The 9.7” Retina panel from the iPad 3 and iPad 4 (an LG LP097QX1) is a genuinely nice display: 2048×1536, 4:3, IPS, and a response time around 1ms. Millions were made, so panels are cheap, and you can drive one as a standalone monitor with a small LVDS controller board.
What it is
The kit is a generic controller board plus cabling that accepts HDMI and VGA input and drives the panel over eDP/LVDS. You supply power, mount the panel however you like, and you have a compact high-DPI monitor for well under the price of anything comparable off the shelf.
Why it is good for retro use
- 4:3 aspect — the right shape for a huge amount of retro console and computer output, without pillarboxing
- very high pixel density — integer-scaled low-res sources look clean and sharp
- fast response — no noticeable lag, which matters for a gaming display
- small and light — easy to build into a MiSTer setup, a portable rig, or a second screen
The obvious use here is MiSTer FPGA over HDMI, but it works with anything that outputs HDMI or VGA.
Trade-offs
It is still a fixed 60Hz LCD, so it will not give you CRT motion or true 15kHz sync — for that you want something like the Microvitec AKF50. As a sharp, modern flat panel in an unusually useful shape, though, it is hard to beat for the money.