iOS 13’s new dark mode revealed in leaked screenshots

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iOS 11 dark mode
iOS 12 has an inverted colors option, but it's not a true dark mode.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple will finally bring a dark mode to iOS with a major update this fall. Leaked screenshots of iOS 13 show us exactly what it will look like. We also get our first glimpse of a redesigned Reminders app.

iOS 12 was a significant update for iPhone and iPad, but it wasn’t spectacular. It focused primarily on eliminating bugs and improving performance — particularly on older devices.

This year, we’re expecting a lot more from iOS 13. Recent reports have hinted at big changes and brand new features, including a long-awaited dark mode. Here’s what it will look like.

The wait is over

The screenshots below, obtained by 9to5Mac, were allegedly ripped straight from iOS 13 itself. They offer our very first look at an official dark mode, which extends across the entire OS.

There’s not much to see on the Home screen, aside from a slightly darker background for the Dock. But in the Music app, everything that was white is now black.

The screenshot UI appears to be gray rather than white, with redesigned annotation tools. On the iPad, the tray that holds those tools has rounded edges and can be moved around.

Dark mode is said to look great on an OLED screen — like those packed into the iPhone XS and XS Max. And it could improve battery life since black pixels don’t need to be lit on OLED panels.

A brand new Reminders

Apple is also expected to deliver a brand new Reminders app this fall. The screenshot below shows new sections dedicated to things like “Scheduled” and “Flagged” reminders, as well as easier access to all the tasks you have set for “Today.”

Reminders will reportedly use the more modern SF UI Rounded font that was first introduced with the Wallet app in iOS 12.2.

The Find My Friends and Find My iPhone apps will also get some design improvements.

“The app shows a big map that fills the entire screen of the device, with a small window in the corner listing the user’s family and friends and another tab for the user’s own devices,” 9to5 reports.

iOS 13 will be unveiled on June 3

These are just a few of the changes and improvements we’re expecting to see from iOS 13. Others include major multitasking enhancements for the iPad, a system-wide undo gesture, a font manager, smarter Mail, and more.

We’ll get our first glimpse at it all on June 3 when Apple kicks off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. In the meantime, here’s to hoping we see more leaked screenshots.

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