The disclosed display device may include (1) a display panel including pixel regions, (2) a backlight array coupled to the display panel that includes luminous elements, (3) a display housing configured to substantially prevent a user from referencing external brightness levels, (4) a display driver configured to receive an image including image blocks and scan the image to the display panel, and (5) a backlight driver configured to (a) determine an absolute brightness level of each of the image blocks, (b) derive, for each of the image blocks, a relative brightness level, (c) calculate, for each of the luminous elements, an illumination level based on the relative brightness level of a corresponding portion of the image blocks, and (d) illuminate, while the image is displayed via the display panel, each of the luminous elements according to the illumination level. Various other apparatus, systems, and methods are also disclosed.