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Best Small Displays and Batteries for a DIY Pip-Boy Project

A compact Pip-Boy 2040 build pairs a 1.69-inch IPS TFT with a Feather RP2040 and a listed 420 mAh LiPo. Here’s how it compares with an older Raspberry Pi option.

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For a compact wrist-mounted DIY Pip-Boy, the best-documented starting point is a 1.69-inch, 280×240 IPS TFT paired with a Feather RP2040, as in Adafruit’s Pip-Boy 2040. Its parts list names a 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo battery with a JST-PH connector. That is a documented component choice—not a promise of battery life. If you want a larger Raspberry Pi-based build, a separate older guide uses a 3.5-inch PiTFT and a 2,200 mAh battery, but its software is explicitly marked out of date.

Which small display fits a Pip-Boy build?

For a compact wearable modeled on the Pip-Boy 2040, start with the 1.69-inch, 280×240 round-rectangle IPS TFT. Adafruit’s example pairs it with a Feather RP2040 and configures the display’s ST7789 controller over SPI. The guide was published December 14, 2021, and last edited April 18, 2025.

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This is a supported combination for that Feather-based project, not evidence that the display is a drop-in Raspberry Pi screen. Check the interface, controller support, board connections, and physical dimensions before adapting it to another design.

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What battery should you use for a wearable Pip-Boy?

For the compact build, Adafruit lists a 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo battery with a JST-PH connector. The product information gives 3.7 V as nominal voltage, 4.2 V when fully charged, and approximately 1.55 Wh. These are battery specifications, not an estimate of how long the assembled prop will run.

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Before connecting a battery, verify its dimensions, connector type and polarity, and voltage against your exact board and enclosure. Confirm that the build has an appropriate charging and power-management path; a connector that fits is not by itself proof of electrical compatibility.

Why capacity does not tell you runtime

The cited Pip-Boy 2040 materials do not publish a measured runtime for the complete device. Actual operating time depends on the assembled system’s power draw and how it is used. Do not convert 420 mAh into a specific number of hours without measurements for your build.

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How does the larger Raspberry Pi option compare?

Adafruit’s Raspberry Pi Pipboy 3000 guide lists a 3.5-inch PiTFT for Raspberry Pi B+/2, a PowerBoost 1000C, and a 2,200 mAh lithium battery. Published February 4, 2016, the guide is a historical hardware reference rather than confirmation of present-day compatibility: it warns that the project software is out of date.

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Build path Display and controller Battery and power Key qualification
Compact wearable 1.69-inch, 280×240 IPS TFT; Feather RP2040 example 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo with JST-PH connector No measured runtime is reported; confirm fit, charging, and electrical compatibility for your build.
Larger Raspberry Pi concept 3.5-inch PiTFT for Raspberry Pi B+/2 2,200 mAh lithium battery and PowerBoost 1000C 2016 guide; its software is marked out of date, and current compatibility is not established.

The dimensions and platform differ materially: the compact option is documented for a Feather RP2040 wearable, while the larger reference is built around an older Raspberry Pi setup. Choose based on the board and enclosure you intend to use, rather than assuming the display or battery can be swapped between designs.

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What to check before buying parts

  • Display: Match screen dimensions and interface to your controller and enclosure. Confirm that the software supports the display controller.
  • Battery: Check nominal and fully charged voltage, capacity, physical dimensions, connector type, and polarity against your actual board.
  • Power path: Identify how the battery will be charged and how the project will receive regulated power. The cited parts lists do not guarantee compatibility with every board or enclosure.
  • Software: The Feather RP2040 project documents its display setup; the older Raspberry Pi guide flags its software as out of date, so verify what will run on your intended hardware.
  • Runtime: Treat capacity as a specification, not an operating-time claim. Measure the finished device under the screen brightness and usage conditions you expect.

For background on the wearable platform, Raspberry Pi’s feature on wearing Raspberry Pi Pico describes the Pip-Boy 2040 as a Feather RP2040 wearable project.

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