Overview
- An experiment by Mondragon Unibertsitatea (n=141) using the Implicit Association Test found a small automatic bias toward light interfaces, yet self-reports favored dark overall.
- Direct responses showed 48.2% preferred dark mode and 43.3% light, with men leaning dark and women leaning light in the reported breakdown.
- Researchers and specialists linked light themes to clearer, more orderly reading and feelings of professionalism and safety, while dark themes were tied to relaxation, night use and stylistic appeal.
- Comfort varied by environment, with dark mode reducing glare in dim settings and light mode improving contrast in bright conditions.
- Technical analyses noted potential battery savings for dark mode on OLED displays, and experts urged customizable, context-aware themes with quick controls for brightness and contrast.