TI-84 Plus CE Calculator Online
Use a free TI-84 Plus CE emulator with the same color screen, keys and menus as the real calculator. Graph in color, run statistics and practice for test day without spending over $100 on a new one.
What Is the TI-84 Plus CE?
The TI-84 Plus CE is the color version of the TI-84 Plus, the graphing calculator most U.S. high schools use. “CE” stands for Color Edition. It has a backlit, full-color screen, a rechargeable battery and a thinner body, but the keys and menus are almost the same as the older black-and-white model.
The calculator on this page is a TI-84 Plus CE emulator, so what you see here is what you’ll see on the handheld. It’s the same calculator we use on our TI-84 calculator online page. This page focuses on what’s special about the CE: color graphs, the grid and the shortcut menus.
What Makes the TI-84 Plus CE Different?
If you’ve used the black-and-white TI-84 Plus, these are the changes you’ll notice first.
Full-color, backlit screen: Easier to read than the old gray screen, even in a dark room, with sharper text and graphs.
A different color for each graph: When you graph two or three functions, each one gets its own color, so you can tell them apart at a glance.
Rechargeable battery: The handheld CE charges with a USB cable, so you’re not buying AAA batteries every few months.
Thinner and lighter: It slides into a backpack pocket more easily than the older, chunkier TI-84 Plus.
Shortcut menus: ALPHA plus a top-row key opens quick menus for fractions, functions, matrices and Y-variables, so you dig through fewer screens.
A Python edition: The TI-84 Plus CE Python adds Python coding on the handheld. The math, graphing and stats work the same as the regular CE.
How to Use the TI-84 Plus CE Calculator Online
Click or tap the keys on the calculator above. These six steps cover the CE features students ask about most. For basic math, tables and fractions, see the full guide on our TI-84 calculator online page.
STEP 1
Get Comfortable With the Keys
Blue labels above the keys need 2nd first, and green letters need ALPHA first. CLEAR wipes the line, and 2nd + MODE (QUIT) takes you back to the home screen. Try 12 × 4 and press ENTER to see 48.
STEP 2
Graph a Function in Color
Press Y=, type x² − 4 next to Y1 using the X,T,θ,n key, then press GRAPH. To change its color, go back to Y=, press the left arrow until the small line icon next to Y1 is highlighted, press ENTER and pick a color and line style.
STEP 3
Turn On Grid Lines
Press 2nd + ZOOM to open FORMAT. Move down to the grid setting and choose GridLine, then press GRAPH. Grid lines make it much easier to read points off the screen. If the curve is off screen, press ZOOM and pick 6: ZStandard.
STEP 4
Use the Shortcut Menus
Press ALPHA and then one of the top-row keys. ALPHA + Y= opens FRAC for fractions and mixed numbers. ALPHA + WINDOW opens FUNC, with summation, logBASE, derivatives and integrals. The next two open matrices and Y-variables.
STEP 5
Run Stats With the Wizards
Press STAT, choose 1: Edit and type your data into L1. Then press STAT, go to CALC and pick 1: 1-Var Stats. The CE asks which list to use, so you just choose L1 and Calculate. x̄ is the mean and Sx is the sample standard deviation.
STEP 6
Reset or Get a Bigger View
For a full reset, press 2nd + + (MEM), then 7: Reset, 1: All RAM and 2: Reset. Reloading the page also starts fresh, so your work isn’t saved. On a small screen, the “Open in a separate window” link under the calculator gives it more room.
TI-84 Plus vs TI-84 Plus CE
Deciding which one to buy, or wondering if your old TI-84 Plus is good enough? Here’s how they compare.
| Feature | TI-84 Plus | TI-84 Plus CE |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | Black and white | Full color, backlit, higher resolution |
| Power | 4 AAA batteries | Rechargeable battery |
| Size | Thicker and heavier | Thinner and lighter |
| Graphs | One color | A different color for each graph |
| Shortcut menus | No | Yes, with ALPHA and the top-row keys |
| Python | No | Yes, on the TI-84 Plus CE Python edition |
| Allowed on SAT, ACT and AP | Yes | Yes |
Already own a TI-84 Plus? You don’t need to upgrade for class. The math is the same. The CE is mainly easier to read and lighter to carry.
Is the TI-84 Plus CE Allowed on the SAT, ACT and AP Exams?
Yes. The handheld TI-84 Plus CE, including the Python edition, is approved for the SAT, the ACT and AP exams that allow graphing calculators, like AP Calculus, AP Statistics and the AP sciences. The online version on this page can’t go into the testing room, but it lets you practice the exact key presses before test day. Rules can change, so check the College Board or ACT website before your exam.
Taking a test that only allows a scientific calculator? Practice on our TI-30XS calculator online instead, and read Is a TI-84 a Scientific Calculator? for the full rules.
Conclusion: Try the TI-84 Plus CE Before You Buy
The TI-84 Plus CE is the calculator most students will carry through high school math and science. This free online version lets you learn its color graphs, grid settings and shortcut menus before you spend money on one, or keep practicing when yours is at school. Bookmark the page so it’s ready for homework night.
For a step-by-step guide to basic math, tables, fractions and the normal distribution, head to our free TI-84 calculator online. Need a quick plot instead? Open the graphing calculator.