HP Prime

HP Prime Graphing Calculator
Company type	Product
Industry	Electronics, Calculators
Predecessor	HP 49G series
Founded	2013; 13 years ago
Founder	Hewlett-Packard
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Graphing calculators with CAS
Owner	Hewlett-Packard (until 2022), Moravia Consulting spol. s r.o. and Royal Consumer Information Products, Inc. (since 2022)
Parent	HP Inc. (until 2022)
Website	www.hp.com/us-en/calculators/prime.html

The HP Prime Graphing Calculator was introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 2013 and was manufactured by HP Inc. until development, production, distribution, marketing, and customer support responsibilities were transferred in 2022 to license holders Moravia Consulting spol. s r.o. and Royal Consumer Information Products, Inc.. Featuring a design reminiscent of smartphones, it boasts a full-color touchscreen alongside an application-centric interface. It is promoted as the most compact and slender calculator equipped with a computer algebra system (CAS) currently available.

In addition to the physical device, HP provides an emulator version of the Prime for PCs, Macs,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name and mobile phones, broadening its accessibility beyond just hardware.

Design and software

The graphical user interface of the HP Prime consists of two separate home screens, one of which incorporates a built-in computer algebra system (CAS) powered by the open-source Xcas/Giac 1.5.0 engine, which traces its lineage back to the HP 49G series. Both the standard mode and CAS mode function independently, enabling users to switch between them swiftly—contrasting with competitors like the TI-Nspire series from Texas Instruments, where CAS and non-CAS versions are distinct models.

The G1 variant is equipped with a 1,500 mAh battery capable of providing up to 15 hours of use per charge, while the G2 model upgrades this to a 2,000 mAh battery. Unlike the HP 50g, the HP Prime does not include an SD card slot nor does it feature a beeper.

Exam Mode

An Exam Mode is incorporated into the HP Prime, allowing selective deactivation of functions such as CAS, user-installed applications, and notes for durations between 15 minutes and 8 hours. This mode can be enabled manually or through HP’s connectivity software. Visual indicators via LEDs inform exam supervisors when the calculator is operating under exam restrictions. Despite this security measure, the device remains prohibited in certain standardized tests like the US ACT. Nevertheless, it has gained acceptance in other testing environments including those administered by the Dutch CvTE, the Swiss IB, and educational authorities in Alberta, Canada.

Programming

On its non-CAS home screen, the HP Prime supports various input methods including textbook-style entry, algebraic, and 128-level RPN (Advanced RPN). In contrast to RPL, which triggers errors upon stack overflow, the Prime utilizes a fixed-size stack that discards values when overflow occurs, akin to traditional four-level RPN. The calculator operates on a newly developed operating system unrelated to HP’s legacy Saturn architecture; consequently, it does not support programming in User or System RPL, Saturn assembly, or ARM assembler languages.

Programming on this device is performed using a novel language similar to Pascal, known as HP PPL (Prime Programming Language), initially referred to as HP Basic. This language enables users to develop applications and originates from a language first introduced with the HP 38G calculator and refined over subsequent models.

Hardware iterations and model distinctions

The original 2013 release (NW280AA, hardware revision A) did not include wireless capabilities, direct USB communication between units, or data streaming functions. This version was produced by Inventec Besta and operated on a customized Besta OS.

The subsequent version (G8X92AA, revision C), introduced in May 2014, incorporated wireless functionality through the HP Prime Wireless Kit (FOK65AA), enabled USB OTG-based unit-to-unit communication, and supported data streaming using the HP StreamSmart 410 (NW278AA) four-port streamer device. This wireless accessory allows connectivity of as many as 30 calculators to a single PC, facilitating classroom interaction.

Released in August 2016, the third iteration maintained the G8X92AA model number and revision C designation but adopted a darker blue and orange color palette aimed at enhancing keyboard visibility. The packaging was updated to display a 2016 copyright date.

In July 2018, HP launched a new generation (model 2AP18AA, revision D) equipped with an NXP i.MX 6ULL MCIMX6Y2 processor featuring an ARM Cortex A7 core, providing approximately triple the performance of previous models. This edition boasts increased RAM capacity (256 MiB compared to 32 MiB) and Flash memory (512 MB versus 256 MB), operates on FreeRTOS, and is marked with a "G2" label on its rear side.

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