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-48S HP-67
Display type LCD LED
Display format 8Line 1 Line
FIXed number format Yes Yes
SCIentific number format Yes Yes
ENGineering number format Yes Yes
STanDard / ALL number format Yes -
Alpha messages and prompts Yes -
Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay - Yes
Softkeys labeled by display menus Yes -
Softkeys with neither labeling system - -
Status annunciators Yes -
Redefinable keyboard Yes -
Logic HP-48S HP-67
Logic system RPN/RPL RPN
Stack levels Unlim 4
Last x Yes Yes
Undo Yes -
Precedence Yes -
Parentheses Yes -
Storage Addition (STO +) Yes Yes
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷) Yes Yes
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^) - -
Recall Arithmetic - -
Named variables Yes -
Multiple data types Yes -
Directories Yes -
Math HP-48S HP-67
+, −, ×, ÷ 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 Yes Yes
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.) Yes Yes
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.) Yes +
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads) 3 3
Advanced Math HP-48S HP-67
Solver / root finder Yes +
Numeric integration Yes +
Complex numbers Yes +
Matrix operations Yes + (max 4×4)
Matrix writer Yes -
Equation writer Yes -
Symbolic operations Yes -
Fractions Yes* -
Plotting and graphics (display) Yes -
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter) Option -
Statistical HP-48S HP-67
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables) Multiple 2
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 Yes -
Random number generator Yes +
Linear regression, estimate  Yes +
Curve fitting Yes -
Correlation coefficient Yes +
Normal distribution Yes +
Factorial Yes Yes
Gamma Yes +
Combinations and permutations Yes +
Scientific and Time HP-48S HP-67
Polar / rectangular conversions 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) - -
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions Yes Yes
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic Yes Yes
Time of day clock Yes -
Timer Yes -
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate) - -
Alarms Yes -
Unit Conversions HP-48S HP-67
Centimeters / inches Yes -
Millimeters / inches Yes +
Meters / feet Yes +
Kilograms / pounds (mass) Yes +
Newtons / pounds (force) Yes +
British thermal units / joules Yes +
Liters / gallons Yes +
° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit Yes +
Other Yes +
User-defined units Yes -
Time Value of Money HP-48S HP-67
Number of payments (n) - +
Interest rate (i) - +
Present Value (PV) - +
Payment (PMT) - +
Future Value (FV) - +
Cash Flow Analysis HP-48S HP-67
Net present value (NPV) - +
Internal rate of return (IRR) - +
Amortization HP-48S HP-67
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT) - +
Balance (BAL) - +
Depreciation HP-48S HP-67
Straight line (SL) - +
Sum of the years digits (SOYD) - +
Declining balance (DB) - +
Bonds and calendar functions HP-48S HP-67
Bond price - +
Bond yield - +
Date arithmetic / calendar functions Yes +
Memory and Programming HP-48S HP-67
Programming language(s) RPL RPN
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers 32K Bytes 26 Registers
Max # of program steps Unlim 224
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM - -
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM - -
Merged program steps  Yes Yes
Manual register / program memory allocation  - -
Automatic register / program memory allocation Yes -
Overlapped register and program memory - -
Continuous memory Yes -
Flags 128 4
Conditional tests Many 8
Subroutine levels Unlim 3
Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0) Yes Yes
Indexed looping (choice of increment and end) Yes -
Multiple index / loop registers Yes -
Line number addressing - -
Branching by relative line number - Yes
Global program label addressing Yes Yes
Local program label addressing Yes -
Indirect / computed addressing and control Yes Yes
Multiple indirection registers Yes -
Pause Yes Yes
Alpha messages and prompts in programs Yes -
Alpha program listings Option -
Alpha string manipulation Yes -
Program step insert / delete Yes Yes
I/O and Expansion Features HP-48S HP-67
ROM modules - -
RAM modules or expansion option - -
General expansion slots / connector - -
Magnetic card reader/writer - Yes
Tape drive - -
Disk drive Option -
Upgradeable firmware - -
Optical wand - -
Serial port Yes -
Infrared input Yes -
Infrared output Yes -
Printer Option -
Networking - -
Other - -
General HP-48S HP-67
Sounds Yes -
Self test Yes -
Hard case (in addition to soft case) - -
Additional Features - -
Batteries 3 AAA Rechargeable
Length (inches) 7.1" 6.0"
Width 3.2" 3.2"
Height 1.1" 1.4"
Weight (oz or lbs) 8oz 11 oz
Year of introduction 1991 1976
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-48S notes:
  • Fractions were input as algebraic objects like '4 + 7/8' and output using the →Q function.
  • To start the continuous self test with the calculator turned on, press and hold ON and press E. This will continuously test internal ROM and RAM and generate patterns in the display. OK-48 will be shown on each pass if all is well. To exit, press and hold ON and press C.
  • To start the keyboard test with the calculator turned on, press and hold ON and press D. Press E. KBD1 will appear in the display. Starting with the upper left key (A), press each key moving right to left and then down until you get to the + key. KBD1 OK will then be displayed. The calculator will beep between each keystroke. If the calculator displays a hex number, either there is a keyboard problem or you pressed the key in the wrong order. To exit, press and hold ON and press C.
  • To start the IR loop back test with the calculator turned on, press and hold ON and press D. Press D. Press EVAL. The calculator should display IRLB OK. To exit, press and hold ON and press C.
  • To start the serial UART loop back test with the calculator turned on, press and hold ON and press D. carefully connect pins 2 and 3 (send and receive) of the serial port. Leave the pins connected during the test. Press PRG. The calculator should display U_LB OK. If the test fails, make sure you shorted the correct pins and no others. To exit, press and hold ON and press C.
  • To display the CPU speed, with the calculator turned on, press and hold ON and press D. Press A. The CPU speed is displayed in hertz. To exit, press and hold ON and press C.
HP-67 notes:
  • The HP-97 has a separate features page.

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