|
1999/12/14 | 48SX | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| saturn |  
|
4.1.1.1 | 40G, 48GX, 49G | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
HP Prime
HP Prime is HP's new flagship product of graphic calculators, featuring a multipoint color touchscreen, 400 MHz ARM processor, and a much-improved computer algebra system.
| Name | Platform(s) | Version | FLOSS | Free To Use | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP Prime Virtual Calculator Emulator |
|
2.1.1.14596[P 1] | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HP Prime Graphing Calculator App | 
|
2.1.14584 | ✗ | ~[P 2] | ✓ | ✓ |
scientific and financial models
Just like monochrome graphic calculators, HP scientific and financial calculators are also a big family of products sharing similarities while each product has its unique features (besides HP SmartCalc series which are basically just ripoffs of Casio Natural-V.P.A.M. series calculators). Older models run on in-house developed 4-bit "Nut" processors. Some newer models have an unusual practice (especially for scientific calculators) that emulates the Nut processor via an ARM processor so technically speaking those calculator models are actually emulation boxes, while some other models use ASICs as their kernel.
| Name | Platform(s) | Version | Emulates | FLOSS | Active | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emu42 |
|
1.27 [R 1] | 10B, 14B, 17B, 17BII, 20S, 21S, 22S, 27S, 32S, 32SII, 42S, 19BII, 28S | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free42 |
|
3.0.7 [R 2] | 42S | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HP SmartCalc 300s Emulator |
|
2012.11.29 Build 19029[R 3] | SmartCalc 300s | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| WP-34s emulator |
|
3.3 | WP-34s | ✓ | ? | ✓ |
| awp34s |
|
0.0.6 | WP-34s | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WP34S-4NS |
|
WP-34s | ✓ | ✗ | ~ [R 4] | |
| HP 12C Emulator (Offical) |
|
2012/11/29 | 12C | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| HP 12C Financial Calculator |
|
? | 12C Platinum Edition | ✗ [R 5] | ✓ | ~ |
| HP 12C Emulator |
|
1.0 | 12C | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
- ↑ Platforms besides Windows and Android are no longer maintained so their versions could be left way behind.
- ↑ Windows Mobile and PalmOS versions are no longer maintained so their versions could be left way behind.
- ↑ Offical download portal is not available for individuals, only for signed up educators.
- ↑ Despite the emulator itself being full-functional and bugs free, it's more for proof of concept and nostalgia as TI-Nspire, the host machine it runs on, is also a powerful calculator.
- ↑ Not Free to use.
Casio
Most of the Casio graphic calculators run on 32-bit Hitachi SuperH-3/4 processors, while scientific, programmable and financial models run on ASICs.
Unfortunately, there aren't community-driven, open-sourced emulators for Casio calculators yet. You can still get official emulators at the following site:
