HP 12c Financial Calculator Reviews

The only word I can use to describe this is moronic. It is clear that no one even bothered to load HP12cFinancialCalculator on an iPad and even glance at it! Half the buttons are missing! This is completely useless. They sent me an email announcing the new version and saying the landscape mode issue is fixed (it isn't) and would I please revise my review. So I did.


Why in the world did they screw up a perfect adaption of the 12C? On an iPad, landscape mode s not available, although it is listed in settings. Stupid over think.

HP12cFinancialCalculator used to distinguish itself from other 12C apps by looking precisely like the original calculator, which is why I was willing to pay $15 for it when others were cheaper or free. Some time ago, it was modified to be “more modern“ and now looks like complete garbage—it doesn’t even appear to be produced by HP. If it looked and functioned like it does now, I never would have purchased it. Please restore the original version, or at least make it an option. There’s a reason this particular calculator has stood the test of time.

Previous version worked great for years. Saw that it was finally updated and thought sure I’ll give it a try. I now hate it. The keys are so unresponsive to taps that the only way to actually enter the number that you want is to do it about 1/10 of the speed that you previously used. Any kind of normal quick entry of numbers Will screw up the actual number entered and give you a totally a ruinous result. Can’t trust it or use it quickly at all. I wish I could go back. Please restore the prior version for those of us that go work on a different app. Thanks.

I love hp12c calculator and was pleased to find there is an app for my iPad. However, there was a recent upgrade(?) that has changed the appearance of the display that I am very unhappy with. Previously the display on my iPad was just like the actual hp12c calculator I have owned for many years.
I would much prefer not to have the upgrade.

Update: I am amazed to have received a response to my comments about the hp12C app for iPads. And quite pleased with the suggestion that I install the 3.1.1 update which I have done. The 3.1.1 update has largely solved the issues I had. It’s a relief to have the hp12C app fixed.
Thanks for the quick response and for the 3.1.1 update.

Have always loved this calculator. With the new update, things are nicely refreshed but when you tap a number with normal intensity, it doesn’t register. you have to push very hard on each number. This should be an easy fix to allow a softer touch to register a number, if this was done, my writing would be a 5+

I’ve used the HP12C format for over 40 years. I have 2 issues with HP12cFinancialCalculator. 1. Key pressure required to register a number on the screen is inconsistent. I’m frequently missing numbers when entering them. Very frustrating because you are focused on the keyboard not the screen. 2. I can set the positions right of the decimal (I like 4) but it reverts back to 2 when HP12cFinancialCalculator closes. It will not retain your setting.

I want to thank the developer for its acknowledging my problems with this application. I received an email directly from the developer informing me of a just-released 3.1.1 version which I immediately downloaded. It appears to solve all of the problems I note below.

Update lost all my stored information. Commas are where periods should be and vis versa. Hate the full screen layout on an iPad! The update needs an update and in a hurry!

I have installed Version 3.1, and neither the layout, which is almost unusable, nor the commas being where periods should be and vice versa have changed! How can this continue?

NOW, in addition to the problems previously noted above, HP12cFinancialCalculator forgets all stored numbers within hours of entry! After almost 50 years of using the original HP 12 C hand calculator through various versions of this calculator for iPad I have never had anything like this. HP12cFinancialCalculator is effectively useless. In fact, I have never had an app of any kind purchased in HP12cFinancialCalculator Store that had a single significant issue, let alone so many issues that HP12cFinancialCalculator was useless!

I use the HP 12C platinum calculator irl, and hated having to forego RPN calculators for on the fly needs. I initially got HP12cFinancialCalculator that matched my calculator–the HP 12C Platinum–from the same developer as HP12cFinancialCalculator. It was $3 more expensive, yes the buggiest app I’ve ever used. Hasn’t been updated in 4 years and genuinely crashes after the simplest inputs. I tried complaining or requesting a refund the same day I bought it but to no avail. Luckily I saw this version got an update and it’s been running like a charm. I’m super happy with this product, but still irritated I spent $18 on an app that doesn’t work and they refuse to take it down or update it. HP12cFinancialCalculator = great, and I wish I didn’t feel so jaded.

