Google introduced a new power-saving mode in Google Maps . As the name suggests, it saves battery while using navigation by turning into a monochrome color scheme and cutting down on the on-screen graphics. However, this is a Pixel 10 exclusive feature, leaving behind others, including its younger siblings. However, a third-party app now brings Google Maps power-saving mode to older Pixels.
The Essentials app brings Pixel 10’s Google Maps power-saving mode to older Pixels
The third-party app in question is Essentials from developer Sameera Wijerathna. This adds several basic features to Pixels, like a screen-off widget, the ability to remap the hardware buttons, app lock, action linking, hiding unwanted status bar icons, etc. This also reportedly enables Google Maps’ power-saving mode on non-Pixel 10 Pros.
The app is not available on the Play Store. Instead, you will have to download and sideload it from the GitHub project . Reddit reports claim that the app successfully unlocks this Pixel 10-exclusive feature on older Pixels. In fact, the app developer even claims that Essentials can enable the power-saving mode on Samsung and other Android devices.
Whether this’ll actually preserve the phone’s battery is still a question
While the Essentials app is pretty straightforward, there’s a catch. Users must install Shizuku on their Pixel to unlock the Google Maps features. Other features on the app do not require Shizuku. To get Shizuku to work, you will have to enable wireless debugging on your phone and go through the initial pairing process. Once that’s done, download and install Essential to enable the feature.
Google Play Protect may block the app installation. You can bypass this by temporarily disabling Play Protect to sideload the app. After you enable the power-saving mode toggle in Essentials, navigate to a place in Google Maps. Your phone will automatically switch to the low-power AOD mode while displaying navigation directions after a while. The first time you start navigation, a prompt may appear asking you to enable the feature.
While Essential will get the power-saving mode feature to work, there’s no way to tell if it’ll actually improve your phone’s battery life.
