A pulse notification light is a small LED light that blinks or pulses on a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device to notify the user of new messages, missed calls, low battery, and other alerts. It provides a visual cue that something requires the user’s attention even when the screen is off or device muted.
What Does the Pulse Notification Light Indicate?
The pulse notification light can signify a number of different alerts, depending on the device and settings. Here are some of the main things it may indicate:
- New message – The light pulses to notify you of a new text message, email, voicemail, social media or app notification.
- Missed call – It blinks when you’ve missed an incoming call.
- Low battery – The light may blink red when the battery level is critically low.
- Charging status – Some devices pulse the LED when charging and turn solid when fully charged.
- Calendar/reminder – It may blink to remind you of an upcoming calendar event or other reminder.
- App alerts – Apps may use the LED to notify you of new content.
So in summary, the pulse notification light serves as an unobtrusive way to get your attention about various activity and alerts on your device. It works even when your phone is set to silent or vibrate-only mode.
Where is the Notification Light Located?
The pulse notification LED is usually located above or beside the screen, near the front-facing camera lens. On some devices it may be along the side or back. Common locations include:
- Top bezel above the display
- Top edge near front camera
- LED strip along the edge of device
- Beside front camera in upper bezel
- Rear case or back panel
The specific placement can vary significantly by smartphone model and manufacturer. For example, many Samsung Galaxy models have the LED integrated into the top bezel, while Google Pixel phones have it next to the front camera lens.
How Does the Pulse Notification Light Work?
The pulse notification LED is a small surface-mount light-emitting diode (SMD LED) that is embedded into the device hardware. When powered on, it emits colored light through a small clear window in the case.
The LED is connected to the motherboard and controlled by the firmware and operating system. When the OS receives a notification or trigger event, it sends a signal to the LED driver circuits telling it to turn on and pulse the light. This creates the blinking effect that draws the user’s attention.
The rate, brightness and color of the pulsing notification light is variable and can be customized. The settings are handled through the OS and controlled by the user. This allows configuring the LED to support different colors, blinking patterns and behaviors for various apps and alerts.
Common Notification Light Colors and Meanings
Pulse notification lights typically emit different colors to signify different events or apps. While colors may vary between manufacturers and models, here are some common lights you may see:
- White – Generic notification
- Green – SMS, text messages, email
- Blue – Facebook, Twitter, social media
- Yellow – Snapchat, Instagram
- Red – Low battery, missed call
- Cyan – Calendar reminder, alarm
- Magenta – App update available
- Orange – Voice mail message received
These colors help distinguish different notification types at a glance. The user can usually customize the colors in the device settings to suit their preferences.
How to Turn Notification Light On or Off
The pulse notification LED can be enabled or disabled in your device’s settings menu. The specific steps vary by smartphone model and operating system.
On Android
To turn the LED on or off on Android:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap Display (or Notifications)
- Tap Pulse notification light
- Toggle the switch on or off
You can also customize the light’s behavior, color and app alerts here.
On iPhone
The iPhone does not have a dedicated pulse notification LED. However, you can enable LED flash alerts for calls, messages, etc:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual
- Turn on LED Flash for Alerts
This will make the flash blink for incoming calls and notifications when the iPhone is face down or in Do Not Disturb mode.
On Other Devices
On other models, access the main Settings menu and search for terms like “LED indicator”, “notification light” or “pulse light” to locate the on/off switch.
How to Customize Notification Light Settings
You can customize many aspects of the notification LED behavior on Android devices. This lets you configure different light patterns for your most important apps.
To customize pulse notification settings:
- Open Settings and go to the pulse light settings
- Tap Notification light
- Choose which apps will use the LED
- Tap a listed app
- Select the LED light color and pulsing pattern
- Repeat for other apps
This allows assigning unique blink patterns and colors for your most used apps like Mail, Messages, Facebook, WhatsApp and more. You can also choose different settings for missed calls, low battery, and calendar events.
Third Party Apps for Extended Customization
There are various third party apps on the Google Play Store that offer enhanced customization of your device’s pulse notification LED.
Some top options include:
- Light Flow – Highly customizable LED control
- Light Manager – Set unique LED schemes for different apps
- Notifications Color – Simple LED customization
- Pulse – Make your own pulse patterns
These let you really tailor the notification light to suit your preferences. Popular features include creating color sequences, varying blink speed and duration, adding pulse effects, choosing from RGB colors, and much more.
Pros and Cons of Notification Lights
Pulse notification LEDs offer some useful benefits, but also have their drawbacks:
Pros
- Discreet way to notify without disturbing others
- Alerts you even if phone is muted or in another room
- Helps avoid constantly checking your phone
- Quickly see type of alert with color coding
- Works as a night light or charging indicator
Cons
- Small LED can be hard to see in bright conditions
- Limited information provided compared to notification screens
- No LED equivalent available on iOS devices
- Customization often requires third party apps
- On some phones placement is not very visible
Do All Phones Have a Notification Light?
Previously, notification LEDs were very common on Android phones from Samsung, HTC, Motorola, LG and others. However, with newer full-screen bezel-less designs, some manufacturers have begun removing LEDs.
Here are some details on notification light availability:
- Most Android phones released before 2018 have LEDs, but support is patchy on newer models.
- Many budget Android phones still include LEDs as standard.
- Most modern high-end devices from Samsung, HTC, Sony, OnePlus and others omit notification lights.
- Google Pixel phones do still integrate small LEDs in the bezel.
- iPhones do not have an LED, but flash can be used for some alerts.
- Other brands may offer AMOLED screens capable of edge lighting effects for notifications.
It’s becoming a legacy feature, but notification LEDs retain a loyal following among many users. There are ongoing requests for manufacturers to retain or reinstate them in new devices.
Alternatives to Hardware Notification Lights
With pulse notification LEDs disappearing on many new phones, what other options exist for visual alerting? Here are some potential alternatives:
- Always On Displays – Shows icons, alerts and pending notifications while screen is off.
- Edge Lighting – Illuminates sides of bezel-less screens for alerts.
- Pop-up Notifications – Floating heads-up banners appear over current app.
- Notification Reminder Dots – Shows dots on app icons when notifications are pending.
- Acoustic Pulse Notifications – Emit sound pulses for notifications.
- Missed Call/Message LED Cases – Battery case with embedded LEDs.
However most of these methods are still more intrusive than a simple blinking LED. Many users are still hoping notification lights make a comeback in future devices.
Conclusion
The pulse notification LED serves an important role in allowing you to see at a glance if you have pending alerts and updates on your mobile device. The ability to customize colors and patterns also makes it easy to identify different apps and events.
While pulse notification lights are becoming less common due to shifting design priorities, they remain highly useful when available. With careful placement and implementation, these LEDs can persist even on full-screen phones. Many users are still hoping this signature smartphone feature does not disappear completely.