Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

macstatic

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 21, 2005
2,029
168
Norway
I'm trying to find the calculator app on my iPad Mini 5 (currently running iOS 13.3.1) but I can't remember ever having a calculator on it. But today I read a page entitled Delete built-in Apple apps on your iOS 12, iOS 13, or iPadOS device or Apple Watch which among the apps discussed there lists up "Calculator".
Thinking I might have at some stage removed it I checked with the app store but couldn't find a default Calculator app. Can someone please explain? I've downloaded calculator apps in the past, only to find them filled with ads or apps that I have to buy.
 
AFAIK, Apple's calculator app has never featured on the iPad. It's a slightly bonkers situation because it's a simple yet well designed app. I can only imagine that there's some legal complication that bars it from the iPad.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: na1577
The story was it looked terrible on iPad as developed for iPhone - so Apple didn't include it - wasn't the only app. Why they never re-designed it who knows but there are plenty of just as good ones that work great on iPad.
 
So the iPod Touch/iPhone calculator app isn't downloadable or works on the iPad at all? Are there any free (or low cost) calculator apps which aren't filled with ads or any of that useless stuff? -just a basic, working calculator. Nothing fancy.
 
Been using Sci: Pro Calculator for a few years now.
Simple and works great.
 
Been using Sci: Pro Calculator for a few years now.
Simple and works great.

Eeeewww. 3d buttons. How 2012.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: na1577
Just what I was looking for! A basic, easy to use, distraction-free and not least ad-free calculator! Thanks :)
What's the catch? I haven't come across many apps which are free AND ad-free. I assume it's not one of those "phone-home" apps which track your usage or whatever.
 
Just what I was looking for! A basic, easy to use, distraction-free and not least ad-free calculator! Thanks :)
What's the catch? I haven't come across many apps which are free AND ad-free. I assume it's not one of those "phone-home" apps which track your usage or whatever.

I've been using it and never had issues or problems.
Bugs are handled fairly quickly.

It just works :)
[automerge]1589235496[/automerge]
Eeeewww. 3d buttons. How 2012.

and? It just works. It is free. Works for me! 😁
 
  • Like
Reactions: LizKat
Totally agree it’s dumb that they don’t have it on the iPad. Like @Blue Hawk said hopefully in iPadOS 14 they’ll add smaller window sizes for apps which would be great for a calculator app.

They really also need to add the rest of the missing iOS apps, but that’s another story.
 
would be cool to just add calculator app but make it into a pip window instead size of iphone on ipad to do small work, apple can't even do this simple thing
 
  • Like
Reactions: boston04and07
Good point. On my Mac I use Spotlight for quick calculations all the time. On iDevices, however, I find the keyboard too difficult to use for such tasks; a classic calculator interface is much easier and faster.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LizKat
Siri is pretty good at verbally-delivered expressions too, since we're thinking through the options.
 
If it's just simple calculations you can also calculate in the search screen. For more complex ones I use PCalc.

IMG_0080.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: dannyyankou
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.