Japan Display Inc. has recently unveiled an improved reflective-type color LCD that it said to be 100 times more energy-efficient than conventional models. According to JDI's director Shuji Aruga, the new reflective LCDs will be used in "non-mobile" and "B2B" businesses. Besides wearable devices such as smart watches, applications for reflective color LCDs will also include special purpose PC monitors/readers, industrial devices, electronic shelf labels/POP, and digital signage.

While standard LCDs display images by illuminating the screen from behind, reflective-types utilize a mirror behind the monitor to harness ambient light, making them highly energy efficient.

Reflective-type LCDs vividly display colored images as long as there are light sources nearby. Images appear as bright as those displayed on standard LCDs only in well-lit settings, making it necessary to use lamps and other light sources to view the screen in the dark. But the latest LCD uses a silver mirror, which is more reflective than earlier models that are equipped with aluminum mirrors.