Top 10 Mobile App Development Trends for 2024

Businesses without a mobile app are a thing of the past. One would think with so many apps present in the market, the demand for apps is meant to decline. But if current trends are anything to go by, mobile apps will spiral upward in the coming years.

Last few years have seen features that have disrupted the app development scene. Technological advancements, an ever-evolving market and interactive customer experience will continue to be the core factors that drive future app developments. But let’s take a look at what mobile app development trends are bound to get bigger and better in 2024.

Mobile App Industry Trends in 2024

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Our phones carry AI driven features even today but brands across are in the race to hyper-personalize the experience for their customers. Retail giant Amazon is a great example of how their entire ecosystem is built to induce customer buying in a seamless manner. The intelligent behavior and intuitive navigation powered through AI shows unlimited opportunities to improve user experiences on mobile apps. These are some of the crucial technological advancements with AI:

• Machine Learning (ML) – Apps can analyze the previous actions to predict the future moves with the help of ML and thus nudge a customer on the app navigation.
• Automation – AI can automate complex coding programs thus saving developers time in creating codes while building apps.
• Chatbots – This is the closest thing to human interaction thanks to AI. Chatbots improve the overall user experience because it can operate on its own using Natural Language Processing and past behavior.
• Voice Recognition – Mobile apps can use AI to integrate voice recognition. This enables users to give commands or operate the phone using this feature. Apple’s Siri & Amazon’s Alexa are prime examples of this technology, while more companies are in the process of getting on the bandwagon.

2. Foldable Phones

Are foldable phones making a comeback? Though we saw a few designs roll out since 2019, mobile companies are planning to get bigger and adventurous with bold designs for foldable phone screens. Space management, wide gamut of colors, mobility, are some of the advantages that point to the fact that future is folding. App developers will have to consider how to adjust the display to foldable screens to give maximum visual impact.

3. Biometric authentication 

We’ve grown to love the ease of using face IDs and fingerprints to login to our mobile devices. Passwords are slowly becoming a thing of the past with biometric technology being able to analyze even our minute details. Strong authentication is the need of the hour and biometrics means tight security for our devices. Biometric sensors improve the convenience and functionality of accessing these devices.  

This means that the number of mobile devices integrated with fingerprint scanners is meant to increase by a billion devices annually. Biometrics will also enable robust mobile banking applications and user access through cloud-computing based biometric devices.  

Read how biometrics have become a part and parcel across industries and high-level processes over the recent years here. 

4. Geotagging 

Location-based apps are not a novelty. But the way these apps are now using customer data to create a more personalized and customized experience is what makes the difference. For example, mobile banking apps can create a seamless process by identifying when the customer is in the bank and reducing the physical touchpoints. Location-based feature is also a big asset to fitness and health apps enabling the end user to view the distance they’ve tracked. Reward based apps can also send instant notification when their customers are passing near affiliated partners to prompt purchases. Such real-time data becomes a great way to engage with customers.  

 5. 5G Technology 

Stable connectivity in crowded places is now a reality thanks to 5G or fifth-generation cellular networks. It is touted to be one of the best things to happen to mobile apps. It is not just an exciting time for end users but also for developers and techies. With a minimum speed of 1GBPS, 5G is at least 10 times faster than the 4G network. Increased speed also means less battery consumption on phones.  

Its low latency and increased connection density is a boon for IoT (Internet of Things) developers to create optimal-performing technology. 5G is elevating immersive content with realistic AR and VR integration into apps. 3D-based and futuristic apps will also see a surge thanks to this technology. One can also expect a near-perfect GPS experience with 5G enabling real-time and precise data on apps. All in all, more possibilities await mobile apps with this technology.  

 6. Smart Apps 

Our home, phones, watches, and TVs are all smart. So, what are smart apps? Smart apps are meant to offer a highly interactive user experience and enable ease of operating devices around us with a single tap or command. It analyzes the data and suggests the next actions thus enabling the users to complete a task.  

In a business sense, smart apps provide data-driven insights to make informed decisions.  It also improves the operational efficiency of the machines and helps in developing new business models based on predictive insights.  

A lot more startups and businesses are investing in smart app technology. In the coming years mobile interfaces will increasingly be the center of IoT devices and voice command will become an unavoidable aspect while developing any mobile device. 

7. Blockchain technology 

One of the most important technologies in the industry 4.0 world, Blockchain has the potential to change humanity in so many ways. The industry is expected to grow to 39.7 billion USD by 2025, that too at an annual CAGR of 67.3% during 2020-2025. Blockchain technology maintains transparency, secures data, and has wide-ranging applications in many industries. 

Apps using blockchain have end-to-end encryption thus keeping the data secure and not giving an option for any sort of data modification. If you want to build an app that uses a transactional interface, requires payment gateways, and has data that needs safeguarding, then Blockchain is the right choice for you. Also, check out this article on how Blockchain technology is disrupting the mobile app development space. 

 8. Gestures 

Gestures enhance user experience by prodding intuitive actions. Gestures allow interactive navigation and frees up space on the phone so that users can focus more on the content without being distracted by eliminating excessive buttons. Animated gestures will make app UX more dynamic in the coming years. Facial recognition is getting a lot more attention now and introducing it in place of touch and swipe gestures will be a game–changer on how users interact with their phones.  

9. Predictive Models 

Predictive Analysis uses data, algorithm and Machine Learning to analyze data to gain insights and predict future outcomes. Predictive analytics can identify the risks in app development and also estimate the time and effort required for app delivery thus improving the quality of the app while saving time. Predictive analytics also helps to personalize marketing by understanding user behavior, improve user engagement and their retention. It also gives you a heads up to jump on future trends by giving the app necessary modifications.  

 10. Super Apps 

With advancement in technology, customers expect more ease while interacting with apps. A single app that hosts all features is naturally preferred over multiple apps for different uses. A lot of apps have been trying to make this happen and some of them have got it right. A version of such app would include shopping interface, social networking, food delivery and payment gateways. More companies are now heading down this path as customers lean towards the concept of ‘one-stop shop’. PayTM with its bouquet of products and payment-driven services is a fine example of an innovative super app. 

Interested to know why more companies are aiming to produce super apps? Read here. 

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 Conclusion: 

At a time when technology is evolving by the minute, mobile app trends will continue to be competitive. Developers and companies need to keep an eye out for the new opportunities in this space and adapt to the changes to offer their customers the latest and the best in the market. Needless to say, exciting times ahead for mobile apps and a smarter experience for users! 

Be a gamechanger in the mobile app industry. Partner with Zuci Systems for our proven expertise in developing user-centric mobile apps.