Dark mode might use more battery due to increased brightness settings

In recent years, dark mode has gained popularity among users of digital devices as a battery-saving feature. This mode alters screen color settings, opting for a darker background with lighter text, which is believed to reduce the amount of energy used by the screen. However, a study conducted by the BBC revealed that this potential battery saving may not play out as intended. Researchers presented users with the BBC Sounds website in both dark and light modes to compare brightness adjustments. Significantly, 80% of participants opted to increase their brightness when viewing in dark mode, negating any intended energy savings. The study emphasized the need for users to manage their brightness settings consciously, as keeping brightness levels down could lead to reduced energy consumption. Moreover, the researchers highlighted that their findings specifically applied to traditional LCD displays. The advent of OLED technology may offer different results since OLED displays consume less power when displaying darker colors. As dark mode continues to be promoted for its alleged battery-saving features, these findings raise questions about its effectiveness for average users in real-world scenarios. Awareness of how users adjust their device settings in response to dark mode is crucial for both battery life and energy consumption considerations.