Does Dark Mode Save Battery?
Dark mode saves battery on phones with OLED or AMOLED screens, where black pixels are actually turned off. Savings can be significant - up to 30-50% in some scenarios. However, dark mode provides minimal to no battery benefit on LCD screens, where the backlight stays on regardless of displayed colors. See also: Does Airplane Mode Save Battery?
Key Takeaways
- OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) and AMOLED screens work by having each pixel produce its own light.
- The battery savings are more significant at higher brightness levels; at low brightness, the difference is minimal.
- True black (#000000) saves more battery than dark gray on OLED screens.
Explanation
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) and AMOLED screens work by having each pixel produce its own light. When displaying black, those pixels turn completely off, consuming zero power. Displaying dark grays uses very little power. This is why dark mode can dramatically extend battery life on these screens.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens work differently - a backlight illuminates all pixels regardless of what color is displayed. Black pixels simply block the backlight rather than turning off. Since the backlight consumes the same power whether showing black or white, dark mode provides negligible battery savings.
Most modern flagship smartphones use OLED or AMOLED screens. Check your phone's specifications to see which type you have. If you have an OLED screen and regularly use your phone at higher brightness, dark mode can make a noticeable difference in daily battery life.
Things to Know
- The battery savings are more significant at higher brightness levels; at low brightness, the difference is minimal.
- True black (#000000) saves more battery than dark gray on OLED screens.
- Some apps have dark modes that use dark gray instead of true black, reducing potential savings.