Do dark screens use less energy?
Changing from light to dark mode reduces the phone's power consumption by 42% at 100% screen brightness.
When the brightness level is 50%, switching from light mode to dark mode saves 9 % of the battery, and when the brightness level is 30%, the saving is only 3 %.
OLED OR LCD?
However, dark mode is not a green choice for every sort of display. It’s important to note that these savings only apply to OLED screens. LCD screens work differently; they are always backlit, even if the screen is black.
This means dark mode has limited impacts when building apps or experiences for devices like Apple TV, Chromecast, or Roku. Opportunities for dark mode energy savings will grow as older TVs and screens are phased out.
Accessibility?
Dark mode can be a valuable accessibility feature for many users. Some visual impairments can make it difficult to look at or process bright colours. While others with dyslexia or visual processing disorders find it tough to interpret black text on a white background.
