Researchers have discovered that enabling “dark mode” on websites and apps is actually causing smartphone batteries to deplete faster, despite the common belief that it helps conserve energy. More and more apps are offering a dark version, which alters colors or adds a black background compared to the traditional “light mode”. Companies like Apple and Google have included a dark mode option for their Android and iOS operating systems, with X (previously Twitter) making it the default mode under Elon Musk’s leadership.
While previous studies suggested that using dark backgrounds could save battery life, a recent BBC investigation revealed that users tend to drain their batteries quicker when in dark mode. This is because around 80% of people tend to increase their device’s brightness when switching to dark mode, consequently consuming more power.
According to Zak Datson, a BBC R&D engineer, many common energy-saving recommendations are too simplistic and may not work as intended. In the case of dark mode, it can paradoxically lead to higher energy consumption. Modern smartphones often feature organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens, which can save power when displaying pure black elements by turning off pixels.
A study by Purdue University in 2021 indicated that using dark mode in popular Google apps could reduce power consumption by approximately 42% at full brightness and 9% at 50% brightness. Similarly, a 2018 analysis by Google engineers showed a 63% decrease in power usage by OLED phones in dark mode.
However, these studies did not account for users’ behavior in response to dark mode. When participants in the BBC study were asked to choose their preferred brightness level for the BBC Sounds app, most of them increased the brightness setting when using dark mode. Consequently, smartphones consumed more energy in dark mode compared to light mode with unchanged brightness settings.
To maximize battery life, experts recommend reducing a smartphone’s brightness to the lowest possible level, which can save roughly half of the charge compared to full brightness. The study follows the BBC’s commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by 90% by 2050 as part of its net-zero goals, aiming to cut direct emissions by 46% by the end of the decade.
While watching TV or streaming on smartphones is not inherently carbon-intensive, the production of these devices remains a significant contributor to the media industry’s energy consumption. Travel is identified as the primary source of emissions in film production.
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