Dark Mode vs. Light Mode – Which One Is Better?
Quick question for you—are you a dark mode person or a light mode person? And more importantly… why? Is it because it looks better? Feels better? Or are you just rolling with your device’s default setting
Some people swear by dark mode, saying it’s easier on the eyes and saves battery life, while others stick with light mode because it’s clearer, cleaner, and actually designed to be easier to read. But what does science say? Is one actually better than the other?
Well, it turns out, your eyes have a lot to say about this debate.
How Your Eyes Process Light
When you look at a screen, your pupils are doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Their job is to regulate how much light gets into your eye. If you’re in a bright environment, they shrink down to block out extra light, helping you focus. If you’re in a dark environment, they widen to let in more light. That’s why it’s harder to see in dim lighting—your eyes have to work harder to process what little light is available.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. As we age, our pupils naturally get smaller. That means less light enters the eye, which makes reading in low-light conditions even more difficult. This is why older adults tend to struggle more with dark mode—it just doesn’t give their eyes enough
The Problem with Glare
But before you go switching all your apps back to light mode, let’s talk about one important thing—glare.
If you’ve ever tried to use light mode in a dark room, you’ll be very familiar with glare. Your screen turns into a little flashlight, and suddenly your eyes feel like they’ve been attacked by a million suns. This is where dark mode shines—literally. It reduces the amount of light hitting your eyes and can feel more comfortable when you’re in low-light settings.
Battery Life and Screen Type
There’s also the issue of battery life. On OLED screens—found in iPhone 12 and later models, Nintendo Switch OLED, and many laptops and TVs—dark mode can actually save power. That’s because OLED screens turn off individual pixels when displaying black, reducing energy consumption. This can help extend your phone’s battery life, but on regular LCD screens, the difference is hardly noticeable. So where does that leave us?
So, Which One Should You Use?
If you’re reading long blocks of text—like an article, a report, or even emails—light mode is probably the better choice. It reduces eye strain and helps you read more accurately. If you’re using your phone at night or just casually browsing, dark mode might feel more comfortable, especially if you’re in a dimly lit environment. Some people even switch modes based on the time of day—light mode during daylight hours, dark mode in the evening.
At the end of the day, there’s no single “best” option. It depends on what you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and how your eyes feel. So, are you sticking with your favourite, or are you switching it up? Let us know—because if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that staring at screens all day probably isn’t doing our eyes any favours either way.
We’ll catch you on the bright (or dark) side, and If you still feel you are “in the dark” then reach out!
Your tech buddies at Smokeylemon.
