Raspberry Pi just launched a new 5-inch variant of its Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2. This new display is a more compact and cheaper version of the 7-inch model that was released last year, and it’s available to buy now from all the usual Raspberry Pi Approved Resellers.
The new 5-inch display is priced at just $40, which is a significant drop from the $60 price point of its larger sibling. Despite its smaller size, it has the same 720×1280-pixel resolution. It also shares a lot of the same features as the 7-inch version, including a true multitouch capacitive panel. This supports five-finger multitouch, so you can interact with it just as you would with a regular tablet. It’s also fully supported by Raspberry Pi OS and is powered directly from the host Raspberry Pi, so there’s no need for an external power supply.
All the necessary cables, connectors, and mounting hardware are included in the box, which is something we expect from Raspberry Pi’s kits. The display is also super easy to set up since it connects to your Raspberry Pi with a ribbon cable through the DSI port.
The new Touch Display 2 is a real plug-and-play experience, with the capacitive touch screen working right out of the box with full Linux driver support (including Ubuntu). You don’t have to deal with manual calibration or hunting through device trees. You just connect it to your Raspberry Pi, and you have a fully functional multitouch display ready to go.
This new screen feels like the 7-inch model but slightly smaller. It’s a cheaper and more compact option that still gives you the same features as the 7-inch model, but working out of the box is a surprising addition.
This new touchscreen will stay in production until at least January 2030, so if you’re planning a project around the new touchscreen, you won’t have to find replacement components for a long time. Presumably, Raspberry Pi itself will have a similar replacement model by that point, or there will be third-party options with a similar design.
There was a story in the announcement describing how AI was used while trying to program an app for the new touchscreen. Don’t worry, you don’t have to worry about more AI in your devices. This is only worth mentioning just in case you’re curious about using AI to make apps for the touchscreen. The company basically said that after trying, it is possible to make apps for the touchscreen using AI, but there are a lot of stipulations, and it is not as easy as asking for a completed app.
You can buy both the 5-inch for $40 and the 7-inch for $60 right now from the official Raspberry Pi website. Just keep in mind that you need to buy it from an approved vendor, as they aren’t purchasable straight from the website.
Source: Raspberry Pi, OMG! Ubuntu