00:00If you're building embedded controls and need a display that just works,
00:03you've probably already scrolled past a hundred of these little LCDs.
00:07Well, I did the digging for you and found the best deals on the top 5 character LCDs for
00:12embedded controls, all of them are the classic 16x2 or 20x4 modules with I2C backpacks,
00:17and honestly, they're all stupid cheap. Kicking things off at number 5 is the 1602
00:22LCD display module with that I2C, TWI serial interface adapter, and here's why people love
00:28it, it's basically plug-and-play for Raspberry Pi projects. Two wires for power, two for data,
00:34and you're printing text in minutes instead of wrestling with 16 pins. It's $5.07,
00:40it's sold nearly 4,900 times, and it's sitting at a solid 4.7 stars.
00:45If you're a Pi person who wants zero headaches, this is your board.
00:50Number 4 is the LCD 1602 blue and yellow green screen with the PCF 8574Ti2C interface,
00:56and this one's a bit of a quiet legend, it's got a 4.9 star rating across more than 4
01:01,800 sales,
01:02which is kind of insane at this price point. We're talking $4.33.
01:08You get your choice of blue or the classic yellow-green backlight, both super readable,
01:12and the PCF 8574Ti chip means rock-solid I2C communication. For under 5 bucks, that rating
01:19basically makes it a no-brainer. Coming in at number 3 is the LCD 1602 blue or green screen
01:26bundled with an I2C serial interface adapter, and the best part here is that the adapter comes
01:30pre-soldered on the back, so there's no fiddly wiring on your end. It's $4.19, it's moved over
01:374,600 units, and it holds a 4.8 star average. If you're working with Arduino and want the most
01:44straightforward path from unboxing to hello, world, this is the one I'd hand a beginner.
01:49Number 2 is the LCD 1602A module for the UNO R3 and Mega 2560, also with the PCF 8574Ti2C interface,
01:57and this thing is the value king at just $4.13, the cheapest on this whole list.
02:03Don't let the price fool you though, 4,600 sold, 4.8 stars, and it's specifically dialed in for the
02:09classic Arduino boards a lot of us already have on the bench. If you're stocking up for multiple
02:14projects, this is the one to buy three of. And finally, my number 1 pick, the LCD 2004,
02:21a 20x4 character display in blue, green, or white, with the same I2C serial adapter.
02:27Why does it take the top spot? Because those extra two rows and four extra
02:32columns genuinely change what you can build, you can show sensor readings, status messages,
02:37and a menu all at once instead of cycling through screens. It's $6.42, it's got a 4.9 star
02:44rating,
02:44and with over 4,400 sold, people clearly agree. If you've got the room in your enclosure,
02:50this is the one that'll grow with your project. So there you go, five character LCDs that'll handle
02:56just about any embedded control job you throw at them, and every single one is under $7.
03:01All the links are in the description below, so go grab whichever fits your build.
03:06And if this saved you some scrolling, do me a favor, hit that like button and subscribe,
03:11because it really helps me keep digging up deals like these.
03:14Thanks for watching, and I'll see you in the next one.
