The AiPi-Eyes-R2 can serve as the hardware foundation for a DIY smart-home touchscreen, but the project documented so far is a work in progress—not a finished, proven Home Assistant controller. It uses Ai-Thinker’s Ai-M61-32S-based display board, the manufacturer’s SDK and serial flashing workflow, plus a custom-printed enclosure.
What the AiPi-Eyes-R2 is
Ai-Thinker designs the AiPi-Eyes-R2 for its Ai-M61-32S module. The board supports a 4-inch RGB display at 480 × 480 resolution, capacitive touch and USB camera integration. The module’s listed wireless capabilities include Wi-Fi 6 and BLE 5.3; its interfaces include SPI, UART, I²C, I²S, USB 2.0 and GPIO. See the Ai-Thinker product documentation for specifications and materials for the particular board revision.
The R2 has a built-in codec for single-channel audio input and output. It differs from the R1, which uses an external ES8388 audio chip and supports dual-channel audio. Those hardware capabilities do not, by themselves, provide smart-home device integrations or a finished control interface.
What the documented DIY project includes
Nickson Kiprotich’s project, “DIY Smart Home Control Panel with AiPi-Eyes-R2”, was published on August 13, 2025. It describes the goal of a dedicated touchscreen panel and documents SDK setup, firmware flashing, a simple example and enclosure work. The page labels the project “Work in progress.”
#1 Best Overall
- 7 inches, 800x480 pixels, IPS type, wide viewing angle, capacitive touchscreen, enjoy smooth touch response and excellent clarity for all your Raspberry Pi projects.
- Specially designed, simply connect to your raspberry pi's MIPI DSI interface. (No additional connections required.)
- Fully Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5/ 4B / 3B+ / 3B / 3A+ / 2B. (No HDMI port, not compatible with any other device.)
- Supports for Raspbian OS 2 points to zoom the page(old version), for Ubuntu/Kali/Win10 IoT (single-touch only). Support backlight brightness adjustment.
- Easy to use, no configuration required, plug and play (for new and configuration unchanged raspberry pi systems). Instructions was provided.
More smart-device integrations, custom UI themes, optional voice control and battery backup are listed as future additions. The published project therefore supports describing a development build and its intended direction, but not claiming a completed unified controller or a working Home Assistant integration.
Parts and preparation
The project’s named hardware includes the AiPi-Eyes-R2, a 3.3 V FTDI Basic Breakout and jumper wires. The manufacturer’s guide calls for serial connections between the board and a TTL tool. Use the guide for the exact wiring and the adapter’s suitability; do not assume an arbitrary USB-to-serial adapter or voltage level is compatible.
Rank #2
- 5-inch 800*480 resolution capacitive touch screen, IPS type, good viewing angle.
- The MIPI DSI interface directly outputs, plug and play, no driver installation required.
- As a touchscreen monitor, compatible with Raspberry Pi 5 / 4B / 3B+ / 3B / 3A+ / 2B / 1B+ / 1A+. (No HDMI. Not compatible with any other devices.)
- Supports for Raspbian OS 2 points to zoom the page(old version), for Ubuntu/Kali/Win10 IoT (single-touch only). Support PWM backlight brightness adjustment.
- Easy to use -> No configuration required (for new and configuration unchanged systems). Provide detailed usage documentation.
- AiPi-Eyes-R2 board and compatible display assembly
- 3.3 V USB-to-TTL serial adapter and jumper wires
- A computer set up with Ai-Thinker’s SDK and the project repository
- For the enclosure: access to Fusion 360 or another suitable design workflow, and a 3D printer or printing service
Build and flash the firmware
The project’s software path is Ai-Thinker’s AiPi-Open-Kits repository and SDK, rather than generic ESP32 setup instructions. The project describes cloning the repository, initializing submodules, configuring the SDK, selecting the AiPi-Eyes-R2 target for an example, compiling and flashing.
- Get the project code: Clone the Ai-Thinker AiPi-Open-Kits repository and initialize its submodules as described by the project.
- Configure the SDK: Follow the project’s SDK setup, then select the AiPi-Eyes-R2 board target for the example you intend to build.
- Compile: Build the selected example using the SDK workflow and instructions applicable to that repository version.
- Wire the serial adapter: Follow the manufacturer’s board guide. Its wiring table identifies 3.3 V, TXD/RX, RXD/TX and ground connections.
- Enter programming mode and flash: Use the board’s download and reset controls to enter programming mode. The guide specifies selecting BL616/618 in the flashing tool. Follow the current manufacturer instructions for the board revision in hand.
Do not substitute familiar ESP32 flashing steps without checking the AiPi-Eyes-R2 guide: the board documentation identifies the Ai-M61-32S and its BL616/618 programming path.
