iOS 13 dark mode: New iPhone software update's biggest feature revealed in leaked screenshots
Black background looks set to improve battery life as well as stop
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The feature that is expected to be the most significant change in Apple's new software update for iPhones and iPads may have been revealed in new screenshots.
Apple is expected to introduce a system-wide dark mode when it reveals iOS 13 as part of its Worldwide Developers' Conference presentation, on 3 June. The feature will allow users to switch into a white-on-black option, rather than the usual black-on-white.
It is perhaps the most anticipated feature of those that have leaked about the new update. And it is an option that users have been asking for in recent years, for a variety of reasons.
As well as changing the aesthetics of the phone's software, a dark mode allows it to have less glare if it is used at night and can make it easier to look at details when using the screen. It also has the side effect of potentially saving battery – since the screens in the iPhone X and XS are OLED, they don't have to light up the parts of the display that are black.
In keeping with that option, the dark mode appears to be truly black, rather than the greyer colour sometimes used in dark modes in some apps. That should allow it to look better on OLED displays.
The leaked screenshots came from 9to5mac, which did not state where they had come from.
As well as showing the dark mode, they also illustrated the relatively unchanged look for the rest of the system. One feature that has changed and was shown in the images is the screenshot tool, which appears to have been redesigned and given some new features.
iOS 13 is set to bring a whole host of minor updates: changes to the Health app, updates to the way the iPad works, and a new app for finding your Apple devices and friends. But dark mode is expected to be the most obvious alteration, unless there are any major and unannounced features.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments