Casio’s new Comfy calculator shifts its solar panel up for aesthetics

Calculator aesthetics are apparently very important to some people, so Casio Japan has announced a new Comfy JT-200T solar-powered model that relocates its solar cell to the top edge keeping it out of sight while you’re crunching numbers.

The calculator is also available in five muted colors to better match your desk decor: off white, dark gray, grayish pink, grayish green, and grayish blue. It will be released on January 30th, 2025 in Japan for ￥3,850, or around $25.

Image: Casio Japan

There’s no indication the new position of the solar panel will affect its exposure to indoor lighting and power generation capabilities, but it is slightly angled upwards and a bit larger than the solar panels on Casio’s other design-focused models.

The company says the new model will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the very first calculator Casio released in 1965. However, the Comfy JT-200T has more in common with the company’s first personal calculator, as it uses the same key font as the Casio Mini released in 1972.

The calculator’s case is made from a mix of recycled plastic and mica which helps hide scratches, there’s a spring-loaded stand on the back that will elevate it about eight degrees, and it features a 12-digit segmented LCD display. Its number-crunching capabilities are basic, but it does include dedicated tax buttons potentially making it appealing to accountants not entirely devoted to spreadsheets.

Image: Casio Japan