Emulating paper: A review of reflective display technologies

Abstract

Reflective displays, which harness ambient light, offer energy-efficient alternatives to traditional emissive screens in mobile devices. This review provides an overview of various reflective display technologies and their comparative performance metrics. The review highlights the potential of micro-electromechanical system-based displays, with metrics including 90% reflectance, a contrast ratio of 30, a frequency of 120 Hz, and a resolution of about 350 pixels per inch. Their applicability to mainstream devices such as e-readers, smartphones, and smartwatches continues to be a topic of interest and exploration.