I'm trying Dark Mode everywhere for the first time, and I really like the aesthetics. However, I find that the text can be a bit blurry in some cases, depending on the app. Is anyone else experiencing this?
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For anyone who likes Dark Mode, how do you find the readability compared to Light Mode?
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Nothing comes to mind. Do you have any specific app examples you can recall?
I do occasionally have some issues with text and Invert Colors. I mostly recall experiencing the trouble on Web sites, where dark text — I’m wondering but never checked if the text may not be (default) black — doesn’t invert. Therefore, you end up with dark gray text on black or otherwise dark backgrounds.
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For example, the text looks sharper on Discord in dark mode, especially compared to some websites like this one when using Vivaldi.
I think it might just be a matter of getting used to it. After using dark mode for a bit, I can see a small difference, so maybe I just need to adjust to it.
Dark Mode is tough for some people. Personally I loathe it but more power to people that like it.
Dark Mode Isn’t ‘Easier on the Eyes’ for Everybody
Apple’s new dark mode for iOS 13 can save battery life, but it won’t save everyone's eyes from screen strain.
www.vice.com
No doubt.Dark Mode is tough for some people. Personally I loathe it but more power to people that like it.
Dark Mode Isn’t ‘Easier on the Eyes’ for Everybody
Apple’s new dark mode for iOS 13 can save battery life, but it won’t save everyone's eyes from screen strain.
I have an eye condition that causes me to be far more sensitive to light than most people. And, indeed, I don’t just mean displays or blue light eye strain. Although, I admit, I like it aesthetically as well.
I only lasted a few days on dark mode. Now I am back to using light mode for everything, except the code editor and the terminal. Everything else is in light mode again. I just find text more readable this way. Also, not all apps work well with dark mode. For example, some emails in the Mail app have a white background. Sometimes you can fix it with a menu item, but I can't remember which one. Often it doesn’t work, and it depends on the actual email.
I most often use the automatic light/dark setting since my office is bright during the day and my pupils are contracted, and the other way around at night. I find light and dark modes optimal for legibility depending on the brightness in the room. I like on MacOS Tahoe they've added quick toggling that in the Spotlight bar for times when I'm in a dark environment during the day. (It's a bit busted in the current beta though, with dock icons not reacting to the modes)
While I wouldn't call it a "condition" for me, the lack of pigment in my green eyes makes my eyes super sensitive to light, so I empathize!
I have problems with focusing on text in dark mode. Never using it in daylight because it makes me dizzy. It was set to automatic on my phone so in the evening it turns on dark mode, just turned it off and it is strange but it feels easier to read text now
What display are you using? If the Pixels-per-inch density isn't high enough, then text can look blurry under a range of conditions.
I use a Retina display, and I've had the same experience with Dark Mode. There's just something about bright white text on a dark background that I just can't handle. I have trouble focussing on blue text too. It's weird! Literally the same font and size, give me two blobs of text in blue vs. black and I can barely read the blue. It's worse at night, which probably explains why Dark Mode doesn't work so well for me.
What I find is that I cannot delineate normal text from bold text in dark mode, especially in Microsoft Outlook. In most other apps, it's fine.
I have used Dark Mode ever since they first started offering it - on my Mac, iPhone, iPad, everything. However... I'm almost 40 now and ... I can't focus on things like I used to anymore. I'm getting old. I'm noticing my eyes do not enjoy dark mode like they used to. I find focusing on the text far more difficult on dark mode vs light mode.
I actually switched all my devices to light mode (except for my iPhone for OLED battery savings) a few days ago after doing a LOT of reading on this subject because I was just having a worse time focusing - especially on my iPad (reading).
Now, problem I have is, the matte screen protector on my iPad is annoying with light mode... (didn't notice it in dark mode).
I did not have this problem last year or years ago.
I actually switched all my devices to light mode (except for my iPhone for OLED battery savings) a few days ago after doing a LOT of reading on this subject because I was just having a worse time focusing - especially on my iPad (reading).
Now, problem I have is, the matte screen protector on my iPad is annoying with light mode... (didn't notice it in dark mode).
I did not have this problem last year or years ago.
As an older user with aging eyes, I find "readability" in dark mode to be... well... not very good at all.
I see no advantage to dark mode.
I don't use it.
At all...
I see no advantage to dark mode.
I don't use it.
At all...
What I dislike about light mode is the glare reflecting off my glasses. And I sometimes get a sort of "halo" effect, not sure what to call it.
Dark mode on all my devices is the best for me.
My favorite is the Apple Studio displays - they are the best, crispest, and lowest eye strain for me.
When I fly, I prefer the dark mode on cockpit screens to avoid distractions and maintain situational awareness.
My favorite is the Apple Studio displays - they are the best, crispest, and lowest eye strain for me.
When I fly, I prefer the dark mode on cockpit screens to avoid distractions and maintain situational awareness.
So this opens an interesting aspect of dark mode / light mode.
I use matte screen protectors on my iPhone/iPad. My Apple Studio Display has the matte display. In Light mode, I can definitely see the matte screen protectors on my iPad/iPhone. The Apple Studio Display - not so much. And light display requires me to keep my glasses / displays immaculately clean whereas dark mode is a lot more forgiving.
I use computer glasses - that block some blue light and have anti-reflective coatings - helps a lot.
With my matte screen protectors - dark mode looks a lot sharper in daylight than light mode, but my old eyes find it increasingly difficult to focus on text with a black background.
I prefer Dark Mode for the overall OS, and my main apps are already better looking in "dark" (Cubase, Logic, Photoshop...), but for text documents and emails, I keep everything in a more conventional "black text on white background environment", it's like my brain is more comfortable this way for reading what is virtually a page of text.
I don't have legibility issues with Dark Mode, in fact Finder menus and windows are easier to look at and read, as sometimes Light Mode feels a bit "washed" and not clear enough, like text is not contrasted enough - as an example I can think of Safari's Favorites bar where text is already a bit tiny, in Light Mode letters don't appear as sharp as in Dark Mode (I have high pixel density but it's less than Retina, which would then be a non issue)
So yes I use Dark Mode, but for text and emails, black text/white background is my preference.
I don't have legibility issues with Dark Mode, in fact Finder menus and windows are easier to look at and read, as sometimes Light Mode feels a bit "washed" and not clear enough, like text is not contrasted enough - as an example I can think of Safari's Favorites bar where text is already a bit tiny, in Light Mode letters don't appear as sharp as in Dark Mode (I have high pixel density but it's less than Retina, which would then be a non issue)
So yes I use Dark Mode, but for text and emails, black text/white background is my preference.
I prefer the old school "neutral" of grays for the UI elements with light and colorful content areas. (Motif, Windows 95, etc.)
I really dislike the choice between two extremes... "walk into the light" blinding light mode, and "looking into the abyss of despair" dark mode.
I really dislike the choice between two extremes... "walk into the light" blinding light mode, and "looking into the abyss of despair" dark mode.