12864B Graphic LCD vs I2C 2004 LCD: Which Display Fits?
By Official Hobby Components Online Store | Buy Electronic Kits, Components, Boards, Shields, Modules | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: Comparisons
Compare the 12864B graphic LCD and I2C 2004 character LCD on resolution, interface, and wiring. Find which display fits your Arduino project's needs.
Quick answer
Choose the 12864B graphic LCD when you need custom graphics, icons, or mixed text-and-graphics layouts. Choose the I2C 2004 LCD when you need four lines of clear text with minimal wiring and a pre-soldered I2C adapter.
Resolution and content type: pixels vs characters
The 12864B gives you a 128 x 64 pixel canvas, so you can draw shapes, icons, and text anywhere on the screen. That flexibility suits menus, simple charts, or dashboards that mix graphics with labels. The I2C 2004 is a character display: it shows 20 characters per line across 4 lines, with high-contrast white text on a blue background. If your project only needs readable text—sensor readings, status messages, clock lines—the character layout is faster to code and easier to read at a glance.
Wiring and pin budget: parallel vs serial
The 12864B can run in parallel or serial (SPI) mode, selected by the external PSB pin. In SPI mode it needs only 3 data pins, which helps when your microcontroller is short on GPIO. The I2C 2004 comes with a serial I2C/IIC adapter board pre-soldered to the back, so you connect just power and two signal lines. That pre-soldered adapter removes the need to wire a separate I2C backpack, but it also means you cannot easily switch the module to a parallel interface later.
When the trade-off tips the other way
The 12864B's pixel control comes at a cost: you manage graphics memory and draw routines yourself, which takes more code than printing strings to a character LCD. The I2C 2004's fixed 20 x 4 character grid is simpler to program but cannot show custom icons or freeform graphics. Also, the 12864B's SPI mode uses 3 data pins versus the I2C 2004's 2 signal lines, so the wiring difference is small but real if every pin counts. Neither module's catalog lists a built-in character font or backlight current, so check the datasheet if those details matter for your enclosure or power budget.
Key trade-offs at a glance
- Graphics flexibility: 12864B: full pixel control for icons and mixed layouts, but you write the drawing code. I2C 2004: fixed 20x4 character grid, no custom graphics. If your UI needs icons or freeform graphics, the 12864B is the only one of the two that can do it.
- Wiring simplicity: I2C 2004: pre-soldered I2C adapter, 2 signal lines. 12864B: parallel or SPI, with SPI using 3 data pins. Count your free GPIO before deciding; the I2C 2004 saves one signal pin and the adapter soldering.
- Code effort: I2C 2004: print strings to fixed lines. 12864B: manage graphics memory and draw routines. For a quick text-only readout, the character LCD gets you to a working display faster.
Product facts
- 12864B Parallel/Serial Graphic LCD Module: 128 x 64 pixel LCD with blue backlight and white foreground; programmable for graphics and text; parallel or SPI mode via PSB pin. Lets you design custom screens and choose a 3-pin SPI connection when GPIO is tight.
12864B Parallel/Serial Graphic LCD Module - I2C 2004 Serial 20 x 4 LCD Module: 20 x 4 character display with high-contrast white text on blue background; I2C adapter pre-soldered on the back. Four lines of clear text with only power and two signal wires, no separate adapter to wire.
I2C 2004 Serial 20 x 4 LCD Module
Which display fits your project?
Best for
- Projects needing custom graphics, icons, or mixed text-and-graphics screens (12864B)
- Builds with limited GPIO where 3-pin SPI is acceptable (12864B)
- Text-heavy readouts like sensor values or status lines with minimal wiring (I2C 2004)
- Beginners who want a pre-soldered I2C adapter and simple character printing (I2C 2004)
Not for
- Simple text-only displays where pixel drawing code is overkill (12864B)
- Projects that require custom icons or freeform graphics (I2C 2004)
- Builders who cannot solder or want to avoid any extra adapter wiring (12864B in parallel mode)
