$900/yr American Express fee now gets you…the app’s dark theme

2 hours ago 1

American Express recently rolled out an updated app experience for users of its $895/year Platinum Card via a ‘Premium Theme’ option. What does this new theme do, you might ask? It makes the app’s colors darker.

‘Premium Theme’ in Amex app gives Platinum holders a truly black background

Have you ever used an app with a dark blue background and really wished it was true black?

American Express understands your pain. And now, exclusively for Platinum Card members who are willing to pay the higher $895/year annual fee, that black app theme can be yours.

No, this is not a joke.

American Express recently announced a big increase for its Platinum Card annual fee:

Old fee: $695/yr
New fee: $895/yr

As a way to justify the increase, the company has added new perks. Most of them offer actual monetary value, like the $300 lululemon credit or $400 Resy credit.

But there’s also a new ‘Premium Theme’ option in the American Express app that’s exclusive to Platinum holders.

And that special theme gets you…slightly darker colors.

As shown in screen recordings shared on Threads, the new theme gives users a black UI rather than dark blue when in dark mode, and makes the colors similarly a little darker in light mode.

Besides the background colors changing, there appears to be no discernible difference in these new themes.

Obviously no one will get a Platinum card or pay the $895 annual fee for a slightly darker app theme. But the fact that American Express is offering this ‘Premium Theme’ as a special perk is pretty hilarious nonetheless.

What’s your take on the new ‘Premium Theme’ offered by American Express? Let us know in the comments.