HP-48S vs. 48G vs. 42S

[Accutron]

1. There is a black LCD version of the 48G+ (128K, no expansion slots.) I've never seen a black LCD 48G. All black LCD G+/GX are late production units made in Indonesia, which are not quite the same build quality as the earlier Singapore units.

2. The 48S/SX/G/GX all have the same physical dimensions. The S/SX weigh a bit more than the G/GX and have a higher build quality (and a less awful keyboard color scheme.)

3. The G/GX have double the internal ROM size of the S/SX and have more built-in functions as a result.

4. The 42S and 48S/SX/G/GX all have an aluminum bezel which is susceptible to picking up dents and scratches. I think you tend to see more beat-up 42S units because they're incredibly popular and get passed around and resold so much, regardless of their cosmetic condition. The 48 is a superior calculator to the 42S in terms of functionality, but it is also substantially larger. I would say that the popularity of the 42S is primarily based on its compact form factor (size vs. power,) RPN instead of RPL, and the fact that it's the heir apparent to the 41C, even though it abandons some key features. Whether or not the 42S is the 'best calculator HP ever made' is highly debatable, but it's definitely one of the top models.

The 48S/SX/G/GX are comparable to a beefed up 28S. The 42S is a very different calculator. If you're migrating from a 28S and want a similar experience, the 48 is definitely the way to go.