Displays

Character LCDs, SPI TFTs, e-paper modules and larger capacitive-touch TFT panels solve different display jobs. Treat display class, interface, controller, resolution, touch, refresh behaviour, storage, voltage and mounting as separate swap checks.

Parallel character LCDs

parallel pins

Classic character displays. Flexible and cheap, but they spend GPIO and need separate contrast/backlight wiring. Match 16x2 versus 20x4 geometry and positive/negative display style before treating RGB LCDs as alternatives.

from $12.954 boardsIn stock

I2C, Grove and Qwiic character LCDs

I²C / Grove / Qwiic

Fewer wires and friendlier connectors, but addresses, command sets, connector ecosystems and board sizes still need checking.

from $7.017 boardsIn stock

Arduino LCD shield kits

Arduino shield / I²C expander

Front-panel kits that bundle a character LCD, keypad buttons and shield pinout assumptions. They reduce wiring, but they are not bare LCD modules.

from $19.951 boardIn stock

Can I swap these?

Pick the board you have - we'll show what we know about swapping it.

I have

Known swap options (1)

General board checks (7)

Decide whether the project needs a character LCD or a pixel-addressed TFT display. Do not cross that boundary without redesigning the UI and firmware.
For character LCDs, match the character geometry first: 16x2, 20x4, or another size.
Match the interface path: parallel pins, I2C backpack, Qwiic, Grove, Raspberry Pi HAT, SPI TFT breakout, raw TFT panel connector, or capacitive-touch module.
For TFTs, confirm resolution, controller or driver family, SPI mode, color depth, touch controller, microSD wiring, library support and available MCU memory.
Confirm supply voltage, logic level, I2C address or serial protocol, contrast/backlight controls, and current draw.
Check board dimensions, mounting holes, connector position, keypad buttons, touch area, bezel opening and enclosure depth.
Use the vendor product page and datasheet for the exact module before swapping into a finished design.

Parts in this group

Parallel character LCDs

RGB backlight positive LCD 16x2

Bare 16x2 character LCD with RGB backlight. Good when the design expects direct LCD wiring and controls the RGB backlight pins itself.

$12.95

RGB backlight negative LCD 16x2

Parallel 16x2 RGB character LCD with dark background. Similar project role to the positive 16x2 RGB LCD, but check text/background polarity, extra RGB backlight pins, 5 V drive assumptions, contrast wiring and panel appearance before swapping.

$13.95

RGB backlight negative LCD 20x4

Parallel 20x4 RGB character LCD with dark background. Not a drop-in 16x2 replacement: it changes character geometry, board size, backlight current and UI layout.

$24.95

RGB backlight positive LCD 20x4

Parallel 20x4 RGB character LCD with light background. Compare against the negative 20x4 variant for readability and background style; compare against 16x2 parts for enclosure and firmware layout changes.

$24.95

I2C, Grove and Qwiic character LCDs

I2C 20x4 Arduino LCD Display Module

20x4 I2C character LCD. Use when the project needs four lines; not a drop-in for a 16x2 enclosure or layout.

$14.00

Gravity: I2C 16x2 Arduino LCD with RGB Backlight Display V2.0

16x2 Gravity I2C RGB LCD. Similar purpose to other 16x2 I2C displays, but connector ecosystem and board size still matter.

$11.90

I2C RGB Backlight LCD 16x2 Display Module for Arduino (Black Text)

16x2 I2C RGB LCD with a larger module footprint than some compact 16x2 backpacks. Check mounting and address before swapping.

$12.90

Grove - 16x2 LCD - White on Blue

Grove 16x2 display module. Grove connector makes it convenient in Grove systems, not automatically drop-in for Qwiic or bare parallel LCD wiring.

€7.01

Grove - 16x2 LCD - Black on Red

Grove 16x2 display with a different backlight/color variant. Treat as same Grove display class, then verify exact SKU and stock.

€7.73

Grove - 16x2 LCD - Black on Yellow

Grove 16x2 display color variant. Functionally adjacent to the other Grove 16x2 rows, but not proof of identical module electronics.

€7.25

SparkFun 16x2 SerLCD - RGB Backlight (Qwiic)

16x2 RGB character LCD with Qwiic serial control. Same display size as many 16x2 modules, but a different wiring and software path.

$32.50

Arduino LCD shield kits

LCD shield with 16x2 character display

Arduino LCD shield kit with 16x2 display and keypad controls over I2C. Useful as a front-panel shield, not a substitute for a bare LCD module or Raspberry Pi HAT.

$19.95

Raspberry Pi LCD/keypad panels

Adafruit RGB 16x2 LCD and Keypad for Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi LCD/keypad HAT kit. Use for Pi front panels; not a drop-in Arduino/Qwiic/Grove LCD module.

£24.60

Voltage-specific LCD1602 modules

LCD1602 (3.3V Yellow Backlight)

LCD1602 character module for 3.3 V logic with yellow backlight. Treat separately from 5 V LCD1602 modules when the host board cannot tolerate level shifting surprises.

$3.49

LCD1602 (5V Blue Backlight)

LCD1602 character module for 5 V logic with blue backlight. Do not swap into a 3.3 V-only design without checking logic level, supply and backlight drive.

$3.49

LCD1602 (3.3V Blue Backlight)

LCD1602 character module for 3.3 V logic with blue backlight. Same 16x2 role as the yellow 3.3 V variant, but the visual contrast and backlight color change the finished panel.

$3.69

Small SPI TFT displays

DFRobot 0.96" 160x80 Color SPI TFT Display

0.96 inch 160x80 color SPI TFT module. Useful for compact graphics, but the tiny resolution and code assumptions differ from 1.8 inch and larger TFTs.

$9.95

SparkFun TFT LCD Breakout - 1.8" (128x160)

1.8 inch 128x160 color TFT breakout. Use when the design expects a small SPI-style graphics display, not as a character LCD replacement.

$34.95

1.8" TFT LCD 160x128 RGB

Raw 1.8 inch 160x128 RGB TFT panel. SparkFun notes 9-bit SPI support, so treat it as a lower-level panel, not a drop-in for easier breakout boards.

$2.95

TFT LCD Display Module Screen - 2.0in., 240x320 (SPI Interface)

2.0 inch 240x320 SPI TFT module. Higher resolution than the small 0.96 and 1.8 inch screens, with driver and memory checks before substitution.

$18.95

Larger capacitive-touch TFTs

Fermion: 3.5” 480x320 TFT LCD Capacitive Touchscreen with MicroSD Card Slot (Breakout)

3.5 inch 480x320 SPI TFT breakout with capacitive touch and microSD. Strong front-panel option, but touch/storage wiring and driver support must match.

$25.90

3.5" TFT Color Display with Capacitive Touch Screen

3.5 inch capacitive-touch TFT. Larger front-panel class with touch support; not a blind substitute for small SPI breakouts.

$49.95

4.3" TFT Color Display with Capacitive Touch Screen

4.3 inch capacitive-touch TFT. Same broad role as the 3.5 and 5 inch touch displays, but enclosure, connector and UI layout change.

$54.95

5" TFT Color Display with Capacitive Touch Screen

5 inch capacitive-touch TFT. Treat as a larger panel choice with mounting, current and UI-layout review required.

$69.95

Inky pHAT e-paper

Red/Black/White Inky pHAT (ePaper/eInk/EPD)

Pimoroni Inky pHAT e-paper module sold by Kiwi. Best treated as a Raspberry Pi pHAT display with e-paper-specific refresh and library checks, not a generic display panel.

€32.05