"Does it have a dark mode?" It's a pretty common question, especially as of late. When Apple showcased macOS Mojave and presented a system-wide dark mode, there was plenty of applause at the event and positive remarks across social media. And when new apps launch, a dark mode is a basic requirement. Dark mode appears to be the fan favorite these days.
It isn't just an aesthetic thing, either. It can also actually help your battery life, depending on the phone you have. If you're rocking an iPhone X or a XS, or a whole bunch of different Android handsets out there, then the OLED panel won't be as burdened by showing blacks as an LCD panel is. So turning on dark mode in every single app you can, and across the system itself if it's possible, is definitely a good move.
But, for some, it could very well be just an aesthetic thing.
That's certainly the case for me. Lucky for those of us who do like the dark mode look, though, we get the battery benefits with the design we prefer. I have it switched on in this app I'm writing this article in, iA Writer. And despite the fact it can make blemishes on the (aging) display stand out, I still prefer it.
I do this on both my phone and my laptop, neither of which actually benefit from the transition at all. But that doesn't stop me from turning it on in the aforementioned writing app, and Ulysses, and the Twitter app I use. Websites that allow me to switch it on, like YouTube? Yes please. It's come to the point now that apps without a dark mode really stand out, like Instagram and Facebook.
But there's even more dark mode coming down the pipe! Well, part of it's already here. Facebook technically rolled out a dark mode in Messenger not too long ago, but it took sending an emoji to turn it on. That changed today, though, as turning dark mode on or off is just as easy as switching a toggle in the Settings section of the app.
And then there is a rumor that iOS 13 is going to introduce a system-wide dark mode for iPhone and iPad owners. That's good news! Especially considering Apple has now adopted OLED panels for its flagship smartphones, and there is even a rumor that Apple will use an OLED panel in the iPhone XR's successor, too.
Where do you stand on dark mode? Is it a required feature for you? Do you switch it on everywhere you can? Or is dark mode something you can live without, and don't go out of your way to switch it on even when it is available? Let me know!
