OLEDs and darker colors

[aevan]

Never gave it much thought before, but with all this talk about iPhone X screen, I got curious. I know OLED saves battery with black graphics because parts of the screen are not emitting light - but does that also mean darker colors spend less energy than bright ones? Would a dark-theme mode in, say, Tweetbot spend less power than the light one?

I do not care for practical reasons nor do I intend to go all dark on my X even if it is true, I am genuinely curious, so if anyone can answer I would be grateful.

 

[akash.nu]

The only way it will save battery life is if the diodes are not lit, which is only possible with a black background. Otherwise you’re still draining battery with any other type of colour because the diodes still need to emit light to create the colour.

 

[Super Xander]

Yes, I think you’re right.
Every pixel can adjust the brightness itself, and dark colors uses low brightness to give the dark color effect - therefore they also use less battery.

I’ve saw a document, where (I think) White and Red uses the most battery, where the blue color are the most energi efficient color.

Also I use Black and white scale with low power mode when I must save battery life, and it really works.

 

[itsmemuffins]

Yes. Black uses no power. White uses the most power. Everything else in between.

 

[Nuubi]

Blue diode is the less efficient out of RGB and has a shorter lifespan. I think this article will answer a lot questions regarding amoled power consumption. Hope it helps.

https://senk9.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/thoughts-amoled-power-consumption-tested-and-explored/

Edit: scroll to test 3 for breakdowns of power consumption for each colours.

 

[Arran]

Blue diode is the less efficient out of RGB and has a shorter lifespan. I think this article will answer a lot questions regarding amoled power consumption. Hope it helps.

https://senk9.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/thoughts-amoled-power-consumption-tested-and-explored/

Edit: scroll to test 3 for breakdowns of power consumption for each colours.

Thank you. Really good article.

Looks like a retro “green-screen” emulation from the 70’s - 80’s would be efficient.

 

[Nuubi]

Thank you. Really good article.

Looks like a retro “green-screen” emulation from the 70’s - 80’s would be efficient.

You are welcome.

FYI, the matrix knew all along.

 

[itsmemuffins]

I use a blue wallpaper

 

[haruhiko]

Never gave it much thought before, but with all this talk about iPhone X screen, I got curious. I know OLED saves battery with black graphics because parts of the screen are not emitting light - but does that also mean darker colors spend less energy than bright ones? Would a dark-theme mode in, say, Tweetbot spend less power than the light one?

I do not care for practical reasons nor do I intend to go all dark on my X even if it is true, I am genuinely curious, so if anyone can answer I would be grateful.

Yes