Our top - selling PiTFT 2.8 - inch display has received a cool upgrade! Now, it comes with a capacitive touchscreen. Unlike the old resistive touchscreen that needed a fingernail or stylus, you can simply use your fingerpad. The screen looks way better with a sleek black bezel and a glass overlay. This display features a 2.8 - inch screen with 320x240 16 - bit color pixels and a single - touch capacitive touch overlay. It uses the high - speed SPI interface on the Pi and can serve as a console, X window port, or display images and videos. The best part? It plugs right on top! Designed to fit nicely on the Pi 1 Model A or B rev 2, it also works well with the Raspberry Pi Zero, Pi 3, Pi 2, Pi 1 Model A+ or B+ (any Pi with a 2x20 connector). Just note that the PCB overhangs the USB ports by 5mm. The Model B rev 1 can't use the touch screen due to its older I2C pin layout. If you have a Pi with a 2x20 connector, we recommend the updated version here! It uses the hardware I2C Pins (SDA & SCL), SPI pins (SCK, MOSI, MISO, CE0), as well as GPIO #25 and #24. Other GPIO pins are free for you to share with sensors or LED drivers. There are 4 spots for optional slim tactile switches wired to four GPIOs, which you can use to create a basic user interface, like a power on/off button. The optional tact switches aren't included. The screen is the same size as the resistive type, so you can use it with the PiTFT PiBow or other enclosures you own. We use the same SDL device and signals, so PyGame and X11 - based programs can be used without code changes. As of Feb 25, 2015, this version comes assembled with a 2x13 extra - tall female header to connect to the Pi and a 2x13 male header for an IDC cable or cobbler. The optional slim tactile buttons are shown in the photos but not included. You can buy a pack of 20 here.
Using your new 2.8 - inch TFT capacitive touchscreen for Raspberry Pi is a breeze. First, plug it right on top of your Raspberry Pi. Make sure your Pi has a 2x20 connector. If you're using a Pi 1 Model B rev 1, unfortunately, you won't be able to use the touch - screen feature. Once it's plugged in, you can use it as a console, display images, or play videos. The high - speed SPI interface ensures smooth operation. You can connect sensors or LED drivers to the available GPIO pins. If you want to add some basic user interface functions, you can use the 4 spots for optional slim tactile switches. Just buy the switches separately and wire them up. When it comes to enclosures, since the screen size is the same as the resistive type, you can reuse your existing PiTFT PiBow or other enclosures. Also, if you're using PyGame or X11 - based programs, there's no need to change the code. For maintenance, keep the screen clean with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid using abrasive materials. If you're not using the device for a long time, store it in a cool, dry place. That's all you need to know to get the most out of your new touchscreen display for Raspberry Pi.
