Spotlight: TI-32 Solar from 1988
Today’s spotlight is on a standard scientific calculator from Texas Instruments… with a twist. First, let’s start with the quick facts.
Quick Facts
Model: TI-32 Solar
Company: Texas Instruments
Timeline: 1988 (possibly 1989?), this model was very short lived
Type: Scientific
Memory: 1 memory register
Power: Solar
Screen: 10 digits
The TI-32 Solar was a scientific calculator that was sold briefly by Texas Instruments in the last 1980s. The function set is a combination of the TI-30 Solar and the original one line TI-34:
* trigonometry, decimal/dms conversion, rectangular/polar conversions
* logarithms, anti-logarithms (10^x, e^x), powers
* one variable statistics (mean, deviation, sums)
* binary/decimal/hexadecimal conversion (and just conversions, strangely no octal)
* 3-decimal random number generator (RND)
* percent function
The Polar/Rectangular conversions use the [ a ] and [ b ] keys. [ a ] is for x and r, while [ b ] is for y and Θ.
The statistics mode is one-variable only. Though I am not a fan of the STAT mode being the alternative function of the [ C ] key, thankfully, the stat mode works.
What truly sets the TI-32 Solar apart are two things:
(1) The orange trim and keys on a dark gray keyboard. This is a very rare color scheme, especially orange until Texas Instruments started to release the TI-30XIIS and the TI-84 Plus CE in various colors.
(2) The screen tilts. The screen is a set on a hinge that allows the user to tilt the screen to different angles, which allows for more ergonomic operation. To put the calculator away, tilt the screen to be aligned with the keyboard and use the slide case. I think this is a really neat idea. The tilt mechanism seems to hold out well for a nearly 40 year old calculator.
Source
Woerner, Joerg. “Texas Instruments TI-32 SOLAR” Datamath Calculator Museum. September 20, 2002. Accessed July 7, 2025. http://www.datamath.org/Sci/Modern/TI-32Solar.htm
Eddie
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