GoKawiilAndy Walker / Android Authority
Dark Mode is a truly unsung Android interface hero and one that every user seemingly takes for granted. I have my phone automatically switch to it on a schedule each night, which ensures that I don’t burn holes in my retinas before I nod off.
Schedules, while useful, can be far too rigid. I often wish my phone could automatically flick between light and dark modes depending on the brightness of my surroundings. While Android might not have this as a built-in option, a third-party app called Adaptive Theme gives my phone this power.
How do you use Dark Mode on your phone? 129 votes Dark Mode is always active on my phone. 75 % I manually switch between Dark Mode and Light Mode when needed. 6 % I schedule Dark Mode to trigger at a certain time each day. 15 % I don't use Dark Mode at all. 4 %
Adaptive Theme is my new favorite Android interface app
Andy Walker / Android Authority
As its name suggests, Adaptive Theme switches between dark and light modes based on the amount of light detected by my phone’s ambient light sensor. This mode switch goes beyond mere scheduling — if the phone senses that I’m outdoors in the blazing sunlight or indoors surrounded by bright lamps, Adaptive Theme will automatically switch to light mode. If I enter a dimly lit theater or cover up the ambient sensor with my hand, the interface will darken. All this is accomplished without me ever having to toggle a menu item, which is the real selling point here.
The app design is attractive yet functional, and makes pleasant use of Material You. It essentially consists of a single screen with one overflow menu. On the main panel, a master switch enables or disables the app’s automatic switching. Below it reside two more important elements: Brightness Threshold and Current Brightness.
Adaptive Theme lets my phone automatically switch to dark mode when ambient light levels are low.
Users can pick one of six brightness levels at which Adaptive Theme switches over to dark mode. This provides rough control over when the feature is triggered. If you prefer finer touches, you can enter a custom numerical threshold instead — anything between 0 and 10,000 lux is fair game.
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