This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving an aperture ratio of a display apparatus. In particular, display elements are configured to have a length that is greater in one dimension than that in the other dimension. This implementation can reduce overhead costs associated with components such as actuators and actuator circuitry and improves the aperture ratio. Furthermore, display elements within the display apparatus can be arranged in a staggered manner. The staggered arrangement improves the perceived display element density of the display apparatus. In some implementations, the display elements are staggered along the rows of the display apparatus, while in some other implementations, the display elements are staggered along the columns of the display apparatus. In some implementations, multiple image pixels in one dimension are utilized to generate signals for each display elements.