Dark mode in smartphones might in some instances consume more battery life rather than saving it, contrary to popular belief. - Smartphone Feature: Unusual Energy Drain of Dark Mode
Switching to Dark Mode on your smartphone or laptop might not always save you battery life like some believe. A study conducted by the BBC revealed that when the BBC Sounds app is used in Dark Mode, 80% of users increased the device's brightness, causing higher power consumption compared to using the app in bright mode.
Many believe Dark Mode is an energy-saving tool, but this misconception stems from a misunderstanding. Dark Mode only saves power if the device supports it and the app implementation is correct. Darker displays on OLED smartphones consume less power only when the app turns off the pixels, which doesn't happen in some apps.
The BBC Sounds app, for example, displays a deep gray in dark areas, which still requires illumination and consumes energy, even on OLED devices. However, properly designed Dark Mode interfaces on apps with OLED displays, such as true Dark Mode, can turn off pixels completely, saving power.
A 2021 study by Purdue University found that Dark Mode saves only 3 to 9% battery consumption in indoor use, even on OLED displays with true Dark Mode. The savings are more significant outdoors, though, with smartphones increasing brightness. In such cases, Dark Mode can save between 39 to 47% power.
It's important to note that Dark Mode was not developed to save battery life. Its primary purpose is to spare your eyes in dark rooms by reducing bright light exposure. Interestingly, researchers found that you can even increase the brightness in Dark Mode, which reduces eye strain and puts less strain on the battery.
In conclusion, the effectiveness of Dark Mode in saving battery life depends on the device type and implementation. While it can be highly effective on OLED screens, its impact is minimal on LCD screens. User behavior plays a significant role in the actual energy savings achieved with Dark Mode.
Despite the misconception, not all applications effectively save battery life in Dark Mode due to incorrect app implementations or inappropriate pixel usage. Interestingly, the BBC Sounds app, even in Dark Mode, increased brightness for 80% of users, leading to higher power consumption. Users should be aware that while Dark Mode can significantly reduce energy consumption on OLED screens outdoors, it only saves 3 to 9% battery consumption in indoor use on these devices.