Only tactile feedback needs more work. I keep on missing keyed numbers, and the clicking sound feedback sometimes is too delayed. That us the only thing that requires attention. Everything else seems perfect. The portrait layout is fantastic. Just the tactile feedback is not perfect.

UPDATE. The developer reaches out to let me know they had an update it all works great now. HP12cFinancialCalculator is back to one of my favorite:

The update update takes all the keys and spreads them out all over the screen makes HP12cFinancialCalculator unusable.

I was very upset at the first update of the HP 12C as the screwed up the keyboard and the calculator failed to hold formulas. ALL FIXED! In addition the developers emailed me personally through the process. So good I bought the $26 engineering calculator for my programmer as a gift!

I do not like the new layout. Buttons are too small, too far apart, hard to be sure you pressed them. Settings says you can change from full screen but it does not change. Seems to be fixed now, buttons are bigger.

Broke out my old HP12C to work out a ‘change date’ problem. It churned but gave me the answer I needed.

Out of curiosity, bought the HP12C app then ran the same problem on my iPhone 15. The answer appeared instantaneously.

Initially, I missed the ‘crib notes’ that are on back of the original calculator. I subsequently found them in the ‘Menu’ under ‘Helpful Settings’.

Very nice to have fixed many of the 3.0 problems like memory loss but to also bring back the classic portrait keyboard and then to give the user options to place the smaller keyboard high, middle and low on the screen was a very surprising and VERY thoughtful touch with the design.

I actually prefer the old program's "photographic" landscape look for the keys and slightly thicker digit display look better, especially on the iPad, but that is a a small complaint. The V3+ updates are just outstanding!

Having the full calculator keys in portrait mode on the iPhone is just brilliant. I'm not sure I realized that this rotation from landscape had enough keys in portrait mode to do that but it does.

When the new update came out (3.0), I could not read my calculator correctly as I use a larger font on my phone. I wrote to app developer and said I wasn't happy. They fixed the problem w/an update (3.1) and now it works as great as it always has! Thank you to the developer for the quick response/fix. I use it daily, so it was a big deal to me to have it work. I appreciate your work :)

I’ve been using HP12cFinancialCalculator since 2012 and love the v3.0 update. It’s everything you could want in a financial calculator. If I’m remembering correctly v3.0 allowed for “split screen” functionality on the iPad, but in the latest version 3.1.1 it appears that function is no longer available. I hope it comes back in a future app update as the split screen function is very helpful. Thanks again for such a great app!

UPDATE: DEVELOPER RESPONDED TO MY REVIEW W INFO ABOUT HOW TO CHANGE THIS IN HP12cFinancialCalculator SETTINGS. LOVE HP12cFinancialCalculator AND VERY HAPPY TO GET A PERSONAL RESPONSE TO MY PREVIOUS REVIEW!

I just opened my HP12c financial calculator app and I have commas where the decimal point should be & vice versa. I checked my account settings and it still correctly shows my region as the US. Is this a glitch that the developer can correct or is there a way for me to fix it in my app?

On an ordinary day, I rate HP12cFinancialCalculator as 5 STARS. Today, I’d give it 2 stars… but I’ll be happy again when this glitch is corrected.

I’ve been using HP12cFinancialCalculator since it came out many years ago. It replaced my old trusty HP 12C, which I’ve had since the 1980’s (and which has sat unused in my desk drawer for decades). Why should I carry it around when I have the identical operations and keyboard layout on my phone and pad?

With this newest version, HP12cFinancialCalculator fixed the remaining gripe that I had: the ability to copy a result and paste it into a different app. Now I consider it perfect!

Version 3.0 took this from an adequate 12c emulator to a great one! Portrait orientation now has all 12c buttons available, and the interface looks cleaner. Also dealt with annoying problem where some controls were very close to area on screen that activates Siri

I really don’t understand the reviews complaining about the layout. When rotated to landscape it’s IDENTICAL to a ‘real’ 12c, and in portrait there are now more functions available. Yeah, the iPad version is different, but I prefer it to a phone sized screen floating inside an iPad sized app

the developer has fixed the interface issues presented in ver. 3.0 - as an hp 12C user from when the physical version was released in the 1981, I can recommend this implementation on the iPad - I have updated my prior review to reflect the updated interface in ver. 3.1.0.