Ident is software — you source the hardware yourself. Here's the reference build, every supported alternative, and the combinations that will waste your money.
If you don't want to think about it, buy these four things. This is the combination the software is developed and tested against.
| Part | Which one | Indicative |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Pimoroni Inky Impression 7.3″ (2025 Edition) — 800×480, Spectra 6 | £79.50 |
| Computer | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with header (“WH”) — no soldering | £17.30 |
| Power supply | Official 12.5W micro-USB supply, UK plug | £7.70 |
| microSD card | Any branded 16–32GB A1 card | ~£8 |
| Total | ~£113 |
All are Pimoroni Inky Impression panels and all are supported. Layouts adapt to whichever you choose.
| Panel | Resolution | Colours | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.3″ (2025) | 800×480 | 6 (Spectra) | Recommended. Best balance of size, price and legibility. |
| 4.0″ | 600×400 | 6 (Spectra) | Cheapest entry. Fine on a desk; small for a wall. |
| 13.3″ | 1600×1200 | 6 (Spectra) | Superb but expensive, and noticeably slower to redraw. |
| 5.7″ | 600×448 | 7 (ACeP) | Discontinued. Supported if you own one; don't hunt for it. |
Any Raspberry Pi with a 40-pin header works. The Wi-Fi band is the thing that catches people out.
| Board | 2.4GHz | 5GHz | Power connector | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zero 2 WH | Yes | No | micro-USB | The default choice. Header pre-fitted. Lowest power draw. |
| Zero 2 W | Yes | No | micro-USB | £3 cheaper but you must solder a 40-pin header yourself. |
| Pi 3 Model B+ | Yes | Yes | micro-USB | Dual-band and has Ethernet. Bulkier behind a frame. |
| Pi 4 Model B | Yes | Yes | USB-C 3A | Dual-band, fast, runs warm. Needs its own USB-C supply. |
| Pi 5 | Yes | Yes | USB-C 5A | Overkill, and needs the 27W supply. Works fine. |
Every one of these has cost somebody an evening.
The Zero's radio is 2.4GHz only. If your router broadcasts one network name and steers devices to 5GHz, or 2.4GHz is switched off, it will never connect and no amount of configuration will fix it. Enable 2.4GHz, split the band names, or buy a dual-band Pi.
Wrong connector entirely — these need USB-C. A Pi 5 also needs a 5A/27W supply; feed it less and it will brown out mid-refresh and corrupt the SD card. Buy the supply that matches the board.
There's nothing to plug the display into. Either solder a 40-pin header or buy the “WH” version with one already fitted. This is the single most common ordering mistake.
The panel sits on the GPIO header, so almost no standard case will close with it attached. Plan on a frame or open mount instead of a case.
The Inky uses the GPIO header, SPI and I2C. Stacking a second HAT will usually conflict. Run one HAT only.
Pimoroni warn that fixings with longer threads than the supplied ones can crack the glass. Use what comes in the box.
Technically compatible, but the GPIO header points backwards out of the keyboard, so the panel ends up at an absurd angle. You'd need a GPIO extension cable.
The cheap route to 5GHz on a Zero 2 W: a Linux-compatible dual-band adapter plus a micro-USB OTG adapter. Fiddlier, and driver support varies — check before buying.
A deep-rebate photo frame or 3D-printed stand. The 7.3″ panel is about 170×110mm; leave room behind for the Pi and the cable.
Needed once, to flash the card — and again if you ever need to recover a device that won't join Wi-Fi. Worth owning.