I’ve made it quick and convenient for you to make your own tablet in just a few steps. By reading this you will understand the basic cost, materials needed, how to assemble and how you can get it to work just like I did.
Parts Required to Get Started
Raspberry Pi 3B or 4B (Avoid the 3B+, it is not yet supported with android. Get the 4B with the 4GB or 8GB RAM configuration for better performance.)
7" Touchscreen HDMI Display Or 10" Touchscreen HDMI Display
Enclosure for the tablet. Preferably 3D printed
Battery with Power Boost or PowerBank. Required Specs: Min 5000 MaH Output- 5v 2.1 A. (Suggested 5.1v 2.1A)
Speakers (8ohm). Try to get ones made for other smartphones/tablets as they are usually very low profile.
Amplifier Board (with or without power control)
Camera (Optional)
Wires for connection
Soldering Equipment (Basic)
Micro SD card Reader
Micro SD card (16GB to 64GB)
HDMI Ribbon Cable (Get accordingly for Raspberry Pi Model)
Flat Gaming Micro USB Data Cable
Subscribe to iTech Everything on YouTube for good luck ;)
Process
Install your operating system of choice onto your SD Card (Ex. Raspberry Pi OS, Android, etc)
Go to the download page for the OS, Get the image file (.img/.xy/etc...) and make sure it is supported with your Raspberry Pi Model. In my case I will visit raspberry.org/downloads then install Raspberry Pi OS with or without recommended software. Or install NOOBS offline and unzip it.
Install SD card formatter from www.sdcard.org/...... in order format your SD card
Install Balena Etcher From balena.io/etcher and follow the steps there. (If you are using NOOBS, you can choose skip this and copy the files from the unzipped folder to the SD card.)
2. Connect Display to raspberry Pi.
Connect the display's HDMI port to the HDMI port on RPi 3B (or the Micro HDMI if on the RPi 4B)
Connect the data port of the display using data transfer cable to the USB 2.0/3.0 port of the RPi
3. Connect the Power Source
Connect the battery board's output to the GPIO pins.
Add a switch between one of the wires
4. Assemble the Amplifier
Solder the assigned ports of the Amplifier module to the speakers, supply power from the GPIO pins and Solder the audio jack of the RPI to the Module. (Basic soldering skill required)
5. Connect The Camera (Optional Step)
Connect the Camera Ribbon Cable to the RPi
6. Case your Device
Look for a casing for your parts or make one yourself
Fit everything properly into it
Here you have it! You now have a wonderful tablet to show to everyone around you and use as a secondary device to play around with.
Initially written on October 8th 2019
Revised on May 7th 2021