I Tested the SunFounder TS-10 Touchscreen – Here’s What You Need to Know

Too small, clumsy, impractical… do you know how hard it is to find a good monitor to use with my Raspberry Pi? Unless you’re using it as your main PC and can afford a big screen, or as a server and don’t even need a screen, it’s pretty hard to find something good in the middle that lets you see what you’re doing and switch systems easily.

The SunFounder TS-10 is a suitable option for casual Raspberry Pi users. It offers a larger screen than most DIY setups, capacitive touch that works across all systems, and support for all Raspberry Pi models.

I got the chance to get my hands on this model, test it for you and share my findings. Interested? Let’s dive in and see if it’s a good fit for you (and me!).

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Specifications and Key Features

The SunFounder TS-10 is a 10.1″ IPS monitor with a resolution of 1280×800. It works with any operating system and is especially designed to be used with a Raspberry Pi mounted behind the screen.

Here are the main specifications:

• 10.1″ IPS HD Touchscreen
• Resolution: 1280×800
• Technology: 10-point touch, capacitive touch
• 178° wide view, dual audio
• 12V/5A power supply (RPI 5 compatible)

You can use it with all Raspberry Pi models, with rear fixing and power support for most of them (you may need an additional cable for models from the Zero family). It’s also compatible with many other single-board computers (Rock Pi, Libre Computer, Odroid, etc) and any device with HDMI output. Check their website for details.

By the way, this product is an upgrade from an older product that wasn’t compatible with Raspberry Pi 5. So if you come across some old reviews, tutorials or documentation, it might be for the previous version of this product. The one I’m reviewing here is the one that is compatible with the Pi 5.

The details and the current price are listed on the official website. It’s also available on Amazon, if you prefer.

Disclosure: SunFounder sent me this product for free to test and write a review. I’ll give you my honest opinion in this article, but I also want to tell you this upfront.

Unboxing and First Impressions

As is often the case with SunFounder products, you’ll find everything you need in the box, including a color printed manual, screwdrivers and, of course, all the necessary screws and cables.

Here is an exhaustive list of everything you’ll find in the box:

• 1 x 10.1” IPS Touch Screen
• 1 x Power Adapter
• 1 x Speaker (dual output)
• 1 x Manual
• 5 x M2.5 x 18 Copper Standoff
• 4 x M2.5 x 30 Copper Standoff
• 5 x M2.5 x 6 Screws
• 1 x HDMI to Micro-HDMI Cable
• 1 x Type-C USB Cable
• 1 x USB Touch Screen Cable
• 2 x Tape (4 in mine?)
• 1 x Screwdriver
• 2 x Wrenches
• 1 x Acrylic protection

While the monitor is compatible with all Raspberry Pi models and most single-board computers, the included accessories are mostly suitable for Raspberry Pi 4 and 5. For other models, you may need to purchase additional cables (e.g. no HDMI/HDMI cable included, no micro-USB power cable included).

Assembly and First Issues

There is some assembly work to do before you can use this monitor. Nothing complicated, but it’s not as plug-and-play as you might be used to with other products.

You can attach a Raspberry Pi to the back of the screen, and you will need to at least connect all the cables properly to power the monitor to get the display to work and use the touch feature. Audio speakers are not built in, and you will also need to connect and glue them to the monitor.

Everything is clearly explained in the included manual, so it shouldn’t be too difficult. I recommend that you check the final result before you assemble anything, so you don’t get confused about the necessary steps, like I did.

The idea is to attach your Raspberry Pi to the back of the monitor. By default, it’s ready to use with a standard Raspberry Pi model. For other models and computers, you can adjust the positions of the screws to make it work with your setup, that’s pretty smart.

The board on the left is the monitor controller, and SunFounder has already mounted it for you. It could have been hidden inside the monitor, but as you’ll quickly see, this product keeps everything out.

There is an acrylic plate to protect this card and the Raspberry Pi, but not a full cover to hide everything properly, like on my previous monitor.

Where things get a little funky is that you also have to plug in the audio speakers yourself and glue them to the back of the monitor. Why are they not included in the monitor?

And that’s just the beginning. The other cables are not the perfect length either, with both Pi cables sticking out from the back of the monitor. The touch cables connected to the Raspberry Pi’s USB port are too long, and you need tape to hold them in place.

This is what it looks like after assembly. Sure, it works, but I think it could have been thought through more to get a more compact design in the end. If you look at the RasPad 3 or other similar products, you plug in the Pi, and everything is hidden after assembly.

I know it’s not the same price and goal, but it’s not that far off. Shorter cables and built-in speakers would be an improvement.

Anyway, the screen works perfectly like this. On my first boot, I had a random system on my Raspberry Pi (LibreElec), and the touchscreen worked immediately. I think it’s a good proof that their claim that it works with most systems without drivers is true.

Digging Deeper: Problems and Solutions

At the end of the assembly, I was a little disappointed with the product. With all the wires on the outside, the funky assembly steps with duct tape, and no way to keep the monitor upright, this was not what I expected.

To be honest, since SunFounder sent me this product for free, I didn’t look into it as much as I should have, and that’s probably why I was a bit surprised. Now that I’ve been using it for a few days, I’ve found solutions to most of the problems, so I’d like to share them with you before giving you my final verdict.

