An apparatus includes one or more light sources configured to provide light having at least three different colors and a backlight layer configured for diffusing the light. A MEMS-based shutter layer includes a plurality of pixel elements having shutters programmably controlled to allow light from the backlight layer to pass through the shutter layer when the MEMS-based shutter is in an open configuration and to block light from passing through the shutter layer when in a closed configuration. A processor is configured to control the provision of the different colored light from the one or more light sources to the backlight layer and configured to control the passage of light from the backlight layer through the plurality of pixel elements to provide a predetermined image on the display apparatus. A hard, scratch resistant cover glass layer is stacked above the MEMS-based shutter layer. The MEMS-based shutter layer is stacked above the backlight layer without any intermediate layer between it and the backlight layer, and the cover glass layer is stacked above the MEMS-based shutter layer without any intermediate layer between the shutter layer and the cover glass layer.