A team of scientists in Sweden has developed a screen technology that achieves the highest resolution the human eye can perceive, opening possibilities for ultra-realistic displays in virtual and augmented reality. The breakthrough relies on pixels smaller than any previously produced, allowing images to appear indistinguishable from reality.
The innovation centers on retina E-paper, a reflective screen with pixels measuring roughly 560 nanometers. By comparison, conventional micro-LED displays struggle when pixels drop below 1 micrometer. At this scale, each pixel effectively corresponds to a single photoreceptor in the human eye, meaning no additional resolution would be perceptible. The screen achieves more than 25,000 pixels per inch (ppi) on a surface comparable to the size of a human pupil.
These ultraminiature pixels are made from tungsten oxide nanoparticles. Their size, arrangement, and interaction with light determine how colors are reproduced. By applying a small voltage, individual pixels can switch off, appearing black. This electrical tuning allows dynamic control over the image, while the reflective design eliminates the need for an internal light source—much like the iridescent plumage of birds that generates vivid colors purely from ambient light.
To demonstrate the precision of retina E-paper, researchers recreated Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” on a surface just 1.4 × 1.9 millimeters—about 1/4000th the size of a smartphone screen. Despite the tiny scale, the image retained full color detail thanks to the precise control of how light is scattered and reflected by the nanoparticles.
According to TechXplore, the platform is designed for applications where screens are very close to the eye, such as VR and AR headsets, and offers potential advantages in energy efficiency, since it reflects rather than emits light.
By pushing the limits of pixel miniaturization, retina E-paper represents a significant step toward creating displays where visual fidelity matches natural human perception. While further refinement is needed before commercial use, the technology has the potential to transform how high-resolution content is displayed in compact, near-eye applications.
The research was published in the Nature Journal.
