Elecrow has released a 2.8-inch Round IPS Display that breaks new ground by including a mini HDMI port, a first for circular displays in this category. While round displays with SPI or I2C interfaces have become common in the maker space, this 480×480 pixel screen works as a standard HDMI monitor, requiring no special drivers and supporting Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, Kali, and Windows out of the box.
The display features an ST7701S driver IC, 250 cd/m² brightness, and 178-degree viewing angles typical of IPS panels. Its CNC-machined aluminum housing measures 8.95 cm × 8.95 cm × 1 cm (3.5 inches × 3.5 inches × 0.4 inches) and weighs 85 grams (3 ounces). Power consumption sits at around 0.9 watts via USB-C, and a physical button controls backlight brightness in 10 percent increments or turns the display off entirely with a long press.
The 480×480 resolution remains somewhat uncommon in standard computing, but the display should work immediately with most systems that recognize it. Applications range from custom dashboards and industrial control panels to compact media displays and creative UI projects. A user manual provides additional technical details.
The display is priced at $40 (€37) and ships with a mini HDMI to HDMI cable and USB-C power cable. It may appear on the company's retail channels in the coming weeks.