Aspects of the technology provide a symbiotic graphical display on a client device such as a smartwatch. The system includes at least one emissive display element and at least one non-emissive display element. The display elements are arrayed in layers or other configurations such that content or other information is concurrently aligned across the respective display surfaces of the different elements. A first set of content is rendered using the non-emissive display element while a second set of content is rendered using the emissive display element. Depending on characteristics or features of a given content item, that item may be rendered by one or both of the display elements. Certain content may be transitioned from the emissive display element to the non-emissive display element according to a time threshold or other criteria.