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Apple is finally adding 'dark mode' to the next version of the iPhone's operating system — here's how your iPhone will look in dark mode

By Antonio Villas-Boas
dark mode ios 13
Apple
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Apple made a lot of announcements during its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, but one of my favorite announcements was the reveal of a dark mode coming to iOS 13 for iPhones. 

It's a personal-preference thing. Some like eye-piercing brightness, and others like a darker screen, which not only looks sleek but is also way more comfortable on the eyes in any setting, especially in darkness. 

Plus, dark mode could even lend some extra battery life to iPhones with OLED screens, such as the iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. That's because the pixels in OLED screens displaying the color black are actually turned off, which is why the color black looks so good and true on OLED displays. 

LCD displays like you'd find on the iPhone 8 and earlier iPhones don't turn off the relevant pixels when they display the color back, which is why the color black might have a grayish appearance on LCD screens.

iOS 13 is due out in the fall. Check out how cool your iPhone will look if you enable dark mode when the new iOS comes out:

Dark mode in iOS 13 will make the things you see on your iPhone go from looking like this ...

ios no dark mode
Apple

To something more like this:

ios dark mode
Apple

Here's what the iOS 13 lock screen looks like without dark mode.

ios 13 dark mode disabled
Apple

And here's what the iOS 13 home screen looks like with dark mode enabled.

ios 13 dark mode 1
Apple

Apple has added dark mode to a bunch of its own apps, including Messages ...

ios 13 dark mode messages
Apple

... the Favorites menu ...

ios 13 dark mode favorites
Apple

... Calendar ...

ios 13 dark mode calendar
Apple

... the Apple News app ...

ios 13 dark mode news app
Apple

... Photos ...

ios 13 dark mode photos
Apple

... Notes ...

ios 13 dark mode notes app
Apple

... and Apple Music.

ios 13 dark mode apple music
Apple

And here's Apple Music in another view.

ios 13 dark mode apple music 2
Apple

As you may have noticed, those are all Apple apps. App developers will need to add dark mode to their own apps for the complete dark-mode experience.

gmail on iphone
Shutterstock

Apple said iOS 13 would roll out in the fall, which typically means around September, when the company announces a new iPhone model.

The iOS 13 developer betas are out now, which hopefully leaves them some time to get their own apps kitted up with dark mode when iOS 13 fully rolls out this fall. 

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Antonio Villas Boas
Antonio Villas-Boas
Antonio Villas-Boas was a consumer tech expert with over a decade of experience testing and reviewing smartphones, tablets, computers, smartwatches, and phone carriers.ExperienceAntonio joined the Business Insider team in 2015 as a tech reporter on the news desk and moved to the service journalism team in 2020. During his time as Business Insider’s senior tech reporter, Antonio developed industry-leading battery-life tests for smartphones and tablets, and covered and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of products from major brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus since as far back as Samsung’s Galaxy S6, the original Apple Watch, and the very first Google Pixel. This decade-plus of experience has given him tremendous insights into what consumer tech truly stands the test of time and what will be irrelevant in just a few years' time (RIP The Pebble).Antonio is also an experienced deal hunter, surfacing the best discounts on phones, laptops, and smartwatches for readers during sale events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, Antonio was a consumer-electronics analyst at PCMag and ran his own blog. Why you can trust AntonioAntonio approaches all his reviews not only as a tech expert but as a consumer himself. He reads every word of fine print in the phone carrier plans he reviews, and is deeply skeptical of deals that promise you the latest iPhone model for free. (Spoiler: it might be “free,” but you could be stuck with it for three years.)He largely recommends less expensive and small-scale fixes to upgrade your existing tech before considering buying the latest and flashiest in new tech. Antonio believes his role as the go-to “tech guy” for his family and friends extends to his readers as well; he only recommends products that have stood up to the testing process.Scripps News, NewsNation, Fox 5 DC, NBC LX, and Rich DeMuro’s “Rich On Tech” radio show have requested his commentary and expertise. ExpertiseHis expertise includes:
  • Phones, including the iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy models
  • Phone accessories, including charging cables, phone cases, and protection plans
  • Smartwatches, including the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch
  • Mobile carrier plans, including major carriers and MVNOs
  • Tablets, including iPads and Galaxy Tabs
  • Laptops and computers, including MacBooks and Windows models
  • Computer accessories, including mice, keyboards, and monitors
EducationAntonio graduated from Colgate University in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in history.Outside of workBesides testing tech products, Antonio is also a full time dad to two young kids. His ideal day would be spent on a lake in the Adirondacks.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test tech and electronics.
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