CM5 TV Stick Lite Turns Raspberry Pi Into HDMI Device

Raspberry Pi CM5 TV Stick Lite

The Raspberry Pi TV Stick concept moves forward with the CM5 TV Stick Lite, a compact carrier board built for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5. It converts the CM5 into a plug-and-play HDMI device, removing the need for extra cables and bulky enclosures. You can connect it directly to a monitor or TV and power it using a single USB-C cable, which makes the setup clean and portable.

Unlike standard development boards, this Raspberry Pi TV Stick focuses on simplicity and real-world use. The HDMI Type-A plug sits directly on the PCB, so you don’t need an external HDMI cable. This design works well for media playback, retro gaming, and compact embedded display systems where space and cable management matter.

The board supports both Lite and eMMC variants of the CM5, giving flexibility for storage. Lite versions use a microSD card, while eMMC modules depend on onboard storage. You must avoid inserting a microSD card when using an eMMC module because shared signal lines can damage the board. It also includes dual USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port for power and USB 2.0 data, and extra features like an IR receiver, user button, and nBOOT button for eMMC flashing.

Raspberry Pi CM5 TV Stick Lite Front Side

Raspberry Pi CM5 TV Stick Lite Specifications:

• Compatible: Supports Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (Lite and eMMC variants)
• Display Output: Integrated HDMI Type-A plug for direct connection
• Storage: MicroSD slot for Lite variant (not usable with eMMC modules)
• USB Ports: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A host ports with current limiting
• Power/Input: USB-C port for power and USB 2.0 gadget mode
• IR Support: Infrared receiver on GPIO17
• User Input: Programmable user button on GPIO14
• Boot Control: nBOOT button for USB boot and eMMC flashing
• Cooling: Fan connector for active cooling
• Indicators: Power and activity LEDs
• LED Header: WS2812 / WS2801 support (GPIO18, GPIO10, GPIO11)
• Form Factor: Compact HDMI stick design for cable-free setup

Raspberry Pi CM5 TV Stick Lite Bottom Side

The Raspberry Pi TV Stick works with standard Raspberry Pi OS builds and other Linux distributions that support the CM5 platform. You can run media centers like Kodi for streaming, deploy RetroPie for emulation, or build lightweight digital signage systems. USB gadget mode also enables headless setups, where the device exposes itself as a network interface or storage device over USB-C. Since this design uses CM5, software compatibility remains strong, but you should expect limited official documentation compared to standard Raspberry Pi boards. More details available on the GitHub.

The Raspberry Pi TV Stick carrier board is available from Makerfabs at an approximate price of $35.

Images used courtesy of Makerfabs.