Google Reportedly Testing Auto Dark Mode for Websites on iPhone via Search Labs

According to a report, Google is testing an automatic dark mode feature for websites in its iPhone app. As the name suggests, the feature automatically turns on dark mode on applicable websites, the report suggests. Similar to a browser, the Google app allows users to browse the web. In addition, it also has artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities through Gemini, the company's proprietary conversational AI chatbot. This new feature is reportedly currently in testing and not widely available to users.

Auto Dark Mode on iPhone

According to a report by 9to5Google, the automatic dark mode on the iPhone has been made available through Google Search Labs, a program that allows users to test experimental features that are not yet accessible to the public.

When launching this feature, Google said: “Stay in dark mode no matter what website you're on. Turn on dark mode on your device to enable this experience so that every website you visit matches the dark theme of your application

When enabled, this feature will be activated for all applicable websites, it was further mentioned. It is also reported that the automatic dark mode will not be available on websites that have an existing dark mode. In the screenshots shared by 9to5Google, the auto dark mode introduced a new look to the website, but it didn't appear to feature a pure black look. Instead, the background turned dark gray.

Because this feature is currently only available to early testers as a beta experiment, Google reports, “the quality of dark mode conversion may vary. The experiment does not apply to websites with an existing dark theme.”

Minimized custom tabs in Chrome

Apart from experimenting with the Auto Dark Mode feature in the Google app, the tech giant also introduced a new feature called Minimized Custom Fits in its Chrome browser for Android. Available with Chrome version 124, it turns tabs into small floating windows when minimized.

This feature appears as a drop-down button in the top banner next to the website name. Tapping the button turns the tab into a floating picture-in-picture (PiP) window.