Calculator Comparison

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option. Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +. Other software is not included.
Display and Keyboard	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Display type	LCD	LCD	LCD	LCD	LCD
Display format	1 Line	1 Line	1 Line	1 Line	1 Line
FIXed number format	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
SCIentific number format	Yes	Yes	Yes*	Yes	Yes
ENGineering number format	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
STanDard / ALL number format	-	-	-	-	-
Alpha messages and prompts	-	-	-	-	-
Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay	-	-	-	-	-
Softkeys labeled by display menus	-	-	-	-	-
Softkeys with neither labeling system	-	Yes	-	Yes	-
Status annunciators	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Redefinable keyboard	-	-	-	-	-
Logic	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Logic system	RPN	RPN	RPN	RPN	RPN
Stack levels	4	4	4	4	4
Last x	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Undo	-	-	-	-	-
Precedence	-	-	-	-	-
Parentheses	-	-	-	-	-
Storage Addition (STO +)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^)	-	-	-	-	-
Recall Arithmetic	-	-	-	Yes	-
Named variables	-	-	-	-	-
Multiple data types	-	-	-	-	-
Directories	-	-	-	-	-
Math	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
+, −, ×, ÷	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
1/x	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
√	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
x²	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
LOG x	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
10^x	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
LN x	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
e^x	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
y^x	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
π	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
%	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
% change	-	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
INTeger truncation and ABSolute value	INT only	Yes	INT only	Yes	-
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.)	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.)	-	Yes	-	Yes	-
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads)	3	3	-	3	-
Advanced Math	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Solver / root finder	-	-	-	Yes	-
Numeric integration	-	-	-	Yes	-
Complex numbers	-	-	-	Yes	-
Matrix operations	-	-	-	Yes	-
Matrix writer	-	-	-	-	-
Equation writer	-	-	-	-	-
Symbolic operations	-	-	-	-	-
Fractions	-	-	-	-	-
Plotting and graphics (display)	-	-	-	-	-
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter)	-	-	-	-	-
Statistical	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables)	2	2	2	2	-
Σ of n, x, x²	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Σ of n, x, x², y	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Σ of n, x, x², y, xy	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Σ of n, x, x², y, y², xy	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Σ of lists	-	-	-	-	-
Random number generator	-	Yes	-	Yes	-
Linear regression, estimate	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Curve fitting	-	-	-	-	-
Correlation coefficient	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Normal distribution	-	-	-	-	-
Factorial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	-
Gamma	-	Yes	-	Yes	-
Combinations and permutations	-	Yes	-	Yes	-
Scientific and Time	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Polar / rectangular conversions	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16)	-	-	-	-	Yes
Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16	-	-	-	-	Yes
Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...)	-	-	-	-	Yes
Selectable word size (1-64 bits)	-	-	-	-	Yes
Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned)	-	-	-	-	Yes
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions	Yes	Yes	-	Yes	-
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic	-	-	-	-	-
Time of day clock	-	-	-	-	-
Timer	-	-	-	-	-
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate)	-	-	-	-	-
Alarms	-	-	-	-	-
Unit Conversions	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Centimeters / inches	-	-	-	-	-
Millimeters / inches	-	-	-	-	-
Meters / feet	-	-	-	-	-
Kilograms / pounds (mass)	-	-	-	-	-
Newtons / pounds (force)	-	-	-	-	-
British thermal units / joules	-	-	-	-	-
Liters / gallons	-	-	-	-	-
° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit	-	-	-	-	-
Other	-	-	-	-	-
User-defined units	-	-	-	-	-
Time Value of Money	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Number of payments (n)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Interest rate (i)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Present Value (PV)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Payment (PMT)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Future Value (FV)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Cash Flow Analysis	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Net present value (NPV)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Internal rate of return (IRR)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Amortization	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Balance (BAL)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Depreciation	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Straight line (SL)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Sum of the years digits (SOYD)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Declining balance (DB)	-	-	Yes	-	-
Bonds and calendar functions	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Bond price	-	-	Yes	-	-
Bond yield	-	-	Yes	-	-
Date arithmetic / calendar functions	-	-	Yes	-	-
Memory and Programming	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
Programming language(s)	RPN	RPN	RPN	RPN	RPN
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers	10	21	20	67	Variable*
Max # of program steps	79	203	99	448*	203
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM	-	-	-	-	-
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM	-	-	-	-	-
Merged program steps	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Manual register / program memory allocation	-	-	-	Yes	-
Automatic register / program memory allocation	Yes	Yes	Yes	-	Yes
Overlapped register and program memory	-	-	-	-	-
Continuous memory	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Flags	-	2	-	10	6
Conditional tests	2	8	2	12	8
Subroutine levels	-	4	-	7	4
Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0)	-	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
Indexed looping (choice of increment and end)	-	Yes	-	Yes	-
Multiple index / loop registers	-	-	-	Loop only	-
Line number addressing	Yes	-	Yes	Via I*	-
Branching by relative line number	-	-	-	-	-
Global program label addressing	-	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
Local program label addressing	-	-	-	-	-
Indirect / computed addressing and control	-	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
Multiple indirection registers	-	-	-	-	-
Pause	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Alpha messages and prompts in programs	-	-	-	-	-
Alpha program listings	-	-	-	-	-
Alpha string manipulation	-	-	-	-	-
Program step insert / delete	-	Yes	-	Yes	Yes
I/O and Expansion Features	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16C
ROM modules	-	-	-	-	-
RAM modules or expansion option	-	-	-	-	-
General expansion slots / connector	-	-	-	-	-
Magnetic card reader/writer	-	-	-	-	-
Tape drive	-	-	-	-	-
Disk drive	-	-	-	-	-
Upgradeable firmware	-	-	-	-	-
Optical wand	-	-	-	-	-
Serial port	-	-	-	-	-
Infrared input	-	-	-	-	-
Infrared output	-	-	-	-	-
Printer	-	-	-	-	-
Networking	-	-	-	-	-
Other	-	-	-	-	-
General	HP-10C	HP-11C	HP-12C	HP-15C	HP-16
Sounds	-	-	-	-	-
Self test	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hard case (in addition to soft case)	-	-	-	-	-
Additional Features	-	-	-	-	Shift, Rotate, etc.
Batteries	3 SR44	3 SR44	3 SR44	3 SR44	3 SR44
Length (inches)	5.1"	5.1"	5.1"	5.1"	5.1"
Width	3.1"	3.1"	3.1"	3.1"	3.1"
Height	0.6"	0.6"	0.6"	0.6"	0.6"
Weight (oz or lbs)	4 oz	4 oz	4 oz	4 oz	4 oz
Year of introduction	1982	1981	1981	1982	1982
Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option. Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +. Other software is not included. Unlim means limited only by available memory.

