Grayscale Mode

Enable Grayscale Mode on your Pixel or nexus device – No Root Needed

Back in 2015 there was a trend with new smartphones, to provide a grayscale mode. It got activated on ultra-battery saving mode. Enabling the device to extend its battery life for another couple hours on 5% or less battery.

Graphics chips in smartphones consume a lot less power while rendering content in black and white, than they do color. This is because there is a broader color spectrum for 32-bit color than there is grayscale. The Pixel and Nexus device do not have this mode front and centre in the OS. They do have it embedded in the developer settings, which will change the color of the screen just the same.

The option may not have the exact same battery saving benefits as true grayscale mode on some other devices. This is because it is unclear whether the mode works as an overly, or at a GPU level. Another advantage of turning your screen black and white is that it looks less appealing. So if you think that your smartphone usage is getting out of hand, it can help cure your addiction.

 

Grayscale Mode

 

Step 1: Enable Developer Options

First up, you’ll need to enable the “Developer Options” menu on your Pixel or Nexus. To do that, head to “Settings” > “About Phone”, then scroll down to “Build number”. Tap severn times repeatedly. If you do this right, you’ll see a message that says “You are now a developer!”

Grayscale Mode

 

Step 2: Enable the Monochromacy ColorSpace

Next, go back to the Settings menu, then scroll down to “Developer Options”. From there, scroll down and find the “Hardware accelerated rendering” section. ( This is close to the bottom of this menu). At the bottom of this section (and just above the Media section), select the “Simulate color space” option. From here, choose “Monochromacy” on the popup, then your screen will immediately enter grayscale mode.

 

Step 3: Enjoy using GrayScale Mode

From now on everything on your screen will be presented to you in black and white. Pictures, video, apps, texts, homescreen, settings, app drawer etc will all be grayscale. Just to confirm, this may or may not present itself with any battery savings, but hey it’s worth a shot! Maybe you could use this to pranks you partner, friend or child as they’ll probably not know how to change it back!

Be sure to let us know in the comments below, whether it does offer any battery savings!


 

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and sincerely hope it was found helpful and enjoyable! Please feel free to leave thoughts down below in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to Bane Tech on YouTubeGoogle+Facebook, Twitter Instagram!

Sachin Mistry
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Sachin Mistry

Sachin is an Editor at Bane Tech, where he loves exploring the latest in the Android/Google universe. When he's not buried in words, Sachin is a student at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK studying his first passion which is training to become a culinary arts Chef.