No case?

The SunFounder TS-10 monitor doesn’t come with a full case that covers and protects the Raspberry Pi and monitor controller nicely, like on similar products.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as you still have easy access to your Raspberry Pi for projects where you need GPIO or other port access, just something to keep in mind depending on your use case (clearly not great for outdoor monitors!).

SunFounder provides a 3D printer file to print your own case for this product. It’s available in their documentation.

Sure, once you add that, you’ll better understand some of the confusing steps during assembly, the stand-offs that are useless unless you have this, and it solves some of this product’s problems.

But not everyone has a 3D printer at home, and considering the product’s price (which is not that cheap), shouldn’t it have been included in the package for everyone?

No stand?

The SunFounder TS-10 monitor also doesn’t come with a stand. So I guess it’s meant to be used flat on your desk, like this?

Sure, it works, but it isn’t that convenient. After digging a bit, I’ve found 2 solutions:

• First, if you have another monitor that has a stand, you can probably use it with this monitor. In the picture below, I used the one from my SunFounder 7″ and it worked. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
  
• Another option mentioned in the documentation is that you can play creatively with the extra spacers from the kit to make it stand upright.
  
  Again, it’s not something you’d expect from a high-end product, but it’s the solution I end up using. It’s stable enough and works for me.

Once again, a problem that can be solved with a little creativity. It isn’t a big deal, just something to keep in mind when considering this product.

Audio speakers

The included speakers are not that great. They are fine for desktop sounds and the like, but not good enough for listening to music or watching movies.

I’d recommend not using them and using a Bluetooth speaker instead. You’ll get a cleaner setup with much better sound quality. That’s what I do with most computers anyway.

You can get a cheap Bluetooth speaker like this on Amazon, follow my guide to pair it with your Raspberry Pi, and you can enjoy great sound quality for all kinds of use cases.

Cable management

The first time I assembled it, I just plugged everything in without much thought, resulting in cables protruding from the top of the monitor and making it difficult to use with a stand.

After thinking about it a bit more, I’ve found a workaround to keep everything on the back of the screen a bit more tidy. You can use the 2nd HDMI port and make a twist with the USB-C cable, so it’s not that bad:

It’s not perfect. The HDMI cable isn’t straight because the audio speaker is in the way, and it’s a bit short to get to the second Raspberry Pi port, but it works, and at least you have something that looks decent when you put the screen on your desk:

SD card access

Another thing that bothered me was that I was mounting the whole thing with an SD card already in my Raspberry Pi. I didn’t think this would be a problem, but it was.

Not only was it difficult to remove the SD card after assembly, but it’s almost impossible to insert another one after assembly. My finger won’t even fit between the two cards.

This is a bit disappointing for a product that is supposed to be used with different projects and for which you should be able to switch to another operating system.

I don’t really have a solution for this, but I’ve only used USB sticks since then, and it’s fine; the USB ports are much more accessible than the SD card slot. It’s something to be aware of if you rely on SD cards.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Overall, the SunFounder TS-10 monitor is a good product. It has a larger screen than most alternatives, and the touchscreen that works on all systems is appreciable. Just expect a bit of a DIY look, a bit rough for some use cases, but if you don’t mind, you should love this product.

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
The touch screen works directly on all systems without the need for drivers.	Doesn’t include a stand (but you can use spacers to keep it upright).
The screen is large enough for most uses.	Almost impossible to change the SD card once it is mounted. USB sticks recommended.
The whole thing doesn’t look too bad once it’s assembled and set up properly with a stand or the extra spacers.	Cables are not the right length to hide everything easily.
	The use of duct tape to secure cables and adhesive for speakers was not expected for this kind of budget.

I didn’t put the price there because it can change quickly, and because I think it’s priced just right. Not too expensive, but not cheap either. You can check the current price here and judge for yourself.

Who Is It For?

In summary, the SunFounder TS-10 monitor is probably a good fit for Raspberry Pi home users who need to quickly access their board to plug/unplug things, switch or add USB drives, and test various things.

People like me…

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for school or work environments where it would be better to have something more polished, like a full chassis or even a larger screen (and PC monitors aren’t necessarily much more expensive). Same for desktop use, or if you want to install it once and keep it for years without reinstalling.

It’s OK if you use HATs or GPIO sensors quite often, as they remain accessible without having to disassemble the whole thing all the time. You just won’t use the acrylic protection, so you can keep easy access to the GPIO pins, and since there is no case, you won’t be limited in the size of your circuits/extensions.

Key Takeaways

Personally, while it’s not exactly what I expected from this product (I’d prefer a more professional version with a more polished design), I think I’ll continue to use it as my main monitor.

The larger screen is essential for me. I also like that I can easily switch systems. The main drawback for my use is the inability to use the SD card slot.

Maybe they should have an upper-tier version with the case included and an SD card slot in the case. That would solve most of the problems I’ve listed. But perhaps that would be too similar to the RasPad. We’ll see what they have for us in the future.

Anyway, if you want to try it, order this product from the official website or directly from Amazon and let me know how it works for you!

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