Display devices with improved display contrast and methods of manufacturing the display devices. Some embodiments include a method of manufacturing a light emitting diode (LED) array. The method includes forming two mesa areas on a substrate, where a trench is defined between the two mesa areas. A pixel and a N-bus formation is formed on each of the two mesa areas to create a first LED and a second LED separated by the trench between the two mesa areas. At least a portion of the trench is filled with a non-transparent or substantially non-transparent polymeric material that absorbs light emitted from the first and second LEDs.