Best HDMI LCD Screen for Raspberry Pi Portable

In theory, the Rasberry Pi is well-suited to portable computing.

It has a tiny form factor (even with the Raspberry Pi 3, let alone the Zero), low power needs, with handy power input, and now has wifi and Bluetooth built-in.

The one challenging area is the screen. I think I found a nice solution for that.

Why not the official screen?

While the official touch-screen is pretty nice, it is also expensive ($70~ before tax and shipping) and at only 800x480, it is also low resolution, so it only really suits the "tablet style" use case.

After trying a few screens, some GPIO, some intended for Drone FPV, and some intended for in-car entertainment, I settled on this guy.

GeeekPi 7 inch 1024 x 600 HDMI Screen

It is not touch-enabled, but I didn't want that feature anyway (I already have the official screen for that).

Setting up

To connect it uses a control board, which in turn attaches using a ribbon cable. This control board accepts power and HDMI, amongst others, and has a socket for the screen control buttons.

Once all connected, a simple change to your boot.txt later and you are ready to rock, just as if you plugged into a monitor.

I am using a Bluetooth keyboard with mouse pad to control my Pi Zero, and I am powering the screen from the Pi USB port using the included power cable.

Result?

• Nice resolution, colour/contrast, and only $40.

• The one concern I have is that ribbon cable, I have no idea how fragile it will be.

My next project will be designing a clam-shell case and 3D printing it, so hopefully that will reduce the wear.