The long-anticipated arrival of the Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 marks a significant upgrade for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts and tech hobbyists alike. This new iteration comes nearly a decade after the original model, which debuted with a modest 800 x 480 resolution. Despite its low resolution, the original screen was widely adopted in various projects thanks to its compatibility with the Raspberry Pi DSI connector, power-through GPIO pins, and seamless integration with Raspberry Pi OS.
Today, the Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 emerges with noteworthy improvements while retaining its budget-friendly $60 price tag. A key enhancement in the new model is the inclusion of an integrated touch screen controller, which simplifies design by eliminating the need for an external ribbon and daughterboard, making the display thinner and more streamlined.
Offering a resolution boost to 1280×720, the new display is a welcome upgrade, although it may still lag behind modern standards. It features multi-touch capabilities, reduced from 10 to 5 simultaneous touches, and can be powered directly from the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO pins. Unlike its predecessor, this edition is primarily a portrait display, necessitating OS-based screen rotation for landscape orientation.
Similar to the earlier version, the Pi can be mounted on the back of the display, and it supports all Raspberry Pi models with a DSI connector. The revamped model ships with ribbon cables suitable for both the smaller DSI connector on the Pi 5 and the full-sized version on the Pi 4 and earlier models. However, one challenge arises with mounting; the new model’s mounting holes do not align with the older model’s, meaning existing projects will require modifications for integration.
Currently unavailable on some major online retailers, Raspberry Pi enthusiasts can find the Touch Display 2 through resellers like Pimoroni and Sparkfun, maintaining its accessible pricing. With these enhancements, the Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 presents an exciting opportunity for users to explore new creative avenues while revisiting old projects with refreshed capabilities.
