Android 16 Beta 2: Easier screen dimming for Pixel 9 users
The best Android phones offer super dim screens for comfortable night-time use. However, not all phones can dim that low, which is where Android’s “Extra Dim” feature comes in. It uses clever software to make the screen look darker, but until now, you had to manually switch it on and off. This could be annoying if you forgot to turn it off, leaving your screen too dark during the day. Android 16 is changing this for the better, at least for the Pixel 9 family.
“Extra Dim” works by changing how colors appear on your screen, making everything less bright. Before, you had to activate it from the settings menu or add it to your quick settings, or use gestures like a two-finger swipe or double-pressing the volume keys. Once on, it stayed on until you turned it off or restarted your phone.
With Android 16 Beta 2, “Extra Dim” is now part of the brightness slider. When you slide the brightness all the way down, “Extra Dim” automatically kicks in. This change means you’re less likely to leave it on by accident because you adjust brightness often or let the phone do it automatically.
This update is only for the Google Pixel 9 series at the moment. It’s on by default but can be turned off if you prefer. The old quick settings shortcut for “Extra Dim” now just tells you about the new setup.
Unfortunately, if you have an older Pixel phone, you won’t see this feature yet. It might have to do with how the software works with the phone’s hardware. The new “Extra Dim” could be using features only available in the latest hardware versions.
We’ve been waiting for this update since last April when it was called “even dimmer.” Now, although you can’t adjust how dark “Extra Dim” makes your screen, you also don’t have to remember to turn it off. It’s a small but thoughtful change that should make using your phone in low light more intuitive.