The recently concluded Apple’s WWDC 2024 event grabbed eyeballs worldwide. While iOS 18 has been the talk of the town with features like the ability to move app icons anywhere on the iPhone’s home screen, the ability to apply light/dark or tint to the app icons, the fully customizable Control Center, the option to change the focus of the flashlight, etc., one app also managed to grab headlines, called the Calculator app introduced for iPadOS 18.
However, the newly introduced iPad Calculator app isn’t just any other calculator app. The Math Notes is the main highlighting feature of the iPadOS 18 Calculator app, which auto-completes the calculation as soon as you write the equals sign after your equation. In this guide, we will show you the best iPad Math Notes calculator alternatives for Android. Of course, if it’s there for iOS, Android users may want it for themselves. Let’s jump right into it.
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What’s so good about the iPad Calculator?
So, iPads debuted back in 2010, and ever since their debut, they have been calculator-less. Thankfully, the iPadOS 18 update, announced at WWDC 2024, added the Calculator app, and not just a simple calculation app; it does more than that. The iPad Calculator app has an interface similar to that of calculator apps across Apple platforms.
The app boasts round buttons in black and orange and features an improved unit conversion system, a history tape sidebar, and the most talked about Math Notes feature. The iPad Math Notes feature can be accessed from the Calculator app by using the dedicated button in the bottom left corner of the app screen.
Once you are in, simply write the equation, and as soon as you write equals to the (=) sign, the iPad Math Notes feature will automatically solve the problem for you. The iPad Math Notes feature in the Calculator app supports graphical expressions and gets answers by inputting various values into variables. The Math Notes are automatically stored in the new Math Notes folder.
If you loved the new iPad Math Notes and other features of the Calculator app for the iPad, let us take a look at the iPad Math Notes calculator app’s Android alternatives that offer a similar experience.
4 Best iPad Math Notes Calculator App Alternatives for Android
Sl. No. | App Name | Features | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Microsoft Maths Solver | - Handwriting input - Solves arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, statistics - Scan and Solve feature - Supports multiple languages | - Supports advanced math problems - Provides answers in multiple languages - Scan and solve math problems | - Step-by-step solutions not in real-time |
2 | MyScript Calculator 2 | - Virtual paper interface - Solves in real-time - Supports multi-step problems - Drag and drop numbers and equations - Displays answers as decimals, fractions, or mixed numbers | - Write or scratch equations on the screen - Instant solutions - Solves complex multi-step calculations - Keeps calculation history | - No graph support - No option for variables |
3 | Maple Calculator | - Visualizes problems and solutions in 2D and 3D - Step-by-step solutions - Solves algebra, calculus, trigonometry, linear algebra, differential equations | - Visualizes in 2D and 3D - Step-by-step solutions for written or captured problems - Supports complex math disciplines | - Step-by-step solutions may not be generated for most questions |
4 | Photomath | - Scans problems using phone camera - Teacher-approved solutions - Solves from elementary arithmetic to advanced calculus - Offers interactive graphs and multiple solutions | - Solves equations and word problems - Animated step-by-step answers - Interactive graphs and video learning - Supports advanced math problems | - Scanning may not always be accurate |
Microsoft Maths Solver – Offers step-by-step explanation
One of the best, or it is safe to say, advanced calculator apps that can easily be a great alternative to the iPadOS 18’s Calculator app is Microsoft Maths Solver. The app offers various similar features to the iPad Math Notes feature. You can easily handwrite your math problem or equations on the screen by tapping Send, and then the Microsoft Maths Solver will automatically solve the problem for you.
It can solve a variety of math problems, including arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, statistics, and other topics, and makes use of AI to provide you with solutions. One of the best features of this app that I liked was the option to “Scan and Solve.” Notably, the feature lets you scan a math problem using your device’s camera to snap a photo and helps you solve it with step-by-step instructions. The feature also provides interactive graphs for a proper explanation.
The Microsoft Math Solver comes with support for advanced scientific math calculators, scanning and solving math problems in multiple worksheets, searching the web for similar problems or video lectures, supporting linear and non-linear functions, and also the ability to solve math problems in your language, including Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and many more.
