Raspberry Pi has lengthy made equipment, just like the official keyboard and mouse you should use with its single-board computer systems and now the corporate is including a conveyable monitor to the combo. No this isn’t one other tiny tablet-size display just like the Touch Display 2; as an alternative it’s a 15.6 inch 1080p 60Hz show, designed to match the Raspberry Pi 500, official Raspberry Pi 5 case, and official keyboard and mouse.
Although the $100 Raspberry Pi Monitor is constructed to work with Raspberry Pi computer systems, it makes use of a standard-size HDMI port to get video enter so it might work with nearly any sort of machine, together with a laptop computer, a desktop or sport console. Because of superior construct high quality, good picture high quality and implausible built-in kickstand – a characteristic many opponents lack – this display competes with the best portable monitors for any use case and is value your cash even for those who don’t personal or need a Raspberry Pi.
The one actual catch for laptop computer customers is that it requires an HDMI connection for video and a separate, USB-C connection for energy. Its USB-C port can’t settle for video alerts. So if you wish to hook it as much as a laptop computer, you want a laptop computer with an HDMI port otherwise you want a USB-C to HDMI adapter and then you definitely want a second cable for USB-C energy.
Raspberry Pi Monitor Technical Specs
| Display screen Dimension | 15.6 inches |
| Panel | IPS LCD with anti-glare coating |
| Decision | 1920 x 1080 |
| Brightness (Typical) | 250cd/m2 |
| Energy | USB Sort-C 5V at most 1.5A (7.5W) |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | May also be powered by Raspberry Pi USB ports (60% brightness, 50% quantity) |
| Ports | Full measurement HDMI 1.4 |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | 3.5mm Stereo headphone jack |
| Audio | 2 x 1.2W front-facing audio system |
| VESA | Sure, VESA 100 x 100 |
| Dimensions | 36 x 24 x 2 cm 0.9 cm thickness on thinnest edge |
| Weight | 846g / 1.87 kilos |
| Worth | $100 |
Raspberry Pi Monitor Design
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My assessment unit got here in on-brand purple and white, matching the Raspberry Pi mouse and plenty of official Raspberry Pi instances. The entrance of the monitor has a big bezel to the bottom, with a cut-out to route cables, and two entrance going through audio system. The three remaining bezels are 8mm thickness, sufficient to guard the display with out making the unit cumbersome. Other than the Raspberry Pi brand, that’s it for the entrance. The controls are on the again, as is the facility indicator. Across the again is an influence button, and two rocker type switches for brightness and quantity management. You’ll get the cling of utilizing them quickly sufficient.
So the place do I plug in my HDMI cable? Beneath the hinged kickstand there are ports for full measurement HDMI, USB Sort-C energy and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The stand locks into place with a reassuring “click on” when not in use. Pulling it out is simple sufficient, and the stand might be absolutely prolonged to grow to be “a hook” on which we will cling the monitor. However it will be higher observe to make use of the included VESA mount as an alternative as they’re designed for the job. The hinge itself is robust, and has loads of friction to maintain the monitor safe and upright.
The kickstand alone makes this monitor stand out in opposition to the ocean of transportable screens in the identical value vary. Most transportable screens, even costly ones, require you to make use of a folding “origami-style” case to prop them up and people instances are at all times flimsy, resulting in your monitor flopping over for those who brush in opposition to it. A built-in kickstand is a really welcome and necessary characteristic and this kickstand appears very sturdy and it’s even adjustable so you will get totally different angles.
Total the design matches the Raspberry Pi model aesthetic. It doesn’t seem like it’s made for kids, nor does it seem like a gaming monitor; it simply appears to be like like a superb design that can work for many customers.
Viewing Angles, Display screen Brightness and Audio
As a result of it’s an IPS panel, the viewing angles are nice. Face on, the display is sharp and vivid. Transferring our head to the aspect of the panel, and we will see it get duller, however the picture by no means blanks out. I examined at full brightness and every part was nice. At 60% brightness (the utmost when powering the unit from a Pi) the viewing angles had been nonetheless nice.
The display has a typical brightness of 250cd/m2 in keeping with Raspberry Pi’s product temporary. In our exams we recorded 301 Nits on the heart of the display and 271 nits on common for all factors on the display. For daylight use, say close to a window, you will have to crank the brightness up, however the monitor by no means felt darkish throughout my testing.
Although colours appeared fairly vibrant to the bare eye, the outcomes from our colorimeter had been mediocre, however needless to say this can be a $100 transportable monitor and never made for art work. The usual Pink, Inexperienced Blue (sRGB) coloration area check, which defines the vary of colours that may be displayed on a monitor got here again at 63.5%, lower than the 75.1% that we recorded for the Elecrow CrowView portable monitor. The DCI-P3 check, one other coloration area check, however for movie trade and excessive finish units, got here again at 45%. That is 30% decrease than the Elecrow CrowView.
Technically, this places the monitor firmly within the beneath common class for coloration area, but it surely appeared greater than wonderful in anecdotal use and we’d not count on to make use of it for photograph enhancing. Placing apart all the testing, and utilizing my very own eyes, the image is obvious and vivid. I may fortunately use this as a second show, and as my major means to hack round with a Raspberry Pi.
