REVIEW – I can remember when all I wanted was large monitors around my workspace. The idea of being surrounded by grand hi-res screens and having my studio look impressive was all inside of my head. These days as technology has advanced and offers so much more, I am into hi-res portable screens between 15″ and 18″, and depending on my need, using a touchscreen is advantageous. My workspace which I now use to produce and broadcast my Podcast, is efficient and capable and all of the video feedback screens are small and portable. Now all I need is a small portable touchscreen to use for on-the-fly video selections. I currently use one Windows 11 mini PC and one Raspberry Pi for graphics and processing. So which type should I choose for the next PC? A Raspberry Pi PC or a Windows mini PC? And, which monitor should I get? Enter the Elecrow CrowVision IPS Touch Screen Monitor.
What is it?
The Elecrow CrowVision is an 11.6″ touchscreen display module with 1366 x 768 resolution, IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel, and 178° viewing angle. It functions as a touchscreen all-in-one computer and is compatible with dozens of external SBCs (single-board computers) and PCs. It is also 100% plug-and-play.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x Elecrow CrowVision IPS Touch Screen Monitor
- 1 HD to Mini HD Cable
- 1 x Micro HD to Mini HD Cable
- 1 x USB-A to USB-C Cable
- 1 x USB-A to Micro B Cable
- 1 x OSD Control Board
- 1 x AC Adapter
- 1 x Accessories
- 1 x User Manual
Hardware specs
- 11.6” capacitive 5-point touch display, with high-resolution 1366 * 768 IPS panel
- 11.6″ diagonal
- 1366 × 768 resolution
- 178° wide viewing angle
- 5-point capacitive touchscreen
- Color Depth: 16 M
- Display Type: IPS Panel
- Screen Type: TFT-LCD
Design and features
- 11.6inch 1366*768 HD IPS touch screen with 5-point capacitive touch provides perfect enjoyment.
- Reserved space for assembling single board computer; Unique slidable fixation structure, easy to use.
- Integrates a variety of peripheral interfaces and onboard OSD adjustment buttons.
- Support most single-board computers like Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, NVIDIA, etc.
- Compatible with most systems like Raspbian, Ubuntu, Windows, Android, MAC OS, and Chrome OS.
The Elecrow CrowVision IPS Touch Screen Monitor is a lightweight portable monitor that has its electronics mounted to the back as well as mount holes to accommodate Single Board Computers like the Raspberry Pi. It is thin and also has a plugin OSD control board. This monitor can be mounted in multiple ways depending on your needs.
Setup
It is very easy to set up the Elecrow CrowVision IPS Touch Screen. It starts with determining what computer you want to use with this monitor. My choice was between a PC with Windows installed or one of my Raspberry Pi SBCs with the Pi OS. I decided to use this monitor as a part of my workflow for my weekly Podcast production, and I am using it with a Acemagician AMR5 mini PC with Windows 11 OS installed. I also decided to use an “open back” laptop stand to support the monitor as opposed to making a case for it.
Performance
The Elecrow CrowVision IPS Touch Screen Monitor is a sleek and thin screen with a metal back that has the electronics on one section and mounting holes for a Single Board Computer on the other side of the back. There is a plug-in OSD Control that connects via a ribbon cable. The touchscreen response is great, and I can see someone 3D printing a customer back/case depending on the need. For my use, it serves as the touch monitor for the Windows mini PC that I use to show data or videos during my recordings/broadcasts. It is nice not to have to maneuver a mouse when selecting videos to show or even documents that I want to scroll through live. There is enough connectivity to add accessories.
The OSD controls work well, perform the same functions, and provide access to the same controls as any OSD control:
Here is a short video showing the Elecrow CrowVision IPS Touch Screen Monitor in action:
What I like
- Nice design
- It is lightweight
- Its versatility to be used with various hardware and Operating Systems
What I’d change
- Maybe a simple acrylic removable back should be attached to protect the board and to provide out-of-the-box usage. The potential to damage it the way it is shipped is real.
Final thoughts
The Elecrow CrowVision IPS TouchScreen is a great portable touchscreen monitor that can be used with multiple types of computers. The touchscreen is responsive, the OSD controls work well, and by design, this monitor can be adapted for multiple-use scenarios. I like it.
Price: $145.90
Where to buy: Elecrow and Crowdsupply
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Elecrow.
