The trend on the rise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It seems like everybody who is anybody talks about the dark mode. Since 2019, all the industry leaders like Google and Apple and even Wikipedia publicly expressed their support for this feature. That puts email marketers in a difficult position, as optimizing for light and dark environments is not an easy task. But what is dark mode for email exactly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Simply put, dark mode – also called a light-on-dark color scheme, is a way of displaying information using a light font and imagery on a dark background. It wasn\u2019t very popular. The dark-on-light color scheme simulated ink on paper and was an easier transition between the media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, with time, many articles pointed out that dark mode saves battery and is easier on the eyes. It seems like a logical conclusion, as many people turn down the brightness on their devices when it\u2019s darker outside, due to their eyes hurting. The energy consumption was the main reason that companies started adding dark mode. The first one to do so was Microsoft, by adding a dark background to Windows Phone 7. After Google confirmed in 2018 that dark mode saves battery, other companies jumped on this train. And if products on which you can read emails have this option, so should the email itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, dark mode is the hottest new thing after email automation<\/a>, and ignoring it would be a major mistake. You might ask – why? Why should you care about dark mode? Well, the main reason is accessibility. Do you think your recipients will switch their whole UI setting to read one of your emails (that would be only light mode optimized) or will they simply stop opening them? Even worse – unsubscribe? If you don\u2019t have cutting edge, revolutionary content you can bet the latter. So, in order to not lose subscribers, it\u2019s your duty to figure out this whole dark mode for email<\/em> issue the online industry threw at you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first, most basic claim is that dark mode actually uses less battery life than the dark-on-light option. That is only partially true – it all depends on your type of screen. Phones with OLED screens work differently<\/a> than traditional LCD screens. OLED screens can benefit from dark mode and that\u2019s because they are built differently. With this type, each pixel lights up individually. It means that the black pixel is deactivated – so it doesn\u2019t use up the battery. Up until recently, OLED wasn\u2019t as popular, but in iPhone X and newer Android models, the dark mode can indeed help with saving battery life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever since our Internet fits in the palm of our hand, various researchers have been trying to figure out the strain that staring at a screen gives us. In 2018, there was a<\/a> study on digital eye strain that proved over 50% prevalence among computer users. And that is not good news. This condition can cause major headaches, apathy, and sharp pains. Even worse, it seems that nobody is truly safe from it. Nowadays, a lot of people work online, staring at their computer for 8 hours. Then, as soon as the work is done, they turn on their private electronics and spend another few hours in front of the screen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when the claim that dark mode can actually help with this condition came to light, everyone was eager to test it out. However, there is no scientific proof that dark mode actually helps with digital eye strain. Sure, dark mode is definitely less jarring when used at night or in a badly lit space, and designing emails for it makes them look easier on the eyes. But it can also cause users to spend more time on the application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We did mention just now that dark mode doesn\u2019t really help with digital eye strain, however, there\u2019s been claims that it can be beneficial if used consistently. A recent study made by Nature.com<\/a> indeed proved that although there is no visible difference while using different shades short-term, dark mode is actually helping with a condition called myopia (inability to see far objects clearly). The researchers tested two groups and measured the thickness of their choroid to establish if it changed. The thinning of this part of the eye is related to myopia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This study proved that although performance might be better when using the light mode, the dark mode has considerably better long-term effects on the eye. In conclusion, if you’re designing emails for the dark mode theme you are essentially helping people out on a long-term basis.<\/strong> Since you know, everybody reads their emails almost daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve heard that one. The email dark mode<\/strong> is easier on your eyes, which means that it has to be better to read with it. However, the truth might be disappointing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"dark](\"https:\/\/elasticemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/dark-mode-article-1-1024x359.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDark mode for email saves battery life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dark mode email is better for the eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Email marketing dark mode is better long-term<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dark mode makes it easier to read<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"email](\"https:\/\/elasticemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Group-278.png\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"dark](\"https:\/\/elasticemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Group-277-763x1024.png\")
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