Calculator App Issues in iOS 18

Michael Jarosz1 wrote:

I can't believe that this is still not fixed.

This was one of the dumbest changes in iOS 18 and seems to have been made by someone who has never used a real calculator in their life.

I've used "real calculators" since quite possibly before you were born. If there hadn't been people upset by the change and posting in this forum, I never would have noticed the difference. Don't make the mistake of thinking that everyone has the same needs and wants that you do.

You can let Apple know what you'd like to see here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Meanwhile, a number of very good third-party apps have been recommended in this thread. Perhaps one of them would better meet your needs.

Nate4815 wrote:

This calculator is my catalyst. It’s the reflection of Apple’s lack of all innovation since the loss of Steve Jobs. Each iteration is a new color/ facelift/ and minutely better camera. Absolutely pitiful. Removing simple features that make lives easier. Last time Siri was updated was when it was added to iOS 10+ years ago. I’m done with Apple. FIX THE CALCULATOR and stop hiring teenagers in silicon valley.

As it’s clear that you didn’t read the thread you posted to just now, I will summarize: Apple changed the calculator to respond to an avalanche of complaints over several years about the way it worked, so Apple modified it to work more like the complainants wanted it to work. They also added features you might not have noticed, like Math Notes that let you enter equations, switch between scientific and basic in both portrait and landscape orientations, and currency conversion.

And Siri actually has additional features that you didn’t notice, like supporting a “conversational” mode where you don’t have to keep saying “Hey Siri” and integrating Apple Intelligence into Siri on devices that support it.

And I’ve noticed features that definitely make lives easier, many at the request of, again, many users, such as integrating Reminders into the Calendar App and adding automatic categorization into the way Mail sorts (like Gmail has had for years), plus the ability to turn it off if you don’t want it.

Captain Lardnicus wrote:

I want to hear the rationale from Apple. I want to hear the discussion that was had around such a significant deviation from standard calculator behavior.

Well, you certainly won’t hear from Apple in this user-to-user forum, and Apple does not reveal their internal decision making on anything.

And there is no such thing as “standard calculator behavior”. Calculators are all different, and if any two work the same way it is coincidence. But why don’t you find one in the App Store that works the way that you believe a “standard calculator” should behave? If you are right then every calculator in the App Store will work the that way.

EmkayLA wrote:

Has anyone at Apple responded to this? They have made the calculator virtually unusable!! It’s just as one commenter wrote… that this was engineered by a child. WTH Apple?! This is the dumbest change since taking away the arrow key, another childish change.

This is a user-to-user forum. Apple doesn't respond here.

You can let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Meanwhile, you may want to try one of the many other calculator apps available in the App Store.

Magicgrams79 wrote:

It’s not a viable option for a calculator at all.

Then try one of the many, many other calculator apps available.

I just got an app for a simple calculator. Very easy, very nice. There are many options. The one I picked is free. Just forget about apples calculator, go get another one.

[Edited by Moderator]

I’ve been using CalConvert from MapleMedia for years and it’s always been awesome.

ltborg wrote:

Is anyone at Apple addressing the issues with the iOS 18 calculator app on iPhone? Pressing equal after entering an equation and solving at once doesn’t allow you to calculate again without retyping everything. I use the calculator multiple times a week as a counter at work and losing this functionality is incredibly impactful.

I’ve also found that the calculator will move to scientific notation in the six figure range in vertical mode. This seems excessive, considering the old calculator would display millions without switching to scientific notation. I’m really confused why these “features” were added to the new calculator as opposed to leaving actual working features from before.

I have what may be the answer: before iOS 18, there was a constant stream of complaints from users who said that if they accidentally hit “=“ twice they lost their calculation and the had to start over. So this change was in response to user requests.

Lawrence Finch wrote:

I have what may be the answer: before iOS 18, there was a constant stream of complaints from users who said that if they accidentally hit “=“ twice they lost their calculation and the had to start over. So this change was in response to user requests.

Also, the folks who hit it a second time accidentally and then insisted that the calculator was giving wrong answers.

m0riarty wrote:

I was hoping I was missing something on this update. I used to be able to hit the equals button multiple times to repeat a calculation, and now I can’t. So…. The update made the calculator worse?

this doesn’t make sense

It makes a LOT of sense, as it answers the continuous stream of complaints from users who accidentally hit “=“ twice and it wiped out their result. This is an example of a change request by large numbers of users.

vthegreat1 wrote:

What in the Sam **** were they thinking when changing the original Calculator App?!?!?!

TL;DR

They were thinking of the tens of thousands of users who sent feedback to Apple COMPLAINING about the old calculator, so they fixed it to correct the objections of those users. Believe it or not, just because you dislike it everyone else doesn’t have to dislike it. I’m quite happy with the new features, including the Notes mode where you can enter formulas, the fact that you can switch between basic and scientific regardless of screen rotation, and the built in currency converter. I’ve actually switched to the Apple calculator from the 3rd party calculator that I have been using for over 10 years.

However, there are thousands of 3rd party calculators in the app store, and I’m sure you can find one that works exactly the way you think a calculator should work.

It doesn’t matter what anyone is saying in this thread defending Apples choice.

What Apple have done here is break the functionality of a basic calculator.

EVERY calculator works the same way - except Apples now.

You can go out and buy the cheapest calculator. You Press 1+1, you will see “2” no need to press =.

you can then keep pressing “=“ to keep repeating your sum.

everyone has been able to do that since school. On any calculator they pick up.

This change by Apple has no benefit - and I do not believe anybody has asked Apple to break this functionality. There is no benefit.

I have also looked for an alternative calculator app - but it’s now a case of having to pay for an app I already had as default that had nothing wrong with it.

vthegreat1 wrote:

But at least I have a detailed point.

I'm still trying to figure out what it is, other than perhaps you disagree with me. That's fine.

As it has shown from the good amount of comments before me, I’m not the only one who cares about this issue.

That's absolutely true. I never disputed that. I never disputed that there are people who dislike the current Calculator. Apparently, you didn't understand my point. To make it easy: A single alculator app is not going to please everyone. Don't assume that what you want or need is the same what everyone else wants or needs. Don't assume that people who want something different from you are stupid, misinformed or not really "serious users." If you do not like the calculator Apple provides, find another one.

We relied on the old style calculator to do a massive amount of work.

It works differently now. Either learn to use the new one or find a different one that works for you. I'm sure there are people in your office who don't have iPhones and/or don't use the Calculator app. Ask them how they manage to do their work.

You must be an older wise gentleman

Older and wiser than some, certainly.

Why don’t you choose Android, if it don’t matter?

I said that the changes in the Calculator app don't particularly matter to me.

Why are we choosing a company that mimics the opposite base at a higher price tag? Why am I even wasting my time talking to a community about a company that doesn’t listen to detailed specific complaints?

Have you made your complaint to Apple? They don't read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. However, they do provide a dedicated page for feedback and they read everything that's submitted there. How do you think they got the information that people didn't like the version?

Product Feedback - Apple

Because I will surely leave this technical environment for another if I’m not heard and not look back. I bought into this Apple ecosystem and I can choose go with the majority like they did.

Okay, fine with me. You should always chose the tools that best meet your needs.

I can’t imagine that you can swipe with one hand, either.

But there are over a hundred calculators in the App Store. I’m sure you can find one that works they way you expect it to. A lot of users in this thread recommend PCalc.

Bingotep wrote:

you couldn’t create a more worthless calculator if that was your goal.

I doubt the person to whom you're replying had anything to do with the iOS calculator.

Have you updated to iOS 18.3? Some changes were made in Calculator.