Google seems ready to bring Android Auto light mode back into the spotlight. After its removal in 2019 and more than two years of silence since its last appearance, light mode is showing itself again.
A new light mode in the starting blocks for Android Auto
Long considered abandoned, Android Auto light mode is resurfacing in a much more advanced version. Developer AssembleDebug was able to manually activate this light theme, still in the testing phase. And the progress is evident. Where the first leak, spotted two years ago by a Reddit user, revealed an interface with rough edges, the new version now sports a much more polished finish.
Android Auto's new light mode. – Source: Android Authority – Click to enlarge
Apps like YouTube Music now benefit from the Material You aesthetic, with true visual consistency. The unsightly black frame around apps is gone, in favor of a much cleaner display. A few elements still leave something to be desired, particularly in the top bar, but these are minor details.
A more comfortable light mode in broad daylight
While Android Auto's dark mode remains popular for the comfort it provides at night, it shows its limitations in direct sunlight. Many users complain about reduced readability in vehicles equipped with LCD screens. Contrast that is too low, annoying reflections, and an interface that is sometimes illegible during the day: all reasons that justify the return of light mode.
Apple understood this well by integrating a light theme into CarPlay in 2019, the same year that Google paradoxically decided to remove this option from Android Auto. Since then, this absence has been felt, especially for those whose dashboard screen is not OLED. The return of Android Auto's light mode could therefore offer a more pleasant experience depending on the ambient brightness. All eyes are now on Google I/O 2025, where the official announcement could be made.
Source: Android Authority
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