RPi with Touchscreen / Open Source Tablet

Hello! I’d like to setup a wall dashboard/tablet for interacting with my home assistant instance. The interface can be pretty simple and small (phone sized?) - just for controlling a few lights, and maybe some popups for media controls etc. It would be mostly for the benefit of guests.

As I want to use something that is local and is at least ostensibly not spying on me, I’m thinking of using a raspberrypi with a touchscreen, running a browser (or maybe a fork of android such as calyxOS or lineage, running the home assistant app). I consider it a plus as well that there won’t be a battery to manage/worry about.

Does anyone have any recommendations or comments on this idea, and in particular any small touchscreens to recommend?

How is the DIY skills?
There are screens with touch that can run ESP-Home and similar.

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My DIY skills are okay (enough to get in trouble), I’ve played with esphome a bit.

That concept is super intriguing! I’m guess it could be quite economical too.

For a quick search this is the best that I’ve found. Seems cool but perhaps quite a lot of work to add much functionality (e.g. a page or two of buttons). XPT2046 Touch Screen Controller — ESPHome

Is this what you were referring to? Or should I look at something else?

Correct.
Then there is another software that can do it but I can’t remember what it is.

Then there is the ns panel from Sonoff, it’s not completely controllable yet but it’s probably just a matter of days

And then there is e-paper that is touch screen also if I’m not mistaking.
A bit more expensive.
Or get a non touch and add buttons next to the screen as a cheaper option