Paint It Black: Dark Mode finally comes to iPhones and iPads

With screens all over the world growing (intentionally) dimmer, Apple has pushed iOS onto the Dark Mode bandwagon.

Folks got a preview of iOS 13 this morning, showcasing the upcoming features and improvements hitting the iPhone and iPad operating systems this fall. While Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi touted things like faster performances and privacy-protecting features, the best news is that we’re finally getting matte-black aesthetics onscreen. 

Sure, it’s simply ditching traditional white and bright colours for dark tones, but you gotta admit, it looks gorgeous on iOS. 

Dark modes have been around for ages. Android, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, Gmail, and even Apple’s Mojave operating system and Safari browser have had it for quite some time. Aside from being goth-chic, devotees of Dark Mode love having it on because devices emit less light, which means reduced battery usage. There’s also the argument that it reduces screen glare and fatigue thanks to less light hitting the eyeballs — but the jury’s still out on that. 

With iOS 13, Dark Mode works system-wide across all native apps on the iPhone, with the capability for third-party app developers for integration into their own apps. According to Apple, Dark Mode can also be scheduled to turn on automatically at sunset or at a chosen time. Or, if you’re sick of all the brightness and vibrancy in the world, just turn on the dark permanently. 

ilyas@asiaone.com

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