Elecrow RC050S HD Review – A 5″ 800×480 HDMI Display with Capacitive Touchscreen and Speaker for DIY Projects

Introduction

If you are looking for a compact, reliable, and affordable touch monitor, the RC050S 5-Inch HD Capacitive Touchscreen Monitor is a fantastic option. With a perfect blend of portability, functionality, and ease of use, Elecrow has built this little display especially for DIY enthusiasts, Raspberry Pi users, and anyone who needs a simple yet effective screen. The RC050S is a 5-inch 800×480 capacitive touchscreen monitor with built-in speakers and backlight control, designed primarily for use with Raspberry Pi boards (compatible with Pi 5/4/4B/3/3B), but also works with other devices like PCs, gaming consoles (Sony PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), and mini PCs like Banana Pi, Jetson Nano and BeagleBone Black. It features a 5-point capacitive touch, HDMI and USB interfaces, a volume adjustment function, and a driver-free plug-and-play setup, making it extremely user-friendly.

It can serve as a mini computer monitor, portable gaming monitor, or a general-purpose HD screen for DIY projects, education, and portable entertainment setups. The monitor supports systems like Raspbian, Ubuntu, Win10 IoT, and Windows 7/8/10, with touch support on most platforms. Useful accessories like HDMI cables, USB cables, mounting screws, copper pillars, and a small fan to help cool down the Raspberry Pi when mounted on the back are also included. After using it for a while, I can confidently say it delivers great value for its price.

Package Contents

The RC050S package includes:

• 5-inch monitor
• 2x HDMI connectors
• 2x USB connectors
• 4x M2.5*4mm screws
• 4x small copper pillars
• 1x small fan
• 2x long copper pillars
• 2x short copper pillars
• 1x user manual

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the RC050S feels premium despite its affordable price tag. The monitor’s panel measures 121.11×77.93×14.1mm, and the screen size is 109 x 66 mm. It’s very lightweight too, weighing just 126g for the panel itself, which makes it super easy to mount and move around. The package comes well-protected, and it includes all the necessary accessories: HDMI cables, USB cables, screws, copper pillars, and even a small cooling fan for Raspberry Pi users.

Setting it up is simple because of the included bracket sticks that allow you to easily adjust the viewing angle. Whether you are using it flat on your desk or standing it up next to a bigger setup, it feels steady and well-supported.

The overall quality of materials feels durable. The edges are smooth, and the touchscreen feels responsive and sturdy, not flimsy like some cheaper screens.

Display Performance

The 800×480 resolution might sound low compared to today’s high-end displays, but for a 5-inch screen, it looks crisp and sharp. The colour reproduction is solid, and the brightness is good enough for indoor use. Plus, you have backlight control, which means you can adjust or turn off the backlight to save power — a very thoughtful feature if you’re using it for long hours.

Whether you’re using it as a mini-monitor for a Raspberry Pi project, a second screen for your PC, or even as a mini gaming monitor, the picture quality holds up well. Text is clear, colours are vibrant enough, and videos look smooth without noticeable lag or screen tearing.

Touchscreen Experience

One of the standout features of the RC050S touch monitor is its 5-point capacitive touchscreen. Unlike resistive touch screens that require a little pressure, this screen is very sensitive and responds to light touches. It supports multi-touch gestures, which makes it feel closer to using a smartphone or tablet.

Setting up the touch functionality is incredibly easy — it’s driver-free and truly plug-and-play. Simply connect the USB cable for touch input and the HDMI cable for video, and you’re ready to go. No drivers or complex installation is needed, which is a huge plus, especially for beginners.

Compatibility

This monitor is especially designed with Raspberry Pi users in mind. It supports Raspberry Pi 5/4/4B/3/3B models perfectly. The Raspberry Pi can even be mounted neatly onto the back of the monitor, making it an all-in-one compact unit.

Besides Raspberry Pi, the RC050S also works well with Banana Pi, Jetson Nano, BB Black, and other mini-PCs. Different operating systems like Raspbian, Ubuntu, and Win10 IoT support it, and you can also use it with Windows 7, 8, and 10 PCs.