Pros:
- It supports advanced math problems, including elementary, pre-algebra, basic calculus, statistics, and more.
- Gives answers in multiple languages
- Support for linear/non-linear functions
- Lets you scan and solve a math problem
Cons:
- The step-by-step solutions provided are not in real-time
Download Microsoft Math Solver
MyScript Calculator 2 – Solves multi-step problems quickly
Another popular iPad Math Notes Calculator alternative for Android is the MyScript Calculator 2. It is a paid app, but it is very close to how the iPad’s calculator app works. When you open the app, it turns into a virtual paper, where all you need to do is write down your equation and get the answers in real-time.
You can easily scratch and rewrite the correct equation as you would on an actual piece of paper. You can write down equations and problems, extending to several lines. One of the best parts about the MyScript Calculator 2 is that you can mix calculations, i.e., your equations or problems can include multiplication, division, subtraction, etc.
It also supports dragging and dropping numbers and equations; multi-step problems can be rearranged, and you can choose how your answers are displayed: as decimals, fractions, or mixed numbers. The app supports problem-solving related to logs, Trigonometry, inverse trigonometry, power, roots, exponentials, and much more.
Pros:
- Lets you write or scratch equations or numbers on the screen
- Provides instant solutions to your problems
- Support solving complex multi-step calculations
- Keeps your calculation history
Cons:
- Doesn’t support graphs
- There is no option for variables
Download MyScript Calculator 2
Maple Calculator – Visualize your problems and solutions in 2D and 3D
The Maple Calculator is an all-in-one calculator app that can help you visualize your problems and solutions in 2D and 3D. This app goes beyond being a simple calculator that solves your equations. You can write your equations on the screen, and the app, using the world’s most powerful math engine, Maple, will recognize your handwriting and give you step-by-step solutions.
The app provides 2D and 3D graphs just like iPad Math Notes, and you can see the graph change as the expressions are changed in real-time. You can also take a picture of your problem and upload it to the Maple Calculator to see the final answer or get a step-by-step solution.
It supports multiple languages and helps solve complex math disciplines such as algebra, calculus, trigonometry, linear algebra, differential equations, etc.
Pros:
- Lets you visualize your problems and solutions in 2D and 3D
- Gives you step-by-step solutions to your written problems or captured problems
- Support complex math disciplines to be solved
Cons:
- Step-by-step solutions may not be generated for most of the questions
Photomath – Google’s answer to Apple
Photomath from Google lets you scan any problem using the camera on your phone. The solutions are teacher-approved, and Photomath breaks your problem into step-by-step explanations to help you understand the solution better. Photomath supports solving problems from elementary arithmetic to advanced geometry, even to advanced calculus.
This calculator app can help you solve any handwritten or textbook-based problems. The animated steps negate the need for guessing to understand how the solution was achieved. There is a 24/7 virtual tutor as well, whom you can reach and get solutions to your questions. The app can even solve word problems and offer solutions in graphs. The app offers multiple solutions for a problem as well.
Google has included step-by-step explanations in the free version itself, and you can ask questions from various math disciplines, including numbers and quantity, algebra, functions, trigonometry and angles, sequences, geometry, and calculus. The app also explains the formulas and equations that have been applied to solve the problem with proper definitions.
Pros:
- Lets you solve equations and word problems
- Animated step-by-step answers, even in the free version
- Interactive graphs and video learning
- Supports solving advanced math problems
Cons:
- Scanning of problems may not always be accurate
Make your Android do the math
The above apps are some of the best iPad Calculator app alternatives for Android that have features similar to Math Notes. Some of them even have more features than the iPad’s calculator app. If you are a Motorola user, then here’s a bonus tip: you can use the Handwriting Calculator app. It was introduced for the Moto G Stylus phone, but you can grab the APK from APKMirror and install it on any Motorola phone. You need to install it and create a home screen shortcut using the Activity Launcher app, and that’s it.
Since iPadOS 18 is expected to roll out to the public this fall, you can take a look at some of the best iPad calculator apps for the time being.