Rank #3
- 【IPS 1024×600 HD Display & 178° Wide Viewing Angle】 Experience crisp, vivid visuals on this ROADOM 10.1 inch touch screen monitor featuring a sharp 1024×600 HD resolution — a significant upgrade from standard 800×480 displays. The IPS touch screen panel delivers rich colors and a wide 178° viewing angle, ensuring clear picture quality whether you're viewing head-on or from the side. This 10 inch monitor punches above its weight with 300cd/m² brightness and a 700:1 contrast ratio. For the best touch experience, remove the pre-installed screen protector
- 【Responsive 5-Point Capacitive Touch — Plug & Play】 Enjoy swift, precise touch interactions with a rapid 3-5ms response time. This touchscreen monitor supports 5-point capacitive touch and intuitive gestures — tapping, zooming, swiping, and mouse clicks. A true plug and play touchscreen that requires no driver installation: simply connect via HDMI for video and USB Type-C for touch, and it works instantly with Windows, Linux (Raspberry Pi OS / Ubuntu / Debian), and macOS. This responsive touchscreen integrates seamlessly — no configuration headaches. Note: touch functionality is not supported on iOS systems
- 【Made for Raspberry Pi — Pi 5/4/3/Zero & Beyond】 Built for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, this raspberry pi touchscreen works with all Pi versions including Raspberry Pi 5, 4, 3, and Zero — an ideal raspberry pi monitor and raspberry pi display. Also compatible with Banana Pi, Retro Pi, and Octo Pi. Power your Pi and screen from one source with the included GPIO cable — a clean gpio powered screen setup. Supports Raspberry Pi OS, Noobs, Debian, Ubuntu, Kodi. Note: touch not supported on iOS / macOS. A versatile raspberry pi with screen solution for makers, tinkerers, and developers
- 【Dual Built-in Speakers & All-in-One Protective Case】 Rich, clear audio from dual built-in 1W×2 speakers — this monitor with speaker needs no external audio. Unlike bare touchscreen display boards, ROADOM integrates the LCD panel, circuit board, and protective casing into one seamless unit. No exposed PCBs, fragile ribbon cables, or DIY headaches. This touchscreen with case and monitor with dual speakers is ready right out of the box. The spacious 10.1-inch screen gives you extra real estate for portable gaming, video streaming, and diy touchscreen projects — more room to create than cramped 7-inch displays
- 【3 Display Modes, Versatile Stand & What You Get】 This portable touchscreen supports three display modes: Duplicate, Extend, and Second Screen Only. With a generous 10.1-inch screen, it excels as a laptop second screen for coding, a desktop second monitor for multitasking, a cctv monitor for security, or a 3d printer monitor for your workshop. The adjustable stand customizes height and tilt angle. Package includes: 10.1" monitor, HDMI & Micro-HDMI cables, USB-A to Type-C & Type-C to USB-A cables, GPIO power cable, 5V 3A power adapter, Pi mounting kit, and user manual — a complete portable hdmi monitor package
Home Assistant and ESPHome: what is and is not established
Home Assistant describes ESPHome as a firmware configuration and generation system whose compatible devices communicate with Home Assistant through its native API. ESPHome documents support for microcontroller families including ESP32, ESP8266 and RP2040. The AiPi-Eyes-R2 materials instead identify the Ai-M61-32S and document an Ai-Thinker SDK workflow. The available sources do not establish ESPHome compatibility or a working Home Assistant integration for this board.
ESPHome’s display components can render graphics, including through lambdas, but that general feature does not establish a driver, firmware port or working configuration for the AiPi-Eyes-R2. Treat an ESPHome port as unverified; the documented project route is Ai-Thinker’s SDK.
Rank #4
- BUILD YOUR NEXT PROJECT: Bring your ideas to life with a compact touchscreen for Raspberry Pi projects, smart home dashboards, robotics, DIY electronics and embedded systems. Connect through HDMI and start building
- CLEAR IPS DISPLAY: See code, dashboards and system data clearly on the 1024×600 IPS display, with 420 nits of brightness, 60Hz refresh and a 170° viewing angle for a comfortable view
- TAP, SWIPE AND TAKE CONTROL: Tap, swipe and navigate naturally with 5-point capacitive touch. No extra touch driver is needed, making it easy to interact with supported apps on Pi OS, Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, Android and Windows. Note: Touch functionality is not supported on iOS
- CONNECT YOUR PI 5 OR 4: Connecting your Raspberry Pi 5 or 4 is simple: use the included Micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter, then connect the display to your board through HDMI. No need to buy the adapter separately
- TURN YOUR PC INTO A SENSOR PANEL: Keep an eye on CPU temperature, GPU usage, memory and other live system data with a compact PC sensor panel. It’s a practical addition to custom PC cases and hardware monitoring setups
Make and fit the enclosure
The project describes starting with an Ai-Thinker case model, inspecting or modifying it in Fusion 360, exporting front and back pieces as STL files, printing them and mounting the board and screen. It names PLA and PETG as example filament materials and notes the screen’s ribbon cable during assembly.
Plan the case around the actual board and display assembly, leaving room for the ribbon cable and access needed during fitting. The project does not establish a tested print profile, printer recommendation or universally suitable enclosure dimensions, so inspect the model and check fit before committing to a final print.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- DISPLAY SIZE: Features a 7-inch LCD touchscreen display with sleek black bezel design for optimal viewing and interaction
- HIGH RESOLUTION: Crisp 720 x 1280 pixel resolution delivers clear, detailed visuals for enhanced user experience
- COLOR DEPTH: Premium 24-bit RGB color support ensures vibrant and accurate color reproduction
- COMPATIBILITY: Specifically designed to work seamlessly with Raspberry Pi boards for easy integration
- TOUCH INTERFACE: Responsive touchscreen functionality enables intuitive control and navigation
What to verify before building
- Check the official documentation for the board revision, specifications, schematics, source code, test firmware, screen information and current flashing instructions.
- Confirm the adapter is a 3.3 V serial tool appropriate for the board guide’s wiring; do not infer voltage tolerance from the connector or cable alone.
- Decide which smart-home integrations you need. The project’s future-work list is not evidence that those integrations are already implemented.
- Budget time for custom firmware and interface work if your goal is a usable, unified control panel rather than the documented example.
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