WhatsApp is finally rolling out dark mode to iOS and Android devices.
The platform’s most-requested feature, dark mode is designed to reduce eye strain in low-light environments.
“And we hope it helps prevent those awkward moments where your phone lights up the room,” a WhatsApp blog announcement said.
Designers focused specifically on readability, taking care to choose colors that minimize eye fatigue and match iPhone and Android system defaults. And, in an effort to “help users easily focus their attention on each screen,” the team used certain elements to ensure the most important information stands out.
Users running iOS 13 and Android 10 can enable dark mode in the app’s system settings. Those folks still wielding Android 9 or below can access the new feature via Settings > Chats > Theme > Dark.
As an Apple loyalist, I’m unable to confirm whether the different themes (Light, Dark, System Default, Set by Battery Saver) trialed by Android beta users earlier this year are still available.
My updated iPhone app—now in dark mode—doesn’t even provide an option (presumably because that’s what the system default is already set to).
With this week’s release, WhatsApp becomes the third of Facebook’s major platforms to introduce dark mode, following Messenger and Instagram.
Aside from its obvious benefit of being easy on the eyes, dark mode can also extend your handset’s battery life—if it’s an OLED model.
In an unofficial test conducted last year by YouTuber PhoneBuff, an iPhone XS Max running dark mode outlived an identical device performing identical tasks in light mode.
More on Geek.com:
- WhatsApp Now Lets You Block People From Adding You to Group Chats
- WhatsApp Limits Message Forwarding to 5 Individuals, Groups
- Google Fit Now Tracks Sleep, Adds Dark Mode
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