Samsung was one of the largest Android OEMs to implement Always On Display in its flagship offering in 2016. Fast forward to today and almost all Samsung devices including Galaxy M, Galaxy A, Galaxy S and Note series come with useful build. -Always On Display option to get things done. On most Galaxy smartphones, this option is disabled by default and you need to enable and customize the option from the One UI settings app.
First, let’s understand what is Always On Display (AOD). AOD monitors your screen with time, date, battery status, notifications, screensavers, etc. Allows you to customize the display. It’s mostly useful on AMOLED displays, as AOD only turns on individual pixels on the screen. On LCD panels, the entire screen needs to be turned on to activate the Always On Display mode, which is not battery friendly and doesn’t look good at night.
Android OEMs also offer Always On Display functionality, but Samsung offers tons of customization options, smooth integration, AOD from the Theme store, etc. Use the full potential of AOD on Samsung phones.
In this post, we will talk about complete step-by-step instructions for enabling and using Always On Display, customization options, third-party AOD from Theme Store, and its impact on device battery life. Lets start.
Where Is It Always Displayed On My Phone?
There are two ways to access Always On Display mode on Galaxy device. You can download notification bar and use notification toggles to turn AOD mode on or off on phone.
Another way is from the Setting app. Open Settings app on your phone and go to Lock screen option and enable Always On Display option.
You’ll be mostly fine with the AOD toggle in the notification bar. You should only use the Settings app when you want to customize the AOD mode or set the clock. Speaking of customization, let’s explore all the features of the AOD mod.
Always On Display Customization Options
Being Samsung, Samsung offers dozens of customization options to set the Always On Display mode. First, there are three ways to show AOD on lock screen. You need to go to Device Settings > Lock screen > Always On Display and explore all the options.
Tap to show: Most Android phones offer tap-to-show functionality, but it may consume more battery if you turn on the whole screen and use tap-to-show frequently. Samsung’s solution lets you touch the screen and shows the AOD for 10 seconds.
The best of both worlds. Tap to show, it serves the purpose without affecting battery life too much.
Always Show: As the name suggests, it will keep the AOD mode enabled at all times. You should monitor battery usage as it can consume more battery life.
Show as Scheduled: This is my favorite and I prefer to use it compared to the other two options. You can set a specific time to display the AOD on the lock screen. I usually keep it from 8 am to 11 pm. Tap the option and choose the start and end time
Now let’s customize the AOD view with different clock styles, colors and music information. Follow the steps below to customize the look of the AOD mod on your Galaxy device.
Stage 1: Open the Settings app on the device and go to Lock Screen > Always On Display.
Step 2: Set the AOD mode to your preference and open the Clock style menu.
Stage 3: Here you will see a lot of clock styles. Samsung offers clock preview at the top. You’ll also see other information such as remaining battery life, date, and day.
Step 4: Go to the color option and see dozens of color options and gradient effects.
You can also enable showing music information; AOD will showcase the live music track on the lock screen.
Third Party Always in Display Modes
Your choice to customize Always On Display doesn’t end there. Samsung offers a theme store on all Galaxy devices. You can completely change the look and feel of the device using the theme store.
Long press home screen and open Theme Store. Go to the AOD menu and there you will see all third-party Always On Display mods with live preview and price. I like how Samsung has added the Editor’s selection to streamline the selection process.
Few Things to Note About AOD Mode
- Always On Display will drain battery life. On average, it consumes about 1% of battery life per hour.
- You will notice that the AOD mode keeps changing the clock position. The behavior is expected to prevent AMOLED screen burn-in.
- You can use the notification toggle or select the Settings app to disable Always On Display mode on your device.
- Samsung also lets you set an image as an AOD background, but I would recommend avoiding it as it uses more pixels and consumes more battery life.
Always On Display On Galaxy Devices
Samsung’s AOD mode is one of the best features of its One UI software. You should enable the option and customize the experience to your liking from the Settings app. While you’re here, show us your current AOD mod setup on the Galaxy device.
Next: Want to master the Samsung One UI? Read the post below to find the top eleven Samsung One UI home launcher tips and tricks.
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