Metalens,　a　metasurface　with　a　focusing　phase,　has　been　the　focus　of　research　due　to　its　immense　potential　for　use　in　imaging　and　display　technology.　Traditional　lens　and　optical　imaging　systems　rely　on　phase　accumulation,　however　metalens　with　subwavelength　structures　provide　a　disruptive　path　for　miniaturized　optical　imaging　systems　by　allowing　unfettered　modulation　of　incident　light＇s　phase　and　amplitude.　Recently,　extensive　efforts　have　been　devoted　to　exploring　new　design　strategies,　new　functionalities,　and　possible　applications.　This　paper　reviews　the　development,　principle,　classification,　and　research　status　of　metalens.　In　particular,　this　review　focuses　on　the　progress　and　challenges　of　improving　imaging　quality　and　expanding　imaging　diversity,　including　improvements　of　resolution,　enhancement　of　depth　of　field,　extension　of　field　of　view,　and　achromatism.　Lastly,　the　prospects　of　metalens　in　the　future　display　are　summarized,　and　the　application　potentials　of　metalens　in　novel　3D　display,　intelligent　and　bionic　display,　as　well　as　nano-pixelate　light-emitting　display　(NLED)　are　emphasized.　©　2024　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.