Display and Camera Modules for Makers

Panel type, size and resolution for a small display

Most products in this aisle are small display modules for development boards, from round 1.28-inch screens to 3.5-inch touch panels. IPS LCD gives bright color and wide viewing angles, while OLED has deep blacks and no backlight but can show burn-in on static images. Resolution is fixed by the panel, such as 240 x 240, 128 x 128 or 480 x 320, and a higher figure needs more memory and processing from the board. Choose size by how far away you will read it.

Touch adds a second decision. Resistive touch panels respond to a stylus or a gloved finger but handle only single presses, while capacitive panels feel like a phone but may not respond through gloves. Camera modules also sit in this aisle; check the camera connector and ribbon cable on your board, because the Pi Zero and Pi 5 use a smaller 22-pin connector than the 15-pin one on earlier full-size boards.

Controller chip, interface and logic voltage decide compatibility

A display is useful only if your board can drive it. Modules are named after their controller, for example ST7789, SSD1351, SH1107 or ILI9488, and the software library you use must support that chip. Most connect over SPI, with a few using I2C, and SPI is faster for color panels. Raspberry Pi and Pico pins run at 3.3 V, so use 3.3 V modules or boards with level shifting. Modules made for a specific board plug straight into its header, which saves wiring.

Questions about Display and Camera Modules for Makers

What is the difference between an IPS LCD and an OLED module?

An IPS LCD uses a backlight and gives bright, even color from wide angles. An OLED lights each pixel itself for deeper blacks, but static images can burn in over time, so avoid leaving fixed graphics on screen for hours.

How do I know my board can drive a display?

Check the controller chip name and interface in the title, then confirm that a library for that chip exists for your board and language. SPI displays need four to five signal lines plus power, and a free hardware SPI port helps speed.

Is a resistive touch panel good enough?

For simple buttons and sliders yes. Resistive panels work with a stylus or a gloved finger and need little processing, but they handle one touch at a time and feel less smooth than capacitive panels.