Raspberry Pi Touch Display Releases New Version After 9 Years

After nearly a decade of waiting, the Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 is finally here. The successor to the 2015 Raspberry Pi Touch Display, the new Touch Display 2 is now available for $60. Despite being priced the same nine years later, the Touch Display 2 has been upgraded in core aspects compared to its predecessor. For example, the display has a higher resolution of 720 x 1,280 pixels (compared to the previous version's 800 x 480 resolution) and a significantly slimmer design.

Basic product specifications include:

1. 7 inch screen
2. Working size 88mm × 155mm
3. Resolution 720 (RGB) × 1280 pixels
4. Multi-touch panel, supports five-finger touch
5. Fully supported by Raspberry Pi OS
6. Powered by Raspberry Pi server

Raspberry Pi says the new Touch Display 2 is compatible with all Raspberry Pi computers from the Raspberry Pi 1B+ onwards, except for the Raspberry Pi Zero series as it doesn't have the required DSI port.

The Touch Display 2 is securely attached to the Pi with four screws. The display is powered by the included power cable, and connected to a data cable compatible with standard and mini FPC connector formats. Another new feature of the Touch Display 2 is the integration of the driver PCB into the display frame itself, allowing for a slimmer profile.

Raspberry Pi says the first-generation Touch Display will remain in production for the foreseeable future, but is not recommended for new Pi-powered designs. The Touch Display 2 will be commercially available no earlier than 2030, giving embedded and industrial customers more time to customize the product in a more optimized way.

Explaining why it took nine years to release a new version of the display, Raspberry Pi stated that it was an important accessory and they wanted to take the time to create a 'perfect' product. Let's see how the Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 will be applied in future projects.

David Pac

Update 09 December 2024