Google on Wednesday released a preview of Android N, the next version of its Android mobile operating system. Android N is available as an over-the-air update via Google’s new Android Beta Program.

We can expect developers to dissect Android N and unearth a range of new features, tweaks and improvements over the coming weeks and months leading up to the official public release.

This process has already begun and it has been revealed that Android N has a new “Night Mode” or “Cool color temperature” feature.

Just like Apple’s recently released “Night Shift” mode (in iOS 9.3), the Night Mode in Android N allows users to adjust the screen temperature for ease of use at night.

Before you try one of the two methods below, join the Android Beta Program and install Android N on a compatible device.

How to activate ‘Cool color temperature’ in Android N

Writing for VentureBeat, Jordan Novet detailed how he switched on ‘Cool color temperature’ on a Nexus 5X:

• Enable Android’s developer options: Go to Settings > About phone > scroll to and tap Build number seven times in quick succession.
• Turn on Cool color temperature: Go to the main Settings menu > scroll down to find and tap Developer options (unlocked in the previous step) > scroll to Cool color temperature > toggle the option On > turn off the screen and turn it back on.

How to activate ‘Night Mode’ in Android N

Over at Android Police, Ryan Whitwam shows us how to activate Night Mode in the system UI tuner in Android N: (for more detail and screenshots, check out Ryan’s article)

• In Quick Settings, long-press the Settings shortcut > scroll to the bottom and click through the warning > tap Color and appearance > tap Night Mode.
• You can toggle Night Mode on or off or you can choose to have Night Mode activated automatically at a location or time of day.
• Under When Night Mode is on you have options to Use a dark theme for Android OS, Adjust tint (applies a red filter), Adjust brightness.
• You can mix and match any of these settings to get to a display brightness and hue comfortable for your purposes and setting.

As this is an early developer preview and the official public version of Android N is not due for release until later this year, there’s no telling if this new feature will stay in or be dropped from Android N. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Image credit: F Delventhal, Flickr