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.

Display and Keyboard

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Display type

LCD

Display format

1 Line

FIXed number format

Yes

SCIentific number format

Yes

Yes*

Yes

ENGineering number format

Yes

STanDard / ALL number format

Alpha messages and prompts

Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay

Softkeys labeled by display menus

Softkeys with neither labeling system

Yes

Status annunciators

Yes

Redefinable keyboard

Logic

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Logic system

RPN

Stack levels

Last x

Yes

Undo

Precedence

Parentheses

Storage Addition (STO +)

Yes

Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷)

Yes

Storage Exponentiation (STO ^)

Recall Arithmetic

Yes

Named variables

Multiple data types

Directories

Math

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

+, −, ×, ÷

Yes

1/x

Yes

√

Yes

x²

Yes

LOG x

Yes

10^x

Yes

LN x

Yes

e^x

Yes

y^x

Yes

% change

Yes

INTeger truncation and ABSolute value

INT only

Yes

INT only

Yes

Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.)

Yes

Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.)

Yes

# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads)

Advanced Math

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Solver / root finder

Yes

Numeric integration

Yes

Complex numbers

Yes

Matrix operations

Yes

Matrix writer

Equation writer

Symbolic operations

Fractions

Plotting and graphics (display)

Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter)

Statistical

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Mean, standard deviation (# of variables)

Σ of n, x, x²

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y, xy

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y, y², xy

Yes

Σ of lists

Random number generator

Yes

Linear regression, estimate

Yes

Curve fitting

Correlation coefficient

Yes

Normal distribution

Factorial

Yes

Gamma

Yes

Combinations and permutations

Yes

Scientific and Time

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Polar / rectangular conversions

Yes

Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16)

Yes

Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16

Yes

Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...)

Yes

Selectable word size (1-64 bits)

Yes

Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned)

Yes

Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions

Yes

Hrs.min.sec arithmetic

Time of day clock

Timer

Dynamic calculations (timer × rate)

Alarms

Unit Conversions

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Centimeters / inches

Millimeters / inches

Meters / feet

Kilograms / pounds (mass)

Newtons / pounds (force)

British thermal units / joules

Liters / gallons

° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit

Other

User-defined units

Time Value of Money

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Number of payments (n)

Yes

Interest rate (i)

Yes

Present Value (PV)

Yes

Payment (PMT)

Yes

Future Value (FV)

Yes

Cash Flow Analysis

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Net present value (NPV)

Yes

Internal rate of return (IRR)

Yes

Amortization

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Accumulated Interest (ACC INT)

Yes

Balance (BAL)

Yes

Depreciation

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Straight line (SL)

Yes

Sum of the years digits (SOYD)

Yes

Declining balance (DB)

Yes

Bonds and calendar functions

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Bond price

Yes

Bond yield

Yes

Date arithmetic / calendar functions

Yes

Memory and Programming

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

Programming language(s)

RPN

RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers

Variable*

Max # of program steps

203

448*

203

RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM

Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM

Merged program steps

Yes

Manual register / program memory allocation

Yes

Automatic register / program memory allocation

Yes

Overlapped register and program memory

Continuous memory

Yes

Flags

Conditional tests

Subroutine levels

Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0)

