Presto: Smart display with Raspberry Pi chip offers a playground for experimentation (2025)

Smart displays are available at relatively affordable prices from retailers such as Amazon. They can be used for controlling smart homes, playing back music, or displaying video feeds from security cameras. The Pimoroni Presto is essentially a smart display, but with a unique twist. Specifically, the device includes a development board with extensive features and is clearly aimed at users who enjoy working on their own project and have the know-how to do so.

The Presto is equipped with an RP2050B chip, which boasts two Cortex-M33 cores clocked at 150 MHz, along with flash storage, RAM, and a microSD card slot for storing files, such as photos. The device sports a 4-inch IPS touchscreen with a 480 x 480 resolution. Moreover, it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity and comes with a battery connector that accepts 3 to 5.5 volts, enabling it to operate independently of a power outlet.

Other notable features include seven built-in LEDs capable of displaying RGB colours, and a small piezo speaker for the likes of alerts and notifications. Additional circuit boards, such as sensors, can be connected via Qwiic and Stemma QT. Pimonori offers a starter kit that includes a small I2C controller and a multifunctional sensor capable of motion detection. The system can be programmed in C, C++ and MicroPython, with accompanying documentation to help users get started. The Pimoroni Presto alone is priced at around $92, whilst the starter kit will set you back approximately $132. Those who are interested should review the company’s shipping policies before making a purchase.

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Editor of the original article: Silvio Werner - Senior Tech Writer - 13631 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2017

I have been active as a journalist for over 10 years, most of it in the field of technology. I worked for Tom’s Hardware and ComputerBase, among others, and have been working for Notebookcheck since 2017. My current focus is particularly on mini PCs and single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi – so in other words, compact systems with a lot of potential. In addition, I have a soft spot for all kinds of wearables, especially smartwatches. My main profession is as a laboratory engineer, which is why neither scientific contexts nor the interpretation of complex measurements are foreign to me.

Translator: Zhiwei Zhuang - Translator - 318 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, I moved from Singapore toCologne in 2014 and began pursuing a career as a freelance translator. Much of my translation workfocuses on science, engineering and technology. My fascination with computers and mobileelectronics began when I was young. And I have fond memories reading countless tech and gamingmagazines. Working with Notebookcheck gives me the opportunity to incorporate my personalinterests into my professional work.