Liam Daniel A battery engineer passionate about making energy storage better.

To keep your phone from turning into a “brick” in the winter, many people have come up with their own tricks — like turning down the screen brightness or always carrying a power bank. Some folks also like using dark mode and swear it helps save battery. But does dark mode really make a difference?

That depends on what kind of screen your phone has. Most phones today use either an LCD or an OLED screen. LCD screens have a backlight that stays on all the time, even when displaying dark images. So using dark mode on an LCD phone doesn’t really save much power. But OLED screens are different — each pixel lights up on its own. When your screen shows black, those pixels actually turn off, which does save battery. So if your phone has an OLED screen, dark mode can definitely help.

Dark mode also makes your phone easier on the eyes, especially at night. When you’re lying in bed looking at your screen, bright white backgrounds can be pretty harsh. A black background with white text is much gentler. It’s also great for people who are sensitive to light — like those with light sensitivity or migraines. And if you lower the screen brightness while using dark mode, it can reduce eye strain even more.

Want to save your phone’s battery during the winter? Try these tips:

a. Turn down screen brightness — easy and effective.

b. Close apps running in the background that you're not using.

c. Switch on battery saver mode — most phones have one built in.

d. Disable unneeded app notifications — saves power and cuts distractions.

Winter phone care is just as important:

a. If your phone shuts off from the cold, don’t turn it back on right away. Let it warm up to room temperature first.

b. Try not to use your phone in rain or snow — moisture can mess with the internal parts.

c. Winter clothes cause more static electricity, which can harm your screen. A static-proof screen protector can help.

d. If your phone gets hot while charging, take off the case to help it cool down and protect the battery.

With these tips, your phone will handle winter like a champ — no freezing, no power panic!