Yes

Indexed looping (choice of increment and end)

Yes

Multiple index / loop registers

Loop only

Line number addressing

Yes

Via I*

Branching by relative line number

Global program label addressing

Yes

Local program label addressing

Indirect / computed addressing and control

Yes

Multiple indirection registers

Pause

Yes

Alpha messages and prompts in programs

Alpha program listings

Alpha string manipulation

Program step insert / delete

Yes

I/O and Expansion Features

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16C

ROM modules

RAM modules or expansion option

General expansion slots / connector

Magnetic card reader/writer

Tape drive

Disk drive

Upgradeable firmware

Optical wand

Serial port

Infrared input

Infrared output

Printer

Networking

Other

General

HP-10C

HP-11C

HP-12C

HP-15C

HP-16

Sounds

Self test

Yes

Hard case (in addition to soft case)

Additional Features

Shift,
Rotate, etc.

Batteries

3 SR44

Length (inches)

5.1"

Width

3.1"

Height

0.6"

Weight (oz or lbs)

4 oz

Year of introduction

1982

1981

1982

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.

Unlim means limited only by available memory.

HP-10C notes:

Self test: with the calculator off, hold the × key down and press and release ON, then release ×. The calculator will display running for around half a minute and then activate the entire display to indicate success. The test may be done continuously by (with the calculator off) holding + down while pressing the ON key. To stop the continuous test at the end of the current iteration, press and hold − and then press ON.
There is also a keyboard test. With the calculator off, press and hold ÷ and press ON. Now press each key from the top left moving left to right and then down (the enter key gets pressed in both the third and fourth rows.) If all keys are pressed in the correct order and are working, the model number (without the C) is displayed. Otherwise, Error 9 is displayed. (The display will show a changing pattern of segments as keys are pressed.)

HP-11C notes:

Self test: with the calculator off, hold the × key down and press and release ON, then release ×. The calculator will display running for around half a minute and then activate the entire display to indicate success. The test may be done continuously by (with the calculator off) holding + down while pressing the ON key. To stop the continuous test at the end of the current iteration, press and hold − and then press ON.
There is also a keyboard test. With the calculator off, press and hold ÷ and press ON. Now press each key from the top left moving left to right and then down (the enter key gets pressed in both the third and fourth rows.) If all keys are pressed in the correct order and are working, the model number (without the C) is displayed. Otherwise, Error 9 is displayed. (The display will show a changing pattern of segments as keys are pressed.)

HP-12C notes:

FIXed mode set by "f #". SCIentific mode set by "f ." with no choice of the number of digits.
Self test: with the calculator off, hold the × key down and press and release ON, then release ×. The calculator will display running for around half a minute and then activate the entire display to indicate success. The test may be done continuously by (with the calculator off) holding + down while pressing the ON key. To stop the continuous test at the end of the current iteration, press and hold − and then press ON.
There is also a keyboard test. With the calculator off, press and hold ÷ and press ON. Now press each key from the top left moving left to right and then down (the enter key gets pressed in both the third and fourth rows.) If all keys are pressed in the correct order and are working, the model number (without the C) is displayed. Otherwise, Error 9 is displayed. (The display will show a changing pattern of segments as keys are pressed.)

HP-15C notes:

The HP-15C had enough memory for 448 one-byte instructions but some instructions required two bytes.
If the number in the I register was negative, the calculator branched to the line number indicated by the absolute value of that number.
Self test: with the calculator off, hold the × key down and press and release ON, then release ×. The calculator will display running for around half a minute and then activate the entire display to indicate success. The test may be done continuously by (with the calculator off) holding + down while pressing the ON key. To stop the continuous test at the end of the current iteration, press and hold − and then press ON.
There is also a keyboard test. With the calculator off, press and hold ÷ and press ON. Now press each key from the top left moving left to right and then down (the enter key gets pressed in both the third and fourth rows.) If all keys are pressed in the correct order and are working, the model number (without the C) is displayed. Otherwise, Error 9 is displayed. (The display will show a changing pattern of segments as keys are pressed.)

HP-16C notes:

FIXed mode set by "FLOAT #". SCIentific mode set by "FLOAT ." (No choice of the number of digits in Scientific mode.)
The maximum number of registers depends on the wordsize (1-64 bits). The maximum is INT(1624/word-size).
Self test: with the calculator off, hold the × key down and press and release ON, then release ×. The calculator will display running for around half a minute and then activate the entire display to indicate success. The test may be done continuously by (with the calculator off) holding + down while pressing the ON key. To stop the continuous test at the end of the current iteration, press and hold − and then press ON.
There is also a keyboard test. With the calculator off, press and hold ÷ and press ON. Now press each key from the top left moving left to right and then down (the enter key gets pressed in both the third and fourth rows.) If all keys are pressed in the correct order and are working, the model number (without the C) is displayed. Otherwise, Error 9 is displayed. (The display will show a changing pattern of segments as keys are pressed.)

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