Google has launched a new power-saving feature for its Maps application, promising up to four hours of additional battery life for Pixel 10 users during car navigation.
This “Minimal AOD Mode” is exclusively available on the Google Pixel 10 smartphone. It significantly reduces energy consumption by displaying essential navigation details directly on the device’s Always-On Display (AOD).
The feature addresses the high battery drain associated with traditional GPS navigation, which typically keeps screens active and GPS and mobile data connections constant.
To conserve power, the mode transforms the AOD to a black and white interface, lowers brightness, and reduces the screen’s refresh rate. This setup is particularly efficient on OLED screens, where black pixels consume minimal energy.
The functionality is strictly limited to vehicle driving and does not support navigation for walking, cycling, or public transport. It also operates solely in portrait orientation, making landscape mode incompatible.
Google announced the feature as part of its November Pixel Drop. The rollout is gradual.
Users can activate the mode by accessing Google Maps settings, then navigating to “Navigation,” and subsequently “Driving options” to find the “Energy saving mode.”
Once enabled, users initiate navigation and then press the power button to darken the main screen. The low-power interface continues to display navigation on the lock screen.
Tapping the screen or power button returns the display to its normal state. Google has not commented on whether this feature will become available on other smartphone models.