However, when connected to consoles like PS4, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox, it’s important to note that the touch functionality won’t work — it will act as a standard display only. But that’s completely fine because the monitor still looks great when used for gaming or streaming.

Audio Performance

Another surprise was the built-in loudspeakers. The sound quality is decent for such a small device. It won’t replace external speakers or headphones if you’re looking for immersive sound, but for basic system sounds, notifications, or light media consumption, it does the job well. Additionally, the volume adjustment feature is a nice touch that allows more control to be given without needing additional software.

Practical Usage

The RC050S is extremely versatile. I used it mainly for Raspberry Pi projects, but it also served well as a secondary monitor for coding and quick web browsing tasks. It’s portable enough to carry in a bag, and setting it up wherever needed is effortless.

It’s great for:

• DIY Raspberry Pi projects
• Portable gaming monitors
• Small screens for car PC setups
• Custom embedded systems
• Secondary monitors for laptops and PCs

The included small fan is a thoughtful addition for Raspberry Pi users because it helps keep the Pi cool during heavy use, especially if you’re running resource-heavy programs or emulators.

Setup Tips

When connecting to a Raspberry Pi 4 running a Bullseye image or anything after October 30, 2021, you must tweak the boot config slightly. Change the line from “dtoverlay = vc4-kms-v3d” to “dtoverlay = vc4-fkms-v3d”. This small change ensures proper display output and avoids boot issues. If you’re using an older Buster image, you might need to comment out that line instead. It’s a minor but important step to get the best experience.

RC050S 5-Inch Capacitive Touchscreen Monitor Specifications

• Display:
  • Display Size: 5 inches
  • Resolution: 800×480 pixels
  • Touch Panel: Capacitive touch, 5-point touch support
• Interfaces:
  • HDMI input for video
  • USB connection for touch and power
• Audio: Built-in loudspeakers with volume adjustment
• Backlight Control: Supported (can be turned off to save power)
• Compatible Systems:
  • Raspberry Pi 5, 4, 4B, 3, 3B
  • Windows 7/8/10
  • Raspbian, Ubuntu, WIN10 IoT
• Supported Devices:
  • Raspberry Pi
  • BeagleBone Black
  • Banana Pi
  • TV boxes, Sony PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch (no touch support)
• Power Supply:
  • Powered Via USB port: provides both power and touch interface
  • No external power adapter needed (plug-and-play via USB)
  • USB port handles both power and touch input.
• Dimensions:
  • Screen Dimensions: 109 × 66 mm
  • Panel Dimensions: 121.11 × 77.93 × 14.1 mm
  • Package size: 5.5 × 5.3 × 2 inches
• Weight:
  • Panel weight: 126g
  • Product weight: 162g
  • Package weight: 222g

It was not too long ago, we wrote a review about Elecrow CrowPanel Advance 7.0, an ESP32-powered 7-inch HMI display with touchscreen for DIY and Industrial Projects. Compared to it, the RC050S is more compact and portable.

Pros:

• Excellent build quality
• Sharp and vibrant display
• Highly responsive 5-point touch
• Driver-free setup (plug and play)
• Built-in speakers with volume control
• Backlight control feature
• Includes cooling fan and full mounting kit
• Affordable price

Cons:

• No touch functionality when used with consoles
• Needs minor config edits for newer Raspberry Pi OS images

Video

Final Thoughts

As far as I understand, the RC050S HD 5-Inch Capacitive Touchscreen Monitor is an excellent product. It’s easy to set up, very portable, and works exactly as advertised. It’s perfect for hobbyists, students, engineers, and anyone who needs a compact and reliable display for their projects. If you are in the market for a compact touchscreen monitor, whether for Raspberry Pi projects or as a mini display for your computer, the RC050S is worth considering. A lot of features are offered without breaking the bank.

The RC050S HD 5-Inch Capacitive Touchscreen Monitor is available for purchase through various retailers. Pricing varies depending on the seller and any additional modules or accessories included. For instance, on Amazon, it is listed, but the price isn’t specified. You can also purchase it from AliExpress at $51.37 and from Elecrow’s official store at $42.90. Please note that prices are subject to change and may vary based on the retailer and any additional features or modules included. For more information about the touch monitor, you can visit the wiki page.

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