Compact head-mounted display system with orthogonal panels

A head-mounted display (HMD) has an enhanced optical arrangement that permits high-resolution imaging in a compact device. The HMD system includes an optical arrangement; a first image panel, wherein the optical arrangement directs image light from the first image panel along a first optical pathway having a first length; and a second image panel arranged orthogonal to the first image panel, wherein the optical arrangement directs image light from the second image panel along a second optical pathway different from the first optical pathway having a second length. The first length is equal to the second length, and the optical arrangement is configured such that light from the first image panel and the second image panel are emitted from the HMD system in a combined fashion in a first eye direction. The optical arrangement may include a plurality of mirror components and a plurality of lens components, wherein the plurality of mirror components are configured to direct image light from the first and second image panels along respective optical pathways to the plurality of lens components.