Matrix Orbital BGK19264A-BK vs. Crystalfontz CFA835 Series

Whether you’re evaluating display modules for a prototype or qualifying components for a production run, this analysis covers what you need to know. Both the Matrix Orbital BGK19264A-BK and the Crystalfontz CFA835 Series are established 5.25″ bay-compatible graphic LCDs with strong feature sets, but they diverge meaningfully in resolution, interface flexibility, and long-term scalability.

1. Resolution, Display Specs, and Aesthetics

The most immediate difference between these two panels is how they look and how much they can show at once.

Matrix Orbital BGK19264A-BK

• Resolution: 192×64 pixels
• Available in multiple color combinations: yellow/green, white/blue, dark grey/white, and a tri-color text option on a black background
• Top viewing direction, 60-degree viewing angle

Crystalfontz CFA835 Series

The CFA835 ships in two distinct variants, each optimized for a different operating environment:

• CFA835-TML (Light on Blue): STN transmissive negative glass with white LED edge-lit backlight. Crisp light text on a deep blue background, well suited for low-ambient-light environments and dark panel aesthetics.
• CFA835-TFK (Dark on Light Gray): FSTN transflective positive glass with white LED backlight. Dark text on a bright light gray background, the preferred choice for high-ambient-light or outdoor-adjacent installations.

Resolution: 244×68 pixels. Viewing direction is 12 o’clock, optimized for at or below eye level and well matched to desktop tower, rack-mount, or countertop enclosure placements.

Advantage: Crystalfontz CFA835. The 244×68 panel gives you 27% more horizontal pixel real estate than the BGK19264A-BK’s 192×64, meaningful when rendering graphs, multi-line status displays, or custom bitmap interfaces. The two contrast and backlight options also allow a single platform decision to serve multiple product configurations.

2. Connectivity and Interfaces

Matrix Orbital BGK19264A-BK

Supports RS232, TTL, I2C, RS422, and USB. Interface selection is made at the time of order, meaning the hardware is configured for your primary protocol at purchase.

Crystalfontz CFA835 Series

Driven by an STMicroelectronics STM32F401 ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller, the CFA835 natively supports USB 2.0, logic-level serial, RS232, I2C, and SPI simultaneously. It also exposes 13 general-purpose I/O pins, giving hardware engineers the flexibility to configure multi-interface operation on a single board without committing to a protocol at procurement.

Advantage: Crystalfontz CFA835. For designs where interface requirements may evolve across product revisions, or where a single display platform needs to serve multiple host architectures, the CFA835’s simultaneous multi-protocol support and GPIO headroom reduce integration risk significantly.

3. User Input and Feedback

Matrix Orbital BGK19264A-BK

• 7-key backlit tactile keypad
• 3 dual-color status LEDs
• Built-in piezo buzzer for audible feedback

Crystalfontz CFA835 Series

• 6-button fully decoded backlit keypad with translucent silicone keys
• 4 bi-color (red/green) status LEDs
• Independent brightness control for keypad and display backlights
• No onboard audio; fan and temperature management available via the optional FBSCAB expansion board

The tradeoff: If your application requires out-of-the-box audible alerts and a 7th keypad button, the Matrix Orbital has the edge. If your design priorities are LED status granularity and independent backlight control, common requirements in rack and panel instrumentation, the CFA835 is the stronger fit. Evaluate against your HMI specification rather than raw feature count.

4. Memory and Onboard Capabilities

Matrix Orbital BGK19264A-BK

256KB of onboard memory dedicated to custom fonts and bitmaps, which helps offload asset management from the host controller. Accepts 3.3V, 5V, or 9 to 35V input (wide-voltage model), making it compatible with a broad range of power architectures.

Crystalfontz CFA835 Series

The STM32F401 provides 256K Flash and 64K RAM. A MicroSD card slot extends storage capacity significantly, accommodating large font libraries, custom bitmap sets, and local data logging without host-side overhead. The CFA835 also supports ATX power supply control, allowing the module’s keypad buttons to replace or supplement a system’s physical power and reset switches, a practical feature for sealed or custom enclosure designs.

Advantage: Crystalfontz CFA835. The MicroSD slot and ATX power integration address real production design requirements, particularly for embedded systems where minimizing external components and simplifying enclosure design are priorities.

5. Pricing

Prices reflect current list pricing and are subject to change. Contact Crystalfontz for volume pricing and OEM quote requests.

At single-unit quantities, the Matrix Orbital carries a lower entry price. At 100 units, the positions invert: the CFA835 comes in slightly under the BGK19264A-BK on a per-unit basis while delivering higher resolution and a more capable feature set. For OEM buyers projecting volume, the higher single-unit price of the CFA835 diminishes quickly.

Final Verdict

For single-unit prototyping or applications with tight budget constraints and a need for onboard audio, the Matrix Orbital BGK19264A-BK is a capable and cost-effective option.

For production-oriented designs requiring higher resolution, simultaneous multi-protocol connectivity, GPIO flexibility, MicroSD storage, and ATX integration, the Crystalfontz CFA835 Series is the stronger long-term platform. The per-unit cost advantage at volume makes it easier to justify as a component choice at scale, not just as a development tool.

Ready to evaluate the CFA835 for your application? View the CFA835-TML or the CFA835-TFK product page for full specifications, ordering options, and volume quote requests.