The New Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2

[G8GKQ]

I received my Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2 today.

The publicised headlines are that it is the same size as the old display but higher resolution (1280x720 vs 800x480) and that is "native portrait".

My initial observations:

• Whilst the display area might be the same (7 inch diagonal) the surrounding bezel is smaller in width and larger in height (189mm x 120mm vs 192mm x 110mm)
• The cutout required on a panel for flush panel mounting is also different (169mm x 111 mm vs 166mm x 111mm). The cutout's offset from the screen (and hence the bezel) is also different.
• Using the Raspberry Pi recommended desktop OS, it boots up in portrait mode, but it is a very simple operation using a few touches to change it to landscape.
• Visibility seems good at all sensible angles. The "poor visibility from above" problem on the old display is no longer present.
• The touch is responsive and easy to use.

It is definitely a candidate for support in the Portsdown 5 (along with the old display), but Portsdown 4 is unlikely to be updated to support it.

The old display is due to be available for purchase until 2030, so no need to replace your Portsdown 4 yet!

Dave, G8GKQ

[Basil]

The marketing department in cahoots with technical were on the ball in making it not fit their existing cases, requiring those wanting an off the shelf commercial case to have to buy a new one. Crafty!

[radiogareth]

Yes, and it won't fit my favoured repurposed 'console' style case either. Least the existing screen supply is assured until 2030.
Gareth.

[VK3IE]

Good to know it appears to be a good update if one wants.

Size difference must be due to the use of one of those Chinese Rulers,
Often seen on Ebay +/- 1~2 mm was the colour ok

Rob

[G5JIM]

Sorry, just to clarify this can’t be used for the portsdown 4 even at a lower resolution? Seems a shame to buy the old screen now seeing as it’s exactly the same price!!

Thanks
James
G5JIM

[G8GKQ]

James

I can confirm that the new Raspberry Pi Touchscreen 2 (1280x720) is not supported by the Portsdown 4 (or Portsdown 2020) software.

If you are prepared to go through the 40,000 plus lines of code to introduce support, I am sure that it could be done. However, the current code drives an 800x480 screen (or 480x320 for the Portsdown 2020) directly (not using a window manager) so it is not a minor task.

I do have a new screen to experiment with possible support for it on the Portsdown 5. However, Portsdown 5 release is not scheduled any time soon, so please don't wait!

Dave, G8GKQ

[g8lce]

Looking at the pictures of the new display with a RPi5 I had a thought! Could the Portsdown 5 use the second display output to drive a second display. Then it follows on - is the RPi 5 powerful enough to run Portsdown TX on one screen and Ryde RX on the other? The receiver half could be a second instance of Portsdown in receive mode so the selection could be touch controlled. Two screens side by side in one case and only one RPi5.

May be this is more for the RPi 6 when that arrives!!

Martin G8LCE

[g0mjw]

Or, at that point, you could just use a PC.