The iPad Is Finally Getting a Calculator and It’s Utterly Cool

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During last month’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), the company showed some of the best updates we’ve seen in recent years. Not only are there a bunch of new features and changes, but the company also introduced Apple Intelligence, its new personal intelligence technology.
But Apple fans weren’t just excited by the introduction of Apple’s AI or the fact that you can now rearrange apps however you want on your iPhone’s Home Screen.
Instead, what really took the world by storm was the new Calculator app for the iPad. Yes, you read that right: starting in iPadOS 18, Apple will introduce a brand new first-party Calculator app for the iPad. And it has everything we’ve ever dreamed of and more.
Apple Finally Announced a Calculator App for the iPad

It took a trillion-dollar tech company fourteen years to develop a Calculator app for the iPad, but it finally happened.
During the 2024 WWDC keynote, Apple revealed the new Calculator app that will be available in iPadOS 18 later this year. Even though Apple took more than enough time to bring the Calculator to the iPad, the wait might have been worth it.
That’s because the new Calculator app for the iPad — as well as the updated Calculator app for the iPhone — brings a ton of new and cool features that we’ve all been waiting for.
A New History Section to Keep Track of Previous Calculations
A huge change that came with the new Calculator app is History. This section works as you expect; it’ll save your most recent calculations, which means you no longer need to make a mental note of a calculation because you couldn’t just save it.
To access your history, swipe left from the right side of your iPad, tap any of your previous calculations, and they’ll automatically appear on the calculator. You can also delete some or all of your previous calculations if you want.
The Scientific Calculator Is Easier to Access
Before, you could only access your scientific calculator by putting your iPhone in landscape mode. But of course, the iPad doesn’t really have that problem because of its size.
So, Apple decided to add a new button that lets you switch between the basic and scientific calculators. Thanks to the iPad’s size, you can see all the different options you can use. While the scientific calculator is also available on the iPhone, it looks and feels much better on the iPad.
Now It’s Easier to Make Conversions
Besides turning your basic calculator into a scientific one, you can also use the Calculator app to make conversions in a matter of seconds.
All you need to do is enable the Convert option, and you can start converting length, currencies, weight, temperature, and so much more.
There are dozens of units you can choose from, and you can switch between them in a few taps. Once you have the right units, all you need to do is enter the number, and your iPad will automatically convert it to the other unit you selected.
A New Graphing Feature

The new graphing feature makes the new Calculator app for the iPad amazing for students. If you write an equation, your iPad will not only help you solve it — which we’ll talk about in a moment — but you’ll also have the option to insert a graph automatically.
Moreover, you can add multiple equations to the same graph, and it will update automatically.
Math Notes Will Take Your Homework to Another Level

There was a time when teachers told us we wouldn’t carry a calculator with us all the time. But now is 2024, and the calculator can even figure out the more complicated calculations for you.
This is thanks to Apple’s new Math Notes feature, which is available on the iPad, iPhone, and Mac. This feature is simple to use but pretty effective.
With Math Notes, you can enter calculations or equations, and your iPad will automatically solve them for you.
This feature works for simple calculations like 50 x 50 or more complicated equations like X = 10 ÷ 5. As soon as you’re done writing your calculation, your iPad will give you the answer in yellow text.
This feature works great and is snappy and accurate even in beta. Using your iPad to do your homework will definitely be a game changer for parents and schools.
The New Calculator Offers Apple Pencil Support

As we mentioned, the new calculator app is available on iPhone and iPad, but what makes the new iPad app great is that it also supports the Apple Pencil.
That means that you can use the new Math Notes feature with your own handwriting. You can write the calculations, and your iPad will not only understand your handwriting but also give you the answer in handwriting similar to yours.
The New Calculator App Is the Best Thing on the iPad
The new software updates include dozens of new features, but the new Calculator app is definitely one of the best.
Sure, you can use the new Calculator app on your iPhone and even try Math Notes on your Mac, but the new Calculator app works best on the iPad. Not only is the screen’s size good enough to make any calculations you want, but you can also write any equation with the Apple Pencil, and your iPad will give you the answer in your handwriting.
Once the iPadOS 18 update launches near the end of the year, there will be a lot to try, but the new Calculator app definitely takes the cake.