Comparison

RCL vs HP16C

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RCL

This app faithfully recreates the TI-57 programmable calculator, offering its full scientific functions and programming capabilities. It includes a user manual, sample programs, and features like turbo speed and alphanumeric display.

Highlights
  • TI-57 recreation
  • Scientific functions
  • Programming capabilities
  • User manual included
  • Sample programs
  • Turbo speed option
  • Alphanumeric display option
Features
Read full description

RCL-57 is a complete and faithful recreation of the TI-57, one of the first programmable calculators. RCL-57 implements all the scientific functions and programming capabilities of the TI-57. In addition, it includes: * A complete user manual * Sample programs including Lunar Lander * Optional turbo speed and alphanumeric display * Listings of steps, registers and log * Saving and loading of programs * Sharing and importing of programs

About

HP16C

This app faithfully recreates the legendary HP 16C Computer Scientist calculator, offering advanced hex arithmetic, bit manipulation, and base conversion. It features RPN, keystroke programming, and modern enhancements like a two-line display and haptic feedback.

Highlights
  • Full RPN calculator
  • Integer arithmetic (HEX, DEC, OCT, BIN)
  • Configurable word size (1-64 bits)
  • Complete bit operations
  • Keystroke programming
  • Two-line display
  • Haptic feedback
Features
Read full description

A faithful recreation of the legendary HP 16C Computer Scientist calculator for iPhone, with a few modern upgrades. If you've ever needed to perform hex arithmetic, bit manipulation, or base conversion on your phone and been frustrated by the available options, this is for you. RPN-16C gives you the full power of the original HP 16C in your pocket. WHAT IT DOES - Full RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) calculator - Integer arithmetic in HEX, DEC, OCT, and BIN - Configurable word size from 1 to 64 bits - Unsigned, one's complement, and two's complement modes - Complete bit operations: shift, rotate, rotate through carry, AND, OR, XOR, NOT, mask, bit set/clear/test, count bits, left justify - Float mode with configurable precision (FLOAT 0-9) - Keystroke programming with labels, subroutines, loops, and conditionals - Storage registers with direct and indirect addressing - Programs can be imported from text (long-press the display to paste) ENHANCEMENTS OVER THE ORIGINAL - Two-line display: see both X and Y registers at once. No more guessing what's on the stack. - Wider LCD: displays all 32 bits in binary without scrolling. The original could only show 8 at a time. - Haptic feedback on every key press - State persistence: pick up right where you left off - SHOW function to peek at values in other bases FAIR WARNING This is a quirky calculator. It uses Reverse Polish Notation, has no equals key, and expects you to know what two's complement means. If you're looking for a simple calculator, this is not it. If you've ever wished you could do a bitwise rotate through carry on your phone, welcome home. DESIGNED FOR PROGRAMMERS The key layout matches the physical HP 16C exactly, including the f (gold) and g (blue) shift labels. If you know the original, you already know this one. The original HP 16C Owner's Handbook is freely available on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/hp-16c_handbook

Screenshots

RCL4 screens
HP16C4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: HP16C at weekly against RCL's every 14 months. RCL's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RCL ships an update every 14 months, HP16C weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
RCL versus HP16C: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRCLHP16C
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.3 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaul NovaesMichael Doornbos

Customer experience

RCL

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

HP16C

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

RCL

No in-app purchases

None

HP16C

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RCL free?
RCL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HP16C free?
HP16C is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RCL or HP16C have ads?
Neither RCL nor HP16C shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RCL or HP16C?
RCL ships an update every 14 months, and HP16C weekly. Most recently, RCL was updated on November 3, 2026 and HP16C on October 31, 2026.

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