The Museum of HP Calculators


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-27 HP-32E
Display type LED LED
Display format 1 Line 1 Line
FIXed number format Yes Yes
SCIentific number format Yes Yes
ENGineering number format 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 - -
Status annunciators - -
Redefinable keyboard - -
Logic HP-27 HP-32E
Logic system RPN RPN
Stack levels 4 4
Last x Yes Yes
Undo - -
Precedence - -
Parentheses - -
Storage Addition (STO +) Yes Yes
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷) Yes Yes
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^) - -
Recall Arithmetic Yes -
Named variables - -
Multiple data types - -
Directories - -
Math HP-27 HP-32E
+, −, ×, ÷ Yes  Yes 
1/x Yes Yes
Yes Yes
x2 Yes Yes
LOG x Yes Yes
10x Yes Yes
LN x Yes Yes
ex Yes Yes
yx Yes Yes
π Yes Yes
% Yes Yes
% change Yes Yes
INTeger truncation and ABSolute value - -
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.) Yes Yes
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.) - Yes
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads) 3 3
Advanced Math HP-27 HP-32E
Solver / root finder - -
Numeric integration - -
Complex numbers - -
Matrix operations - -
Matrix writer - -
Equation writer - -
Symbolic operations - -
Fractions - -
Plotting and graphics (display) - -
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter) - -
Statistical HP-27 HP-32E
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables) 2 2
Σ of n, x, x2 Yes Yes
Σ of n, x, x2, y Yes Yes
Σ of n, x, x2, y, xy Yes Yes
Σ of n, x, x2, y, y2, xy Yes Yes
Σ of lists - -
Random number generator - -
Linear regression, estimate  Yes Yes
Curve fitting - -
Correlation coefficient Yes Yes
Normal distribution Yes Yes
Factorial Yes Yes
Gamma - -
Combinations and permutations - -
Scientific and Time HP-27 HP-32E
Polar / rectangular conversions Yes Yes
Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16) - -
Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16 - -
Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...) - -
Selectable word size (1-64 bits) - -
Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned) - -
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions Yes Yes
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic Yes -
Time of day clock - -
Timer - -
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate) - -
Alarms - -
Unit Conversions HP-27 HP-32E
Centimeters / inches - -
Millimeters / inches - Yes
Meters / feet - -
Kilograms / pounds (mass) - -
Newtons / pounds (force) - -
British thermal units / joules - -
Liters / gallons - Yes
° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit - Yes
Other - -
User-defined units - -
Time Value of Money HP-27 HP-32E
Number of payments (n) Yes -
Interest rate (i) Yes -
Present Value (PV) Yes -
Payment (PMT) Yes -
Future Value (FV) Yes -
Cash Flow Analysis HP-27 HP-32E
Net present value (NPV) Yes -
Internal rate of return (IRR) Yes -
Amortization HP-27 HP-32E
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT) - -
Balance (BAL) - -
Depreciation HP-27 HP-32E
Straight line (SL) - -
Sum of the years digits (SOYD) - -
Declining balance (DB) - -
Bonds and calendar functions HP-27 HP-32E
Bond price - -
Bond yield - -
Date arithmetic / calendar functions - -
Memory and Programming HP-27 HP-32E
Programming language(s) - -
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers 10 Registers 15
Max # of program steps - -
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM - -
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM - -
Merged program steps  - -
Manual register / program memory allocation  - -
Automatic register / program memory allocation - -
Overlapped register and program memory - -
Continuous memory - -
Flags - -
Conditional tests - -
Subroutine levels - -
Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0) - -
Indexed looping (choice of increment and end) - -
Multiple index / loop registers - -
Line number addressing - -
Branching by relative line number - -
Global program label addressing - -
Local program label addressing - -
Indirect / computed addressing and control - -
Multiple indirection registers - -
Pause - -
Alpha messages and prompts in programs - -
Alpha program listings - -
Alpha string manipulation - -
Program step insert / delete - -
I/O and Expansion Features HP-27 HP-32E
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-27 HP-32E
Sounds - -
Self test - Yes
Hard case (in addition to soft case) - -
Additional Features - -
Batteries Rechargeable Rechargeable
Length (inches) 5.1" 5.6"
Width 2.7" 2.8"
Height 1.2" 1.2"
Weight (oz or lbs) 6 oz 6-8 oz*
Year of introduction 1975 1978 or 9
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-27 notes:
HP-32E notes:
  • Late versions were about 1.5 oz lighter than earlier versions.
  • Self test by pressing STO and then ENTER. At the end of the test, the entire display lights to indicate success.

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