Blackle Energy Saving Search: Does a Black Screen Really Save Energy? (2026 Update)
Does Blackle, the “energy saving” black version of Google search, really save electricity? When Blackle launched in 2007, it claimed a black screen uses less power than a white one, and its counter showed millions of watt-hours “saved”. Google disagreed at the time. Nearly 20 years later, with OLED phones and dark mode everywhere, the answer has changed. Here’s the real science.
Quick answer: On old CRT monitors and on today’s LCD screens, a black page like Blackle saves almost no energy, and Google said in 2007 that it could even use slightly more on flat panels. On OLED screens (most modern smartphones and some laptops and TVs), black pixels really are switched off, so dark pages and dark mode do save power, mainly at high brightness.
Table of Contents
What is Blackle?
Blackle is a search site created in 2007 by Heap Media in Australia. It shows Google-powered search results on a black background, with a counter claiming the watt-hours saved by everyone using it. It grew out of a viral blog post estimating that a black Google homepage could save 750 megawatt-hours a year, and dozens of “black Google” copycat sites followed.
What Google said about black screens
In August 2007, Google responded on its official blog. It praised the spirit of the idea but said its own analysis showed a black homepage wouldn’t reduce energy use. On flat-panel LCD monitors, which already made up most of the market, it said displaying black might even use slightly more power.
The reason is how LCDs work: an LCD has a backlight that stays on at the same brightness whatever colour is on screen. Black pixels just block the light rather than switching it off.
Does a black screen save energy in 2026?
| Screen type | Where you find it | Does black save power? |
|---|---|---|
| CRT | Old 2000s monitors | Slightly, but CRTs are gone |
| LCD / LED-backlit LCD | Most desktop monitors, many laptops and budget phones | No, the backlight stays on |
| OLED / AMOLED | Most modern smartphones, some laptops and TVs | Yes, black pixels are switched off |
A 2021 study by Purdue University measured dark mode on OLED phones. At normal indoor brightness (30–50%) it saved only about 3–9% of display power, but at 100% brightness, for example outdoors in sunlight, it saved around 39–47%. Not sure which screen your phone has? See our guide to smartphone display types.
So Blackle’s idea finally makes some sense, but only on OLED screens, and you don’t need Blackle for it. Google Search, Chrome, YouTube and most apps now offer a built-in dark mode.
How to save power with dark mode
- Android: Settings → Display → Dark theme.
- iPhone: Settings → Display & Brightness → Dark.
- Google Search: open Google, click Settings (bottom right) → Dark theme.
- Windows and Mac: choose Dark in the colour or appearance settings. This saves little on LCD monitors but can be easier on the eyes at night.
The biggest battery saver on any screen is still lowering brightness. A dimmer screen saves far more energy than any colour scheme.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackle still working?
Blackle’s site has been online on and off over the years, but you can get the same effect more safely by turning on Google’s own dark theme.
Does dark mode save battery on iPhone?
On iPhones with OLED screens (iPhone X and most later models), yes, especially at high brightness. On iPhones with LCD screens, such as the iPhone SE and older models, it makes little difference.
Does dark mode help your eyes?
It can reduce glare in a dark room, but research on eye strain is mixed. Use whichever mode feels more comfortable.
Black Google websites do seem to be interesting but most of them don’t seem to do much. Blackl search engine uses renewable energy + small data transfers to save energy. Besides Blackl I don’t see anything other than poorly constructed websites. Blackl is available in over 50 languages and actually displays results with a Google layout instead of loads of adsense adds at the top and bottom of page. http://www.blackl.com/black-google.php – Blackl search engine is the only one that I call black Google as it actually has the technology to display reesults with a Google layout.
I like the idea where people try to raise the world awareness on global warming, energy saving, etc.
Whether black background screen help saving energy or not, but at least they tried to let people know there are many ways that we can save energy.
The best site of there for this is called Vimle. The white version is at vimle.com and is best for people who prefer white, or use a newer LCD monitor. The black version is at b.vimle.com and is best for people who prefer black, or use an older CRT monitor to save energy.
Those having CRT user black google and those having LCD use white google :P
I like the blackle concept; the guy who made it was smart;) recently i was searching around and found Blackle games; nice concept, play games and save the world
The idea carried some weight but practically it saves a minimal amount of energy on CRT display, and very little or no energy on LCDs. Also bad for the eyes, because light on dark is hard to read