I-SORE
WhatsApp’s new dark mode branded ‘ugly and GROSS’ by furious users
WHATSAPP finally launched its dark mode feature yesterday but it hasn't been met with the high praise it probably expected.
The highly anticipated feature has sparked debate on Twitter because some people love it while others are calling it "ugly" and "gross".
2
WhatsApp's dark mode has started rolling out to Android and iPhone users and if you haven't got the feature yet you should do within the next few days.
This is, of course, depending on if you have the latest version of WhatsApp and a fairly recent software update on your phone.
The app developer revealed that dark mode was the most requested feature from users everywhere.
It admitted to taking its time with dark mode, despite several other apps already having this option, because it wanted to get the feature just right.
2
However, some WhatsApp users are still not impressed.
One tweeted: "WhatsApp dark mode looks good and all until you open the chat."
Another complained: "WhatsApp dark mode is ugly on Android."
Other complaints included a dislike of the colour of the dark mode chat bubbles and how the feature affected wallpapers.
WhatsApp claimed to focus on the two particular areas of 'readability' and 'information hierarchy' when designing its dark mode.
For improved readability WhatsApp dark mode aims to minimise eye fatigue.
For what it refers to as 'information hierarchy', the developers picked dark colours that still helped users pick out the most important information on the screen.
In dark mode, WhatsApp has a black background with white text on top.
The regular display version is the opposite of this with the white background creating a lot of light.
The highly anticipated feature is expected to improve user experience and reduce battery consumption.
Dark mode preserves the battery of your phone because it lights up fewer pixels when you're using it.
Luckily for those upset users, WhatsApp dark mode is optional and you can turn the feature off or chose not to turn it on at all.
This may be more tricky for Android 10 and iOS 13 users as if they switch dark mode on in their general system settings then it will automatically apply to WhatsApp.
We have reached out to WhatsApp for comment.
How to get WhatsApp dark mode
Just follow these simple steps...
- First you'll need to make sure you've got the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone
- To do this on an iPhone go to the App Store and click on 'Account', then scroll until you see the WhatsApp icon and click 'Update' if you're given the option
- On Android you'll need to open the Google Play Store, tap the icon of the three horizontal stacked lines and select 'My apps & games'
- Similarly to iPhone, if you need to update your WhatsApp you'll be given the option here
- Users on Android 10 and iOS 13 can use dark mode by enabling it in their system settings
- Users on Android 9 and below need to go into the WhatsApp 'Settings' then click on 'Chats' then 'Theme' and then select ‘Dark’
TOP STORIES IN TECH
In other news, Android users have been warned that some hugely popular apps on the Google Play Store could put them at risk.
Invitations to hundreds of thousands of supposedly private WhatsApp chats have been published online.
And, Instagram fans have unearthed a secret feature in a popular sticker that lets you switch on your sound with one tap.
What are your thoughts on WhatsApp dark mode? Let us know in the comments...
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
Topics