Google Search’s Dark Mode Goes Darker In Test For Select Users
Photo 116300050 © Klevo | Dreamstime.com
Rainbow-accented Google is delving further into the dark side and experimenting with a darker theme for the desktop version of Search. Instead of the charcoal gray introduced in September, it is trying out a pitch-black (#000000) background.
To accommodate the intense shade, the tech giant has also adjusted hyperlinks on results pages to appear more vibrant—a deeper blue for new links and a more vivid purple for links that have been clicked on. Body text also seems to be in white instead of pale gray, as some users have spotted.
This is the second time in a week google's testing their color scheme in dark mode on prod 😣 pic.twitter.com/k31X0uC533
— Chirag 👨ðŸ»ðŸ’» (@ChiragSrvstv) February 23, 2022
The dark version of the Google Search homepage, however, has retained its gray.
Not everybody is subjected to this display—it’s an A/B test that only extends to a small fraction of users.
UI/UX designers might be surprised at Google’s decision to work with a pitch-black background. After all, it’s Dark Mode 101 that pages should be in dark gray instead of black to reduce eye strain and enhance other elements on the page.
If you weren’t aware of Google Search’s dark view and wish to try it out, you can head over to the Settings menu found on the top right, then click on Appearance > Dark theme. It will toggle the original dark mode though, not the variation in the A/B test.
Google seems to be testing a new color scheme for its dark mode search results. Links are now yellow-ish and the background is completely black.
— Petteri Pyyny (@pyyny) February 18, 2022
I get the new(?) colors when logged in to G and using Edge and also w/ incognito Chrome, but not on anything else. #serp #seo #google pic.twitter.com/OzD5nxe69V
Hey Google. I got the new Dark Mode test, but I didn't like it (Its too "strong"). Is there any way to get back to "gray" mode? pic.twitter.com/T03W6q0t5B
— CarBluG Studio (@CarBluGStudio) February 23, 2022
was dark mode google text always white? am i going crazy? pic.twitter.com/8HWxAzldL8
— Ericc (@bbalenci_) February 18, 2022
@Google Yo can you revert back to the gray dark mode? this is killing my eyes pic.twitter.com/aDlf41vjxT
— Caramellious (@CaramelliousDa1) February 23, 2022
[via Android Police and 9to5Google, images via various sources]