Audio playback is first rate. We’re not going to play our favourite songs utilizing this monitor, however for fundamental audio output it’ll do the job. The 2 front-facing audio system provide good separation, and audio recorded for a selected channel is reproduced properly on that channel, with no interference on the opposite. Any sound which is “in entrance” of us (mixing each channels) was clear. Testing for buzzing / rattling we performed a variety of frequencies from 44Hz to 20KHz at full quantity. There was no buzz or rattling to be heard.
I wished to check the way it dealt with music, so I performed Charlotte de Witte’s Tomorrowland Brazil set. This can be a mixture of orchestral and deep bass techno which ought to tax the audio system. It did certainly. The deep wealthy bass notes had been gone, the mids and highs had been there, however the audio system lacked the punch to ship what the set deserved. However, we’ve to state that these usually are not audiophile grade audio system, however they do an honest job for many audio necessities. In case you are apprehensive in regards to the audio high quality, the three.5mm audio jack can be utilized along with your alternative of speaker.
Energy Consumption
The Raspberry Pi Monitor is powered through USB Sort-C. This may be within the type of an official Raspberry Pi PSU, or we will energy the monitor from the Pi itself utilizing a spare USB port. However as you’ll later discover out, this didn’t go to plan.
With a devoted PSU, the monitor can use 100% brightness and quantity, not like powering from the Pi. That limits the brightness to 60% and quantity to 50%. For this check I saved the quantity at 50% and whereas enjoying a video on my Raspberry Pi 500 I modified the brightness ranges and recorded the voltage and present. Slightly math and we will calculate the facility consumption.
| Brightness | Energy W (PSU) | Energy W (Raspberry Pi) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 5.11 | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| 60 | 3.96 | 2.1 |
| 50 | 3.71 | 2 |
| 25 | 3.16 | 1.62 |
At 100% brightness, solely the PSU powered monitor may present a check end result. It pulled 5.11W from the PSU, a low quantity contemplating the brightness.The primary comparable check between PSU and Raspberry Pi energy sources is at 60%. The PSU pulled 3.96W, and curiously the Raspberry Pi powered monitor solely pulled 2.10. This can be a pattern that we might see repeated at 50% (3.71W for PSU, 2W for Pi) and 25% (3.16W PSU and 1.62W for Pi) brightness ranges. Curiously, when powered from one of many Raspberry Pi’s USB 3 ports, the voltage was a lot decrease, round 4.88V. The devoted PSU which equipped 5.01V. Taking part in audio at any quantity had no measurable impression on energy consumption.
Plainly when related to a devoted PSU, the Raspberry Pi Monitor is a bit more grasping. Powering from the Raspberry Pi is helpful, and 60% brightness is lots for many customers. The monitor’s energy draw will add to the facility draw of the Raspberry Pi, however if you’re utilizing the official energy provide, all is sweet!
Can I take advantage of the Raspberry Pi Monitor with Older Raspberry Pi?
The brief reply is sure, however we discovered that powering the monitor from USB required the Raspberry Pi 5. I attempted a Raspberry Pi 4, powering the Pi 4 utilizing the official 27W USB Sort-C PSU for the Pi 5, which outputs 5V at a most present of 5A, and the official Raspberry Pi 4 PSU which outputs 5.1V at 3A. Each ought to have ample energy for the Pi 4 and the monitor. Regardless of working as soon as, then powering off, I couldn’t get the monitor to energy reliably from the Pi 4. I managed to get to the BIOS / POST display, however the picture was corrupted and the Pi put itself right into a boot loop. This didn’t occur for any of our Raspberry Pi 5 or Pi 500 exams, so it appears that evidently regardless of the Raspberry Pi 4 having the ability to ship 1.2A (set by default now) through USB, the monitor was not enjoying ball.
So our advice is to at all times energy your monitor from an exterior energy supply.
Who’s the Raspberry Pi Monitor For?
The plain reply is those that need a devoted Raspberry Pi battlestation. However we will see this being utilized in bedrooms, makerspaces and colleges all around the world. It is mild and skinny sufficient to be transportable and we will guess that an enterprising firm will make a case to guard it on the go.
The not-as-obvious however nonetheless legitimate reply is “anybody who wants a conveyable monitor.” The construct high quality and kickstand and general picture high quality make this an incredible alternative to be used with a laptop computer so you’ll be able to have a second display when you’re on a visit. Sure, you’ll need to plug in two cables – one for HDMI and one for USB-C energy – however this can be a very minor trade-off.
Backside Line
Whether or not you want a devoted Raspberry Pi battlestation, or you’re a father or mother who needs their baby to have a Raspberry Pi as their first pc, this monitor would be the one to go for. There are numerous transportable monitor options, however for those who’ve purchased into the Raspberry Pi model, you’ll need certainly one of these.
Personally I just like the monitor, it’s vivid and transportable. Audio playback isn’t the best, however I don’t actually use my “work” Pi for music. The display is vivid, and powering from the Raspberry Pi’s USB is a helpful characteristic. I fairly like this little monitor, and I’ll be utilizing it with my many Raspberry Pis for the foreseeable future.
In case you are a Pi person, however you additionally want a second display to make use of along with your laptop computer if you’re touring, this is a superb alternative. The identical picture high quality, implausible kickstand and light-weight comfort apply whether or not the monitor is plugged right into a single-board pc or a full-fledged PC or Mac.
