Phones Canada presents: Google Search Labs – Testing Dark Mode Feature on iPhone
Google Search Labs is an exciting program that allows users to test and provide feedback on new, experimental features for Google Search. This initiative gives Google valuable real-world input on how people interact with potential changes to the search experience, focusing primarily on generative AI. One of the latest experiments includes Auto Dark Mode for iPhone users.
According to a reliable source, 9to5Google, the Google app on iOS is currently testing a new Search Labs experiment that enables users to activate dark mode on any website they visit. Here’s how it works:
– Stay in dark mode no matter which website you are browsing.
– Turn on dark mode on your device to activate this experience so all websites align with your app’s dark theme.
The Google app on iPhone operates similarly to a browser with its tab system. If you are part of the Labs program and enable the experiment, Auto Dark Mode will automatically apply to all compatible websites by default. You can easily toggle it off using a new sun icon located in the address bar on the right.
In screenshots from the source, you can see the website displayed in light mode initially, followed by the native night theme and finally Google’s Auto Dark Mode. It’s essential to note that this mode tends to be mostly gray rather than pure black.
Google advises that the quality of conversion to dark mode may vary and that the experiment does not apply to websites with an existing dark theme. At present, Auto Dark Mode is only available in the iOS Google app and has not been introduced for Android devices. While this feature is still in testing, given user preferences and increasing demand for dark mode options, we may anticipate a broader rollout in the future.
Dark mode has become increasingly popular among mobile users, with a 47% rise in usage since Android and iOS introduced system-wide options. Surveys indicate that over 80% of mobile users prefer dark mode due to its ability to reduce eye strain.
Stay tuned for more updates as Google continues its exploration of innovative features like Auto Dark Mode through the Search Labs program!
