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

For a compact wrist-mounted Pip-Boy, the best-documented starting point is a 1.69-inch IPS TFT with a Feather RP2040 and 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo. A larger Raspberry Pi alternative exists, but its 2016 guide warns that the software is out of date.
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For a compact wrist-mounted Pip-Boy, the best-documented choice is Adafruit’s Pip-Boy 2040 setup: a 1.69-inch, 280×240 IPS TFT paired with a Feather RP2040, plus a 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo battery with a JST-PH connector. That is a parts recommendation for this specific architecture, not a guarantee of fit or battery life. If you want a larger Raspberry Pi build, a 3.5-inch PiTFT with a 2200 mAh battery is documented in an older guide, but its software is marked out of date.

Which small display and battery suit a DIY Pip-Boy?

For a compact wearable prop, start with the Adafruit Pip-Boy 2040 configuration. Its guide specifies a 1.69-inch, 280×240 round-rectangle IPS TFT and a Feather RP2040; the sample code configures an ST7789 display over SPI. Adafruit’s featured-products page lists a 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo with a JST-PH connector for the build. See the Pip-Boy 2040 guide and its featured products.

This pairing is the clearest documented fit for a small Pip-Boy-style interface with simple graphics and physical controls. The display is supported here with the Feather RP2040 example; it is not established as a drop-in display for a Raspberry Pi. For an alternative with a larger screen and Raspberry Pi platform, the older Pip-Boy 3000 guide lists a 3.5-inch PiTFT, PowerBoost 1000C, and 2200 mAh lithium battery.

What screen fits a Pip-Boy build?

Compact: 1.69-inch IPS TFT

The Pip-Boy 2040 guide, last edited April 18, 2025, specifies a 1.69-inch, 280×240 round-rectangle IPS TFT. Its small footprint suits a wrist-mounted enclosure better than the larger Raspberry Pi display option, while the Feather RP2040 example uses SPI and an ST7789 driver. The guide’s documented combination is useful for a compact prop, but check the actual display dimensions, mounting points, cable clearance, and enclosure opening before designing or printing a case.

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Larger: 3.5-inch PiTFT

The Raspberry Pi Pip-Boy 3000 guide, published in 2016, lists a 3.5-inch PiTFT for Raspberry Pi B+/2. That offers a substantially larger display area than the compact option, but it belongs to a different hardware architecture and is not evidence that the small Feather-oriented TFT will work on a Raspberry Pi. The legacy guide also warns that its software is out of date; treat it as a historical hardware reference and verify present-day compatibility before sourcing parts. Read the Raspberry Pi Pip-Boy 3000 guide.

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

For the compact Feather RP2040 build

Adafruit lists a 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo with a JST-PH connector for its Pip-Boy 2040. The product page gives 4.2 V as the fully charged voltage, 3.7 V nominal voltage, and approximately 1.55 Wh. These figures describe the listed battery, not a runtime estimate for the completed prop.

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The cited build sources do not report measured operating time for the assembled device. Battery capacity alone cannot tell you how long your build will run: the complete device’s load and how it is used matter. Do not assume a particular number of hours from the 420 mAh rating.

For the older Raspberry Pi concept

The 2016 Raspberry Pi guide lists a 2200 mAh lithium battery alongside a PowerBoost 1000C and 3.5-inch PiTFT. This is a different power path from the compact Feather setup, not simply a larger-capacity substitute for its 420 mAh battery. The guide does not establish current compatibility or give a comparable runtime figure.

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Compare the documented build paths

Build path Display and controller Battery and power What it suits Important limitation
Compact Pip-Boy 2040 1.69-inch, 280×240 round-rectangle IPS TFT; Feather RP2040 example with ST7789 over SPI 3.7 V, 420 mAh LiPo with JST-PH connector Small wearable prop with simple graphic screens and controls No measured runtime is published; confirm fit, connector and power requirements for your exact build.
Raspberry Pi Pip-Boy 3000 reference 3.5-inch PiTFT for Raspberry Pi B+/2 PowerBoost 1000C and 2200 mAh lithium battery A larger Raspberry Pi prop concept The 2016 guide says its software is out of date, and present-day compatibility is not established.

The compact configuration is the better-supported starting point when small size is the priority. The larger reference may suit a project deliberately built around a Raspberry Pi, but its age and software warning make verification especially important. Raspberry Pi’s feature on wearing Raspberry Pi Pico also describes the Pip-Boy 2040 as a Feather RP2040 wearable project. Read the Raspberry Pi feature.

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  • Headphone jack, 4PIN speaker header

Check these details before buying or wiring parts

  • Controller and display interface: Match the display’s interface and driver to the controller and software you intend to use. The documented compact example uses an ST7789 over SPI with a Feather RP2040.
  • Battery connector and polarity: Confirm the connector type and wiring polarity against the board or charging circuit; a matching-looking plug is not a compatibility guarantee.
  • Voltage and power path: Check the selected board’s required input voltage and current, and determine whether the battery needs charging or power-management circuitry for your design.
  • Physical fit: Compare the battery’s dimensions with the available enclosure space, and leave room for wiring, the display, controls, and safe mounting.
  • Software support: Use the Feather RP2040 example as the basis for the compact display path. For the legacy Raspberry Pi design, verify software and hardware compatibility rather than assuming the 2016 instructions remain current.
  • Runtime expectations: Size the battery around the complete device load and intended use; neither cited build guide supplies a measured runtime for its assembled Pip-Boy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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